DeceivedHi! More than three weeks ago I went to an interview with a local bank. It seemed like the only company remotely professional in the little town I am stuck with my military husband. I am called for a second interview and then more than a week later they told me I was still in the run with another candidate and that they will order my background check etc. They got back to me this week and asked me to meet with them to discuss "certain aspects". When I asked whether they were making me an offer, he declined to say yes or no, but that they needed to talk to me and that they will "offer me a job". During the meeting the first issue that came up was that even though we have discussed about a full-time position, he had decided it was going to be a part-time. I felt so cheated! I am employed right now and I have great benefits and a salary that is considered good in this place (it' s not, really), but everywhere else they pay much, much less!!! Scary, really! However, my current job is dead end and not at all challenging, no matter how proactive I am and the office is very dysfunctional so that' s why I was looking for something different. What should I do? Is there a way this kind of practice can be reported? I am disappointed and I think that these kind of practices should not be allowed. Now that they finally got the background check he will supposedly make a decision today and let me know, but I don' t have high hopes for it. It is ultimately the employers decision if the job is going to be full or part time. When advertising the position initially, the employer probably did think that there was enough work to keep the employee busy for a full day. They probably have had the opportunity to look further into the position's duties and the workload involved and determined that they only need part time. The hiring authority wanted to discuss this with you and you, obviously because you are still in the running, agreed that it wouldn't be a problem. If you thought that they were pulling a fast one on you, you could have said at that point that you preferred full time in which case you would have probably been told that you were out of the running. The person who was the other viable candidate most likely also said that part time would be okay which is why the background check is still the deciding factor. There was nothing there to deceive you, it was a change in plans. You have a right to feel disappointed in that you really thought you were going to be able to leave a bad situation but there is nothing unethical, immoral or deceiving here. Not nice, certainly, but a lot of employers just aren't nice. Most bank branch jobs are part-time these days. Nearly all tellers actually. That' s just an industry-wide practice that has been in place more than 15 years. They probably thought that if you were spectacular and could walk on water, they might put you in one of their few full-time spots and have you pick up multiple tasks. For whatever reason, that didn' t pan out. So, I know it is disappointing, but it is just the breaks. Unfortunately, the military life is very hard on spousal employment. You' re often stuck in small towns with little opportunity and a spotty work history due to the relocation. Is there something you can do working for yourself that would be portable? Give it some thought. And have a browse through Barnes & Noble or your local bookstore in the business section. There' s lot of books on "How to start your own (name of business here)" that might give you some ideas. If you have an idea, I recommend you go to sba.gov and have a read of their site, then contact score.org to have them help you lay out a business plan, marketing plan, etc. That may be a way for you to find something fulfilling and flexible. Actually...I am spectacular! Just joking. That was not my issue. The problem was that not a single time the phrase "part-time" was mentioned, not even when describing the position two years ago when it was last filled. I know the tellers are all part-time, unfortunately I am over qualified not only from their point of view, but from knowing myself. I am working on my MBA right now and the possibility to work for minimum wage is not at all appealing. Unfortunately, this place does not follow ANY of the rules of civilized world and not even when it comes to employment and for a place that would be nothing for the military base being here, the attitudes I get for being a spouse are not the greatest and that hurts. About me starting my own business, sure I thought about it. However, right now I am not in the financial situation to do that and what I would like to do here does not have a demand...It is necessary, but people or companies would not pay for a recruiting service just because they are used to hiring family and friends But thanks a lot for the suggestions, I will definitely do that later on when going to school will not be a priority Look into the SBA website anyway. And call your local SBA office and ask for their (free) booklet on it. They make those up regionally and they include all kinds of ways you can fund a new business so there may be options you haven' t considered. I felt so cheated! I am employed right now and I have great benefits and a salary that is considered good in this place (it' s not, really), but everywhere else they pay much, much less!!! Nonsense. You haven' t taken the job, so they haven' t cheated you out of anything. They actually offered you a job, but it sounds like your current job is better. How is that a cheat? What should I do? I am disappointed and I think that these kind of practices should not be allowed. They told you it was a part-time job. You accept the job or reject it. They didn' t hire you and then cut your hours. It sounds like they' ve been very upfront----they even brought you in to discuss the changes in the job specs and asked you again if you wanted to pursue it. That' s incredible nice from a company that doesn' t owe you a thing! Now that they finally got the background check he will supposedly make a decision today and let me know, but I don' t have high hopes for it. It really sounds like you don' t want the job. Well, it wasn' t right for you, so find something that is. At least you HAVE a job, so you' re not out anything. Be thankful you were able to dodge what would have been a major disappointment in switching jobs to something lesser and losing your superior benefits and salary!! | |
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