Workplace reviews and discussion: 大塊文化出版股份有限公司

I applied for a position in the sales department, and most of the time was spent with the manager speaking, leaving me very little time to talk. The manager was very sincere and, as a candidate transitioning into the publishing industry from another field, proactively shared a great deal of industry knowledge. They also showed interest in my résumé and a willingness to make use of my abilities, took the initiative to ask about my life and job-search situation, and offered advice. They said they would later arrange the details of my job responsibilities. They were even willing to let me ask for advice about interviews at other publishing houses, and said that I would be notified before the specified date regardless of whether I was hired. I was deeply moved.

Looking back later, I think this was probably a common sales technique or scripted line. The reason they talked so deeply with someone they had just met and did not know was likely to encourage me to prioritize the position at their organization and reduce my consideration of other interview opportunities. Ultimately, however, the decision about whether to hire me still rested with them.

A few days later, I received an email from the manager saying that, after many interviews, they still wished to hire me. They confirmed the probationary salary and possible start date with me, explained some subsequent procedures, and welcomed me to join the company. The probationary salary was quite low for me and involved a corresponding level of risk, but because I wanted to follow this manager and valued the opportunity highly, I replied and accepted.

Because I was not on my guard, and based solely on this verbal promise without a signed contract, I proactively declined several other potential opportunities and canceled other scheduled interviews so as not to inconvenience the organizations with which I was still in discussions.

The next day, this hiring manager emailed me to say that they had changed their mind about hiring me.

It is not that I absolutely needed this particular job, nor am I questioning your decision to hire someone else. However, whether due to a problem with the company’s procedures or an issue of personal credibility, the act of “reversing a hiring decision” destroyed my trust in this company and this manager.

As a hiring organization, and as part of a rigorous interview process, please do not tell an interviewee they have been hired if the decision has not yet been finalized. Please make it clear that the decision is still pending. Be clear and do not give people false expectations. You cannot compensate me for the opportunities and connections I lost with other companies.

This is simply a record of what happened during this interview, provided so that others may learn from it and avoid falling into this kind of scripted-talk trap.