Interview cancelled, but why?
A friend of mine who has a hearing-impairment problem was supposed to have an interview with Xilinx on Wednesday, and he had been looking forward to a change in his career after spending 10 years with his company.
The friend of mine currently works as an operations executive, and the position he applied for with Xilinx was for Data Analyst. The position is a lot different from what he was doing, but I had advised him to go for it, as it may represent an opportunity for a different job scope that enhances his work experience.
On Friday, he was supposed to send over an application form and confirm his attendance at the interview, and it was there and then he was told the interview was cancelled, and that “the position is closed”. We went to check out the Xilinx job posting on JobsDB.Com, and it’s still listed as open [see link here]
Now, in my years of headhunting, I have never come across a company that says it’s interested in interviewing a candidate one moment, and in a matter of 2 days, before you even met the candidate you scheduled to meet, says the position is closed and the interview is cancelled.
Here’s the email correspondence forwarded to me by my friend (names omitted):
—– Forwarded Message —-
From:
To:
Sent: Fri, December 11, 2009 4:40:07 PM
Subject: RE: Cancelled: Your interview confirmation – 16 Dec’09 (Wed) 3pm – Application for Data Analyst (Code :IRC42049)The position is closed.
From:
Sent: Friday, December 11, 2009 4:20 PM
To:
Subject: Re: Cancelled: Your interview confirmation – 16 Dec’09 (Wed) 3pm – Application for Data Analyst (Code :IRC42049)Hi,May I know the reason for this cancellation?
Please do feel free to be frank as it would help me to fine tune my job search.With best regards,
From:
To:
Sent: Fri, December 11, 2009 9:20:12 AM
Subject: Cancelled: Your interview confirmation – 16 Dec’09 (Wed) 3pm – Application for Data Analyst (Code :IRC42049)HiI am sorry that this appointment has to be cancelled.Please feel free to browse our website for other positions. If you found another position you are keen on, please re-send your resume to jobs@xilinx.com .
Thanks & Best regards,
From: Sent: Friday, December 11, 2009 8:59 AM
To:
Subject: Re: Your interview confirmation – 16 Dec’09 (Wed) 3pm – Application for Data Analyst (Code :IRC42049)Hi,Thank you for confirming the interview timing.
I have completed the job application form and attached it in PDF format with this email.With best regards,
From:To:
Sent: Thu, December 10, 2009 3:36:21 PM
Subject: Your interview confirmation – 16 Dec’09 (Wed) 3pm – Application for Data Analyst (Code :IRC42049)Hi,Your interview with Xilinx has been scheduled on 16 Dec, 3pm at:
Please print and complete the attached application form. Thereafter, please scan and send it back to me. If you do not have a scanner, please bring the form on the day of interview. Alternatively, you may arrive 10min before the interview to get a copy from our reception and fill it up at our place.
- Do a registration at main lobby and the security will bring you up to the 4th floor
I don’t want to jump to conclusions, but I’m beginning to think something’s amiss here. For a large and reputable company such as this, surely they must have procedures to ensure the screening processes for job applications are fair and thorough? I find it strange that the cancellation came about after the friend had filled out and returned the application form, which probably stated information including his current salary, medical condition and other relevant information– in which case, I’ve seen his CV before because I helped him with it, and we made it very clear that he has a hearing impairment, so unless you’re telling me it’s more to do with his current salary which may be more than what they were willing to pay…I certainly hope it’s nothing to do with the said disability.
Or, HR may say it’s because the position was withdrawn or is an unconfirmed headcount, in which case, I’ll ask why bother advertising for it if things were uncertain. Alternatively, it could be because internally, the hiring managers already had people in mind they want to hire, in which case, the same question applies: why advertise the job knowing very well people will be applying?
Not only do I question the sincerity and integrity of the hiring persons, I also question if they have any respect for the candidate applying for the position. To me, it’s highly unprofessional to make an interview commitment, and then drop the candidate at the last moment with feeble and curt reponses as if to cut them off.
candace and 
Kenneth are discussing. 
Kenneth 5:40 pm on December 14, 2009 Permalink |
Hi. I find this distasteful and i’m surprised that a renowned MNC can do things like this. Very unacceptable indeed!
Disappointed 1:35 pm on December 17, 2009 Permalink |
Did your friend follow up with Xilinx to ask about the interview again? I’m sorry such things happened.
For your information, I am wheel-chair bound but I am a qualified ACCA. My last job was with a shipping company and I work there for 7 year since graduation, but got retrenched during the financial crisis last year. I have been trying to find a new job, but very few companies ask me up for interviews. The ones that do, although are polite about things, are not wheel-chair friendly, and I actually had one manager tell me “we would love to hire you,but very inconvenient”.
I now do some accounting work from home on freelance basis, but would like to find a permanent job.
I totally understand how your friend feel, and I wish employers can be more open-minded. Disabled does not mean unable!
candace 8:31 am on April 30, 2010 Permalink |
This happened to me, also by a very large and reputable company.