A friend's interview experience with Comcast this week.

[onehandle]

Up front they were asked what they are making now and what they want to make.

Comcast was told.

Interview continued for an hour, including experience discussion and an open ended Q&A.

After the interview the friend was told that position pays about 25% less than what they are making now and was asked if they wanted to move on to the skills tests. My friend declined.


This is what companies do now. I call them 'fishing expeditions.' They waste your time to collect data on who is out there and how low they can get them for.


Fuck Comcast. Fuck modern day job seeking.

[drray23]

1. i would not answer that upfront

Usually, you do not answer that upfront. Instead say something along the lines that if we reach a mutual agreement as to whether or not you can fill their needs, then this can be discussed. If they insist about it upfront, then they are fishing and you walk away.
I had to do that in the past and it has always worked to my advantage. Companies that have a real need to fill a specific position will not insist and play that game. Those that are simply trying to hire a new person to replace another one at 25 % less, will try to BS you.

[titaniumsalute]

3. You are exactly right

The best answer is what you said along the lines of mutually agreeing that you're the best match for their expectations, etc. Fair market wage, etc.

The problem is most people don't want to make the interviewer feel uncomfortable as they may terminate the interview. Take the risk...more times than not the interview will continue.

[dixiegrrrrl]

10. Best answer is to add 25% to your number when they ask what you are making now.

2 can play that game.

[titaniumsalute]

11. That can work sometimes

But if I am hiring and I know the position should pay about $60,000 and you say your making $75,000...I may just right you off as too much salary based on the position. You need to be careful with that tactic and use it strategically.

[onehandle]

4. They would not interview them without a specific answer.

Some companies are like that.

The point is, they wasted my friend's time to improve their database.

[DrDan]

2. yesterday Clark Howard not only labeled them the WORST cable company in the U.S., but the worst

corporation overall.

[underpants]

9. XFINITY! Notice their commercials and service trucks

I caught this on an Xfinity commercial about a year ago - there is hardly any mention of "Comcast". Their brand is soon bad that they avoid using it. Their trucks will have XFINITY in big bold letters and you have to look to find Comcast on the truck. I have seen several trucks with no mention of Comcast at all.

Haven't heard Clark Howard in a while. Good short bits of advise from him, used to really enjoyed it.

[jtuck004]

5. Too bad the devil showing up with a contract for your soul is just a Twilight Zone fantasy.

Would be far preferable to working on the Comcast\Xfinity Plantation.

[matt819]

6. Not only big companies

Of course, anecdotal evidence is not necessarily representative, but here's another anecdote.

One of my children went to interview at a small family-owned business. After it was clear they were going to hire her, they asked what she "needed" to make, basically, enough to pay her rent, bills, etc. Real BS.

To finish the story, she took the job and was fired after 3.5 months, when she learned that this employer did this regularly, getting cheap labor and then firing them before the requirement for unemployment comp kicked in. Turns out the employer was messing with the wrong kid. My child had it in writing that he wasn't being fired for cause and, besides, the employer missed the firing "deadline" by two weeks. Child got unemployment comp and won employer's appeal against same.

Anecdotes aside, you are right. We're in a race to the bottom.

[1939]

12. Mom and Pop stores

Everyone speaks with nostalgia about the Mom and Pop stores and what wonderful places they are to work. I worked for "Mom and Pop" while I was in high school. I got paid under the table. When Mom wanted to do her own shopping, she would come in and clean out the cash register. Then Pop would look at the cash register and say that he hadn't made much money and that my pay would be a couple of days late. Ah, the wonderful 1950s.

[underpants]

7. First I would have mentioned a service outage in Altoona PA

Then I would have asked them to hold until ....

There always seemed to be an outage in Altoona. I could tell a long story about my calling Comcast daily (I am probably part of their training program ) but let me just say that the excuses for my internet being out - not the TV mind you - included "squirrels" and "static".

Sounds like they were just feeling out the market. I'd bet that regardless of the number you friend gave their numbers was always going to be 25% less.

[gregcrawford]

8. Corporatism is a cancer.

"Corporatism" is what Benito Mussolini preferred to call his system of government. Corporatists would do well to reflect on "Il Duce's" fate.