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Did i get the runaround???

i just applied for a job at a department store and i think i got the classic "runaround". they have signs showing that they are hiring for sales. i had just gotten off of my other job retail job. we wear a polo shirt and khakis becasue i am in a area of the store where we can dress casual. as i am filling out my application, the human resources women is going back and forth in the training room with some other applicants that got picked to get hired. this is one of the stores where they take you in a room and interview you on the spot. when i got the the application, she asked me if i was finished, she took my application, took one look at it and asked me if i was looking for a position in sales and told me that she had no openings and they would keep my application on file. it wasnt even a interview!!!, she took one look at me and made up her mind. by the way, i am a black male. she looked like she was maybe filipino or something like that. she didnt even interview me.

There is not enough information to say. Since there was a room full of recent hires it may be that they forgot to take the sign down. As a sales manager for many years i can tell you that it is always best to dress one step above what you are applying for. When I do the hiring, I have a very conservative view and will not interview anyone that does not wear a tie. I am not sure what type of sales position you were applying, but if someone wants to apply our firm ( average pay $85k) they are not too serious if they do not come in looking professional.

Hard to tell....many employers constantly have signs up that they are hiring even though they don't have openings at the moment - especially hgih-turnover jobs like retail and food service. It's not uncommon for an HR person to give the applicant a quick screen (dress appropriate, application complete, etc.) before filing the app to be called in future.

You may want to write the person with whom you spoke a nice thank-you letter (you did get her name, right?) and/or give her a call to follow up on the status of your app.

If you see that others are being hired, esp. non-minorities, while you are passed over, visit www.dol.gov for info on filing a discrimination claim.