A Tale of 'Merica and Milk - I just walked out and abandoned a job interview. FML.
- Thread starter Telephoto999
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Maddocks
Member
If I needed the job badly I would have waited at least an hour. After an hour then ask for a reschedule because its been an hour. Two people left unexpectedly, probably because they got better jobs. So his 8 man team turned into 6, and he finished an interview before you showed up and had to make calls and take calls. People lose track of time all the time when they are busy. Who knows how long the first guy had to wait for his interview.
Should have waited just a bit longer.
Should have waited just a bit longer.
BaltimoreLarry
Member
I usually make people wait at least 30 minutes before I've interviewed them. If you really want a job, you'll wait. If you aren't willing to wait, you don't want the job that much, then I don't want you as an employee.
Ya, gotta reschedule...need time for making that thread on gaf about skipping out on an interview... can't be late to that.
QuicheFontaine
Member
My first thought. You're unemployed dude, have you really got something more important to do? Especially considering you already committed a lot of time to this with the written test and emails, not to mention it took you 45 minutes to drive to the interview! I can't believe you walked off after 45 mins of waiting.
Ol No Bones
Banned
If you want a job you should have stayed. I would have stayed and decided afterwards. If you really need a job you can't be picky. Get a job and use your off time looking for something better.
I'm starting to sound like my dad.
I'm starting to sound like my dad.
Mammoth Jones
Member
Because regardless of the wait time jobs are in high demand. You show me one person that doesn't want to wait patiently for an hour and I'll show you 50 people that would GLADLY wait patiently.
Shit, dude could have brushed off the wait when the dude apologized and earned some bonus points in the interview for patience and temperment. I mean, if you got other opportunities lined up and you're in high demand then by all means don't lower your standards. But when you're out of a job and need to pay the bills you can browse GAF on your phone while you swallow your pride and wait.
Zoe
Member
So you actually started the interview. It took you 15 minutes for the paperwork and the test. What if he had planned on it taking twice that time and scheduled things accordingly?
And WTF at burning the bridge.
D
Deleted member 12837
Unconfirmed Member
Telephoto999
Member
It was definitely at three over the phone. I told him anytime after 2 and he said can you be there right at 3? I confirmed and then sent a follow up email confirming with him and thanking him for the phone interview.
And, although a small company with a frazzled owner and 2 techs who just left is a recipe for burning out, it's also prime opportunity for getting your hands dirty way above your skill level, because they have no one else. For example:
Owner: Hey OP do you have any experience doing backups/networking/UNIX?
OP: Uh, sure (under breath: I back up my PC / set up a LAN party / played with a Linux VM)
Owner: Great, you're our new backup etc. manager!
6 -12 months later you can parlay that into a career somewhere else if you get burned out.
Telephoto999
Member
You sure do have a hard on to hate on me for some reason... here... and on other forums I've seen you post regarding me. Would you like to clear this up over PM?
Thanks.
6 months at a shithole company making ok money and having to find your way out of that hole to an actually decent job, isn't worth it if you can go to a good place right from the start. A paycheck isn't everything. This is why managers abuse their workers.
Leaving an interview? Yeah this "opportunity" was blown. But it might have been a bad opportunity.
Joe Molotov
Member
"I gotta get back to post on GAF, I don't have time for this shit!" *pushes over IT magazine rack*
SneakyStephan
Banned
Or live in countries with a healthy labor market
(not that OP shouldn't have waited to see what the situation was)
Beardz
Member
That would be in the case the OP had something important to do, like, really important, but no, the only thing the OP did was create this really important thread.
Randolph Freelander
Member
If only he had rescheduled. :/
My thought was just a tactful way to get the receptionist to light a fire under the owner (actually, to just remind the owner that a candidate was waiting).
terrisus
Member
DoktorEvil
Banned
Pretty much how anyone else moves up in a career.
Regardless when it was, you should of stayed.
You're not going to improve your situation if you just pussy out on some simple shit.
David Incorporated Esq.
Member
I would love to see the email you sent him.
If i was you, I'd go back and apologize one million times.
I'm showing up ten minutes early and waiting for the interview until the place closes and everyone leaves at the latest. Ego has ruined many careers before they start. Don't be the next victim. Seriously, go back, apologize and beg them to interview you. IMHO, you messed up.
I'm showing up ten minutes early and waiting for the interview until the place closes and everyone leaves at the latest. Ego has ruined many careers before they start. Don't be the next victim. Seriously, go back, apologize and beg them to interview you. IMHO, you messed up.
What an idiotic approach. How about respecting the people you're interviewing?
As we've learned today, apparently they can be.
Please post what you said to him.
Duane Cunningham
Member
Dude. Making people wait in the lobby for their interview happens all the time. My boss makes people wait. You're not his top priority!
Some employers do it on purpose. Lorne Michaels is notorious for it:
Just like when people get a raise and their new salary is $X9,000 instead of $1k more. Just a little mind game. Who cares? It's fine.
Anyway, if he makes you wait for three hours, you stick around and look like a good sport if you can. Or tell the receptionist, "really sorry, but I have to reschedule". But after 45 minutes?? And not telling them anything??
And who cares about those guys that got fired or quit? Maybe he IS a difficult boss who yells at people like he's Spacely Sprockets, but then maybe you're the person he gets along with for the next five years? You won't know if you leave before the interview!
Some employers do it on purpose. Lorne Michaels is notorious for it:
Just like when people get a raise and their new salary is $X9,000 instead of $1k more. Just a little mind game. Who cares? It's fine.
Anyway, if he makes you wait for three hours, you stick around and look like a good sport if you can. Or tell the receptionist, "really sorry, but I have to reschedule". But after 45 minutes?? And not telling them anything??
And who cares about those guys that got fired or quit? Maybe he IS a difficult boss who yells at people like he's Spacely Sprockets, but then maybe you're the person he gets along with for the next five years? You won't know if you leave before the interview!
Zoe
Member
And to continue my previous post:
Even more evidence that he wasn't expecting to see you face to face at 3:00.
Even more evidence that he wasn't expecting to see you face to face at 3:00.
Randolph Freelander
Member
Cosigned.
Please, post the unedited email. Er, alter names, if you wish. But otherwise leave nothing out.
David Incorporated Esq.
Member
Even a beggar gets pissed when you treat him like shit.
So he told you to be there at 3. You showed up 15 minutes early (which is a good thing), and you had to fill out an application and take a test which took you 15 minutes or so. The person who was interviewing you knew that you would have to do some things before they talked to you when they scheduled the interview time.
You really made a huge mistake. You decided to let the company know that your time was more valuable to you than the job was. This is fine if you have other opportunities- but based on your posting history, you probably don't have a better alternative. You burned a bridge because an hour of your time is too valuable.
You really made a huge mistake. You decided to let the company know that your time was more valuable to you than the job was. This is fine if you have other opportunities- but based on your posting history, you probably don't have a better alternative. You burned a bridge because an hour of your time is too valuable.
I don't understand this mindset...sure, time is money but when you're unemployed, your time isn't earning you much.
Since you're talking about an owner, this seems like a small business. The guy could've had a ton of problems, especially since two of his IT guys had left. I'm sure he didn't make you wait on purpose.
I'm saying this as a guy who's driving 10 hours this coming friday just going to a job interview and driving back home; an hour wait really isn't that bad. But to each his own...
Since you're talking about an owner, this seems like a small business. The guy could've had a ton of problems, especially since two of his IT guys had left. I'm sure he didn't make you wait on purpose.
I'm saying this as a guy who's driving 10 hours this coming friday just going to a job interview and driving back home; an hour wait really isn't that bad. But to each his own...
terrisus
Member
It's not nice to taunt him with images of 5-figure salaries.
ShockingAlberto
Member
Yeah, you seriously fucked up.
You weren't slighted, you just weren't the top priority.
You weren't slighted, you just weren't the top priority.
Perfect Cha0s
Member
Maybe he made a simple mistake and thought you were scheduled for 4? Maybe those calls were important? Just because someone is the "owner" doesn't mean they sit around counting their mad stacks of cash and shooting the shit all day. You should have just given him the benefit of the doubt and asked the secretary what was going on. =/
I dunno. Walking out like that just seems incredibly immature.
I dunno. Walking out like that just seems incredibly immature.
No amount of apologizing is going to fix the situation. That place doesn't need OP. They have other candidates who didn't walk out before the interview and then go home and send the owner a snarky email. OP is not getting the job. That ship has sailed.
That's true. However he'd be a pissed beggar with a paycheck.
m_shortpants
Member
I can't believe you burnt your bridges by sending another email as well.
so not bad at all then.
my god. the things i would have done for a job when i was unemployed. and you're too precious to have a seat for 50 minutes. smh.
chris121580
Member
Treating him like shit is making someone wait for an interview? Seriously? That's a ridiculous statement
SteveWinwood
Member
I read the op.
There is a reason you're unemployed.
There is a reason you're unemployed.
Aesius
Member
davepoobond
you can't put a price on sparks
🚨⚠🚨
Glad to see you like to waste time. Getting there on time isn't enough?
Find your way out of that hole? What does that mean? Getting another job while you already have a job is so much easier than getting one while unemployed.
ShockingAlberto
Member
This isn't treating someone like shit.
Assuming OP's account is accurate then 45 minutes is an unreasonable amount of time to make someone wait with no explanation. You don't simply let people take advantage of you because you need a job. I don't agree with this pro-grovelling attitude a lot of people have in this thread.
The most reasonable post in the thread. You win again akira
PeakPointMatrix
Member
Oh my God.
You have the patience and reasoning of a saint. What a mystery you're still unemployed!
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