Skill-Link|A CRY OVER LOST VALUES

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Tuesday, September 07, 2010

A CRY OVER LOST VALUES

	A CRY OVER LOST VALUES
	Read what a skill-link.com user has to say

Dear sir / madam;
I am one of the frequent visitors of your website where I read with lots of interests your articles and professional advice to job seekers. This time, I am writing to complain about a very common kind of unprofessional behavior by employers I often encounter in interviews. As I usually arrive on time, I some times don't find the contact person who is supposed to interview me for the job for any reason. Moreover, the person who meets me even doesn't care to apologize ! What do you call such a behavior for heaven's sake ? Is it professional ? This situation happened to me about three times till now. If any reason like transportation delayed me even for minutes, it could have been an unacceptable mistake from my side as a job seeker, but when it comes to the employer, it is O. K, nothing has happened. Worse … I am told that I should come later.
Last time, I had an interview at a reputable company in the field of electronics about two months ago. The secretary at the reception told me to wait for some minutes which lasted for almost an hour. When I asked her when I will be able to meet Mr. M as I will not be able to wait any more. To my surprise, the secretary told me he is not at the company right now since he has a seminar in the 10th of Ramadan city but he is on the way. I asked her " So, why did you give me this deadline? and Couldn't you phone to delay or cancel it when he found he has more important thing to do?" The secretary's answer was " Well, it is not our fault!"
Two month's later, I got a telephone from the same company for an interview. I thought it might be an apology for the last time. As I met the General Manager of this company, he was only caring to ask me about why was I that angry with his staff last time. My reply was that I am a kind of a person who appreciates the value of time very well. Then, he sent me to the Sector Manager. After I had another interview with the Sector Manager and performed a typing test, the Sector Manager said " You got hired by our company, you can start from tomorrow as an executive secretary, welcome on board" Moreover, he gave me a CD about the company and its activities. Later, he introduced me to the other staff as a new employee.
What was next, as he told me, was to return back to the General Manager to discuss the salary and details. As I went there, I was stopped by his secretary telling me that he will call me later when there is a chance and that he is busy right now and can't meet me! Then, I saw another woman coming out of his office who seemed well known by the staff. As I returned back to the Sector Manager telling him of that situation, he was astonished and phoned the General Manager as a result. Then, he told me that there is another one and now the choice is between me and her and that I should call him tomorrow to get his final word. The next day, I called him to get the reply " Sorry, the other girl was chosen" I was expecting that but my disappointment came due to the fact that he gave me his word.
My two questions here are " Where is the value of time?" and " Don't words have any prices?" By the way, This wasn't the first time nor the last one for me to be stood up in an interview. I would appreciate your commentary, thank you in advance.
N.A.

From skill-link.com:
Dear Miss. A;
Unfortunately all what you have described happens… and even worse. The same occurs from job seekers, a statistic we published before revealed that 18% of the candidates we arrange an interview for do not show up (and do not apologize for not showing up), others accept an offer and decide on the day they were supposed to join the new employer that they changed their mind… basically requiring that employer to go through the recruitment process again and spend days if not weeks in delay. Last week, one of our colleagues in skill-link.com called a registered user on our database (a job seeker) in the afternoon to tell him about a job we thought suitable for him…. Do you know what his answer was ? "I am currently watching a football match on TV, please call me later"… the horror stories could go on and on… from both employers and job seekers… they basically reflect all what is wrong with our society a sever lack of professionalism, courtesy, reliability and attention to values and quality. Who should be blamed ? home (the family)….., the education system (remember professors in university who would not show up for their lectures)…., the media (when was the last time the Egyptian TV's channel one abided by its schedule ….. , long years of socialism and public sector domination… the fact that we are a rural society that is relaxed and laid back…?
Even our religion(s), whether Muslims or Christians, advocate that we maintain high values and stress the importance of respecting others and dealing with them accordingly…. On the street you can see tens of thousands wearing veils, growing beards, wearing large gold crosses or leaving work so as to pray at the start of the prayer time… yet such a 'superficial' religious behavior does not seem to extend to dealing with others or acting professionally. Let alone throwing garbage in the streets, spitting, driving in the wrong direction in a one way street and all the occurrences we witness every day.

Why were many Egyptians surprised we got 'zero' votes to organize the 2010 world cup in football ?! It is obvious.

Once we solve this dilemma, we can hope to become a better nation, and compete with others economically and politically…..

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