HOBOKEN–The administration of new Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer has continually pledged to make hirings and appointments more open, and to seek out the most qualified people, not just cronies.
As part of that, they advertised for resumes for several directorships in City Hall. One of those jobs was to be a new public information officer.
That person was never hired, but as we wrote earlier, one applicant claimed it was a sign that the process is not as open as City Hall wants you to think it is.
Well, there’s a new wrinkle. Another applicant, who has a solid background in public relations, has complained (in a good-natured way) that she can’t even get her portfolio back from City Hall!
She has a sense of humor about it, and indeed, it has been a busy few months for the new mayor. But the Hoboken resident writes:
In September, I interviewed for what I thought was an amazing job. It was for the public information officer position in my hometown of Hoboken. I met with our interim mayor at the last-minute, over a holiday weekend, and thought it went fabulously. She took my portfolio and asked for my references.
She said the position needed to be filled immediately, but weeks went by and there was no follow-up. When I checked in, I was told interviews were still being conducted. I was cool with that. The job market has changed drastically and it’s not the same finding a gig today as it used to be…
I called and emailed the mayor’s office for weeks with no response. The mayor had given me her personal email but my attempts proved unsuccessful. I left messages with people in her office who promised they would relay my concern about my portfolio but still no movement. I reached out to the mayor’s aide who at one point said he’d get me my stuff by the end of the week, only to be forgotten about.
HELP! My press portfolio is being hijacked in city hall! Ok, I am being a bit dramatic here, but seriously, I brought great samples of my work to this interview because it was something I wanted; I truly wanted to impress. In this economy, it’s sin that anyone would ignore repeated attempts to get someone’s work back. Being too busy is not an acceptable reason. I’m a resident (an unemployed one at that!) of your community; please, show me a little respect!
I shouldn’t have to write a blog to get my work back, but maybe it will work….
So, City Hall, what say you? Want to give her her work back? And readers, what do you think? Comment below.
Read more of her blog here.