It can't be easy to walk away from a job interview. If there's an opportunity for money, right on the table, all laid out nice and neat with only your signature on a dotted line keeping you from it, you should take it. However, the writing on the wall is sometimes so clear and vivid, almost as if it's screaming at you, "Don't. Work. Here," and, for whatever reason, you can feel it in your jimmies this isn't the right place. It's then that you thank them for their time, politely stand up, and get the heck out of there.
Reddit user, u/King_Sublimibus, wanted to know what caused you to leave when they asked:
Did you ever quit during a a job interview and noped out of there? If so, why?
Yeah........No.
When I asked how much they'd pay me and the response was "you can make as much as you want"
Trust Your Spider-Sense
I went for an interview at a "sales company" whatever that means. I was 17 and just wanted an easy job, thought it would be a door to door thing. When I got there I was surrounded by business men in suits, all looking really panicked. I got into the interview and the guy looked really shocked to see me, but I instantly smelled something fishy. Worked out pretty quickly it was a (very polished looking) pyramid scheme. When he started to explain the emphasis on getting results and how the pay worked I stood up, told him he clearly didn't pay attention when sorting through the CVs and that it wasn't for me. Shook his hand and walked out. On the bus home I figured out that my shirt was on inside out the whole time. Total professionalism on both sides!
Probably The Wrong Thing To Focus On In Education, Right?
I was in an interview to be a math teacher at a school with 7 openings. Just a continual mass exodus at an awful school. It was a 5 minute drive from home, though, so I decided to check it out.
The first question I am asked is what I do if a student has a cell phone out in class. I said that I usually take the phone and give it back after class, but if the school has another policy I would be glad to follow it. The interviewer's immediate response was that she didn't think I would be able to build relationships with their students with that kind of mindset, so she would be fine with concluding the interview at that point. I agreed and walked out, completely blown away. No wonder why they can't keep teachers.
I already had a contract with another school, so it was whatever to me.
Why Risk Baldness?
The owner of the company told me she'd come to my house and cut off all my hair if I ever shared any information with her competitors.
I never shared any info about the company, but you better believe I told everyone what she had said to me.
Edit for everyone asking: I don't actually believe she would have done it, but it also didn't seem like she was joking.
Let's Call An Audible On This One
The one I should have quit... My appt was at 1pm for a temp company signup. You know...WHMIS policies, govt work regs...and apparently they expected people to make themselves familiar with the contents of a 4"ring binder and sign off that I understood various sections. Half of what I had to sign off on wasn't even in the binder.
The 1:30 appt showed up and still no interviewer. So I went to the desk and said yadda yadda let's go. They asked me to wait a few more minutes. I did.
A back office door opened a few minutes later and a woman who had obviously just finished crying stepped out and called the 1:30 over. She explained that her Grandmother had passed away and she'd like to reschedule.
Then she turned to me with a fake smile and started leading me to an interview room. I protested, saying I could come back and that she was in no condition to work , but she brushed me off saying her family would be a while picking her up yet.
I don't know why I didn't leave. It was awful. She stared at the computer monitor the whole time, robotically asked me the standard questions and typed answers...the only thing I could do was read the 'what to do in case of a bomb threat' poster on the wall behind her head.
This Feels Backwards
"We won't give you a contract until you've bought your uniform and paid for your training"
Yeah, no.
Last year this was ruled illegal in the UK. Clothing stores were doing this all the time, requiring staff to buy their clothes, and it was taken to the courts. If you have to buy your uniform on a regular basis (to keep up with trends) then you are effectively being paid under the minimum wage.
If you are so sure you will sell your clothes by the staff wearing/advertising them then you should give the clothes to staff for free. It's what my store does.
So I Can't Tell Them They Cheat?
Back when I was teaching, I had an interview once where I had to plan a lesson of bingo. One of the kids kept rubbing their answers out and writing new ones so they could win. I sat down and advised the kid I didn't think what they were doing was fair and asked them why they were doing it. We had a little chat of the school values and they agreed that it was wrong of them to do it.
Cut to after the interview the the interviewer took me aside and said that it was disgraceful I told a kid they were cheating and it was wrong and I'd make a horrible teacher. One of the many experiences I've had on why I don't teach anymore.
Some schools are honestly just toxic. The teaching profession is really only for strong willed people and I am definitely not one of them.
Speak Your Truth
I was interviewing for a customer service position at a company I'd never heard of but thought "hey, maybe it's a start-up". I got up and excused myself when the interviewer mentioned door to door sales for commission. I told her "I'm sorry, the online posting said customer service. Not sales. I don't appreciate having my time wasted, and I'm sure you don't either. Next time be honest In what you're looking for."
Taking Advantage Of The Gig Economy
A driving job advertised as paying $16 an hour plus tips. During the interview they clarified it's actually $9 an hour but the tips would bring the average up to $16 an hour. No thanks. Maybe don't word it like your wage will be $16 and the tips will be added to that. They knew what they were doing, I could tell the interviewer noticed my change in demeanor when she told me the truth. Borderline bait and switch.
Doesn't Matter How Old You Are, No One Deserves To Be Treated Like This
The interviewer raised her voice and became verbally abusive during the interview. I stood up, announced the meeting was over, and left.
Uuh, do tell us more!
That occasion was an early interview and I had other options.
The decision to end that interview was based on an earlier experience from a part time job during my teenage years. It's more valuable to tell you about that because I had made the mistake of accepting it.
During the interview when I was seventeen, a retail store manager had asked "What would you do if a customer has a problem?"
I replied, "It depends on the situation."
The interviewer barked back, "No! You get a supervisor!"
Adolescents deal with angry reactions from adults on a semi-regular basis so I really didn't know how to assess that response. After a moment of silent surprise I assured the manager I would follow store policy. I got hired. But the work environment was a nightmare.
Lesson learned: when someone with enough authority to conduct interviews doesn't maintain professional demeanor at the interview, then it's likely they don't have much competence at all and the organization tolerates that. Outward facing courtesy is a minimal standard.
