30 Times Folks Realized They Didn’t Want To Get The Job While They Were Being Interviewed For The Position, As Shared Online
Employment – love it or loathe it, you're never getting away from it. Though the process has been around for thousands of years, our society still fails to make the conditions comfortable. Many organizations are the victims of toxic cultures; microaggressive managers, overly competitive, and, at times, backstabbing colleagues – basically all the things that make your working hours practically unbearable.
Moreover, the job search itself can also be pretty unpleasant. For instance, when you're attending an interview for a position, it's not uncommon to feel like you're being interrogated. Most of us tend to forget that the whole point of employment lies within a service exchange, meaning that both parties are equally important.
"What happened during an interview that immediately made you realize you wouldn’t take the job no matter how much they offered you?" – this online user took it to one of the most popular subreddits to find out about other people's experiences with job seeking. The question has managed to receive over 6.4K upvotes and 2.8K worth of stories.
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Stupid interview games. The d**kheads put me at a low table with a low chair, placed water in a carafe with an empty glass - all just out of reach so that I'd have to stand and reach for it, and then interviewed me as a panel of six employees sitting at a tall table with tall chairs. The questions were all more about my character then my skills. The whole thing was so obviously staged to make me feel uncomfortable.
An interview is a conversation, not an interrogation. Treat it like an interrogation, and I'm f*****g out. It's a clear sign of a toxic workplace - I've yet to see an exception to this rule.
When she started explaining that my 'role' in handling payments would involve depositing 'client payments' into my own personal account before transferring it to 'the company'.
I may be dumb, but I didn't fall off the turnip-truck yesterday.
Man, people aren't even trying to hide that stuff anymore. That's crazy.
"and what is the starting wage for this job?"
"Does it matter?"
BYE
WTF is wrong with American employers? The only reason ANYONE works is for the money!
I interviewed at a "no excuses" charter school. They gave a scenario where a student comes in to class and doesn't have his homework done. He says it's because he spent the previous night in the ER because his brother was shot. School policy is that unfinished homework is a mandatory detention.
I could not, in good conscience, answer that question the way they wanted.
I had a 3 hour interview where everyone on the interviewing team was friendly, enthusiastic and making constant comments about "you'd fit in well here", "you're a gamer? we are too - we could organize some LAN games", "you know XX? We really need someone with that experience".
Then the C-Levels came in. They feigned disinterest, had side conversations and comments to me were all in the line of "maybe we'll go with you, maybe we'll just outsource - why don't you convince us", "maybe we should just take you on a contract basis to start until you prove yourself", "maybe we'll just hire two juniors for that salary you're asking for" - while the team cringed.
I cut them off saying "it seems like you've got a great team here, but I'm not interested in working for hostile management". Then they completely changed their tune and were trying to backtrack. It was obviously their idea of "salary negotiation". They called several times afterward asking me to come back in, but I wasn't having it.
Surprise, the company was sold not long afterward and I hear they cleaned house.
The interview was uneventful, except for at the very end, when he asked: "Is there anything I need to know about you now, before you start, that would be a problem if it came out later?"
Me, entirely confused: "...Like what?"
"Oh, I don't know, if you have a criminal record for example, or if you're gay"
The only time I've heard of someone's private life being a justifiable interview question was for a top-secret clearance job. Even then, a candidate (who did get the clearance) told me, "They don't care if you're gay, as long as you're not hiding it." That level of intrusiveness was to prevent secrets being extorted out of someone keeping secrets of their own. To be fair, the secret service also checked candidates' finances - to ensure they weren't tempted to sell secrets to pay off debts.
Asked me if I would be willing to take a three month deferment while under a "Probationary" period. If after 3 months, they didn't like me, they'd let me go and give me a check for $0.10 on the dollar for every dollar/hr worked. If they kept me, I'd get a check for all my hours, plust a bonus of $500 for office supplies, but I could only buy out of their selected catalogue. I almost laughed in her face.
If this was done in the U.S., I’m pretty sure they’re breaking labor laws and should be reported to the Department of Labor!
The first 30 minutes of the interview was the woman who would have been my boss listing off her accomplishments. She was the director of a tiny museum in a small town where we had just moved to for my wife's job. It was uncomfortable, and the two board members present looked even more uncomfortable than I was.
I don't know if she was intimidated by me (I was more qualified to work there than she was), or if she just liked singing her own praise, but I immediately thought, "you couldn't pay me enough to work for you."
After her 30 minutes of self-congratulations, there was approximately half a minute of silence. Then I looked at the two board members and said, "Right. Were there any questions for me."
I was called that night and offered the position. I turned it down. One of the board members who was present called and asked if there was anything they could do to get me to come on, pay was negotiable within reason for a tiny museum in a tiny town. I was candid and said I would never be able to work for that director. Board member said, "believe me, I completely understand."
This was a grad school interview, so slightly different, but still fully convinced me to divert my focus to other programs and interviews completely. I was asked to prepare a five minute presentation that I would give via zoom at the start of the interview. About a minute into the presentation, the interviewer got up and walked away from her laptop before returning about a minute later. She missed 20% of my presentation.
I kept giving my presentation because there was also a student representative on the call, but the faculty interviewer neither apologized nor acknowledged leaving during my presentation. If I am not worth five minutes of your attention as a prospective student, then your program is not worth my tens of thousands of dollars. Lucky for me, I was accepted into my first choice program that same day.
They called me back for a… 5th interview… after that I had enough and told them it was getting a bit much and I’ll take a pass.
I had the interview -- then interviewer said I had to come back another day to take a polygraph, which would take 3 - 5 hours. I told them my freelance rate was $125 an hour. Lady was shocked. I said she was booking my time, that prevented me from working freelance or taking another job. My time was valuable, too. She said they never paid anyone to take the test. I didn't want the job at this point but I liked to see her uneasy. I was easily qualified but the peripherals were just stupid . . . acceptable business attire (I was not going to meet the public), a list of do’s and don’t’s. Evidently I was the only one who met a lot of these standards, but it didn’t mean I wanted to work there. She finally declined. Felt great to walk away before it became corporate oppression.
Three of four people who interviewed me spent the entire time talking about how bad the company was and why I really don't want the job. The fourth was the CEO. His story was different.
I didn't take the job.
I was told the person I would be supporting as an Executive Assistant was on his third wife, he has 6 kids and that I should include the wife in certain decisions so that she doesn't feel insecure (being the 3rd wife and all). Ain't nobody got time for 3rd wife insecurity drama
Well I guess we all know who isn't getting invited to the 4th wedding.
I tried getting a job as a telemarketer once. The interviewer had me go into another room and call her, and she would pretend to be a person I'm trying to get money from. I started into the scrip, and she said, "Oh, but I'm just a poor college student with no money!"
Even though I knew she was just pretending, I still felt terrible. I knew that I could never do that work in real life. I told her that my coming there was a bad idea and I had to leave.
I can't sell water to a thirsty person in the Sahara. I would be like "how much do I have to pay you to take this water?"
This was during a phone screen rather than an interview. Time frame was 1997, during the height of the .com boom. I'm a programmer. The screener told me that they were a 'fast-paced company' and I asked for some clarification on what exactly that meant. After some evasive answers, I asked more directly what kind of hours people worked and found out that many people were working 60+ hours a week. I politely declined. The company did have an IPO in early 1999 that could have been lucrative for me, but I had an 18 month old daughter and another on the way - I was changing jobs to be able to spend more time with them, not less. I feel very good about that decision.
They took issue with me saying I wanted to watch my daughter grow up when they asked how much overtime I was willing to work.
Yes, it was sarcastic and I said it in a way I knew would torpedo the interview. I was insulted by the question. I'm not a slave.
Family first, family always. No amount of money will ever compensate you for missing your child take her 1st steps, or hear her 1st words.
My brother once had an interview for a cooking position at a local restaurant. He walked in and immediately ran into a female employee who was crying and yelling "F**k you John!"
John was the guy who interviewed him.
I was once in the lobby of a company waiting to be interviewed and I heard a man yelling (I assumed it was into a phone as I couldn't hear the other person), and he was calling someone stupid and ignorant and a bad choice and "maybe you just need to quit and sit at home and collect welfare." It was painful to listen to. After that call ended, a woman called my name and told me that the interviewer was ready for me and pointed me towards the office where the yelling had been. I said, "that's OK" and walked right out of there.
I interviewed for a job that was ostensibly a tech role: updating and maintaining the company’s website. Midway through this hourlong interview, they asked me if I’m comfortable with sales, because they said half the role would be cold-calling customers and there’d be minimum monthly sales targets to meet.
I am one of the most introverted people to ever introvert, so no, I would not be comfortable with that. I wouldn’t have even applied for the job if they’d been at all explicit in the listing about it having a significant sales/customer contact component.
They didn’t call me back, and I was relieved.
Why didn’t you just excuse yourself from the interview when you found out they hadn’t been forthcoming in their job posting?
One of the interview questions was would I be willing to immediately fire a single mother who depended on the company Heath insurance for her register being off 50 cents.
It's actually possible that they were looking for a manager who knew how to be reasonable and that the desired answer was "No. No way." In my career, I would never have hired anyone who answered "Yes" to that question.
I was recently asked if I would have difficulty firing a person. My response was yes, and I don't think you want someone who doesn't. I then talked about what it would mean to me to be fired--I have a mortgage and a family that depend on my pay and my health insurance. I would have a hard time firing someone, even if they deserved it, because I would feel bad about taking away their security. But, sometimes you have to fire someone, so you do it, even though it's difficult. I was told it was the right answer.
The question is a valid one though. They might not be looking for a “yes” answer. If, however, the question is also their expectation, they suck and should be out of business.
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Nope. General rule of thumb is that within a dollar is acceptable. If your company can't handle missing $0.50, you've got bigger problems. But you could always take it from my check. I'll allow that to not orphan those kids.
I suppose it's possible (if unlikely) they were hoping for a "no" answer...
Rephrase the question as: "Would you be willing to put 50 cents of your own money into a register to prevent an otherwise darned good -- and appreciative of her job -- employee from getting into trouble?" And they would have me.
Yeah, that for sure! In some stores, I've seen people leave the change, that accumulates, and is used to even out those issues, agreed to by all employees, to keep them out of trouble. Not even in the US ... hell is spreading.
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Dude that is b******t. I worked at a casino and you have to be 1000s off to get fired. One of my friends was $500 off because she accidentally gave a guy 5 hundreds instead of 5 twenties. She just had to spend a month as a pit clerk, same job just no cash.
As someone commented here also, it could have been that they we're looking for a more sympathetic answer.
Worked for a major auto parts store in 2010. Had a single mother that worked there and she told them when they hired her she could not work nights. No problem, the job she was hired for was an 8-5 m-f position. She expressed interest in moving up so they offered her a night time managers position. The bad thing about this company is you get one offer, if you don't take it they will never offer you another....ever. She moved on to greener pastures within a year.
WHAT???? 50 cents is more valuable than human life, health, dignity. Greedy moneygrubbers!
What if they are looking for people that aren't that kind of assholes and this let them screen them out?
No, I wouldn't . A register being off .50 is pretty likely to be an accident anyways.
Probably looking to weed out psychopaths. The correct answer is no, that would be detrimental to the company.
$50 -- sure, I mean, if after I investigate I can determine that she really took the money, or she's constantly making those kinds of mistakes. .50 -- I'm not even going to bring it up.
If "F**k No" is an acceptable response, the yeah, I'd consider the position
If a company is petty about what they are making, guaranteed they will be petty about what they pay you!!!
I took a online test for a deli job in a high end grocery. The test asked you about a 100 questions. It basically asked 5 questions over and over like: you think it's okay to hit your coworkers
It's like they design the questions to weed out the people with hearts
The answe is 'NO'. You don't fire ANYONE immediately for being off 50 cents. Or five bucks, or fifty dollars. You work with them to see what might have happened first (it could have gone up into the register, etc.) re-educate on cash handling , and counting the drawer at start of shift to make sure the person handling it *prior *wasn't short (by accident or on purpose), you give them the option to have it taken out of their pay if it's tiny amounts happening more than once. Jeez, there is a thing called escalation no need to begin with nuclear option. But perhaps the interviewer wanted to hear that. They were perhsps slso testing honesty - but there is more than one option in these situations that problem-solvers can come up with while STILL being honest, and not wasting the resources by firing a trained employee.
I worked retail for a decade, several different companies. None of them would ever "immediately fire" anyone for their till being off by a mere 50 cents *once.* Every place I ever worked, they considered a certain amount of overage/shortage normal. If you went above/below that by a certain amount per day, or per week, you might get a verbal warning. If it kept happening, you'd get a writeup. Three writeups, and you were gone. NEVER did any of my employers ever say, "You're fifty cents short, once! You're fired!" Wow...
No. A great deal of what people percept as freedom is not to worry about the most minor issues here and there ... if a counter, through which thousands of dollars pass each hour, is off by a little bit, it is a minor issue that should be prohibited to even investigate, unless it appears regularly and/or is off by a severe amount. And even then, suspect that not only it wasn't on purpose, but maybe someone tricked the cashier who has practiced this a lot to take advantage of those who haven't ... train them against this, or don't punish them ... there are people living off of tricking others into handing them over some money, and they don't rely on bad purpose on the cashier's part by any means.
The doctor interviewing me asked what I feel I can improve upon. I said that I hoped to have better boundaries with my patients and my job. She immediately said, "Oh, I have NO boundaries. You can't have that when you own your own practice."
That was my red flag moment 🚩
I won't ever work for someone that cannot recognize the worth of having appropriate boundaries. It is a recipe for burnout.
Also sounds like the type of place where you need to be available 24/7, OR ELSE.
I went to interview for an entry level marketing position in the film industry. Two hours in the boss slipped in that I wouldn't be paid for the first few months while they trained me. It was a full time job. He also wanted me to start immediately that day using my personal laptop. I made up an excuse and left shortly after.
Don’t make excuses, tell them that what they’re doing is unacceptable and then gather your things and go!
After 2 panel interviews, was invited for a lunch with the team - I pretty much knew I had the job, the offer was just a formality by that point. Went to a random buffet restaurant at a forgettable hotel miles from the job site (which was really odd). Carpooled with the team and it was a very weird vibe during the ride and getting to the table - everyone was walking on eggshells around the manager, laughing too loudly at her jokes etc.
As soon as we sat down, the manager went up to get her food, and the rest of the team stayed at the table - when her phone started ringing (she'd left it on the table), they were panicking to be the first one to get it before the 2nd ring. They were so deferential (almost comically so), and so worried about what might happen if the manager got upset, I just couldn't see myself working there. I turned down the offer when it did come in the next day. Saw the job advertised again a few months later, wasn't surprised. Always trust your gut.
Wasn't the interview per se, but I caught a glimpse of a whiteboard in HR that had a bullet point list that seemed to be things to talk about to convince people to join the company, and one of the items was, "Not a cult."
1) He was looking for a “personal assistant” and I don’t even think he asked me my name, much less anything about qualifications. But he did sit next to me on the couch in his office ( the only seating other than his desk chair) and told me I looked perfect and to come back tomorrow morning to start right away. I felt lucky to get out of there without be assaulted, obviously never went back.
2) I was interviewing at a Dr’s office. The office manager was running late and another tech was showing me around. She was casually telling me “who sat here and who sat there” and how long they had worked there. I quickly realized, in a staff of about 16-20, EVERYONE, including the office manager I was about to meet, had been there less than 6 months. Nope! There’s something causing a lot of turnover and I don’t need to know what. I asked the tech to apologize for me and said I couldn’t wait, I had to pick my stepson up from soccer
I always ask about turnover rate in an interview. I'd the interview is put off by that question or avoids it, then I know I don't want to work there.
Asked if I had a family first interview. They don't want someone who has to leave on time to take care of kids or is interested in their own life
I talked to a company who offered 125k a year. On the next phone call I was told he had no right to offer that and dropped it a significant amount. So I hung up in the middle of my talking to them in a very calm voice.
It’s an old trick, they never believe you’ll hang up while you’re talking calmly.
Doubt it has any more or less impact than hanging up while emotional.
They interviewed me for the job they thought I should have, not the job I applied for.
This happened to me at my last two jobs (the second one starts Monday). In both cases they were interviewing me for a better position than I applied for because they thought that I had the experience and skills to do the, "next job up." It was a good thing for me both times, but I can imagine if they looked at your resume and interviewed you for the, "next job down" instead. That would not be good.
The amount of lies discovered during the interview itself. They tell you one thing online and in emails, only to see something different when you show up and go through the interview.
If there was already that much lying and falsehoods seen during the interview, no telling how much worse it actually can be. Could understand why the person left.
I hate this, this is a good sign of a bad job with illegal s**t happening.
Back when I was unemployed long term, I was applying for roles anywhere I could find really.
Got an interview for a retail position, not great but better than nothing.
First interview is a group one, I get through that fine.
Second interview is with the manager of the store.
He spends like 10 minutes telling me how s**t my resume is.
Retail interviews are weird. I've gone on a few for various types of stores and most of the time the managers seemed to be playing games, asking trick questions, or asking what you would do in a situation you've never experienced, implying they don't want to train. I have no clue what they want.
I'm a senior level programmer and the company was only offering two weeks vacation, non-negotiable. Lol....hell no.
That's more than most jobs in the US offer....IF they even offer a PTO package at all.
Note: this post originally had 60 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.
Interviewed for a database Dev role once, had 30 mins with the manager, went well, chatted to 2 Devs, going great guns, then some guy walks in and it goes quiet and everyone looks uncomfortable. He tells me his name but not his role, he's asking me very surreal and inappropriate questions, at one point he says "are you enjoying this interview?", I don't want to say no so I squeak an "um yes?", His response "well tell ya fooking face then!", we're all squirming and uncomfortable and he thinks he's hysterically funny. I literally ran out of there, complained to the recruiter, couldn't remember his name though. The recruiter phoned me back furious, he just complained to the CEO about the CEO and the CEO was not happy that I'd called him obnoxious, inappropriate and a bully.
I have always insisted on being interviewed by the person I would be reporting to directly. I don't want to interview with some floozie from "HR" who feels entitled to tell you about a job he/she has no clue about. I want to get a feel for the person I am working for. Would NEVER apply for a job through an agency, where the $6/hour receptionist decides if you are good enough to even fill out an application form! You would be surprised I got some of the best jobs I ever had. Always moved on and up, with best wishes from my ex boss, with lasting friendships.
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Was interviewed for a full time entry level position. They had a few part times also being interviewed who had been there for several months. The questions were not entry level and some very site specific, you had to have worked there for a while to know the answers. I finally just asked them to check my name against the one of the person they had already picked and it would save us all a bunch of time.
Almost every interview for a teaching job in higher education is a multi day exercise. You are basically auditioning for the role of professor, and they have you for a full 48 hours. It is completely exhausting, and you can never relax. Even during meals, there is constantly someone with you talking about the field, or trying to see if you will fit in with the rest of the department, etc. This is all after you have made it through two previous rounds of elimination out of about 200 or more other candidates. And the job only pays 60k. And you work about 60 hours a week.
My first college degree was an associate degree in electronic engineering. After 2 years of college and part-time jobs, I really needed a good paying job so I could continue my college education. So I applied for this job as a repair technician at a local repair shop. Again it was one of those jobs where they didn't post the salary, but I was hopeful it would be better than any part-time I had. During the interview he commented about needing me in the shop for hours than I had expected, but I figured I could work through that. Then I asked what the starting pay was. I assumed it wouldn't be much more than minimum wage because I had no experience yet, but I was shocked when he said pay? I'm not going to pay you a salary. This job is a learning opportunity for you. I just got up and walked out. A couple weeks later I started a different job paying me double what minimum wage was. Why some people think young adults don't have bills is beyond me.
Interviewed for a position for medical billing. Supposed to have a start date in 2 weeks. The second week was actually for my honeymoon which we were going to Hawaii, all booked and paid. Interviewer then demanded that I be there the second week as she really needed me. Nope, not doing that to my husband.
I got this interview for a job as kitchen custodian basically at a university- so of course it's a massive cooking area and they need a dedicated cleaner or several. I was psyched since getting it would also give me a tuition waiver. Got to the interview, which was just in a fancier section of the cafeteria, and waited a few minutes. The interviewer was late which sucked but things happen. Except he also seemed really uncomfortable interviewing me. He also kept asking questions over again. Like "You said on your application that you can lift eighty pounds easily" And I said yes. "but what can you actually lift?" I was trying not to frown but answered "At my last job I used to lift about 120 pounds frequently but that much caused my shoulder to act up. I'm still confident in 80 pounds though." "no really, how much?" It took until just before the end of the interview when I asked when I would hear back and he kind of softly muttered that I "wasn't what he was expecting"
That's when I finally pieced it together. He had chosen the resume of Alex Foster and thought I seemed like a good guy for the job. And then he saw that I am AFAB, and am quite curvy. And didn't want a *girl* working there.
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Was working a call center for a catalogue company and put in for promotion in September. Needed to be interviewed by three separate people: HR, my floor manager, and dept. manager (to this day I still don't know the difference between floor and dept. managers...). Got the HR and floor manager interviews done within the month and went great, but it went through the new year with no word on the final interview, so I started looking for something else. I eventually found something better paying in February, and I had to tell the person I was waiting to interview with that I was giving my two weeks. This person had the gall to ask "what about the promotion?" I kept it professional and told her I was being hired as a supervisor in my new job (which I was) and left it at that. A few months later and the call center I was working in closed down and everyone either had to move to the other location they had or be unemployed. Dodged a bullet.
I went for an interview many years ago that was a pip. The guy's fly was open - he says, "if that gets out you'll be in trouble". So I said, "no, if that gets out, YOU'LL be in trouble!" Needless to say, I didn't get the job. 😄
Once I have interview with a startup company. I realize that most of the employee look afraid of speaking too loud near the big boss. Spent 2 phase interview and the last of is of him mocking my skill on IT, while he is clearly not understand technically. Says like his friend could hack my site in an hour or two.. That is very ballsy for a man that know small amount it. 4 years later, never see his startup to take off..
My favorite interview story was the one where the guy said I was a great fit I'd just need to get certified to do the job. But it's ok as they offer the classes and normally it costs $1000 but I could get a discount of $200 and after I completed the course I'd be hired. Needless to say didn't accept that job.
I work alone. No boss, just myself. I f+cking can't stand other people, ...
Years back I was desperately trying to find a job, and came across one that was for a salesman (which turned out to be door to door salesman). Got to the interview location - super sketchy location that was out of the city, the building looked abandoned from the outside, and was sparcely decorated with old furniture from the 90s. The interviewers were both male, and in their 20s maaaybe early 30s, and they started with an introductory for me and a few other people (all male, and 20s/30s) to their "business" which they claimed was a fortune 500, and then the products we would be selling. After the intro, they said they'd interview us one at a time, and started with me. I don't even remember what was said, my fight or flight kicked in and I disassociated during the entire interview, but I DO remember telling them I would think about it. High-tailed it out of there, locking the doors of my car as soon as I got in. Here's the kicker; the guy who was supposed to be interviewed right after me+
+exited the building and left minutes after I had. My interview lasted over half an hour.. BONUS: their "sales" room for telemarketing had Rock music BLASTING while two girls were supposedly on the phone with customers. During the entire time I was there, the volume was never lowered lol. Called 911 and reported the place because I may not have been their target, but someone else would have.
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I build large multimillion dollar homes for well off people, usually business owners, doctors married to doctors or professional athletes. Normally it’s a referral and there is no interview but occasionally someone wants to “interview” me which is the first red flag. I’ve been in the business for 40 years and my company has been features in many magazines, newspapers and local tv so my houses and reputation is well known in the local area. Anyway I meet with the couple and they think they are interviewing me but I am really interviewing them. If the couple are rude to each other I’m out. If they can’t be nice to the person they are supposed to the love the most in world they will eventually be nasty to me too. If they are arrogant or think they are better than me because they have a fancy title and are wealthier than me than I’m out and I just tell them I’m too busy to take on new clients at this time. These type of people aren’t used to being told no and do they ever get pissed.
I landed a temp-to-perm job with a great salary. The hitch was that the manager I would be assisting was on vacation for three weeks. I found it odd that my temp position started on the first day of her vacation. Within hours, people were pulling me aside in hallways, the kitchen, the parking lot when I went to lunch, the lobby when I returned from lunch, etc., to warn me about what a heinous b***h she was, and that the reason I was scheduled to work 3 weeks before meeting her was to make sure I got a big paycheck before meeting her, because it was the only thing they could think of that would entice a person to stay at that job. After two weeks of having my coworkers look at me like I was a lamb about to be led to the slaughter, I told my agency I wanted out. Yes, I was VERY curious to see what this person was like, but my sense of self-preservation prevailed. My rep apologized and told me I lasted longer than anyone else so far, probably because the manager was on vacation.
Maybe it's because I got nothing much to lose. When I interviewed for jobs decades ago, I don't really want to impress anyone. I treat it as a survey of the place if I want to work there. I take mental notes of what is good and bad about a place. A lot of times, we're just talking about stuff in those interviews. I never bothered with bigger companies though.
Yes, even from the first call, they offer a job that even not related what I am looking for and not related what I write in my resume. I don't like getting loud, but if I have to be loud and so animal, I will
Interviewed for a Technical Writer role. The hiring manager asked me a series of logic riddles and got annoyed when l couldn't answer them. Then he asked me what books l was currently reading....not once did he asked me anything job related ! Sorry but what does solving a f***ing logic puzzel have to do with writing a user guide? That paired with his rude and arrogant behaviour caused me to call the recruiter the next day and told him.l was no longer interested in the job.
I was part of a “cattle call” group interview with a local utility company wherein they would “hire” multiple candidates for the few openings, and use “team building” tactics for the first two weeks to “thin the herd”. The “games” we played were thinly veiled to identify those candidates who would fall into lockstep line. I had no plan to stay on past that “rah rah” week so I decided to mess with management (who were watching via closed circuit TV in another part of the building) by giving “interesting” answers to various questions they asked everyone (just to better acquaint us with one another 🤨). When asked what was the last book I had read I answered The Count of Monte Christo, and when questioned about my favorite movie of all time, I responded Norma Rae 😆. Shortly after the break period began I was invited into the “viewing room” where the bosses had been clandestinely watching all this “team building” and informed that I wasn’t going to be a “good fit” for their company. 😂😂😂
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While asking me to take on a student, the student had decided that the normal class cancelation policy isn't fair. Usually if a student cancels within a certain time frame (3hrs, 12hrs, etc) then they still have to pay for the class time. If a teacher cancels in the same time frame, they just don't get paid. The student's solution that this company agreed to was if the teacher cancels then the teacher has to do a FREE make up class. I told them that is straight up illegal and turned it down. I also ignore that company now. Personally, I'm very lenient on cancelations. If I haven't left the house yet, no charge. With online classes, if class hasn't started yet and I haven't hired a babysitter, no charge. But the 'match making' companies make bank and want to charge students as much as possible, usually taking 50% of the class fee so they aren't lenient in the least.
I once go to job for a major movie studio whose name will Not be disclosed. I was skilled enough for the job and they told me what the job duties were, they hired me and I was so relieved but on day one when I started the Italian woman who ran the department pulled me into her office and said to me “this is what you’re really going to be doing”. I was not comfortable with that at all Months later, the recession started and half of the floor was laid off. Chances are I would’ve been laid off also. But if that Italian woman was completely honest with me, I would not have taken the job
The best story I have was when I was almost poached from Tesla by Theranos. I called my brother who is a chemist for a respected biotech and asked what he thought about Theranos. I stayed at Tesla. Dodged a pretty big bullet there.
What did your brother tell you? I assume the Theranos case wasn't blown up by then. Just curious.
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Interviewed for a database Dev role once, had 30 mins with the manager, went well, chatted to 2 Devs, going great guns, then some guy walks in and it goes quiet and everyone looks uncomfortable. He tells me his name but not his role, he's asking me very surreal and inappropriate questions, at one point he says "are you enjoying this interview?", I don't want to say no so I squeak an "um yes?", His response "well tell ya fooking face then!", we're all squirming and uncomfortable and he thinks he's hysterically funny. I literally ran out of there, complained to the recruiter, couldn't remember his name though. The recruiter phoned me back furious, he just complained to the CEO about the CEO and the CEO was not happy that I'd called him obnoxious, inappropriate and a bully.
I have always insisted on being interviewed by the person I would be reporting to directly. I don't want to interview with some floozie from "HR" who feels entitled to tell you about a job he/she has no clue about. I want to get a feel for the person I am working for. Would NEVER apply for a job through an agency, where the $6/hour receptionist decides if you are good enough to even fill out an application form! You would be surprised I got some of the best jobs I ever had. Always moved on and up, with best wishes from my ex boss, with lasting friendships.
Load More Replies... Was interviewed for a full time entry level position. They had a few part times also being interviewed who had been there for several months. The questions were not entry level and some very site specific, you had to have worked there for a while to know the answers. I finally just asked them to check my name against the one of the person they had already picked and it would save us all a bunch of time.
Almost every interview for a teaching job in higher education is a multi day exercise. You are basically auditioning for the role of professor, and they have you for a full 48 hours. It is completely exhausting, and you can never relax. Even during meals, there is constantly someone with you talking about the field, or trying to see if you will fit in with the rest of the department, etc. This is all after you have made it through two previous rounds of elimination out of about 200 or more other candidates. And the job only pays 60k. And you work about 60 hours a week.
My first college degree was an associate degree in electronic engineering. After 2 years of college and part-time jobs, I really needed a good paying job so I could continue my college education. So I applied for this job as a repair technician at a local repair shop. Again it was one of those jobs where they didn't post the salary, but I was hopeful it would be better than any part-time I had. During the interview he commented about needing me in the shop for hours than I had expected, but I figured I could work through that. Then I asked what the starting pay was. I assumed it wouldn't be much more than minimum wage because I had no experience yet, but I was shocked when he said pay? I'm not going to pay you a salary. This job is a learning opportunity for you. I just got up and walked out. A couple weeks later I started a different job paying me double what minimum wage was. Why some people think young adults don't have bills is beyond me.
Interviewed for a position for medical billing. Supposed to have a start date in 2 weeks. The second week was actually for my honeymoon which we were going to Hawaii, all booked and paid. Interviewer then demanded that I be there the second week as she really needed me. Nope, not doing that to my husband.
I got this interview for a job as kitchen custodian basically at a university- so of course it's a massive cooking area and they need a dedicated cleaner or several. I was psyched since getting it would also give me a tuition waiver. Got to the interview, which was just in a fancier section of the cafeteria, and waited a few minutes. The interviewer was late which sucked but things happen. Except he also seemed really uncomfortable interviewing me. He also kept asking questions over again. Like "You said on your application that you can lift eighty pounds easily" And I said yes. "but what can you actually lift?" I was trying not to frown but answered "At my last job I used to lift about 120 pounds frequently but that much caused my shoulder to act up. I'm still confident in 80 pounds though." "no really, how much?" It took until just before the end of the interview when I asked when I would hear back and he kind of softly muttered that I "wasn't what he was expecting"
That's when I finally pieced it together. He had chosen the resume of Alex Foster and thought I seemed like a good guy for the job. And then he saw that I am AFAB, and am quite curvy. And didn't want a *girl* working there.
Load More Replies... Was working a call center for a catalogue company and put in for promotion in September. Needed to be interviewed by three separate people: HR, my floor manager, and dept. manager (to this day I still don't know the difference between floor and dept. managers...). Got the HR and floor manager interviews done within the month and went great, but it went through the new year with no word on the final interview, so I started looking for something else. I eventually found something better paying in February, and I had to tell the person I was waiting to interview with that I was giving my two weeks. This person had the gall to ask "what about the promotion?" I kept it professional and told her I was being hired as a supervisor in my new job (which I was) and left it at that. A few months later and the call center I was working in closed down and everyone either had to move to the other location they had or be unemployed. Dodged a bullet.
I went for an interview many years ago that was a pip. The guy's fly was open - he says, "if that gets out you'll be in trouble". So I said, "no, if that gets out, YOU'LL be in trouble!" Needless to say, I didn't get the job. 😄
Once I have interview with a startup company. I realize that most of the employee look afraid of speaking too loud near the big boss. Spent 2 phase interview and the last of is of him mocking my skill on IT, while he is clearly not understand technically. Says like his friend could hack my site in an hour or two.. That is very ballsy for a man that know small amount it. 4 years later, never see his startup to take off..
My favorite interview story was the one where the guy said I was a great fit I'd just need to get certified to do the job. But it's ok as they offer the classes and normally it costs $1000 but I could get a discount of $200 and after I completed the course I'd be hired. Needless to say didn't accept that job.
I work alone. No boss, just myself. I f+cking can't stand other people, ...
Years back I was desperately trying to find a job, and came across one that was for a salesman (which turned out to be door to door salesman). Got to the interview location - super sketchy location that was out of the city, the building looked abandoned from the outside, and was sparcely decorated with old furniture from the 90s. The interviewers were both male, and in their 20s maaaybe early 30s, and they started with an introductory for me and a few other people (all male, and 20s/30s) to their "business" which they claimed was a fortune 500, and then the products we would be selling. After the intro, they said they'd interview us one at a time, and started with me. I don't even remember what was said, my fight or flight kicked in and I disassociated during the entire interview, but I DO remember telling them I would think about it. High-tailed it out of there, locking the doors of my car as soon as I got in. Here's the kicker; the guy who was supposed to be interviewed right after me+
+exited the building and left minutes after I had. My interview lasted over half an hour.. BONUS: their "sales" room for telemarketing had Rock music BLASTING while two girls were supposedly on the phone with customers. During the entire time I was there, the volume was never lowered lol. Called 911 and reported the place because I may not have been their target, but someone else would have.
Load More Replies... I build large multimillion dollar homes for well off people, usually business owners, doctors married to doctors or professional athletes. Normally it’s a referral and there is no interview but occasionally someone wants to “interview” me which is the first red flag. I’ve been in the business for 40 years and my company has been features in many magazines, newspapers and local tv so my houses and reputation is well known in the local area. Anyway I meet with the couple and they think they are interviewing me but I am really interviewing them. If the couple are rude to each other I’m out. If they can’t be nice to the person they are supposed to the love the most in world they will eventually be nasty to me too. If they are arrogant or think they are better than me because they have a fancy title and are wealthier than me than I’m out and I just tell them I’m too busy to take on new clients at this time. These type of people aren’t used to being told no and do they ever get pissed.
I landed a temp-to-perm job with a great salary. The hitch was that the manager I would be assisting was on vacation for three weeks. I found it odd that my temp position started on the first day of her vacation. Within hours, people were pulling me aside in hallways, the kitchen, the parking lot when I went to lunch, the lobby when I returned from lunch, etc., to warn me about what a heinous b***h she was, and that the reason I was scheduled to work 3 weeks before meeting her was to make sure I got a big paycheck before meeting her, because it was the only thing they could think of that would entice a person to stay at that job. After two weeks of having my coworkers look at me like I was a lamb about to be led to the slaughter, I told my agency I wanted out. Yes, I was VERY curious to see what this person was like, but my sense of self-preservation prevailed. My rep apologized and told me I lasted longer than anyone else so far, probably because the manager was on vacation.
Maybe it's because I got nothing much to lose. When I interviewed for jobs decades ago, I don't really want to impress anyone. I treat it as a survey of the place if I want to work there. I take mental notes of what is good and bad about a place. A lot of times, we're just talking about stuff in those interviews. I never bothered with bigger companies though.
Yes, even from the first call, they offer a job that even not related what I am looking for and not related what I write in my resume. I don't like getting loud, but if I have to be loud and so animal, I will
Interviewed for a Technical Writer role. The hiring manager asked me a series of logic riddles and got annoyed when l couldn't answer them. Then he asked me what books l was currently reading....not once did he asked me anything job related ! Sorry but what does solving a f***ing logic puzzel have to do with writing a user guide? That paired with his rude and arrogant behaviour caused me to call the recruiter the next day and told him.l was no longer interested in the job.
I was part of a “cattle call” group interview with a local utility company wherein they would “hire” multiple candidates for the few openings, and use “team building” tactics for the first two weeks to “thin the herd”. The “games” we played were thinly veiled to identify those candidates who would fall into lockstep line. I had no plan to stay on past that “rah rah” week so I decided to mess with management (who were watching via closed circuit TV in another part of the building) by giving “interesting” answers to various questions they asked everyone (just to better acquaint us with one another 🤨). When asked what was the last book I had read I answered The Count of Monte Christo, and when questioned about my favorite movie of all time, I responded Norma Rae 😆. Shortly after the break period began I was invited into the “viewing room” where the bosses had been clandestinely watching all this “team building” and informed that I wasn’t going to be a “good fit” for their company. 😂😂😂
Load More Replies... While asking me to take on a student, the student had decided that the normal class cancelation policy isn't fair. Usually if a student cancels within a certain time frame (3hrs, 12hrs, etc) then they still have to pay for the class time. If a teacher cancels in the same time frame, they just don't get paid. The student's solution that this company agreed to was if the teacher cancels then the teacher has to do a FREE make up class. I told them that is straight up illegal and turned it down. I also ignore that company now. Personally, I'm very lenient on cancelations. If I haven't left the house yet, no charge. With online classes, if class hasn't started yet and I haven't hired a babysitter, no charge. But the 'match making' companies make bank and want to charge students as much as possible, usually taking 50% of the class fee so they aren't lenient in the least.
I once go to job for a major movie studio whose name will Not be disclosed. I was skilled enough for the job and they told me what the job duties were, they hired me and I was so relieved but on day one when I started the Italian woman who ran the department pulled me into her office and said to me “this is what you’re really going to be doing”. I was not comfortable with that at all Months later, the recession started and half of the floor was laid off. Chances are I would’ve been laid off also. But if that Italian woman was completely honest with me, I would not have taken the job
The best story I have was when I was almost poached from Tesla by Theranos. I called my brother who is a chemist for a respected biotech and asked what he thought about Theranos. I stayed at Tesla. Dodged a pretty big bullet there.
What did your brother tell you? I assume the Theranos case wasn't blown up by then. Just curious.
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