Computer fires man

DIY boxshifter B&Q is not the only company to use telephone virtual interviews to weed out undesirable job applicants - even after they've already worked for the company. Andrew Veitch should know:

Many years ago I worked for the Standard Life in Edinburgh. I worked for a year in the pensions department under a temporary contract and then when there was a permanent vacancy applied for the post. I was turned down on the grounds that I failed the two minute telephone test. I was then asked to stay on to train my replacement! The fact that my manager recommended me and had spent a year working with me was not relevant.

Needless to say I walked out immediately.

Good lad. Unfortunately, we have run your email through the Vulture Central personality profiling computer and regret that we cannot presently offer you employment.