Job Discussion Forums

Siobhan 22 · Joined: 13 Jul 2016 Posts: 170

Here's a conundrum (all facts anonymized).

A recuitment agency ('R') advertises for a company ('C') running a small network of colleges on Saudi Arabia. Face-to-face interviews advertised at UK locations.

An interviewee, on the understanding that interviews are only face-to-face travels from a third country. Arrives at R premises, with bunting, balloons and placards prominently displayed outside belong to C. Arrives 20 minutes early at R and is told, oh the interviewer from C is just finishing a Skype interview.

Interviewee thinks to herself, why on earth was I not given this option?

Anyway, the face-to-face interview starts and for the first 15 mins a Skype interview is being conducted by another interviewer (wearing headphones) sitting adjacent (ca. 2metres away) to the interviewer and interviewee - conducted rather loudly and intrusively.

Face-to-face interview ends, interviewer says C will inform her of the decision within 7-10 days. 28 days, no contact; applicant contacts R and one day later receives reply that interview was unsuccessful.

Applicant miffed:
1. No expeditious reply from an actual interview.
2. If two Skype interviews took place within the space of 45 mins, extrapolating out over a 5-day period of interviews, how many other Skype interviews must have taken place?
3. Why, when tne applicant's CV/address details etc. reached C, did they not offer a Skype interview?

Now...

what are the chances of the applicant having travel and accommodation expenses reimburesed from C after:

(i) (a) letter of complaint
(i) (b) after agreeing to ADR/mediation (discussed as part of the letter)
(ii) after pursuing a UK small claims court online case?

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

David S · Joined: 21 Apr 2016 Posts: 25 Location: Edinburgh

If an applicant is informed no skype interviews will be conducted, but the R and C know fully that the applicant lives abroad and comes in good faith believing that she will be treated fairly on a level playing field and finds her interview

PREFACED by a Skype interview and
INTERRUPTED, or CONDUCTED IN PARALLEL with a Skype
interview,

she would certainly be well advised to raise it with the contractor company and see what their response is - no harm in trying that.

In terms of a small claims court claim, you never know - it's cheap to do it online, the company's legal team may not turn up (and you win by default) or the company may decide it's not worth the candle and settle.

In terms of legal advice, few on here are able to speak definitively - the facts are clear but the grey areas are whether she was informed about the no skype interviews by the recruiter or contractor. Evidently, if the interview was arranged by the R on behalf of the C, it would still be conducted by C and under their rules.

To address Nomad Soul's point, your address is on your CV and it would be clear where you are based.

From posts elsewhere by the applicant, I think I know who the company is. It's a big British company and I think if you write to the HR Director and copy the COE, things might go your way.

If not, write them a "letter before action" before you start the small claims route, send it to HR Director and COE again and see what happens.

There are a few grey areas (some highlighted by Nomad Soul), but it's 55/45, 60/40 you might make headway.

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Maybe a lucky escape ? imagine what it might be like working for these people !

hash · Joined: 17 Dec 2014 Posts: 456 Location: Wadi Jinn

David S · Joined: 21 Apr 2016 Posts: 25 Location: Edinburgh

Despite the caveats given, it's worth raising this matter - you have little to lose.

I don't think you need worry about career prospects in the fantastic world of ESL being damaged - it's a kind of 'demi-world' compared with other professions anyway. (I'm also assuming you haven't got a string of vexatious cases behind you anyway).

mashkif · Joined: 17 Aug 2010 Posts: 178

In addition to the other replies and meaning any disrespect, I think Saudi Barbaria might not be the right choice of venue to live and work for the O.P. anyway. There, many things are done "on the fly," there is little certainty and predictability, and there are even fewer legal protections or other forms of redress if (or, usually, when) things go wrong. That includes some very basic matters such as passport and visa processing, the allocation of classes, the payment of salaries, the hours to be worked, everything related to overtime, and so forth and so on.

I would seriously look at seeking employment elsewhere.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

"I know my rights. They can't do this to me !" Fine in some places. It will not get you far in the Middle East.

Siobhan 22 · Joined: 13 Jul 2016 Posts: 170

On a point of information, both R and C are British companies, the C having a turnover of over billion pounds.

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

This info doesn't change the fact that the applicant twice chose not to inform the prospective employer that she would have to travel from abroad despite being fully aware interviews were held in the UK. She put herself in this position and owns the consequences. Lesson learned, move on.

I agree with mashkif -- KSA likely isn't a good fit given her expectations.

BajaLaJaula · Joined: 25 Jan 2007 Posts: 267

Assuming that the job was for a saudi company...the chances of getting your money reimbursed to you........zilch.
Count yourself lucky that they did not offer you the job. You are better off.
BTW.....all of the this sounds like rather unethical business practice by company C.....pretty standard for SOWDY. It's just how they do business.