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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Interviewer is 30 mins late for my interview. AIBU to leave?

49 replies

Itsnotwhatyouare · 10/05/2017 14:22

I arrived for my interview at 1:30. It was due to start at 1:45pm. It's in a hospital.

I've been sat here almost an hour now. If it gets to 2:45pm, Can I walk out saying I will no longer have time to attend?

I'd factored in an hour for the interview. But even if I go to the reception area now and chase up where the interviewer is, I won't really have time to complete the interview as I need to get my son from after school club. There's absolutely no one who can get him for me.

Is this reasonable or would it rule me out of the job completely?

If I got the job of course I would have proper childcare in place, but I was expecting to be finished no later than 2:45pm (an hour after starting time).

OP posts:
ajandjjmum · 10/05/2017 14:24

Have they given you any updates?

Is the interviewer held up through no fault of their own?

DS has just been offered a job where the interviewer was over an hour late for the first interview - when they arrived he was very clear that he only had a limited amount of time to spend with them - the interviewer was very apologetic.

user1493022461 · 10/05/2017 14:24

If they turn up and you're not there, obviously you won't have a hope of getting the job. But if you have to go, you have to.

Original poster
Itsnotwhatyouare · 10/05/2017 14:25

I'm not that bothered about the job. I've excellent experience so don't struggle to get interviews and I had a very good one yesterday. I'm not bothered about this one particularly.

OP posts:
wheresthel1ght · 10/05/2017 14:25

Honestly I would have asked long before now what was happening. But I wouldn't just walk out. I would speak to reception and explain that you are unable to wait any longer and could they ask the interviewer to contact you to reschedule at their convenience

TheInimitableMrsFanshawe · 10/05/2017 14:26

YABU not to at least find out what's going on. But if you need to leave, explain and give them a chance to reschedule.

TheLegendOfBeans · 10/05/2017 14:26

If the interviewer is clinical staff then I'd maybe be more understanding.

If they're not, leave. 30 mins with no explanation isn't fair and (to me) would be an indicator of how the individual treats their staff.

Original poster
Itsnotwhatyouare · 10/05/2017 14:26

Obviously I'd never get the job. But being an hour late is unacceptable so I should be given another one as it's not my fault.

I'm just wondering if having to leave will be an instant put off. I wish I'd chased yo where the interviewer was earlier.

OP posts:
TheLegendOfBeans · 10/05/2017 14:27

Explain to reception. That might snap them into action x

Lokisglowstickofdestiny · 10/05/2017 14:27

If they haven't provided you with an explanation I'd leave explaining you can't wait any longer. It's very rude and unprofessional to have just left you, indicates what it might be like to work there.

Original poster
Itsnotwhatyouare · 10/05/2017 14:27

Thanks everyone. Obviously something has gone wrong. Sounds very unorganised!

It's for a counselling position.

OP posts:
Possumfish · 10/05/2017 14:28

Are you sure they have told the interviewer your there waiting? I once was in a similar situation. Turns out reception hadn't told them I was there, and they had put me down as a no show!

Deranger01 · 10/05/2017 14:29

I don't think it's a good sign for the job! I had this happen, waited, joined the firm - the firm is very disorganised.

On the whole, they'd be unreasonable to hold it against you but doesn't mean they won't!

MsMarvel · 10/05/2017 14:29

Tbh once it had got to after 2pm I would have been asking at reception if there was a delay. Thats a long time to have sat without doing anything.

Rainydayzandmondays13 · 10/05/2017 14:29

YWBU I would leave also. You can't leave your DC stranded, let's face it and if they can't be bothered to update you after an hour then I wouldn't be polite either. I'd just walk . Like you say you're not bothered about it anyway

BoomBoomsCousin · 10/05/2017 14:30

It's not unreasonable to tell them you have to leave at x time and, if the interviewer hasn't been able to interview you at all, to ask to reschedule (if you want to). They'd have to be pretty unreasonable to hold it against you, but at the same time, if they've already managed to interview a number of people that are good, they won't necessarily rearrange just because it was their fault. Though if you aren't that bothered about the job that doesn't matter much.

This is all a bit moot if there is no one else to get your son. You have to go.

Original poster
Itsnotwhatyouare · 10/05/2017 14:31

I wouldn't be surprised if reception hadn't told them I was waiting. She said she would but there may have been an issue.

But the receptionist can see me waiting so surely would have said something. Maybe they've left a message and the interviewers haven't got it.

I wish I'd questioned it earlier but I felt rude to say something before 30
Mins and now there's no point chasing up as I won't have time anyway.

So better to leave it 15 mins and explain.

OP posts:
Original poster
Itsnotwhatyouare · 10/05/2017 14:32

It's not my job to chase up where they are and I won't feel bad for not. You don't want to come across as pushy.

OP posts:
DirtyChaiLatte · 10/05/2017 14:36

I think it's incredibly rude that someone hasn't been to see you to apologise to you for the delay and with an explanation about the delay.

I'd be asking in reception about it and telling them that you've been waiting patiently for an hour and you can't wait any longer as you have other commitments.

Original poster
Itsnotwhatyouare · 10/05/2017 14:37

Thanks everyone. I'm going to say I have to go.

OP posts:
Original poster
Itsnotwhatyouare · 10/05/2017 14:40

Ah someone else is having th same problem and has complained to reception. They're keeping everyone waiting!

OP posts:
SapphireStrange · 10/05/2017 14:45

How disorganised and rude!

lougle · 10/05/2017 14:49

I don't see that you have much choice. If you don't really want the job anyway, you have nothing to lose by telling them that you've waited long enough and can't wait any longer, but if they'd like to reschedule you'd be happy to come back.

NightWanderer · 10/05/2017 14:52

I had a similar experience where an interviewer was over 40 minutes late. I got the job but it was a very disorganised, chaotic organisation and I quit after the trial period.

DirtyChaiLatte · 10/05/2017 14:53

That's even worse because there's obviously a known issue. You all deserve the courtesy of being kept informed and not being ignored.

The least they should be doing is acknowledging that they're running late.

NightWanderer · 10/05/2017 14:53

Just explain your circumstances and ask them to reschedule.

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