Bank of New York - Rude behavior to job applicants

     Last October I was recruited by a placement firm for a position with the Bank of New York's brokerage division in Iselin, New Jersey. I had an initial interview with the hiring manager that I thought went very well and fully expected to get called back for a 2nd and more technical interview. After a week when I didn't hear anything I contacted the recruiter who told me that they had left voice messages and sent emails but had not heard any status on my application. Over the next few weeks I would periodically check with the placement firm for an update only to hear that they had not heard anything.  Two months later I wrote this letter to Thomas A. Renyi, Chairman and CEO of Bank of New York:

Dear Mr. Renyi:

I am writing this letter to complain about a recent experience that I have had with the Bank of New York. I recently interviewed at your Brokerage division in Iselin, New Jersey for a position as Sr. Trader Systems Engineer.  This was on October 28^th of this year. I met with the hiring manager, Damian Mascolo, who explained the position’s responsibilities and also gave me a briefing about the Bank of New York’s brokerage division. I thought that the interview went well and I expected to hear back later from Mr. Mascolo to schedule a 2^nd and more technical interview. The next week when I didn’t hear back from the recruitment firm, Mlogic, that placed me for the position, I asked them if I could get a status on my application. They told me that they had been unable to get a status from Bank of NY despite leaving repeated phone messages. I felt it best to contact Mlogic and not Mr. Mascolo since they are the placement firm for this position. I continued my calls and emails to Mlogic over the next weeks without hearing any further word. This recruiter has stopped returning my phone calls or emails regarding my request for a status.

Since more than a month has elapsed since this interview I do not reasonably expect to get this position. I find the conduct of your firm to be extremely unprofessional. I took the time to prepare for this interview and to take time off from my present position to drive to Metro Park and meet with one of your employees. I do not think that is unreasonable for me to expect either a yes, no or a no decision has been made type response from the Bank of New York on my application.

I would appreciate it if you would review my complaint.

Yours truly,

It's been two month's since I wrote this letter and I haven't received any response from this company. Once upon a time a firm of this size and reputation would at least send a form letter in response to a complaint. Maybe I'm beating a dead horse but I think that I'm justified in publicizing this rude and unprofessional behavior. Something to think about if you're considering a Bank of New York product or service and especially if you are a job applicant (good luck).

Eli Amdur, who is a noted job coach in New Jersey, has written extensively as of late about this phenomenon for The Record, a major daily newspaper here. Check out his web site at http://www.wellmanagedcareers.com/.