So, a US-based confections company recently reached out to me on LinkedIn.
They seemed pretty fine in general, and I like sweets, and as an engineer I haven't really worked with a company that produces food before, let alone sweets, so I decided to give it a go.
The first interview with HR went okay, it's the usual “check you are not literally unaliving people as a hobby” kind of an interview, then I talked to some of their engineers in the next few rounds, seemed like really chill people in general, and I was fairly impressed by how normal everyone seemed there.
Then it was a turn to interview with her.
Wellness Officer.
At this point I am used to this type of cringe, you know, those super upbeat “love everyone” people who go around and pretend HR is a science? Yup, this place got 'em. Alright, I think, it is not any more cringe than my current employer, I guess the companies just do this crap now.
So for the interview, it is the last stage of the interview where they (once again) check whether you're a good fit for the company, except this is a much deeper, more harrowing experience. There were questions like “Did you ever talk about a teammate behind their back” and “How do you approach a situation where you feel like someone is doing something illegal” and all those questions are always annoying to have to answer, but I just let that slide because, whatever, she's just reading a script anyways and it is obvious nobody wants to work with psychos so I also kind of understand it.
But oh well.
Then I got _THE_ question.
The question was along the lines of “How do you feel about unions and do you align yourself with any type of socialist ideology?”. to which I said “Uh… what?” and she was like “We just want to make sure you are a good fit for the position, so please answer truthfully.”
And here's the thing, I have never, in a single place ever, found this question to be asked, where there wasn't some serious malpractice.
And this seriously pushed all the red alert buttons in my head. In an instant I felt like I've been exposed to an admission of a crime. An epiphany that this place full of chill smiling people is just a front for some sort of exploitation.
Anyhow, caught offguard, I answered with a question, half laughing and asking if this is some US kind of a thing that we Europeans just don't get.
She said it is not in her job description to explain reasoning behind those questions (whose is it, you are literally facing an interviewee?!)
I then told her she is allowed to go off the script, and that if she is not willing to be truthful with me about this affair, that I don't think I really want to consider working there, and that even if they employed me, I would leave at the first sign of union busting or discrimination.
So for a moment she just went with a blank stare and said “I will just need to talk to my supervisor and get back to you, okay?” I nodded at it. Then we said bye to each other and that was the end of the interviews.
Today (about a week since the last interview) I was contacted by the recruiter that initially talked to me, and being a contractor, I assumed she really had no skin in the game, so she told me the usual stuff, that company does not want to continue through with the process with me because we are not on the same page, which I fully expected.
Then I asked her honestly what she really thinks about this whole affair, I also explained to her that I did tech interviews really well, and I wanted to fish some info out of her and then I noted I feel like they might be union busting assholes because of the question the Wellness Officer (I noted a name) asked me.
And my god, then she went off the rails.
“SHE ALWAYS DOES THIS! She always tells people they aren't allowed to work from home (wasn't a question for me because I am remote anyways) or clock OT hours in (also didn't consider this as I would be a hourly contractor) so I always find it so hard to get a commission with >X< company! She is SO INFURIATING!"
Like, can you imagine a recruiter being so annoyed that she can't get a commission because the last stage interviewer axes so many people she literally doesn't get paid enough?
I told her “Well, for what is worth, >Recruiter<, I think you did a fine job in general, maybe YOU need a union to protect you from crap orchestrated so high up in the company!" I said while laughing and she just stared at me and was like "You know what, it looks like I do. Anyhow, I am sorry about this I really thought things would be fine."
Then we chatted a bit randomly before ending the call.
Mind you, this is not the first time I've seen that a recruiter was pissed about being denied a commission fee because a company has some insane practices like this, but it was the first time where I've seen a recruiter just go off the rails and show me she's internally screaming at this whole situation. Amazing.
Well, this job was never meant to be. And I don't really care either way, it was a fine experience, just wish information about insane union busting culture wasn't withheld from me until the end.