I'll spare the details and give a TLDR version.

I recently was recruited for a position. Had initial interview with HR who sent me along to next phase. The hiring manager was out sick and had to reschedule but they wanted me to still interview with the rest of the panel. That went well and I waited for the day of the rescheduled interview. 
The morning of the rescheduled interview, I get an email from the recruiter saying the hiring manager was canceling as they found a candidate. I thought it was a little odd to at least not talk to me, but I thanked her and sent well wishes. Fast forward two days, same recruiter calls this time...doesn't offer an explanation, but asks if they can schedule the interview Afterall.  Me being admittedly a somewhat spiteful person declined the interview, to which the recruiter was audibly surprised.  She had to gather her words.. ask if I was sure, then thanked me anyways. 

So my question is what would you have done? The same? Interviewed after all? Part of me feels like I let my ego make the decision lol.

If the interview with the others went well and the compensation was good I would've accepted the final interview invite.

posted by kizer permanente

I'll spare the details and give a TLDR version.

I recently was recruited for a position. Had initial interview with HR who sent me along to next phase. The hiring manager was out sick and had to reschedule but they wanted me to still interview with the rest of the panel. That went well and I waited for the day of the rescheduled interview. 
The morning of the rescheduled interview, I get an email from the recruiter saying the hiring manager was canceling as they found a candidate. I thought it was a little odd to at least not talk to me, but I thanked her and sent well wishes. Fast forward two days, same recruiter calls this time...doesn't offer an explanation, but asks if they can schedule the interview Afterall.  Me being admittedly a somewhat spiteful person declined the interview, to which the recruiter was audibly surprised.  She had to gather her words.. ask if I was sure, then thanked me anyways. 

So my question is what would you have done? The same? Interviewed after all? Part of me feels like I let my ego make the decision lol.

The only thing is maybe they had a legit reason for wanting you to comeback.

Seems like the majority of interviews for a job have a penciled in favorite.

You probably did let your ego get in the way but you are also probably correct in doing so.

posted by justincredible

If the interview with the others went well and the compensation was good I would've accepted the final interview invite.

To me, it boiled down to I lost respect for the person who would be my boss who would dismiss someone without talking to them. Didn’t seem like a good situation to be in. 

I don’t think there’d be any harm in doing the interview. If it works out then great. If not then you tell them no just like you’re doing now anyways. 

posted by kizer permanente

To me, it boiled down to I lost respect for the person who would be my boss who would dismiss someone without talking to them. Didn’t seem like a good situation to be in.

Kind of where I'm at.  I see a number of potential red flags there.

Obviously the person they hired got a better offer.  And since the manager didn't even bother to interview you after others already had, I'm guessing they tried to get someone overqualified on the cheap and it blew up on them.

Yeah, I don't think that's someone I'd want to work for.  That person is a clown.  I'd have told them "buh-bye", too.  And Justin proper has the right take, but that's the wrong foot to have to start off on with a new company.

As for compensation. In the initial screening I gave a number that I needed. They said it was in their range but the high end. 

I’ve found you never get offered that when they tell you it’s on their high range. 

I’d have taken it, gotten the offer, and declined immediately at that point. Or maybe waited the length they gave for a decision. Either way, I’d make them waste more resources and time on me just to say no. 

posted by Laley23

I’d have taken it, gotten the offer, and declined immediately at that point. Or maybe waited the length they gave for a decision. Either way, I’d make them waste more resources and time on me just to say no. 

This is the way

Bang the boss’s wife and upper deck his toilet. 

posted by friendfromlowry

Bang the boss’s wife and upper deck his toilet. 

Correction to my earlier statement. This is the way

posted by kizer permanente

As for compensation. In the initial screening I gave a number that I needed. They said it was in their range but the high end.

"The high end of our range".  WTF?!?  They're either willing to pay it or not, so where it falls within their range is irrelevant.  I wonder if there's actually research on that, or just a lot of sloppy/poorly trained HR folks that don't understand how to have these conversations.

Do your job.  If I've done my homework, I know my value and so should you.  And if you're way below market and I'm highly qualified, then you can't afford me.

You missed a great opportunity to look at the guy that passed on you the first time and turn him down in person.

Or go in and name a huge pay increase a ridiculous employment package.

posted by kizer permanente

I’ve found you never get offered that when they tell you it’s on their high range. 

That's interesting.  I've never been offered a number that was lower than discussed.  But maybe because when I've been in the top of the range there weren't any further discussions...

It's such a butchered process most of the time.  HR is the worst.  I've met very few who were competent at their job. 

posted by gut

 HR is the worst.  I've met very few who were competent at their job. 

Thanks. I appreciate the positive vibes. 

I would have done it but my asking salary would have significantly jumped. 

posted by jmog

I would have done it but my asking salary would have significantly jumped. 

I thought about that too  but I figured when I did that ( or even when I told them no) they just went on to the next person anyways  

I’m sure it wasn’t meant to be. 

However, the problem could have been the recruiter.  I have experience many mediocre people in that world: horrible communication (with me and employer), poor organization, ill-informed on job details, stupidity like “that salary is at the top of our range”, etc.  This wasn’t necessarily the case here, but it could have been.  

posted by Laley23

I’d have taken it, gotten the offer, and declined immediately at that point. Or maybe waited the length they gave for a decision. Either way, I’d make them waste more resources and time on me just to say no. 

I think this is the best route, unless they give an offer you couldn’t refuse.  This company definitely has red flags.

First, that wasn't tl;dr

Second, you should have taken the interview

posted by Laley23

I’d have taken it, gotten the offer, and declined immediately at that point. Or maybe waited the length they gave for a decision. Either way, I’d make them waste more resources and time on me just to say no. 

true spite, this is the way.