Expert: Torski Dobson-Arnold - 11/19/2008

Question
QUESTION: I am a professional who is currently working in UK as an International Product Manager for a Diagnostic Company, previously I have worked for 2 Blue Chip Pharmaceuticals in Marketing and Sales.
2 weeks back I got a call from another Blue Chip Pharma, they have a Brand Manager position for Gulf countries based in Dubai. I excused politely telling them that as it has been only 6 months in UK it wouldn't be right if I moved, any way later I discussed this with my family who appeared quite keen on moving to UAE (initially we were planning to do the same but didn't do so as the money offered is low when you apply from India or Pakistan compared to what they offer when you are sitting in a First world country).
I called them back last week and said I would be interested as eventually I want to get settled in UAE and this being a blue chip pharma seems like and exciting opportunity. The HR Manager said he will call me next week (which is this current week) to setup interview. On Sunday (the beginning of UAE week) i emailed him a time schedule of availability for telephone interview but have not heard from them. This normally doesn't happen here and responses are quick, plus we are given complete details of job description and specification here. He didn't provide anything instead I had to ask questions to understand about the position.
Is this normal for UAE? Do you think it would be technically correct if I wait till thursday and call them again if they haven't called in the meanwhile? or should i think they are no more interested or forgot about me? I am a bit confused as to what I should expect as I donot know much about their work culture.

Do you think I would get a better offer now being in UK compared to when i was back home? What is the interview process? Do they have telephone interviews or just face to face interviews? Please guide me through this as I am really very confused!!!!

ANSWER: Ali:

Whereas I am not familiar with UAE and its characteristics, as a former executive recruiter, I do know disinterest when I see it.  Basically speaking, this recruiter had initially offered you the opportunity and seems as though he sought you out to provide details and/or information about it.  You have got to understand that once you said that you were not interested, like any successful recruiter, they have moved on to other prospects in the field in regards to this particular opportunity.  I am pretty confident of this being the case.

I think the moral of this story is simply this, when you are sought again and speak to someone else in regards to another opportunity, do not be so quick to close the door flat.  Have the individual send you the job description and other information that you explain is customary to provide in your culture and have the conversation with important love ones at that point.  Once you have conferred with family, friends, mentors, and maybe even colleagues and have made a decision over whether or not to pursue it, then and only then should you make the decision to entertain phone screens and/or face-to-face interviews.

If I were you, I'd chuck this up to a lesson learned and move on because I doubt very seriously that you are going to be hearing from this company again.  My guess is that they're courting someone else for this opportunity and truth be told, it may not have been "made for you" anyway.  Moreover, if this company still wants you, they will get in contact with you the same way they did at the initial contact stage.  If you have called them, spoken to someone, and e-mailed the company, I wouldn't keep that up. You wouldn't want to become a pest unknowingly and then hurt your chances for future opportunities.


Thank you for allowing my experience and expertise to mold your career planning experiences.  MAKE IT A GREAT DAY!

-Torski

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Torski,

Thanks for the valuable input but there is just one clarification i need to make, I didn't contact them after a long time, infact it was the same day a couple of hours later so would the fact about moving ahead in the recruitment process apply here?

ANSWER: Absolutely.  Recruiters are paid or make money based on whether or not they find the right talent, for the right role, and the right time.

If you offered a definitive "no" to the opportunity, chances are they moved on immediately.

-Torski

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks again Torski but in this case I was contacted by the Company HR not the recruiter and I contacted them within 2 hrs of their call not the recruiter! So although the HR Manager said an interview will be scheduled this week i should not expect a call from them or try to contact them for a second time next week?

Answer
Again, if you have retracted your level of interest from "not interested" to "yes, I am interested".  They are already aware of this.  If they wish to contact you, they will contact you the same way they did before.

If they truly intend to call, I am certain they will call you and confirm this, the same way they sought you out initially.

I don't think there is anymore to be said on this topic at this point.

-Torski