Hi All,
Myself Anna and I am from Kerala.
Last year April I got a job opportunity from an MNC for their Mumbai office. The offer was got through one of my linkedin connection, who introduced me to the hiring manager. The manager is based in Singapore and did my skype interview from there. After that she called me for a final interview in Mumbai. Please note in all these process HR was not involved. All the communications was done directly through hiring manger only. The thing is I have asked for travel expenses to reach the interview place ie Mumbai and I did not get any reply on that from her.(It takes 24 hour journey from Kerala by train and since my father recently got his operation done, we could not take the risk so we thought of travelling by Flight). The interview was scheduled and unfortunately at that time flight charges were so high that I could not afford to book one and thus could not able to attend the interview.
The hiring manager lady mailed me asking the reason for not appearing and I said that I could not afford the travel expenses. No reply from her for that mail.
Now last week, I got a offer from the same company for a different position for their Singapore office through a consultancy. This time the consultant told me that I would be given the flight charges and all for attending the interview. However I am little apprehensive as to whether if they really provide me the charges. And as to whether if they would reject me based on the previous incident happened. The hiring managers are not the same and this time HR would be involving.
The job position offered to me now is little different and the previous hiring manager still has a opening for her team for which I am the perfect candidate. I doubt whether the HR team will re-direct me to previous hiring manager to fill the position in her team since I am more suitable for that team.
Please advice whether they would reject me based on what happened last year.
Thanks in advance!!
And wishing you all a Happy New Year !!
From India, Kochi
Myself Anna and I am from Kerala.
Last year April I got a job opportunity from an MNC for their Mumbai office. The offer was got through one of my linkedin connection, who introduced me to the hiring manager. The manager is based in Singapore and did my skype interview from there. After that she called me for a final interview in Mumbai. Please note in all these process HR was not involved. All the communications was done directly through hiring manger only. The thing is I have asked for travel expenses to reach the interview place ie Mumbai and I did not get any reply on that from her.(It takes 24 hour journey from Kerala by train and since my father recently got his operation done, we could not take the risk so we thought of travelling by Flight). The interview was scheduled and unfortunately at that time flight charges were so high that I could not afford to book one and thus could not able to attend the interview.
The hiring manager lady mailed me asking the reason for not appearing and I said that I could not afford the travel expenses. No reply from her for that mail.
Now last week, I got a offer from the same company for a different position for their Singapore office through a consultancy. This time the consultant told me that I would be given the flight charges and all for attending the interview. However I am little apprehensive as to whether if they really provide me the charges. And as to whether if they would reject me based on the previous incident happened. The hiring managers are not the same and this time HR would be involving.
The job position offered to me now is little different and the previous hiring manager still has a opening for her team for which I am the perfect candidate. I doubt whether the HR team will re-direct me to previous hiring manager to fill the position in her team since I am more suitable for that team.
Please advice whether they would reject me based on what happened last year.
Thanks in advance!!
And wishing you all a Happy New Year !!
From India, Kochi
Dear Anna,
Wish you and your family happy and prosperous new year!
There are two set of issues in your post. One is what happened in the past. Another what could happen in future. First let us discuss about the past.
That hiring manager directly dealt with the candidate keeping HR in dark shows the weak recruitment practices of the company. HR may not involve directly in the interview process. However, HR should be involved at least for co-ordination purposes. This also did not happen. It appears that the Hiring Manager dealt directly without the knowledge of her seniors hence could not pay you the TA. Good to note that you did not appear for interview. Even if you had spend the flight charges on your own, what was the guarantee that you would have been employed?
Coming to the future now. If they have approached you then nothing wrong in appearing for interview. Be clear about Job Description of the position, your KRAs etc. If they redirect you to take up the previous position even then also nothing wrong. As long as they are ready to provide you the flight charges + Accommodation charges + local conveyance everything is fine. Do not fall in the trap of assurance that candidate should spend first and then claim the reimbursement. If they tell you to spend first then put your foot down and turn down their offer.
Final comments: - This company appears to be unprofessional. It could be MNC also but then that does not mean it need to be professional. There are many MNCs working in India who are unprofessional. Therefore, rather than giving them choice of selection, I recommend you deciding whether to choose them or not. For this, do the market research about that company. Find out from LinkedIn etc who are ex-employees and ask them about company's culture. While one swallow cannot make summer, you need to be cautious as well.
Thanks,
Dinesh Divekar
From India, Bangalore
Wish you and your family happy and prosperous new year!
There are two set of issues in your post. One is what happened in the past. Another what could happen in future. First let us discuss about the past.
That hiring manager directly dealt with the candidate keeping HR in dark shows the weak recruitment practices of the company. HR may not involve directly in the interview process. However, HR should be involved at least for co-ordination purposes. This also did not happen. It appears that the Hiring Manager dealt directly without the knowledge of her seniors hence could not pay you the TA. Good to note that you did not appear for interview. Even if you had spend the flight charges on your own, what was the guarantee that you would have been employed?
Coming to the future now. If they have approached you then nothing wrong in appearing for interview. Be clear about Job Description of the position, your KRAs etc. If they redirect you to take up the previous position even then also nothing wrong. As long as they are ready to provide you the flight charges + Accommodation charges + local conveyance everything is fine. Do not fall in the trap of assurance that candidate should spend first and then claim the reimbursement. If they tell you to spend first then put your foot down and turn down their offer.
Final comments: - This company appears to be unprofessional. It could be MNC also but then that does not mean it need to be professional. There are many MNCs working in India who are unprofessional. Therefore, rather than giving them choice of selection, I recommend you deciding whether to choose them or not. For this, do the market research about that company. Find out from LinkedIn etc who are ex-employees and ask them about company's culture. While one swallow cannot make summer, you need to be cautious as well.
Thanks,
Dinesh Divekar
From India, Bangalore
Dear Dinesh,
Thank you very much for the detailed advice.
I did some research on the company, it is among one of the leading companies in their industry.
They even have a HR person only dealing the expatriate management.
Earlier when I inquired about the relocation package with recruitment consultant, he said the company would provide full relocation package for top management people only. Since I am being recruited as middle management person, I would be provided only with the flight charges. Let me negotiate with them in the interview round about this and if still they are not agreeing, I would indeed turn down their offer.
As you mentioned, I need to clarify with them whether it is the reimbursement thing. Also need to check with ex-employees about the company's culture.
Thanks again for the reply !!
Anna
From India, Kochi
Thank you very much for the detailed advice.
I did some research on the company, it is among one of the leading companies in their industry.
They even have a HR person only dealing the expatriate management.
Earlier when I inquired about the relocation package with recruitment consultant, he said the company would provide full relocation package for top management people only. Since I am being recruited as middle management person, I would be provided only with the flight charges. Let me negotiate with them in the interview round about this and if still they are not agreeing, I would indeed turn down their offer.
As you mentioned, I need to clarify with them whether it is the reimbursement thing. Also need to check with ex-employees about the company's culture.
Thanks again for the reply !!
Anna
From India, Kochi
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