Interview for a laugh

[Gob]

A graduate jobseeker has spoken of her horror at being called a "home-educated oddball" by a prospective employer.

Anna Jacobs read the description by Tecomak Environmental Services in an email inviting her for interview.

Attached seemingly by accident, the comments suggested Ms Jacobs, of Horsmonden in Kent, was "worth an interview if only for a laugh".

The company said it was investigating thoroughly but added the comments had been taken out of context.

Ms Jacobs told BBC South East Today she was initially excited to be invited for the interview for a position of office administrator.

But then she saw the "absolutely awful summary" and said she was "furious".


Miss Jacobs had applied for the position of office administrator

Below the formal invitation, the e-mail from Tecomak read: "Home educated oddball. Can't get a job since leaving uni. Forages for mushrooms.

"Difficult to assess from her CV - might be very good but equally could be a biscuit short of a packet or a left-wing loon tree hugger.

"Worth an interview if only for a laugh."

Ms Jacobs said she had a lot to offer and could not believe the firm was considering wasting her time for "a laugh".

So far, she said she has received no apology or explanation from Tecomak.

Employment lawyer Richard Atkins, said all jobseekers are entitled to equal treatment when applying for positions.

"On the face of it, this e-mail does not show that she has been treated with fairness and respect," he said.

[Long Run]

Nobody has a sense of humor.

[Crackpot]

My experience says those in HR have had thier sense of humor surgically removed.

[ex-khobar Andy]

I wouldn't complain if I were her. She's getting an interview. That is where you win or lose the job. Companies do not go to the expense of an interview (hiring manager's time, HR time, interviewee travel expenses etc) unless they feel that the applicant has something to offer and might help the business. I have written things on a paper resume which really are not for the applicant's ears but my notes to myself so that I can choose maybe three to interview out of a pile of 50 resumes.

'Oddball' might be shorthand for 'does not fit our traditional picture of what we want from an employee but has some very distinctive attributes which just maybe constitute the kind of different approach which might help us to get to where we want to go.' It's not as if they wrote some racist or sexist message rejecting the applicant.

[oldr_n_wsr]

Employment lawyer Richard Atkins, said all jobseekers are entitled to equal treatment when applying for positions.

How does he know they don't treat all candidates this way.
Maybe they do?

[MajGenl.Meade]

HR departments exist to make Accounting look useful

[Big RR]

I wouldn't complain if I were her. She's getting an interview. That is where you win or lose the job. Companies do not go to the expense of an interview (hiring manager's time, HR time, interviewee travel expenses etc) unless they feel that the applicant has something to offer and might help the business. I have written things on a paper resume which really are not for the applicant's ears but my notes to myself so that I can choose maybe three to interview out of a pile of 50 resumes.

'Oddball' might be shorthand for 'does not fit our traditional picture of what we want from an employee but has some very distinctive attributes which just maybe constitute the kind of different approach which might help us to get to where we want to go.' It's not as if they wrote some racist or sexist message rejecting the applicant.

Perhaps, but then "Worth an interview if only for a laugh." pretty much suggests she's wasting her time. I agree most companies don't go through interviews for a laugh, but why waste her time if you are not interested?

[ex-khobar Andy]

I don't think I am defending what the company did: but in fairness to them, if the applicant has space on her resume to note that she forages for mushrooms, (this is an application for Office Manager not as Chief mycologist) the comment that she "might be very good but equally could be a biscuit short of a packet or a left-wing loon tree hugger." may well be an accurate summation. Again - she has an interview. Going to the Beeb may not be a very clever move if she is looking for a job.