And the Verdict is...

[queenoftheskies]

I'm not going to be taking the new job.

It all seemed to be going too fast. Too good to be true.

I guess it was, though they still wanted me.

Too much.

I had my first interview on Tuesday night. I had my second--a phone interview--on Wednesday. At that time, they asked if I could go to lunch with them today in order to meet the president of the company and get the job offer. They also wanted me to give them a free day next week to talk to the person who developed their cost acocunting system.

Yesterday, they changed it. They asked if I could go to lunch with the Controller today to meet the rest of the accounting department. The job offer would come later in the day. The HR person would type it up and send it to the agency.

When I got home yesterday, the plans had changed again. They wanted to do a background check. But, they still wanted me to go to lunch with the Controller and the accounting department today.

Knowing that background checks can take a week or more, I expressed concern and told the recruiter that I didn't think it was a good idea for me to take too much time off work because I couldn't quit until they got the background check back and things were final. If I did, I'd have an amount of time without income.

Today, she assured me it would be a quick background check.

However, a problem arose at work. And, today was not only month-end, but fiscal year-end as well. To those of you who are not familiar with the financial world, that's a big deal.

This problem had to be corrected TODAY. It was important.

I called the recruiter to ask if I could reschedule lunch and explained the problem to her. She said no problem, that she'd handle it.

She called back a short while later to tell me that the Controller said NO. Definitely NOT. He would not reschedule it and I WOULD be there today. He said that I owed it to them, that I was theirs now and that since they were going to offer me a job, I had no loyalty or allegience to my current job.

I expressed concern over these statements (and more) to the recruiter and she said she'd run into this before, that it was fairly common.

I told her I'd been working a long time and hadn't run into it before, that I needed to think.

She asked if she could arrange for me to meet them at the restaurant and shave some time off (they wanted me to be gone for two hours), would I go?

I told her yes.

She called back shortly thereafter and told me he said NO. I had to do it HIS way.

So, I thought about it, all the while the BAD vibes growing stronger.

And, I looked at the work I had to do and knew that things had to get done, and I e-mailed the recruiter and told her I was concerned. I told her that my work ethics would not allow me to abandon my current employer while I was still employed by them and that, if I'd been employed by this other company, I would have afforded them the same allegience.

I told her that if that meant I wouldn't get the job, so be it, that I wasn't sure it was the place for me if that was the attitude.

She e-mailed me back a short while later with the message that if I wasn't going to do it their way, they weren't going to hire me. However, she went on to say that she applauded my work ethic and sticking to my guns and doing the right thing. The client, she'd decided, was a bully and was in the wrong.

She then proceeded to tell me that there were several other possibilities through her agency and they would be pleased to represent me to other clients.

For now, I've made my peace with the drive I'm going to have to start next week. Yes, this could change. I could be stressed after I do it. But, I'm starting with an open mind and willing to give it a chance.

I've realized that I could have jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire.

I am so lucky he showed his true colors and I was able to make the right choice.

Comments

[merebrillante.livejournal.com]

Yuck. It sounds like you did the right thing. This company sounds like a bunch of psychotic control freaks. You are much better off in the frying pan than in that fire.

[gerriwritinglog.livejournal.com]

*claps loudly*

Good for you. You made the absolute right decision. You don't need that kind of stress in your life. And WTF was that about we're going to hire you, so we own you? *shakes head in disgust* Blech. Nasty, nasty place to work.

*hugs* Sounds like you have the recruiter on your side, and she'll find you something worthy of you. Good deal.

[peacockharpy.livejournal.com]

Sounds like you were saved from employment hell with that guy. Hang in there!

[dsgood.livejournal.com]

Congratulations on not taking that job!

[jediknightmuse.livejournal.com]

Wow. As hard as it might've been for you (because of it being an opportunity to get the hell out of the place you're in right now) to say no, you should be proud that you stuck to your instincts and backed out before things got much worse and you were stuck there. I feel bad for anyone who has to deal with that idiot. It was the right thing to do. ^_^

[aeriedraconia.livejournal.com]

Good for you! How could you just drop everything for a maybe. They hadn't even officially hired you yet. You could have been out there with NO job. How can you owe a company allegiance if you aren't on their payroll yet, that's just silly.

Excellent work ethics are everything. You have something to be very proud of.

[lizziebelle.livejournal.com]

Be glad you listened to your instincts. That's almost always the right way to go. :)

I'm happy for you that this company showed its true colors *before* you accepted the offer. Whew! Dodged *that* bullet, eh?

[tunskit.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry it worked out that way, but it's a blessing you found out their attitude now. It sounds as though you've improved your chances of getting hired through the agency, rather than hurt them. Good for you.

[hkneale.livejournal.com]

Lucky, lucky you, for not getting that job.

Yes, I can believe I said that. I was once in a position similar to yours. When, after all the interviews and other nastiness, they offered me the position and turned it down.

Sometimes one's soul is more important than the money.

Congrats on not getting the job. May your other searches be kinder and more fruitful, instead of being full of those kinds of fruits.

[elvesforeyes.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry all that trouble went to nowhere, but darn good for you to stick to your guns. Truly, this company is missing out on you.

[nycshelly.livejournal.com]

That place sounded like it would be as bad as your current situation, but at least you found out before accepting a job offer with them and quitting your current job. And you've gained valuable experience. Plus, you've proven your integrity to the recruiter, so I'd say you came out ahead.

You'll find something great. Just give it enough time so you can be sure when it does come.

[annathepiper]

Yowza. It sucks that you didn't get the neat new job, but on the other hand, it's good indeed that you found this out before making the final committment. And I'm with your recruiter--good on you for sticking to your guns and making the right call.

[coolmajaka.livejournal.com]

What a wacko. Sounds like youn got lucky.

[marksiegal.livejournal.com]

Glad you dodged that bullet. This job hunting business can be tough. Good luck with the rest of the hunt, and your long commute while it lasts.

[kimberlychapman.livejournal.com]

It sucks, but I totally applaud you for sticking to your ethics. I'm the same way and it almost never pays off other than the satisfaction of knowing you've done right. Go you! :D

[kuroshii.livejournal.com]

my sentiments exactly!

tho i'm wondering if he wasn't clueless and thought you had just been hired, or something...but still! be very glad not to be working under someone like that!

[roseyniswitrin.livejournal.com]

I'm glad this all worked out for the best for you, hon. And I'm sure there will be other opportunities that come along that will much, much better. Hang in there!

[penmage.livejournal.com]

Good for you. Seriously, anyone who wants you to jump ships before they even offer you a job is NOT the kind of person you want to be involved with. But you already know that :). Kudos to you.