From “casting call” for a restaurant server position, to the interviewer being incredibly late, job applicants reveal why they walked out in the middle of an interview.
[Source can be found at the end of the article]
They flat out lied to me about what I was interviewing for. I was told it was for a technician trainee position but it was really for an unpaid internship that had 12 hour days and a mandatory 6 month period before I could move on to a paid job (which would have started out at $11/hr.)
When I was told, I just told him it wasn’t worth my time and got up to walk out. He got all mad and said “Son, you have to show your worth first” and I just said “Sir, I have bills to pay and as much as I’d like to conform to your wishes so that I could have a career, I dont live in a fantasy world where I can just focus on work.”
– deleted
I walked out of an interview before it began once. The interview was scheduled for 10am, which I double-checked from the voicemail that they left. I showed up about ten minutes early, signed in, all that jazz… and waited. and waited. and waited.
45 minutes later I got up, asked the receptionist (who looked seriously embarrassed) to let my interviewer know I was no longer interested, and left.
Two hours later I got a rude call asking if I had forgotten the appointment. I laughed and hung up.
DataDemon
I went into the interview with my prospective supervisor. I looked around the office and noticed that the garbage cans were full, the walls and carpet dirty and the supervisor’s desk was old and had chips out of it. So I mentioned that the company didn’t seem to be doing any basic upkeep and then asked point blank “Is this a good company to work for?” She replied no and hung her head. I said “thanks” and walked out.
blanchae
I had placed my resume on a few job sites and accidentally left my resume open to the public (you should not do that). I had gotten a call for an interview for an insurance thing. I was young and lacked common sense so I excitedly went. When I got there, there was about 20 other people waiting to be interviewed. Turned out to be a “group interview” where some handsome bleached teeth dude talked about how great the job was where we could set our own hours and make as much money we wanted!!! All we had to do was pay a lot of money for their special training and riches beyond our wildest dreams would come of it.
Somehow the stupid slapped me in the face and I got up from my chair and started to walk out. The con man asked me where I was going, and I calmly said, “this is a scam, and I advise others to walk out too…”
2 others left with me.
seven3true
The man interviewing me asked me if I was planning on getting married in the near future, and if so, would I think of having children immediately.
A male acquaintance of mine was up for the same job. Obviously, he never got asked that. Sure, men don’t leave work when their wives are pregnant, but even so.
Pretty sure that’s illegal in some countries, right?
WillQuoteASOIAF
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I was told about 40 minutes into an interview that the job I was interviewing for was going to be a 11pm-6am position. This had never been mentioned in the original job posting, or in the preliminary call prior to the interview. This wasn’t for a gas station job or anything either. High-profile law firm who basically needed a graphic designer to put together presentation materials overnight for use the following day. They also set it so that I’d be working hours just barely under the limit to qualify as a full-time employee with benefits. Again, none of this was ever mentioned in the job description up to this point. The last straw was that they gave me a 30 minute test to prove I could work on a deadline, based on the actual materials I’d be working with- chicken-scratch post-it notes, unintelligible audio-recordings, and other horrible sources I had to base my designs on.
I walked out of the test about five minutes in.
tibby_throwaway
I recently went to an interview for a bank in my area.
First, the woman I spoke to on the phone misrepresented herself. She’d told me she was the assistant branch manager. Upon arrival, she told me she was Head Teller.
The Branch manager would be arriving shortly. I waited for an hour. After an hour of me double checking the time and wondering if I’d gotten there instead of early, I got up to leave.
The Head Teller said she’d be there in 5 minutes, but at that point I just figured I obviously wasn’t important enough. I left. I got a call back 3 days later apologizing and asking if they could set up another meeting, at a bank I was nowhere near. I politely declined.
Secalator
Just after I had been given three months notice of layoff due to office closure from a job that I really liked, I took off early one day for an interview across town. When I arrived, I entered a waiting room full of people at least twice my age, in suits, resumes in hand. Upon seeing this sight, I realized I had very little chance at the position being offered, but since I was there I may as well try.
What I didn’t expect is that we were all scheduled to interview together. We were all herded into a conference room, where the group interview commenced. After a few rounds of questions, learning each others qualifications, how we would handle various situations, and so on, we collectively learned that this position was part time, not what had been advertised, and paid a mere $9 an hour.
I walked out along with three other people.
_Cassidy
Them: “We have a very dedicated team, we often stay after normal office hours, is that ok with you?”
Me: “Sure, I mean I’m single without kids, so if it’s adequately compensated I’m happy to do as much overtime as necessary, no problem.”
Them: “Oh no no, we’re passionate about the work we do here, so overtime is not paid.”
Me: “Okay then, thank you for your time and goodbye.
g253
“Are you deciding to have any kids soon? We’d rather not hire you then have to fire you when you’re knocked up.” I was 15 at the time.
Another time, I was around the same age, I was being interviewed for a babysitting job. All of a sudden she hands me a sheet of chores including making dinner and being a waitress for the parents, cleaning the chimney and gutters, laundry had to be washed, folded, and put away, cleaning toilets and times, every room had to be vacuumed. She then said that the kid would be on daycare so I’d have plenty of privacy. I just left.
youarekindagorgeous
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I went on a job interview while employed at my current company. A company that is safe, with great co-workers and a laid back fund environment. However the salary was less than industry average, and a long commute. So I applied at another place. As I am in the interview, it is going great but then the reality of leaving my current job hits like a ton of bricks. I start bobbling questions I was acing before. And then I realize I just wasn’t ready to leave yet. I knew me leaving would hurt the company immensely, and that leaving would hurt people I know considered more friends than co-workers. So I told my interviewer and he understood completely. He saved my record on file and ended the interview on a good note.
Flyhigh10
I walked out about half way through because the guy was too busy on his phone… I thought maybe he was recording my responses in his phone… Then he laid the phone down on the table to write down some of what I was saying and noticed it was his Facebook open. I got up and walked out, I had a feeling he wasn’t paying attention to anything I was saying. The guy was the head paramedic or whatever at the ambulance company I applied to, I just imagine people are dying in front of his face while he’s using his Facebook.
danieljay691
It was a bait and switch. Looked like a film/tv production job, but turned out to be this weird sales/marketing position. Outbound calls and traveling to stores to sell displays, something like that. I wasn’t rude, but I called the guy out. Said the job he was talking about didn’t really match the description on craigslist (that should’ve been my first indicator….). He said something like “It’s a job, right?” and shrugged. I thanked him for his time and walked out. I couldn’t have been there more than 5 minutes.
rdt156
Interview started an hour late. Lady was extremely rude (Limp handshake, no eye contact, etc.). First question asked was “If you were a Mcdonald’s Hamburger, what would you be and why?”
Annoyed, I said I “didn’t know what type of burger I would be, but that I would definitely be to-go, like right now.” And then got up and left.
Jonmoj
I walked into the interview. It was a coding interview. They had asked me to write (as part of my interview) an application that can encrypt and decrypt a file when someone clicks a button. They allotted me 4 hours for the interview, which was the fastest their in-house engineers could do it.
10 minutes later I’m done, and they accuse me of cheating. I show them the code, tell them the process I used, showed them how I found the information I needed. They then said I would have to wait for another 3.5 hours because it would throw off their schedule otherwise.
When I said I’d be leaving and I don’t think the company was a good fit, they immediately gave me a job offer with a salary 1/4th what I got from the job I ended up taking.
WritingImplement
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I had one successful conventional interview and was called back for a second.
The interviewer for the second said, “I’m not going to ask you any questions. Instead I want you to spend 30 minutes trying to convince me to give you the job.”
I said, “I would rather not work for someone who would think that to be an acceptable interview technique.” and walked out.
fwowaway
I applied to a job as a companion for an elderly man. The ad sounded simple enough, just keep him company and make sure that he doesn’t hurt himself (he had Alzheimer’s). When I showed up for the interview, the daughter started showing me around her house and explaining all that I had to do.
Toilet him, give him medication, administer certain medical procedures, etc. I was 17 and they offered $9/hour. When we sat down to discuss my start date, I politely told her that this was not the job I thought it would be and wished her luck.
Nixie_Dearing
Did a group interview once for a family-style restaurant. They referred to it as a “casting call”. There were at least twenty of us and the manager kept going on and on about how much she wanted employees who were “PEOPLE-persons” (said with a large fake smile on her face). She then went on about what a strict regime she led at the restaurant and just acted like an all around horrible, micro manager. I mean, at least she was honest about it all. But in the middle of her little speech, I just got up and walked out.
strawberry36
They showed me first hand what I would be doing during my interview. Turns out I’d be walking up and down the street trying to sell makeup to strangers. After, they told me to go back to the office, they were gonna tell the boss that I was a perfect candidate, and told me I’d definitely get the job. I hopped in my car and drove straight home, never going back for the end of the interview.
PracticallyAChemist
I found a promising looking ad for a job on craigslist. It looked like it was a job as a cashier or something at a storefront… it was a pretty vague ad.
It ended up being a kirby vaccum selling place. The guy who sat me and gave me the application already had 1 class going, and I was to be in his next class I guess.
He went back to his class after I had sat down so that I could have some time to fill out those papers… I just left instead.
Toke_On_420
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I had applied to work at K-Mart. I had experience with sales/working registers so… essentially, that’s what I applied for. Well, I walked in, told the girl at the Customer Service desk I was there for my application interview. So, the girl behind the desk was the same girl that would be conducting my interview. She looked at me, told me that the positions I had applied for were not needed all that bad, but…they did need a maintenance person, and that I could start right then and there. I honestly thought I was being pranked until I looked over at the desk again, behind this lady was a mop, bucket and, some cleaning supplies. She was not joking. As she was telling me what I’d be doing (I hadn’t even agreed to the maintenance position) I just up and walked out. Nope. Not. Doing. It.
ImNotYourGuyPal
I interviewed to be a property manager for an office complex. We did the interview with a regional director and the company’s HR director. The interview took place in the office of the property manager they were to hire. About 15 minutes into the interview the regional director’s phone rang on loud. Instead of apologizing and continuing on, he answered the call. He was very loud on the phone and didn’t even say anything about being in the middle of an interview. The HR director looked at me and gave me a look that was like, sorry, he thinks he is a big deal. I looked around while he was on the phone and noticed there was a camera on the ceiling with their company logo on it that faced the property managers desk. That was the last straw. I stood up and shook the HR directors hand and thanked him for his time. The regional director, who was still on the phone, asked me what was going on. I told him he is rude for not only answering his phone but taking the call, no one is that important and he can go to hell. Felt good walking out of there and never regretted it at all.
Surferbum08
When I had an interview in a bar for a part-time student job, I would always come in an hour or so early, sit down, have lunch or a couple of coffee’s and just taste the atmosphere, so to say. I mean, the place is going it pay me peanuts, which I know and accept, so at least the vibe has to be good.
One time while I was “scouting” the place, a girl dropped a tray of drinks, breaking some glasses and wasting the drinks. No big deal, things like this happens. A guy who was working with her started yelling at her, in front of the guests. An absolute no-go, even if there are no guests. Right there and then I got up, paid for my coffees and asked to see the guy I had the interview with, which turned out to be the yelling guy. Told him thank you, goodbye.
Alwin_
Interview for a sales position started half an hour later than the time I was told and turned out to be a group interview. Job also wasn’t as advertised- it was a sales position but ad was phrased to make it seem like you were based in the actual building answering calls for potential or already existing clients.
We also didn’t realise the position was to sell window blinds and 3 people left after finding that out. About 10 minutes into the interview, they then told us what the sales positions actually were- cold-calling, door-knocking, and being setup at a stand in the middle of a shopping centre, being paid in commission and having to meet weekly sales goals. I walked out after hearing that and realising that this was going to go on for a while and I had another interview later on that afternoon. I stood up, told the person running the interview sorry but I’ve got to go. She looked really exasperated and someone yelled out at me “really!?” She stopped the interview, asked “does anyone else want to leave?” and 2 other people stood up and bolted.
The interview ended up lasting about an hour. I was waiting for the bus to show up the whole time and ended up catching it with everyone else who was at the interview.
nazzlesazzle
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I walked out on an interview only once, and it was because the people organising it were insane. They had arranged a large scale interviewing process for the entire city. After getting there early I realised there were quite a few applicants so I didn’t mind the fact that I had to wait for about 3 hours. Eventually they asked a group of three of us into an office where we waited again for about 45 minutes.
Again I was happy just to have an interview so I waited. Eventually I met with a manager for the store who asked the standard range of questions and I thought I did pretty well. At the end of the interview though I was asked to sign a waiver and when I asked why I found out that they had recorded the entire interview for the purpose of an episode of a current affairs and didn’t tell me beforehand. After waiting for so long just to be disrespected like that I just walked out. I happened to catch the episode later and it featured some of the people who I had waited with in the room. I didn’t sign that waiver because the angle of the investigation was that unemployed people didn’t put any effort into getting jobs (completely ignoring the fact that everyone had to wait for hours just to get a chance).
Armand_Hammer
I accidentally walked out on an interview. I had driven four hours to apply for a bar/gaming room job in preparation for moving cities for study (I had purchased an apartment, so I kind of had to take job searching seriously). I had spent about 20 minutes talking to the gaming manager (during which time the venue manager joined us), when some guy came up to them and started chatting to them. I sat there for maybe 5-10 minutes, wondering if the interview was over, when I decided that most questions had been asked and my existence had barely been acknowledged since the guy had rocked up. I half interrupted, shook one of the interviewers hands and said thanks, and exited the premises with no idea how the interview went. Was crossing the road to my car, when one of the interviewers chased me across the road and offered me the position (turns out the guy interrupting the interview was one of the owners of the venue).
I sometimes wonder how I get through life considering how socially inept I can be.
Oppodeldoc
I applied for a position as a manager of a restaurant. At the time I was already a General Manager at another restaurant, and I had years of management experience. They called me and asked to set up an interview, which I accepted. When I arrived 15 minutes early I checked in, and was told to take a seat, where I waited for 45 minutes past my scheduled interview time. When I was finally interviewed the interviewer was mumbling something about, “stupid servers”, then ranted to me about how upset he was that a server was refusing to pick-up a night shift. Then he used a bunch of derogatory terms for women about that server. As the interview progressed he would start side tangents about his staff, and past managers. He then told me that while I applied to a managers position they actually didn’t have one available, and that I could serve tables until a position became available. I asked when that might be, and he said maybe 6-8 months.
I read him the riot act in front of staff and customers about how much of my time he wasted, and how he should never talk about his staff like that, and about his professionalism. 8 months later the restaurant closed.
boardmonkey
I was finishing my degree in Music Education, and my university held a job fair for future teachers. It was great, and I actually landed my first job from it.
School districts would set up little booths, and a representative would do on the spot brief interviews, looking to move selected candidates into the next round of applicants. There was one district from Indiana that just had a battery of questions they asked every applicant. I can’t even remember why I wanted to talk to them, but I did.
Several questions weren’t applicable to a music situation (like, what would you do if a student failed a test, what are your views of how you would address standardized testing in your classroom, etc.) The weird part was, I would ask a clarification question, and the interviewer would look kind of annoyed and just repeat the question slowly.
After 3 of those questions, I said “Thank you for your time, but I have no interest in teaching in your school system.” If this is how you treat your prospective employees, I would hate to see the people that make it through this system, and then get to teach kids.
hurricanecook
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