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I__am__who__I__am's journey

Milestones, reflections, and progress updates connected as your layoff-to-next-step story unfolds.

  1. 3

    Master Kong

    2 updates Same company and role

    Interviewing
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    Feeling Miscellaneous Thinking #

    I recently shared my interview experience with Master Kong (康师傅) on social media, detailing some concerning interactions during the process. After posting about it on various platforms, including Threads and Reddit, I received a call from the recruiter stating that the company had seen my posts and demanded I remove them within 24 hours or face potential legal action for defamation. I firmly told the recruiter that I would not be taking down my posts and welcomed any legal pursuit. During the interview, I was asked about my salary history, which I informed them is prohibited by California law. The interviewer responded dismissively, claiming, "I’m probably more American than you." This experience prompted me to share my story online, and instead of addressing my concerns, the company is now threatening legal action. Interestingly, another applicant from Southern California reached out to me, sharing that the same hiring manager did not ask her about salary history, but an HR representative from Hong Kong did, continuing to press for information despite being told it was illegal. I believe that if a company wants to operate in the U.S., they must comply with local employment laws and treat candidates with respect. It seems that Master Kong is struggling to adapt to these standards, and I stand by my decision to speak out.

    Company: Master Kong

    Job title: N/A

    Unresponsive Misleading listing
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  2. 2

    Master Kong 康師傅 · U.S. market role

    2 updates Same company and role

    Interviewing
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    Applied to a Job Feeling Miscellaneous #

    I recently had a job interview with Master Kong 康師傅 for a U.S. market role, and it turned out to be quite an unusual experience. The interviewer was focused on gathering market information rather than assessing my qualifications. He asked me about my salary history, which is not supposed to be a question in California, and then made a comment about being 'more American' than me. That was just the beginning. Throughout the interview, he probed me for specific names of customers I had sold to, distributors I knew, and trade shows I attended. It felt like he was conducting free market research rather than evaluating me as a candidate. At one point, when I mentioned a trade show where I had met significant buyers, he immediately wrote it down, which was the only time I saw him take notes. He also inquired about supermarket margins, which I explained I didn't know, since I only had pricing for different customer tiers. His response was that I should be able to figure out their margins based on the selling price at 99 Ranch, which was baffling. It felt like he expected me to do market analysis for them during the interview. This was the second time I encountered this type of interview process with a Chinese company recently. It left me questioning whether they were genuinely hiring or just using the interview to extract valuable market insights from candidates. I even reached out to their corporate offices in China and Hong Kong to report my experience, but I received no acknowledgment or response. If anyone is considering interviewing with them, be prepared for a similar situation.

    Company: Master Kong 康師傅

    Job title: U.S. market role

    Unresponsive Misleading listing Toxic interview
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  3. 1
    Applied to a Job Feeling Planning Thinking

    I interviewed for a role with a Canadian company that is expanding into the U.S. on May 6. After the interview, I sent a follow-up on May 13 and another on May 20. On May 21, the owner informed me that onboarding would be delayed due to issues with U.S. insurance and tax setup. He mentioned they hadn't found the right solution yet, and that HR was still reviewing candidates, expecting a decision in two weeks. I followed up again on June 9 but haven't heard back. I'm considering sending one last email offering to connect them with my CPA as a resource to help with their challenges. However, I'm unsure if I should take the lack of response as a sign to move on. I'm really interested in this opportunity and would appreciate any advice, especially from those with hiring experience.

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