I'm not actively looking for a new job, but a friend of mine keeps contacting me every so often about working where he is-
Summer 2012: "Hey man, my company is expanding! They need people and I wrote this huge letter of recommendation for you! It's a sure thing!" I realize that I need a new suit and run out to buy a decent one for about $470 on sale.
Nothing happens.
Months later, I get a rejection letter.
Early Fall 2012: "Hey man what happened!?" I tell my friend that I heard nothing for months, then got an Email saying they weren't interested. "Well there's another position that's just like what you're doing now!! It pays a good $10-15k more a year, easily! I'm not trying to get you this job because of the referral fee...I think you'd be good for it!"
My resume is on file there, so it takes a few seconds to re-apply for the new position. It really is just like what I do now.
Several weeks later: "Hey man I talked to them about you today!! They're gonna call you!!!"
Several weeks after that: "Hey man I don't know what happened but you know how it is right now! They'll gonna call you. Make sure to stop whatever you're doing and take the call!!" "Wait...what? I already have a job where I'm taking calls all day long. I can't end them to go do a phone interview," I tell him. "Well Uhhhhh just tell them it's an emergency and that you HAVE to take the call!" "I'm not going to drop what I'm doing and outright lie, risking getting fired, for an interview dude. Tell them to call me on the weekend (his place is open 24/7, just like mine) or in the evenings." "Uhh...OK I'll tell them."
December 2012: "Hey man they talked to me about you today! They say that they are gonna call!!"
Note- By this time I have checked into this place and found that it doesn't have the best reputation since changing ownership. A lot of job-rating sites are typically filled with bullshit from ex/fired employees, but I've never seen a place with negative reviews coming from people who still work there, so I'm a bit skeptical.
"Make sure to tell your job you have to take the call!!!" "Uh- no. Remember what I said before?" "What's the big deal? Just make up an excuse and go outside!" "Dude. This place is kind of locked down. We have set break times every day. I can't just drop what I'm doing and go outside. And I'm not going to lie to them about it. I'm sure the people you work for would understand. They wouldn't want me doing the same thing to them." "Uhhh OK" I'll let them know.
A week later: "Hey man they told me they'll be calling you!"
A week after that: "Hey man you know it's busy again but I'm sure they'll call you soon!"
And I haven't heard anything from him since then. This guy is a friend from high school/college. I went to his wedding a few years back, but apart from these recent exchanges, I haven't talked to him. My guess is that he wants the referral fee (he told me he is broke after buying a house and trying to pay off all his debts) and has been relentless about it. It got to the point that I had to turn off chat functions in Facebook and Google+ because he wouldn't stop hounding me about it. Fortunately the phone calls have stopped.
