I am thinking of ditching an Interview

[sr71blackbird]

Where I work, I am in a union. I have a respected position and am looked at as a valuable player on the team.
My pay is limited though and so I always look for other jobs.
My old boss is now in this trade support roll dealing with plumber and customer issues. Its kind of a powerful position, with several perks and good pay.
I applied for the same position as he, but I never liked the man. He holds imagined "favors" over your head to compel you to act and he belittles me and others very often. He is a dick!
He was pushing me to apply for the job, saying I will be perfect for it. He also said to me that he put good word in for me, and that I am "in".
My interview is Friday and he didn't know, but today asked me when it was and I told him.
He went away and came back with a pack of papers and gave it to me.
I look at it and see the cover and he tells me it is all the questions they will be asking me on the interview!
He tells me to read it and study it and show no one. I hid it.

After he left its been gnawing at me. I didnt look at it or anything, but I am getting really nervous. I keep thinking about what he really is and realize that he may be giving it to me as a tool with which he can use as leverage to manipulate me later on. I put the papers in an interoffice envelope and went to give it back to him, but he had left for the day. I left it on his desk. I left the office and am now home.

I am now thinking that I will call sick into work for the next few days to avoid the interview.
I do not really want the job now, partly because of what he did and partly because I feel that management is not a safe place right now because the company was just taken over.

Am I being childish and a wuss? Should I havv taken the notes and aced the interview? I know that I would have aced it on my own!

[donnie_darko]

yes you are being a "wus" corporate america isn't your jr high baseball team.
in most places you will find that its not the best person who gets the job, it's whoever someone in charge likes...simple as that.

now i agree with you with not wanting to be in management with an ownership change, in most cases managers are the onces who go when the new people bring in the people they want.

but seriously, it's an interview and obviously you've been chosen, i'm sure when he got his job someone in charge did the same thing

[milliehatchett]

I would think that he is more interested in getting someone to work for him that he's familiar with and that does a good job for him than finding something to use as leverage. If he tries to use "getting you this job" as leverage - what then? Do you cave in and do as he asks? Is he going to tell his superiors that HE gave you the interview questions therefor you must do this for him? I don't think so.

If you take the job and work for him while looking for (and finding) another job - all that's happened is that you've had a better salary while doing so. I say go for it. Don't wus out - go in and TAKE that job...for now.

[nancy drew]

I'm just a kid and have never had a "real job," but i'm prettttttty sure i would have freaked out and called in sick to avoid the situation.:flush:

[led37zep]

Just because you interview doesn't mean you have to take the job...right? It might save you some face to go along with the interview and turn it down for (insert made up reason) rather than avoid the problem all together.

[topless_mike]

hold onto those papers....

maybe he wants you to get this job as somebody earlier said, they know you would be a perfect fit. go for it and turn it down, if offered if its really bothering you.
if you accept it, take the money do your work, and ignore his stupid ass.

if shit gets thick, and you are forced to walk the plank, you can always break out the papers to somebody higher and say, you might want to know where i got these from.

go for it !!!!


whats the worst that could happen?

[sr71blackbird]

After I made this post, I had a panic attack and almost got physically sick. It is fortunate that I had an appointment with my therapist last night.
I saw my old boss today (the one who tried to give me the papers) and I told him while I appreciate him giving me them, I didnt look at it and needed to go though this on my own, so that I will know it was me that carried the interview. That I need to do it this way for my own self respect.
The interview is tomorrow, and my therapist gave me some pointers on what to ask, specifically as it relates to the chain of command and if I would in any way be reporting to my old boss. If I get the vibe that I would be subordinate to him, I will decline the position. But I will go through with it to see what they have to offer me.

[Kris10]

First off I could hurt you for not texting me about this situation. Secondly, your too fuckin busy worrying about my problems that you didn't tell me you got the damn interview! If it wasn't 2:24 in the morning I'd be fuckin calling your ass right now and waking you the hell up & it wouldn't be in any way you'd enjoy!

Set aside a time tomorrow for us to talk!

And good luck on the interview you asshole! :thumbup:

[TeeBone]

Where I work, I am in a union. I have a respected position...

I didn't know respectable positions still existed within unions.
(exhibit A - Dave MacDonald)

[Kris10]

Ok, we kissed and made up.

[MobCounty]

Always take every opportunity to further yourself.

Frankly, the first person to believe in you, should be you. If you don't, who will...?

Ace it... Accept it, or don't.. but ace it. Then apply somewhere away from that asshat, and find a spot where your work is appreciated and is collaborative.


Again, further yourself. You will never regret it.

[sr71blackbird]

I went to the interview and it went extremely well. They interviewed 15 other people too.
I know that the people who interviewed me have a lot of respect for me and my reputation there is very good. My main problem is my old boss, who would be an equal to me if I take the position. He has hung things over my head to compel me to do things as if he "saved" me in the past. My old boss is not my current boss. I am not sure if I made that clear earlier. My current boss is a great guy.
I will probably find out sometimes next week or the week after if I am offered it. They were unable to give me a figure on pay at the interview, they said if I am chosen they will make me an offer and I can make a decision.
I am glad I went though it and did well on my own without any help or advanced knowledge of the questions they threw at me. My answers seemed to satisfy them.

[sailor]

you're pretty much going to always work with some jerks, so i wouldn't be swayed by that, PLUS he won't be your boss at the new job. best of luck!