Bob Interviewers...

[oversteer]

I had this a while back in a telephone interview for a recently demised car vendor

As I was hiding in a cupboard at work I had no access to Google, but had I had internet access I would have aced it. Everything was "what is the command to do this" or "what does xyz configuration setting do"

Anytime I tried to talk about my actual experience she would cut me off with -UH HUH, UH HUH OK SO WHAT IS XYZ USED FOR??

Having said that, my telephone interview with Facebook was like that too. Except with a Chinese guy over a terrible telephone line. Maybe it's just me.

[SimonMac]

Today: Java Developer - London London Contract IT Job

Note rate. Note Contact name.

[Fred Bloggs]

This type of "memory test" interview is extremely common (it is the normal method) when the interviewer is a very highly qualified but relatively very inexperienced Asian or Middle East national. It is often extremely obvious that the inerviewer has attended some high level courses in the technology you are being interviewed for and his questions are based around what he has learned on those courses. Often the questions relate to certain clauses of a standard or a specification which, really, if you wanted to know, you'd read the darned thing. Sometimes they are detailed questions are about a certain manufacturer's maintenance procedures and sometimes the questions are about some pretty obscure research papers. I have never experienced the memory test style of interview from an experienced Western interviewer.

[nomadd]

In order to satisfy visa rules there has to be a show that attempts were made to recruit locally...

Today: Java Developer - London London Contract IT Job

Note rate. Note Contact name.

[MarillionFan]

Only once. I went through a set of interviews with Tata when they won the NHS contract. At the time I was an SME in Secondary health care systems so I was pretty much in control. They wanted to hire me to brain dump and set up a fast track course in the India so they could train up grads and then(replace me)

My issue was I didn't like the style of interviewing. I had about 5 and near the end of each one a more senior person would come in. The interviewer would then do an intro, make a joke about cricket or tea(i kid you not), then he would stay in the room and the next guy start. After 3 hours they were all in the room, doing the same questions over and over.

They offered me the role. £80k for a one year contract, all expenses including India and 8 weeks off during the year.

I turned it down.

[dspsyssts]

In order to satisfy visa rules there has to be a show that attempts were made to recruit locally within the country where the job exists but suitable candidates were not found, thus creating a demand to fill the position via Wipro or from an overseas agency.

This can be achieved by advertising very low wages and thus creating little to no demand but them still being attractive to overseas workers, or by orchestrating aggressive intervews where the applicant is put off or performs poorly.

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

Had an Indian interviewer, phone interview, for a role in the UK once - can't remember the end client sadly.

It was a bit difficult actually understanding him, but then again I'm not a great talker, so... he was very dogmatic about technologies, asking a number of detailed questions. Answered the questions - he then berated me for being wrong on one. The irony was he was utterly incorrect on the point himself.

I had to deal with such an interviewer for an intermediate agency. The agency was based in the midlands. Did the same thing - asked me stupidly detailed questions and then answered them himself.

[perplexed]

Had an Indian interviewer, phone interview, for a role in the UK once - can't remember the end client sadly.

It was a bit difficult actually understanding him, but then again I'm not a great talker, so... he was very dogmatic about technologies, asking a number of detailed questions. Answered the questions - he then berated me for being wrong on one. The irony was he was utterly incorrect on the point himself.

[Spacecadet]

I have had a similar experience when I was interviewed by a bob in the UAE for an airline company (i will say no more). The guy was plane rude and completely put me off the idea of working over there.

I see what you did there

I think what you've witnessed is the negative aspect of pushy parents and over competitive schooling, it can turn some people nasty

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

I have had a similar experience when I was interviewed by a bob in the UAE for an airline company (i will say no more). The guy was plane rude and completely put me off the idea of working over there.

[SwanDive]

Is it just me or has anyone else come across this…

Why is it interviewers from the sub continent are only able to interview people in an aggressive and obscure memory test manner? The guy I had bordered on the rude. It seems like they are only interested in catching you out or displaying their own supreme, highly technical knowledge base. At one point I thought he was going to jump on the table and do a “Ha! Caught you out, you inferior pleb!” dance. I seem to suffer from it worse because I am a British born Asian…they seem to give us a particularly hard time.

And yes, I have recently had a nasty collision with one so maybe I am just bitter! I don’t know if I got the job or not because Rullion never contacted me afterwards to give me feedback (very efficient of them I suppose). I have landed a contract now anyway but I was wondering if anyone else came across this kind of behaviour? Maybe there are a “bob” or two here who could possibly explain as I would be very interested in the psychology behind it…most odd!