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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Is this unprofessional?

257 replies

Mindthenicedeadpeople · 02/09/2026 12:11

Job interview for 12pm

10 candidates all booked in for 12pm being seen individually by one person.

So whoever is here last will presumably be interviewed an hour later than booked.

OP posts:
thisismeithinkorisit · 02/09/2026 12:30

tripleginandtonic · 02/09/2026 12:23

Common practice in a lot of jobs

To give 13 people one interview time and leave people sitting for hours waiting? Not somewhere I'd want to work

Mindthenicedeadpeople · 02/09/2026 12:30

holidayromancenotforme · 02/09/2026 12:28

Personally I can’t imagine slagging off the place I’m about to interview at online!

Maybe places should have better interviewing processes then?

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pontefractals · 02/09/2026 12:29

HelenaWilson · 02/09/2026 12:25

The only time I've ever seen that happen was for a surgeon's appointment at their rooms. Every patient was booked for 9am and then you'd just wait your turn.

The nhs does that to allow for dnas (did not attend) so that staff aren't left twiddling their thumbs with no patients waiting.

Maybe the same idea here.

I had that happen for an NHS job (non-clinical, low level), and they explained it was for the same reason. They also explained that they'd put the wrong salary on the advert and the actual salary was about two grand lower, and this was in days when two grand was a fairly large proportion of the annual. I got a job in a different NHS organisation, had to work with the first organisation, and was not surprised at the first meeting when one of their staff said, dispiritedly, "we're shit and we know we are".

WhatATimeToBeAlive · 02/09/2026 12:29

How old is his son? This all sounds bonkers and sooooo unprofessional!

Mindthenicedeadpeople · 02/09/2026 12:29

honeylulu · 02/09/2026 12:27

That is dreadful. Until you updated that it was a dentist surgery I was going to suggest it sounded like recruitment for one of these "chugger" set ups. My son got enticed into one of those, turned up for an "interview" for a Sales & Marketing Assistant role and found himself in a room with 7 others at which point they were told it was not an interview but an induction and they were expected to stay for the rest of the day and then start chugging the next!

Nope, a long standing local dental surgery. It is the dentist interviewing. He has also brought his son who is sitting at the front desk.

OP posts:
holidayromancenotforme · 02/09/2026 12:28

Personally I can’t imagine slagging off the place I’m about to interview at online!

Popstarrrrr · 02/09/2026 12:28

Please keep us updated OP. I very overinvested in what the actual interview will be like.

honeylulu · 02/09/2026 12:27

That is dreadful. Until you updated that it was a dentist surgery I was going to suggest it sounded like recruitment for one of these "chugger" set ups. My son got enticed into one of those, turned up for an "interview" for a Sales & Marketing Assistant role and found himself in a room with 7 others at which point they were told it was not an interview but an induction and they were expected to stay for the rest of the day and then start chugging the next!

Mindthenicedeadpeople · 02/09/2026 12:26

Well one out, and one in. Still waiting. Maybe it’s to see who will crack.

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Mindthenicedeadpeople · 02/09/2026 12:25

AbsintheMakesTheHeartGrowFonder · 02/09/2026 12:24

I suspect some of the people there will only be there because they have to apply for jobs and attend interviews in order to keep signing on for unemployment benefits, rather than because they actually want the job.

Honestly not getting that vibe tbh.

OP posts:
HelenaWilson · 02/09/2026 12:25

The only time I've ever seen that happen was for a surgeon's appointment at their rooms. Every patient was booked for 9am and then you'd just wait your turn.

The nhs does that to allow for dnas (did not attend) so that staff aren't left twiddling their thumbs with no patients waiting.

Maybe the same idea here.

Stressedout68 · 02/09/2026 12:25

They are already showing you how mismanaged they are x

AbsintheMakesTheHeartGrowFonder · 02/09/2026 12:24

Mindthenicedeadpeople · 02/09/2026 12:20

Also as an aside when did it become normal to wear trackie bottoms and old trainers to an interview?

I suspect some of the people there will only be there because they have to apply for jobs and attend interviews in order to keep signing on for unemployment benefits, rather than because they actually want the job.

Mindthenicedeadpeople · 02/09/2026 12:24

tripleginandtonic · 02/09/2026 12:23

Common practice in a lot of jobs

Not any I’ve interviewed for previously. Thankfully. It really shouldn’t be.

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tripleginandtonic · 02/09/2026 12:23

Common practice in a lot of jobs

Mindthenicedeadpeople · 02/09/2026 12:22

I would walk out, but I’m tempted to see exactly what the interview portion is made of.

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Growingaseed · 02/09/2026 12:22

Many years ago I went for a job interview at river island and they did this.

It took so long that it was after the time the car park got locked and I only just managed to get my car out for the night. The man was literally locking the gates!

Didn't get the job after having half a day wasted and I always think of them as an awful company despite it having been 15 years haha!

MyMilchick · 02/09/2026 12:21

Like a real dental surgery experience then 😂 but yeah that's terrible treatment

Mindthenicedeadpeople · 02/09/2026 12:20

Also as an aside when did it become normal to wear trackie bottoms and old trainers to an interview?

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Mindthenicedeadpeople · 02/09/2026 12:19

Frendslikethese · 02/09/2026 12:19

Maybe all the candidates will be put into one big room and fight it out, Squid Games style?

My partner said this!

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Mindthenicedeadpeople · 02/09/2026 12:19

momager22 · 02/09/2026 12:17

I’m an internal recruiter.
Unless the format was explained in advance to the candidate either by the recruiter or hiring manager I’d assume the company was a shitshow and run a mile.

Definitely not explained.

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Frendslikethese · 02/09/2026 12:19

Maybe all the candidates will be put into one big room and fight it out, Squid Games style?

Mindthenicedeadpeople · 02/09/2026 12:18

Tempted to see it through.

It’s for a dental surgery.

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NorthFacingGardener · 02/09/2026 12:18

That’s a very short job interview! What kind of job is it?

Mindthenicedeadpeople · 02/09/2026 12:18

2 people seen so far…in for about 8 mins each.

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