I have decided to post this message for other job seekers who may be experiencing this same situation. I am a subject matter expert in several disciplines related to Computer Systems and Technology. I have an 11 year background as an Analyst and Systems integration.

Recently I have been searching for a new post as an Analyst or Systems Administrator. In the interviewing process I have came across a very sneaky and deceptive practice. I am being interviewed and used as an unknowing adviser for project management and or systems analyst feed back for free!

In the interview process there is an initial "weeding" process where recruiters and HR people seek out competent subject matter experts for an ongoing project. Once the potential employee is identified as the "correct" candidate they are given a phone interview. In the phone interview they are asked questions that are general in form about the particular processes of the project.

After the "2nd" interview you are asked to come in and meet and greet with the I.T. department heads. Before this interview you are advised that this interview is just a meet and greet. You are convinced that you are the selectee and that this is the final formality.

At the "meet and greet", the potential employee is slammed by the department heads to give up the technical information. The potential employee is asked specific questions repeatedly by the department heads. When answering in a general fashion the interviewers become frustrated and even perturbed.

It seems as though the department heads are actually accustomed to this practice, and when the potential employee doesn’t give up the specific information being sought, the interview becomes very short, and the department heads become short and excitable.

At first I thought that I was imagining this process.  It became clearer as these types of interviews never received a call back. After waiting as much as two weeks after the interview for a letter/email/phone call.

After four such interviews where I was the "favored" candidate and had by far the most extensive background, this practice was confirmed by a follow up call. In the follow up call I asked what we would be doing next in the hiring process, as the interviewers had all agreed that I would be their choice to be brought on staff.

I was shocked to learn that my very words were now being thrown back to me. How to implement or roll out the new technology. The exact descriptions of how I advised how to do the next steps for the project etc...

On phone call back I am being informed that the position was being changed, or they had changed their minds and were no longer hiring. It amazes me that this seems to be a standard practice to avoid having to pay a consultant to come in and do the job. All that they do now is get a hiring candidate in, and ask him/her all the task questions that they are not capable of doing on their own.

Be aware of this practice friends and let it be known that there are unscrupulous employers out there that are trying this new deceptive tactic. More so now than I have seen in the past.