A Tale of 'Merica and Milk - I just walked out and abandoned a job interview. FML.

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You left because someone was 50 minutes late?

What in the hell is wrong with you dude? You're not in a position to get huffy every time some 'disrespects' your unemployed ass.

That sheer amount of entitlement is just mind-boggling to me.
 
The interview isn't only about the company getting a feel for you , it's also you getting a feel for the company,

As the other guy said why would you want to work for a company like that?

15 mins is ok , 30 minutes waiting max, with no "hey we are running a bit late can you wait a bit longer? Sorry. " I'm rolling out.
 
It doesn't matter how big of a "fire" there might've been or how busy he was, the owner owed it to you to at least spend 10 seconds to greet you and let you know he's behind schedule. He was aware that you were there at least, right? There's no excuse for him not doing that and it's a red flag as far as wanting to work for someone like that.

That said, if you're really as desperate as you say you are, you should've stuck it out, or at least been a little more aggressive and asked the secretary about the delay.

As others have said, make up something about an emergency and try to get the interview rescheduled.
 
Yes, it was unprofessional.

However, shit happens. The guy might've been busy as hell. Personally, I would've waited. Even if I wasn't desperate for a job.
 
Doing this seems justified when you are looking to transfer jobs. But when you are out of work and need a job pretty bad? This seems like a hell of a mistake.
 
That was an incredibly stupid move. From your previous threads it looks like you can't afford to lose an opportunity like this. Sometimes you have to have a shit job just for the steady paycheck. Beggars can't be chooser's. Don't know what you were thinking.
 
I'm confused as to why you didn't ask the secretary when the interview would take place before walking out?? That makes no sense at all. Whether he made you wait or not, you need a job and clearly you're not that desperate if you walked out on a potential well paying job. There are no reasons for your sob stories anymore based on your reaction today. Sorry if that's harsh but it's the truth
 
The interview isn't only about the company getting a feel for you , it's also you getting a feel for the company,

As the other guy said why would you want to work for a company like that?

15 mins is ok , 30 minutes waiting max, with no "hey we are running a bit late can you wait a bit longer? Sorry. " I'm rolling out.

Doesn't sound like he even asked the receptionist to make sure the boss knew he was there.

He sat there tracking the bosses every move quietly then jumped up and left.

Lot of assumptions there IMO. Boss may have forgotten or gotten distracted. At the very least ask the receptionist to double check that the boss is aware.
 
If you had waited 5 more minutes you would now have a job that pays $70k, taking you from unemployed to living the good life in a matter of one single interview.

I have read some ridiculous shit on GAF, and let me tell you this is near the absolute top. So congrats on that? I'm not sure what you advice you are looking for as this bridge is beyond burned.
 
Wow at some of the douchier comments in this thread.


OP, you should have asked the secretary what the matter is, but making you wait like that with no explanation is unprofessional.
 
You should have waited. In fact even though he was late if you had waited and did a late interview it would have shown you wanted the job if you were willing to stick around.

While he could and should have at least come out and said hey I'm running abit behind I'll be with you shortly you leaving imo was unprofessional.

I'd email him back and hope he is nice enough to give you another interview. The fact he contacted you after the fact seems to show you he was interested.
 
Swallow your pride. If you don't have enough patience to wait for an interview then do you have enough patience to deal with the job?

You sound very short tempered.

No, it was clearly the owner that was unprofessional.

So what? Does the owner need a job or OP? Sometimes you gotta suck it up and deal with shit. Life isn't fair.
 
I think I would have asked the receptionist what was up before leaving, but honestly I can't blame you for leaving. Leaving professionalism aside, what he did was personally disrespectful and you shouldn't stand for it.

I probably would have asked the secretary if they'd reschedule before walking out.

Actually this would have been perfect.
 
Well, for one, it specifically related to the post I was replying to:

He should remember to ask to get paid more when he works at target? No shit.

I still don't get the connection.



Anyway op, the best way to recover if you want to is to say you had a family emergency and had to leave immediately. If there's even any chance of it panning out.
 
Are you sure the interview was scheduled at 3:00?

My first time reading your story I got the times mixed up and thought it was scheduled for 4:00. Maybe your interviewer made the same mistake, considering your phone interview the previous day was at 4:00.
 
OP, you should have asked the secretary what the matter is, but making you wait like that with no explanation is unprofessional.

What? That would have made him seem like a complete dick. You have to shelf your ego when in interview situations (unless you're interviewing at a high level).
 
40 minutes man, jeez...
You could have at least given him the benifit of the doubt and waited to see if he was a total dbag or not, maybe the man was just swamped.

Or at least you could have asked the receptionist how long it would take.
 
Well, he still is the owner and the OP still is unemployed.

That has nothing to do with professionalism.

This. I wait longer for my doctor and he doesn't pay me shit. Why walk out on someone who could get you a job?

Maybe he's not so desperate for a job that he's willing to work for a terrible boss? That's his call/decision to make, and there's nothing wrong that.
 
I guess waiting depends on what's going on at the place. If you thought you were being scoffed at and the dude was just being lazy, it makes perfect sense to bail. The motherfucker doesn't value you your time, so why commit your time to him. The writing would be on the wall that it would be a mediocre place to work.

That being said, it seems like your experience is NOT that. It seems he was reasonably busy, you got bored of waiting, and you bailed. That's not cool. You made a noticeable uh oh on your part. I've waited very patiently for people I had to speak to and get information from because I know shit happens. I hope you take this as a lesson to see shit happens, and don't use it to leave when you feel you waited a long time. Your hastiness in that regard was your own undoing.
 
You should have waited and interviewed. You cant afford not to.

You also were right to think that there were many red flags and that even if you did accept a position that you would need to keep looking.
 
I would reply to the owner and ask to reschedule the job interview.
It's always easier to find a new job while employed than unemployed.
 
Yeah, this. Don't let people treat you like shit. That is why the whole system is rigged. Way too many people just accept being treated like that.

I think, on some level, this is how all of us want to think.

It's just that, given reality, we can't think this way. There's a serious power imbalance that forces many of us to just accept the shit tossed our way.
 
That was a stupid fucking move to pull. Sorry dude.

The best job of my life has had spots of unprofessional tardiness on both my boss and supervisor's end. Sometimes it happens, we are human after all. But it wasn't indicative of how much I would enjoy it there or anything, people just fall behind on occasion. Sure it would have been nice of him to say something, but a busy mind tends to let things slip. You overreacted and missed the opportunity to at least *try* working there. It's not like you can't leave if it truly sucks.

Good luck I guess.
 
Doesn't sound like he even asked the receptionist to make sure the boss knew he was there.

He sat there tracking the bosses every move quietly then jumped up and left.

Lot of assumptions there IMO. Boss may have forgotten or gotten distracted. At the very least ask the receptionist to double check that the boss is aware.

He was aware I was sitting there. I could plain as day hear his conversation on the phone, just as I am sure he could hear my conversation with the receptionist. Also when I first got there she notified him I was there and brought me the paperwork and questionnaire he wanted me to answer and then personally took it to him and dropped it off.

I actually sent an email to him the moment I got home and nuked any opportunity I had with him from orbit... but I don't really feel bad about it. I do appreciate all of GAF's input and I enjoy getting differing perspectives on the situation. I will use it on my next interview.
 
Well, he still is the owner and the OP still is unemployed.


Absolutely, which is why in my first post I said what he did was dumb given his situation. Doesn't change the fact that leaving an interview for the reasons he did, if he can afford to be picky, is quite reasonable.
 
OP, you're not wrong. But..you're not completely right. It was a bad start, and it was their fault, undeniably.

Maybe they're looking for someone who doesn't mind when their time is abused. They really should have at least said something about the missed appointment instead of being annoyed that you didn't wait 45 minutes to be seen.
 
I can't believe people defend this.

Yes, your time is valuable, WHEN YOU'RE A HOT COMMODITY.

When you have headhunters banging at your door, you can cherry pick.

When you create threads complaining about retail pay and then skip out on an interview just because, take a good look and wonder who's at fault here.

5 more minutes, and you could've been hired! You now have a shadow of doubt cast on whether or not you could've had the job, good situation or bad.

Seeing an issue with 2 techs in IT means to me that the place is understaffed. If you had leveraged that knowledge in your interview and put it back on the boss, you could've walked out of there hired on the spot.

Treat it as a learning experience and move on, but seriously the people who say "time is valuable" really must have nice, cushy jobs where they can write from.
 
Oh god, how do some of you think this was a good decision? Yeah ok, if you're employed and looking to move maybe you bail after something like this because it's not worth it. And you probably have shit to do since, you know, you've got a job. But cutting out because of a 45 minute delay when you don't have a goddam job? Hello?

Do you know what the best advice anyone can ever give someone that's thinking of looking for a job? "Do it while you have a job." Go to this place and, as long as they give you a goddam check at the end of the week, suck up being forgotten or ignored for 45 precious minutes and bide your time before moving on.
 
No, it was clearly the owner that was unprofessional.

We have no way of even knowing if the secretary told the owner he was there for the interview. This whole thing could've been resolved by him simply asking the secretary what time he will be going in to interview with the owner
 
Interviewer was unprofessional but it also sounds like he has a lot going on. He also doesn't owe you anything at this point as he has other candidates. Yeah, he was an asshat to treat you like that, but it's not entirely fair to judge him on that alone. And why listen to the receptionist? You knew her for less than an hour. Everyone hates their job to some degree and she may have been having a bad day/week.
 
"Hey, listen, I don't mean to be a pain, but if this interview is delayed further, I may need to alter my schedule the rest of the day. Do you think I will be seeing Mr. _____ in the next few minutes?"

That's all it would have taken.

Again, you still have the ability to reject any job offer. Sitting for the interview is something you still should have done if you are desperate for a job. If you aren't? Sure, leave, whatever.
 
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