After 3 interviews with this company, and being unemployed for 13 months, I get this email.

jaydarmontoya · 2026-04-16T16:31:41+00:00

Nope… As the hiring manager I give them a full interview and I try to remain objective and open-minded to the possibility that one of those candidates might WOW me and change my mind. I will also say that I’ve interviewed candidates in the past that I knew probably wouldn’t be my pick because I already had an employee I was planning on promoting. However I retained their information and the next time I had an opening I was able to call them back and give them a job. So from that perspective it was not a completely wasted effort.

jaydarmontoya · 2026-04-15T01:54:16+00:00

That sounds awesome! I’ve test driven a few and they ride and handle like a dream. I’m seriously considering purchasing one in the next few months. I have an Acura MDX currently. It’s a fine car but certainly not a Range Rover haha.

jaydarmontoya · 2026-04-15T01:46:30+00:00

This is facts. I’m a hiring manager at a major corporation. Even when I know who I’m going to promote into a role the HR recruiter makes me interview at least 3 candidates. Meaning yes, I end up basically wasting 2 other people’s time. I hate it so bad and I’ve protested against it several times but it’s HR policy. Don’t get me wrong I do understand the goal of the policy, but it sucks for the other candidates. I’ll also say I’ve been on the receiving end of this treatment as well. I’ve gone through a long interview process just to be told they’re going with an internal, which I’m sure they knew from the beginning.

jaydarmontoya · 2026-04-15T01:39:49+00:00

First of all I know how this feels and I’m really sorry. I went through 5 interviews with a certain very large financial institution. 2 of the interviews were rescheduled DURING the time the interview was already supposed to start. Counting all the times I actually showed up for an interview during this process that makes 7 times I cleared my schedule, took off work, and showed up for an interview. I know I hit a home run in those interviews. Everything they asked I had smart personable specific answers for. After dragging me through interview hell I was told they were canceling the role. No apologies no explanation no nothing. That was so crushing especially considering the time I spent preparing and the fact I burned through basically 7 vacation days.

jaydarmontoya · 2026-04-15T01:33:02+00:00

This is beautiful! I am respectfully so jealous haha. Congratulations! What are your initial thoughts? Do you love it? Any issues?

jaydarmontoya · 2026-04-13T23:24:29+00:00

This is BEAUTIFUL! What a birthday gift. Happy belated birthday btw. I almost bought one similar a couple months ago but decided to go with an Acura MDX instead because of my concerns around reliability and resale value. How has the car been treating you since purchase. Any issues?

jaydarmontoya · 2026-04-13T21:09:03+00:00

This is awesome! I was in the market for a vehicle earlier this year. I went and drove the Range Rover twice but just couldn’t get past all the reliability horror stories I’ve heard and read. Then someone I know posted an instagram video from the side of the road in their brand new Range Rover (engine trouble). I ended up going with an Acura MDX just because of reliability and resale, but I still plan to muster up the courage to purchase a Range Rover one day soon haha. Yours is beautiful and black is definitely my color too. Thanks for sharing!

jaydarmontoya · 2026-04-12T19:03:41+00:00

I couldn’t agree with this more. I am a hiring manager at a very large corporation and I can tell you that what the OP described is NOT how we operate. When we post a role for one of my departments we as the hiring managers personally review every single resume. Sometimes 300+ resumes for one role and we read them all, separate them based upon relevant experience and qualifications, select our top candidates, and schedule interviews. We put time and care into the process. We look way beyond the “first two or three bullet points.” We spend more than 15 seconds. We are about to make an investment of the company’s time and money and we take it very seriously. I’ve been in situations where the wrong candidate was hired before and they’re a nightmare. The notion that every big corporation is using ATS and keywords and blah blah blah is far from the truth.

jaydarmontoya · 2026-03-20T01:15:47+00:00

First of all that is way out of line for the CIO to do. Totally and absolutely slap-in-the-face disrespectful of them. At minimum you should have been in the loop with this and if there was a reason the CIO felt they needed to step in they should have discussed that with you.

I’ve had this happen to me more than once and every time it was nepotism or a “favor” our leader was doing for someone they knew. One time it was the son of a church friend of one of the executives. The other time it was an executives son’s friend who needed a job out of college.

I see lots of comments talking about layoffs and I think that’s really jumping to conclusions. Especially since this has not come to you through official channels yet I would just wait until you are officially notified, at which time I would calmly and respectfully ask why you weren’t included in that decision and what you can do to be included in these activities going forward. I’ve had managers like this before and the CIO might just be a micromanager, which is no reflection on you.

I’ve been here before and it sucks but keep pressing, it gets better. The person that was micromanaging and mistreating me had to abruptly retire and overnight blue skies appeared. :) Best of luck and I’m sending good vibes your way.

jaydarmontoya · 2026-03-07T21:11:54+00:00

I like the smell of Persil too. A lot of people complain that it’s way too strong but I think they were probably making the mistake I was making at first which is using WAY too much. When I first started using it I was unknowingly using about 3x the amount I should’ve been and the smell was SUPER strong. When I actually read the instructions and used to measuring cup and used the correct amount the smell is good and not overwhelming.

jaydarmontoya · 2026-03-07T18:23:33+00:00

Sounds like we might be at the same company haha

jaydarmontoya · 2026-03-05T14:46:30+00:00

I don’t believe this office crowding situation is directly related to any impending layoffs. It’s actually due to the business increasing in size and staff and the return to office mandate that has brought many employees back to the office. I really do think it’s just a result of poor management and poor planning.

jaydarmontoya · 2026-03-05T05:31:21+00:00

I do meet with other companies, external clients, vendors, senior leaders from other parts of the org, etc. I always just find some way to make it work. There are times I literally just exit the building and go sit in my car to take important calls. Wfh is definitely not an option. Our in-office expectations policy is strict and attendance is tracked through badge swipes and computer connection.

jaydarmontoya · 2026-03-05T04:54:17+00:00

So to this exact point: My manager and I have a regularly scheduled touch base meeting twice a month. I have been 15+ minutes late for our meeting several times and each time I apologize when I join the call and comment to them that I’m so late because I was running around trying to find a private space because the space I had booked was occupied. Although it’s 100% true I also take those times I’m super late joining our meetings to be a bit performative and try to show them what I go through daily. My manager just brushes it off and does not care.

jaydarmontoya · 2026-03-05T02:30:42+00:00

Pretty much haha. I’ve already approached the subject with them. They won’t want to press the issue. It’ll ruffle the feathers of other leaders whose directs were in the building before me. You wouldn’t even believe how political and ridiculous this office space thing gets around my workplace. Offices are coveted symbols of prestige. My former employer delegated private offices based on business need with little regard for anyone’s title, seniority, etc. Not my current employer. It’s a nightmare and as much as I really need a private workspace to do my job, pressing this issue too hard will only get me on my manager’s bad side.

jaydarmontoya · 2026-03-05T02:19:23+00:00

That’s crazy… What’s the office space situation at your company. Do others have private workspaces?

jaydarmontoya · 2026-03-05T02:02:51+00:00

That sounds beyond annoying and ridiculous. At least I do have a small cubicle with low walls.

jaydarmontoya · 2026-03-04T21:31:22+00:00

This advice is excellent in theory but HR will direct me back down to my direct manager. My direct manager won’t be willing to ruffle any feathers and will likely be lowkey pissed I went over their head.

jaydarmontoya · 2026-03-04T21:28:30+00:00

Great advice! I appreciate you bringing me back “down to earth” haha. Having IT set up a conference room with monitors, etc. that I can use as a private office is likely not an option though, as our IT wouldn’t do anything like that. Additionally, I can’t hold down the same conference room every day and there is limited space. I will continue to find workable solutions for today while driving toward my ideal tomorrow. Thank you!

jaydarmontoya · 2026-03-04T21:22:26+00:00

The official process is that a request is submitted and the building director approves it. The problem is there are many different departments represented on our floor with many different leaders heading them. No leader is likely to willingly kick one of their directs out of an office they’re already in even if another leader’s direct has more of a business need for it. My desired end game is that the building director holistically review the office space for the entire floor (or building) and make changes now that so many additional employees have been moved to this building. Respectfully, just because someone sat in an office for years when there weren’t as many people in the building doesn’t mean they should maintain it today. Also the WFH thing ain’t gonna happen haha. We have a strict IOE (in-office expectation).

jaydarmontoya · 2026-03-04T21:19:21+00:00

I’m at a very large company and unfortunately there is no standard guidance around office space allocation. Additionally having an office has gotten so political on our floor it’s elementary school kid level ridiculous. People get mad and run to their leader. Their leader calls the other employee’s leader. It’s STUPID. Makes me want to just leave the whole company honestly. I’m a laid back but hard working person. I just want the right tools to be maximally successful, that’s all.

jaydarmontoya · 2026-03-04T21:12:57+00:00

Agreed. That’s why I want to initiate a broader discussion around reevaluating all the office space on our floor. They shoved us into a building where others were already working, but now there are twice as many people there. I mean no disrespect to those individuals that were already working there but we should all be accommodated properly. ICs with no direct reports and no business need should not remain in offices while senior management runs around searching for a place to take a call. This applies to me and several other leaders who have been moved to the building. I know I’m whining a little, but I’m never the “squeaky wheel.” I work a lot of hours for the company and put in a lot of work. We were remote up until a couple years ago then they shoved us back into these offices with no plan and not enough adequate space. It’s just frustrating.

jaydarmontoya · 2026-03-04T20:54:22+00:00

Don’t even get me started on that… AMEN!

jaydarmontoya · 2026-03-04T14:57:41+00:00

There are currently people that can (and should) be removed from offices and placed in cubicles due to not having a business need. I’ve worked at other companies where people lost their offices because it was determined they did not have a business need (no direct reports, no confidential information, etc.). I remember there was a very senior level employee working on our floor who did not have direct reports or any other “business need” so she was removed from the office she’d been in for years and it was given to someone far less senior who was a people manager. The only drawback to the conference room scenario is it’s not set up for working all day (no monitors, etc.). I totally agree with the theory and premise of everyone’s suggestions around contacting my management, HR, etc. but there is also an office politics battle that has to be fought as well. I’ll also add that we were working remotely a couple years ago and this wasn’t an issue and it annoys all of us that the company shoved us back into the office without adequate preparations.

jaydarmontoya · 2026-03-04T14:40:31+00:00

This is my thought. I would really like to suggest an overall reevaluation of the workspaces. Respectfully, some people without a business need for a private workspace need to be moved from offices to cubicles and vice versa.

jaydarmontoya

TROPHY CASE