Airgas in Appleton, WI led me on a a glorious near two-month long journey, touting all along the way that I was a great and exceptional fit for the first position they offered me, and then dangled another position in front of me saying I could apply for that if this one did not work out. Went through 4 interviews, a 4 hour long test online and a week between each interview.
During the last interview, I was told that it was between me and two other candidates. I was pleased to hear that. I thought I had a good chance, especially with my experience and past work history. Nope, sorry, a week later I get a call from the HR coordinator saying sorry you are no good, we promoted from within.
During my last interview, they offered me a chance at another position, slightly less in pay, if this one did not work out for me. I said well of course, it seems like another good fit for me.
So I ended up going in for an interview the following week for this position.
A week and a half later, I receive a rejection for the second position via email. The good old cookie cutter response that every single company dishes you these days; "We are sorry, we have decided to pursue other candidates". I'm sorry, but my experience was in line with both positions, and all interview managers claimed I was a great and precise fit. Apparently, I wasn't good enough after all.
I have been unemployed for over 8 months, and this is the closest I have gotten to a position within something I am proficient in. I have been applying constantly and this is 1 of 4 places out of about 350 that I actually got called for an interview at. I am sick and tired of companies teasing positions in front of you, claiming you are such a great fit, and then pass over you, waste hours and hours of my time, and only in the end to give me some canned joke response that I am all of a sudden not a good fit and we aren't interested.
The hiring practices of today's companies makes it so difficult for individuals possessing the necessary skills to gain entry to positions that they are qualified for. Somewhere along the line, it became necessary to load the hiring process with bureaucracy, 5 different people involved in the interview and communication process, 3 different departments, etc. etc. You could be the best qualified individual for the job and answer one of their trick questions wrong and you cut your own throat. The job hunt, and job search is disgusting.
And Airgas is no exception. Just another bureaucratic company that uses trick questions and tests to see if the candidates know how to answer correctly.
Because 7 years direct experience in a very similar field, and 6 years combined periphery experience in customer service and sales must mean something.Oh, and a college education. And I am 25. I am young and ready to work.
So I know that I was passed over for ridiculous reasons such as not smiling enough or wearing the wrong colored tie.
At this point, I am pulling out of the job hunt. This frustrated me to a point that I just don't care anymore. If you feel like being toyed with, apply at this company. If not, move on and hopefully your future looks better then mine.