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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to tell a company I applied for a job with that they are rude

111 replies

BigYellowJumper · 13/06/2017 09:36

and that I don't want to work for them?

The faceless person I have been emailing with (seriously, not even a name on the replies, just the company name) has been dismissive and rude every time we've spoken.

First: when they offered me an interview I asked for a clarification of the interview time. It was written in a way that sounded quite unclear (said one time, then after, another.). The person replied 'As I clearly stated before, the time is xyz.' OK, I thought, bit abrupt, but never mind.

They gave me the address for the office, and said 'do you have a car? A car is essential for this role because the office is not near to public transport.' I said 'yes, that's no problem, I have a car.' They replied 'well, it would be a 'problem' as you say, if you didn't, because there is no public transport here.'

Honestly, I just feel so put off. Every time, there is some snippy little comment and I kind of feel like if I go for this job, I'll be working in that kind of atmosphere and get stressed out. If I was desperate to work, it would be one thing, but we have enough saved up that I don't need to work for a little while, so would I be unreasonable to just cancel the interview and to tell them that I find their responses very rude and don't want to work in a place with rude people?

OP posts:
newmumwithquestions · 13/06/2017 09:39

YWNBU as its your choice but it's likely the person arranging the interview would have nothing to do with you if you worked there.

The people you'd be directly working with could be lovely.

I'd go and see what they're lije at interview.

chickenowner · 13/06/2017 09:39

I once decided against applying for a teaching job because the office manager I spoke to when phoning for an application pack was SO rude and dismissive.

I think you should pass the email conversation on to the manager/owner of the company. The person you have been dealing with is (for you) the face of the company and this matters!

newmumwithquestions · 13/06/2017 09:39

*like

queencrunch · 13/06/2017 09:39

Yanbu

Tell them then email the company director.

stuntcamel · 13/06/2017 09:40

Go to the interview anyway, everybody else might be really nice. At the end you can always tell them "Thanks, but no thanks" and why.

chumpchange · 13/06/2017 09:42

Gosh that person sounds revolting.

well, it would be a 'problem' as you say, if you didn't, because there is no public transport here. Seriously? Do they not realise that 'no problem' is a common expression and in your sentence it means "The office not being near to public transport is not a problem because I have a car"?

I'd be exhausted already and you haven't even met them yet! How big is the company?

Redsippycup · 13/06/2017 09:43

I get what you are saying and it would piss me off too. I suspect the lack of name makes them feel like they can say what they want.

There isn't much point complaining to the phantom emailer - they won't care. If you do want to complain it would need to be directly to head of HR or the MD, so you probably would need to phone the company to find out their contact details.

Would they care though? It's not like they have offered you the job and you are inconveniencing them by turning it down.

chumpchange · 13/06/2017 09:44

I'd be tempted to reply "Yes you are correct, it would be a 'problem', as I put it, if I didn't, because there is no public transport near the office. However fortunately it is not a 'problem' for me, or indeed a problem, because I have a car." And then see what they come back with Grin

chumpchange · 13/06/2017 09:45

(Don't do that, obviously.)

DailyMailReadersAreThick · 13/06/2017 09:45

but it's likely the person arranging the interview would have nothing to do with you if you worked there.

That.

I'd go for the interview and see how the interviewers are with you. If they offer you a job you can bring it up then.

indigox · 13/06/2017 09:46

One person isn't representative of the whole office, and this particular person sounds like a complete idiot. I'd go to the interview anyway.

alltouchedout · 13/06/2017 09:47

I'd give feedback at the end of the process. So go to the interview, see whether the rudeness is company culture or just one person. If they offer you the job or not, at some point politely inform them that the way the person communicated with you was rude and unprofessional and gives a very poor impression of the company. It's up to them what they do with that.

Original poster
BigYellowJumper · 13/06/2017 09:48

Thanks for the responses everyone. I am really hemming and hawing over this. Part of me thinks I should give them a chance like some of you have said. Part of me thinks it is just a big waste of time because I'll probably go in feeling really cautious anyway.

chump I know, that was the part I was most taken aback by. Like, what the hell? I just want to email back 'who pissed in your chips?' lol. It's not a huge company, maybe 20 people?

redsippy you're probably right, they probably wouldn't care. That's the most aggravating part.

OP posts:
HangingRock · 13/06/2017 09:48

God the person sounds hard work. There used to be a librarian like that at our local library. She was so rude and grouchy people used to stand there open mouthed at how rude she was.

TiredMumToTwo · 13/06/2017 09:49

I don't think you can decide you don't want to work for a company based on the attitude of one person - go for the interview and arm yourself with more information to make an informed decision on the company.

Original poster
BigYellowJumper · 13/06/2017 09:51

chump ha ha, I like that reply. And then we'll just go on endlessly like that. 'Well it would be a 'problem' as you say if you didn't have a car because there's no public transport but as you do have a car, allegedly, it apparently won't be a 'problem' but how was I to know you actually do HAVE a car?' and on and on. Maybe I can ask them for a lift.

The other thing they said too was in the first email. 'We put this advert up weeks ago, so we are a little surprised that you are applying now. However, the position is available.' Ha ha. Made me feel like I was being pulled up on being late with my email or something! I had only just seen the advert and thought I might as well apply, even if it was late. Why would you even SAY that? Just say 'thanks for the application.'

OP posts:
Enb76 · 13/06/2017 09:59

Sounds to me like they aren't British - they may be fluent in English but they don't play cricket. Other countries do not do polite like we do polite and don't necessarily understand common idioms like "no problem".

KarmaNoMore · 13/06/2017 09:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
BigYellowJumper · 13/06/2017 10:00

Enb76 oh, from their tone, I'd say they are TOTALLY British. Of the jobsworth wank variety we all know and love. I could be wrong, but they come off as very Brit.

OP posts:
Mulledwine1 · 13/06/2017 10:01

I was also thinking they're not a native speaker of English.

Go to the interview. You may be very pleasantly surprised.

Postagestamppat · 13/06/2017 10:06

God that person sounds awful. In a smallish company, it'd put me off.

FizzyGreenWater · 13/06/2017 10:10

Yes I'd go to the interview. You might get there, get the job and then get taken aside on Day 1 to be warned about Miserable Maureen in the office and advised that she's only going to be there another couple of months thank god, but keep your distance...

You do need to go to the interview to suss it out - I don't think that's a waste of time. It's good in a way that you're already on your guard to look out for a bad working atmosphere rather than feeling all enthusiastic and overlooking red flags.

And if you end up being offered the job and turning it down as it does seems a bit suss, you could have the satisfaction of forwarding the emails to the boss and explaining that these were what swung it (and then if the jobsworth IS the boss, they'll have shot themselves in the foot... if they're no, jobsworth will have egg on their face).

Make sure you ask at interview who replied to the emails - hopefully you can find a way to work it in - eg. on introductions 'Oh hello, lovely to meet you - I've 'met' one of the staff via email of course already - was that you?'

runninggranny · 13/06/2017 10:14

Mulledwine1

This has nothing to do with 'not being a native speaker'. This attitude would be rude in any other language.
Says a 'none native speaker'. Smile

VoteMe · 13/06/2017 10:16

You weren't exaggerating - those are impressively rude replies. 😂

I think you should go so that you can report back to Mumsnet.

Original poster
BigYellowJumper · 13/06/2017 10:19

voteme ha ha, I am tempted to go for just that reason!

I'm almost looking forward to the passive aggressiveness.

OP posts: