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» Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE   » Operations   » Ground Level   » Hiring Decision Etiquette (SP?) (Page 2)

 
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Author Topic: Hiring Decision Etiquette (SP?)
Sean McKinnon
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1712
From: Peabody Massachusetts
Registered: Sep 2000

- posted 03-08-2008 11:36 AM      Profile for Sean McKinnon   Author's Homepage   Email Sean McKinnon   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
*Bump* Just curious if anyone out thier uses a form letter to inform applicants that they have not been selected for employment. At Loews Cineplex we used to use a "Thank you But No Thank you" or "TBNT" letter that basically said "Thank you for your application at this time we have no open positions that meet your specific skills we will keep your application on file for so many months". I was under the impression that this was something we were required to do by law to notify applicants that we would keep thier app on file for a certain period of time anyone know if theres any laws on that? I think you need to keep apps for a certain period of time but over the years I have seen many people take an app, wait for the person to leave and then toss it in the trash can! What do you do with apps?

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Ed Alvarado
Film Handler

Posts: 60
From: Fort Worth, TX,usa
Registered: Oct 2004

- posted 03-11-2008 03:05 AM      Profile for Ed Alvarado   Author's Homepage   Email Ed Alvarado   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
dude I had an interview for a job at a theater and man I'm looking good and I was feeling good(and keep in mind I was ready to chat on all 5yrs of theater knowledge) so I walk in 6mins early. and the manager ask's me for my name and blah blah and then he pulls the weird questions like:

1.what are some things you can change about your self?
2.what is your hobby?
3.what do you do on your free time?
4.what are 3 things you are proud of?
5.if I had a banner to put on my theater hallway to show people that you are the new guy here what are 5 things good that it would say about you?

dude I was soo out of it and I couldnt understand why he was talking about my personal life and why isnt this guy asking me about booth or job history? and being so I couldnt answer with a good thing to say to any of those and every time I said stuff about theater events the MANAGER would say WERE NOT HERE TO TALK ABOUT MOVIES OR THEATER this has to be all about you. WHO ARE YOU? I need to know this kinds of things. I looked at him and I just say give this job to someobody who needs it!(and I walked out of the interview just like that)

I JUST HATE PEOPLE WHO DO STUPID THINGS LIKE THAT

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Joe Redifer
You need a beating today

Posts: 12859
From: Denver, Colorado
Registered: May 99

- posted 03-11-2008 03:56 AM      Profile for Joe Redifer   Author's Homepage   Email Joe Redifer   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
What theater company was that?

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Drew Daniluck
Film Handler

Posts: 12
From: Frederick, MD, United States
Registered: Feb 2008

- posted 03-11-2008 12:14 PM      Profile for Drew Daniluck   Email Drew Daniluck   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I take care of the hiring for my theatre, its a Regal theatre. Our standard policy is "We are always "hiring" and taking applications" so even though I have more than enough employees and people are fighting for hours, I have to take applications. We get on average 5 applications a day, and about 3 more a day via the internet. I simply do not have to time to take care of regular theatre operations, booth operations and sending "No Thank You" letters. I have the managers that work with me tell applicants that we are taking applications and if we decide to set up an interview it would be within 10 days, if you don't hear anything after that, then we are sorry. I think this is fair enough and I am not leading anyone on.

Drew

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Scott Norwood
Film God

Posts: 8146
From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas)
Registered: Jun 99

- posted 03-11-2008 01:14 PM      Profile for Scott Norwood   Author's Homepage   Email Scott Norwood   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
So Regal is taking applications when there is no hope that anyone who applies will be offered a job? How is that ethical? Doesn't that policy just waste everyone's time?

I still believe that every rejected applicant (for any job) deserves a timely form-letter response, at minimum. And I don't mean some badly xeroxed thing with the applicant's name written in by hand, either.

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Sean McKinnon
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1712
From: Peabody Massachusetts
Registered: Sep 2000

- posted 03-11-2008 01:41 PM      Profile for Sean McKinnon   Author's Homepage   Email Sean McKinnon   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
quote: Drew Daniluck
I simply do not have to time to take care of regular theatre operations, booth operations and sending "No Thank You" letters.
I managed at one of the busiest 20 screens in my former circuit (which was a large circuit) and even though it was a simple form letter we sent a form letter to EVERY applicant, ESPECIALLY the ones we interviewed. Business and customer service is simple to me HOW WOULD YOU WANT TO BE TREATED? Treat people in that manner. If someone doesn't have the time to print out a few letters every week, sign them, and adress the envelopes then you have major time management issues. As scott said it is an issue of ethics. You don't have a "Hiring Manager" AFAIK all the Regals in my area do, this sounds like a task that should be relegated to them.

quote:
dude I had an interview for a job at a theater and man I'm looking good and I was feeling good(and keep in mind I was ready to chat on all 5yrs of theater knowledge) so I walk in 6mins early. and the manager ask's me for my name and blah blah and then he pulls the weird questions like:
I just had an interview very similar to that, lol The worst part was I flew halfway across the country for it!

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Ron Funderburg
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 814
From: Chickasha, Oklahoma, USA
Registered: Nov 2007

- posted 03-12-2008 12:32 PM      Profile for Ron Funderburg   Author's Homepage   Email Ron Funderburg   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
When anyone puts in an application at the theater I run we make a point of saying "We are not hiring at this time but we will keep your application on file for 6 months." We do this even when we are hiring so that no one is sitting and waiting for a phone call.

I do not interview people that I know I will not hire. If they are two shabby or dirty when they put in an application I will not call them for an interview. If they seem rude I will not call them for an interview.

Once I interview someone one time I determine if I want to look at them more seriously or not.

Now on the first interview if I determine I don't want to to look at them more seriously I send them a letter telling them that at this time we are not going to be looking at them for employment but will keep their application on file for 6 months.

If I decide to interview them more seriously I set up a time for a second interview with an assistant manager present. The assistant manager ask the personal questions as if they are off the top of their head, which of course they aren't. If people are to busy with sports and need to play softball 3 or 4 times a week or basketball on city leagues there is little need to continue. If their favorite thing off work is getting high I don't need them as well. It is always surprising to me how many will tell a 20 year old they love to get stoned every night in front of me.

On those that get the second interview I either hire them in a few days or send the letter in a few days. Either way once I have interviewed them they get a letter telling them one way or another.

The personal information is only important to the theater if it is going to affect the job. I'm not big on this what are your 10 best points what are your 10 worst points stuff how does one know that about themselves especially if they are under 25.

Recently I went through 3 phone interviews with a company about a job position that would require a significant move. They never said anything about a face to face and after the last phone interview (with 2 others listening in) they stated it was between me and 2 other people. They would call me in a week or so. That several months back, in fact it was last year. I assume the fact that they did not call back is their way of saying sorry charlie.

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Mike Blakesley
Film God

Posts: 12767
From: Forsyth, Montana
Registered: Jun 99

- posted 03-12-2008 04:03 PM      Profile for Mike Blakesley   Author's Homepage   Email Mike Blakesley   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
quote: Ron Funderburg
If people are to busy with sports and need to play softball 3 or 4 times a week or basketball on city leagues there is little need to continue.
Here in "smallville" we need to work with the kids and their sports schedules, because everybody who is worth anything is an active participant in something at school. The ones who don't want to be involved with anything are usually the ones who are antisocial, stoners or just lazy. I've had a handful of exceptions over the years, but in general we tend to be leery of teenagers who are not in any outside activites at school.

One of my best workers so far in this decade did an outstanding job for us and made the honor roll, was a cheerleader and class president, played volleyball and softball, was president of the FCCLA chapter, taught a Sunday school class and had another job besides her theatre job. I swear she must have never slept.

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Ron Funderburg
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 814
From: Chickasha, Oklahoma, USA
Registered: Nov 2007

- posted 03-12-2008 06:41 PM      Profile for Ron Funderburg   Author's Homepage   Email Ron Funderburg   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Mike I should clear up my statement I didn't mean highschool kids I expect them to be involved but I also except them to be able to work a few nights a week.

I'm talking about the young adults that play on city leagues here. We tried to hire a few when I first stated here but but they tended to only want one night a week. Oh and they wanted the employee showing and to go to the movie free but no more than one night a week. Of course, we didn't find that out until they had worked here for a week or so.

People looking for part time employment as they attend college that are involved in school activities aren't bad. But those that have other jobs and are involved in all the inter city league and have a set of dancing nights I pass by.

If their outside interest tend toward party hardy I pass them buy. People who tend to be movie buffs I tend to hire.

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Chad Souder
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 962
From: Waterloo, IA, USA
Registered: Feb 2000

- posted 03-12-2008 07:21 PM      Profile for Chad Souder   Email Chad Souder   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
quote: Scott Norwood
So Regal is taking applications when there is no hope that anyone who applies will be offered a job? How is that ethical? Doesn't that policy just waste everyone's time?
In many places, you are required to accept applications. It is part of the Equal Employment Opportunity Employer stuff. You are not required to offer an interview, but you do need to have and accept the aps. It basically keeps an employer from handing an ap to the white guy and not the woman or minority. Of course, the minority never gets the interview, but hey, it looks good on paper. Although there was that lawsuit against Hooters a few years back brought by the guy who couldn't get hired as a server.

It also may be, and I'm not sure on this one, that you are required to keep applications on file for 1 year. That may be a state by state thing too, I can't remember.

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Christopher Crouch
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 128
From: Holywood, ca, usa
Registered: May 2006

- posted 03-13-2008 05:28 AM      Profile for Christopher Crouch   Email Christopher Crouch       Edit/Delete Post 
quote: Ed Alvarado
and then he pulls the weird questions like
A couple of years ago I applied at a well known regional chain and recieved a copy of their life/business philosophy booklet (a "we live to work, don't work to live" sort of thing), via email; which I was supposed to read and submit an essay on, within 24 hours. Mind you, this was before I had actually spoken with anyone. Not so much as a phone interview and they wanted me to write a thesis, expressing my thoughts on their corporate outlook on life. Bizarre, to say the least.

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Sean McKinnon
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1712
From: Peabody Massachusetts
Registered: Sep 2000

- posted 03-13-2008 09:48 AM      Profile for Sean McKinnon   Author's Homepage   Email Sean McKinnon   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
The reason that I am so bothered by this is that at least twice I have lost out on good jobs waiting for an answer from my first choice. If my first choice job tells me that they will call me by such and such a date and choice #2 calls before that I am going to tell #2 I need some time to decide the longer I wait for #1 to get back to me the more likely choice #2 has offered the job to someone else. By the time you realize that choice #1 is blowing you off and you call choice #2 back they have usually hired someone.

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Drew Daniluck
Film Handler

Posts: 12
From: Frederick, MD, United States
Registered: Feb 2008

- posted 03-13-2008 10:56 AM      Profile for Drew Daniluck   Email Drew Daniluck   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Sean, I understand completely what you are saying. Working in a Regal location makes things interesting. They like to watch where they are spending money all the time and several days of the week we have 2 managers on duty, one is the projectionist, the other is running the floor and usually working a register. That is why it is difficult for me to get back with every person that applies. I don't promise anyone anything and the people I do end up interviewing I do let them know of our decision, good or bad within 2 days.
The whole send a letter to each applicant idea was new to me before reading it on here. I've applied at a lot places before and never heard back, I just assumed they weren't interested. Places I've interviewed always got back with me though. But the frustration is understood and I think I will start to send out letters to all the applicants, at the least it improves the theatre image and the people that we don't hire won't hold a grudge against us and never return as a customer...
Drew

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Sean McKinnon
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1712
From: Peabody Massachusetts
Registered: Sep 2000

- posted 03-14-2008 09:43 AM      Profile for Sean McKinnon   Author's Homepage   Email Sean McKinnon   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I think thats awesome that you are willing to take a look at what your theatre does and try out something new so that you will have a better image in the community, there are a lot of managers out there who don't care enough about thier theatres to try new things they just see it as extra work. Im typing from memory but I believe our form letter said something like this

quote:


Dear Applicant,

Thank you for your recent application to Kickass Cinemas 50. After revewing your application we have determined that we do not have any open positions that meet your skills, and experience. We will keep your application on file for a period of six months. If we have a position open that we think matches your skills, and experience we will contact you. Again, Thank you for your interest in our theatre.

Sincerly,
Mr. Manager
Ass-Man Kickass Cinemas 50
Willingness to try out new things and the desire to make your theatre look as good to your community as possible are big plusses for a manager in my opinion. I think I was kind of hard on your above Drew but you proved me wrong.

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Drew Daniluck
Film Handler

Posts: 12
From: Frederick, MD, United States
Registered: Feb 2008

- posted 03-14-2008 12:48 PM      Profile for Drew Daniluck   Email Drew Daniluck   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
No offense taken Sean, I understand your frustration. And thanks for the letter script, I will be sure to include "kick ass cinemas" in the letter. [Smile]
Drew

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