Workplace reviews and discussion: IBM_台灣國際商業機器股份有限公司

The name sounds nice

Last Monday, while I was playing basketball, I received an interview invitation from this company (let’s abbreviate it as IBM). Before receiving this call, IBM had once sent me an invitation for a contract position, which I declined outright at the time. Although I had little expectation of this company when I received the call, it is, after all, a well-known multinational corporation, so I thought I might as well go and learn more about it. They asked whether I was available on Thursday (8/17), but I declined because I had other plans. They then asked, “What about next Thursday?” I checked my calendar, saw that I had nothing scheduled, and agreed. At the same time, I confirmed the time and location over the phone. This was how I asked:

“About what time would it be?”

“It’ll be after work. Once you arrive, just call me from downstairs.”

“May I ask whether it’s in Xinyi District?” (Because IBM only has one location in Xinyi District.)

“Yes.”

So I wrote it down on my calendar, until today...

A little after six in the evening, I suddenly received a phone call.

“Hello, may I ask where you are? Our interview was scheduled for 6:30.”

“Um... I’m sorry, but I remember that we scheduled the interview for next week over the phone, didn’t we?”

“No, we scheduled it for today. I also sent you an email afterward.”

(I really didn’t receive it.)

“I remember confirming it with you over the phone. In that case, no problem. May I ask whether there are any other available times?”

“I would absolutely never tell an interviewee over the phone where to go for an interview. How could you possibly know where to go for the interview?”

“Uh... I confirmed with you that it was in Xinyi District, and your company only has one location in Xinyi District.”

“It’s fine. I’m not trying to blame you right now. But let me tell you, I’m one of the managers interviewing you. Don’t you confirm where you’re supposed to go for an interview? With that kind of attitude, I won’t interview you. I’ll ask the other managers whether anyone wants to interview you.”

“Okay, no problem. If there’s any further information, please let me know, whether by phone or email.”

(At this point I was completely dumbfounded, but I felt I should at least finish the conversation.)

“Even if I sent it to you, you wouldn’t read it.”

“Okay, thank you.”

And that was how this bizarre journey ended.

Many good friends around me may work as HR professionals or conduct interviews. Perhaps the same kind of problem has happened to you or someone around you. Regardless of which side the problem was on, or whether it was simply a system issue, I believe the situation could have been handled better emotionally. What’s more, when you invite someone to an interview, you yourself represent the impression people have of the company.

Let this be an encouragement to everyone.

Then today, 8/24, I received another call from them. This time it was a different person, who said over the phone that next week’s interview had to be canceled.

...Excuse me, I have absolutely no idea when we supposedly scheduled an interview for next week.

This company is truly incredibly frustrating.