On Linked-In:
Dear Hiring Managers,
I would like to express my feelings regarding a recent interview experience that I found quite disappointing.
I applied for a position about a month ago, and the job posting is still active. The marketing representative who conducted my interview started three minutes late and continued to respond to emails during our conversation, which felt disrespectful to my time. The interview questions seemed unrelated to my qualifications; instead, I was asked if I understood the programs listed on the website. Was this a job interview or merely a survey?
After the interview, I received an email the following day informing me that I was not selected for the next step in the process. I reached out for feedback, but my request went unanswered.
It appears that the job posting may have been more of a promotional effort rather than a genuine hiring attempt. I understand that increasing web traffic is important, but using interviews to ask survey questions can feel disingenuous and take advantage of job seekers. With so many people looking for employment, I believe there should be more accountability in the hiring process.
Thank you for considering my thoughts.
ACCC Response (Reference: REF4568539) [SEC=OFFICIAL]
Dear Dr Buch
I refer to your correspondence dated 6 November 2024 to the Honourable Murray Watt, Senator and the Honourable Andrew Giles, MP. Your letter was forwarded to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) for consideration and response.We understand that you registered your details with the free job-search platforms Adzuna and CareerOne and selected the option to be sent advertisements for positions that match your academic qualifications. We understand that since registering with Adzuna and CareerOne, you have been sent job advertisements that do not match with your qualifications. We further understand that you feel the services being provided by Adzuna and CareerOne respectively are not successfully linking you with available positions that are appropriate to your specific skillsets and qualifications.Additionally, we understand that Adzuna did make you aware of an advertised casual position at the University of New England (UNE), which met your requirements, however, upon completing your application, it became clear that the position was only available for UNE internal applicants. In relation to UNE only recruiting internally, we understand that you feel educational institutions should not be allowed to limit their recruitment to internal applicants only.Lastly, we understand from your correspondence that you would like the government to investigate and take action to prevent these conducts from occurring.We can offer you information regarding who to contact about public university policy in NSW, the role of the ACCC, what constitutes a consumer and what to do in instances where you experience poor customer service.The ACCC: our roleThe ACCC focuses on enforcing the laws we administer in circumstances that have the potential to harm the competitive process or result in widespread consumer or business detriment. We use reports received from the public, as well as other sources of intelligence, to inform our work. When the ACCC takes action, it is to remedy market problems; we are not a complaint handling body and don’t resolve individual disputes.You can read more about how we prioritise our work and what we can and can’t do for consumers on our website.State, territory and local governments, and the laws we administer
The laws we manage apply to state, territory and local government bodies only when they are carrying on business activities. When they are conducting their normal functions, the laws we administer do not apply to them. Public universities are considered government bodies and are within the jurisdiction of your state government.
If you have concerns about recruitment policies held by a public university in NSW, we suggest you raise these concerns with the NSW Department of Education, as they are responsible for overseeing the whole-of-government Higher Education Strategy 2021-25, which includes strategies to increase job growth, skills and innovation. You can find the contact details for the NSW Department of Education on its website.
Who is a consumer?
To be considered a consumer under the Australian Consumer Law (ACL), an individual would need to have purchased a product or service from a business. If you have received a free service from a business, it is not likely that you would be considered a consumer under the laws we administer.
Poor customer service
Sometimes people report conduct to us that they think is unfair. We appreciate it can be frustrating when you are affected by behaviour that seems unfair, or when a customer service experience fails to meet expectations.
When we assess a matter, we consider it against the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (the Act), which includes the ACL. Not all matters that are reported to us as being unfair will breach this law. While the Act provides consumers with certain rights when purchasing products and services, including the right to truthful and accurate representations and consumer guarantees, it does not extend to issues of customer service.
We therefore encourage you to raise your concerns with the business directly; even if a business has not broken the law, it is in its best interests to listen to what customers are saying so that it can consider if it should take any steps to provide a more positive experience.
I appreciate you were seeking a more definitive response from us, but I hope the information provided today has been helpful and clarifies our role. Please note, while any further information you provide to the ACCC will be recorded and assessed, we will only respond if we have new information to provide you.
Yours sincerely
[name]
Correspondence Officer | Infocentre
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
23 Marcus Clarke Street Canberra 2601 | www.accc.gov.au
T: 1300 302 502
@acccgovau
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Featured Image: 1) Drawn Man Pulling Drawbridge To Prevent Rival. Freehand pen drawing of business man pulling up a drawbridge to prevent a rival from catching up on the way to the top. Metaphor for career progression, unfair competition, rivalry, unfairness. ID 160659670 © Leowolfert | Dreamstime.com 2) Signpost in a park or forested area with arrows pointing two opposite directions towards Include and Exclude. ID 73689301 | Unfairness © Gajus | Dreamstime.com
Neville Buch
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