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Is there any protection against interviewer who did't do a good job

Interview Interviewer
Recent activity on Nov 19, 2018
5 Answers
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Anonymous A asked on Nov 17, 2018

Hi there,

I have kind of weird question here. If you are not happy with the way your interviewer held the interview (like it was not stress testing, for sure, but plain "I don't like you" attitide) or the recommendations he provided based on your performance (not action oriented, a little subjective, and coming down to "Go work more to obtain more experience"), what you can do with it? Will it hurt the chances of coming back in a year, if I will call HR and ask for better feedback and ask for the opninion of the second interviewer? Hopefully, I managed to explain the situation:) And thank you in advance for the response!

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Guennael
Expert
replied on Nov 17, 2018
Ex-MBB, Experienced Hire; I will teach you not only the how, but also the why of case interviews

Don't, just don't. The recruiter has the implicit trust of the company, and you are unknown quantity. If you complain, they will understandably assume the worst about you. Life isn't fair, deal with it. Lick your wounds, come back a year or two later... or apply to another company.

PS: just in case, look introspectively as well. Are you sure it is "the other's fault"?

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Mara on Nov 18, 2018

Throwing my question inspired by the topic of this thread. I experienced something similar when I was applying to job in industry. Some people really show the sense of entitlement in treating the candidates just because they already work there. How come the candidates have no protection against such interviewers - like everybody is just keeping silent and letting everything go out of fear of being rejected next time...From what everyone told only option is just to keep silent and allow this person keep traumatizing other worthy people out there? My sense of equality and justice is being a little shaken in here:(

(edited)

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Francesco
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Nov 18, 2018
#1 Coach for Sessions (4.500+) | 1.500+ 5-Star Reviews | Proven Success (➡ interviewoffers.com) | Ex BCG | 10Y+ Coaching

Hi Anonymous,

I agree with the other comments, there is no way you can improve your situation (which means receiving a better feedback and/or new opportunities to interview) complaining to HR. Sometimes you will be unlucky and get a "bad" interviewer, or maybe a good interviewer in a "bad" day.

The best thing you can do to decrease the negative effect of a situation like the one you described is to work on obtaining referrals to maximize the number of future interviews. Once you have 4-5 companies inviting you and you are well prepared, one bad experience with one interviewer cannot affect much the probability to obtain at least an offer.

Best,

Francesco

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Anonymous B replied on Nov 18, 2018

I am not an expert but am an industry hire who is going for MBB but has the experience of helping my HR recruit new hires as an in-house consultant for some time. I agree with Guennael 300% on firms' granting recruiters/case givers/interviewers with the "implicit trust" on their ability to interview you. If you complain, you not only lose your chance of interviewing there again in the future but also force the firm to remember you with a bad taste. Whoever gave you a hard time might not be working there by the time of your second attempt in few years. We live in the small world, and don't just burn the bridge now for later.

I've been interviewed by a non-MBB consulting firm. I had an incident where one of the managing directors who interviewed me over the phone during the second interview of my round 2 had to hang up on me in the middle of giving me a case because of a client call. By then, I had spent only 20 minutes of the 30-min scheduled slot. Even before reaching out to HR about re-scheduling the call, the firm sent me a rejection email. Was it fair? No. Was I angry? Yes. Did I complain? I did among my friends and family. Did I report to the firm? No. That says something about the culture of the firm, and I stayed away from the company. Looking back, I am so glad that I did.

With that note, yes, life is not fair. Whatever the firm was, that is not the only firm in the world. Stay away, cool off, continue practicing your cases and focus on your career with your goals intact. Just my two cents.

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Vlad
Expert
replied on Nov 18, 2018
McKinsey / Accenture Alum / Got all BIG3 offers / Harvard Business School

Hi,

I recommend deriving the best out of this feedback and moving forward. You will get literally nothing by complaining and this can even close the future opportunities with the company.

Consulting interviews is a lot about luck and there is nothing you can do here. What you can do - prepare and perform at your best.

Good luck!

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Anonymous replied on Nov 19, 2018

Agree with everybody else here: Tough luck, deal with it.

And by the way: Clients will be d*cks and c*nts as well sometimes. So get used to it. It happens, there's no way around it. Best you can do is stay the course and make them regret they didn't hire you by being awesome somewhere else.

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Francesco gave the best answer

Francesco

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