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Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think what goes around comes around

44 replies

Jay36 · 20/01/2022 21:09

So about 10 years or so ago, I went for a job interview as a junior hire and spent hours and hours preparing for the interview.

I walked into the interview room and the person who interviewed me was just horrendous. The first thing she said to me was ‘I’m not interviewing someone who’s chewing gum, go spit it out and come back in’. For your info mumsnetters, I wasn’t chewing gum but didn’t want to be rude and just said ‘of course, I’m sorry about that’ and left the room then came back in. Throughout the interview she was awful to me and commented also on my ‘cheap suit’. I was a new graduate and didn’t have a lot of money but was as smartly dressed, ironed etc as I could be and had even polished my shoes 😂

I’d been really keen and prepared a 100 day plan to share with them after the interview to show how I would approach the role. Yes, that was too much! But at the time I was just trying to look as willing as possible. She just said ‘may as well take that with you, we won’t read it’. Not even kidding.

Fast forward to today, I’ve just received an interview notification from internal recruitment with her CV to interview for a ‘Head of role’. I’m a Director now.

It made me laugh, I’ll probably remove myself from panel as I can’t be truly impartial but laughing at what goes around comes around 😂

OP posts:

PixieDreams · 20/01/2022 21:12

That's amazing! Be sure to at least give her a nod or a knowing look.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 20/01/2022 21:14

That’s brilliant.

It certainly has in this case. It would be amazing to be on the panel to see her face, but you’re probably right to remove yourself in the circumstances!

PinkMoon22 · 20/01/2022 21:17

Brilliant.

comfortablyfrumpy · 20/01/2022 21:17

Do ask her if she's chewing gum

GalacticGoddess · 20/01/2022 21:22

That is ace 😆 tempting to tell her to spit her gum out. But of course, you're right, probably shouldn't engage ....such a karma moment though

Sparklespangle · 20/01/2022 21:25

Walk past the interviewees and say "make sure you aren't chewing gum, we really hate that here" while holding eye contact with her. The flounce off with a "good luck"

Isthatthebestyoucando · 20/01/2022 21:26

Why remove yourself? You've had insight into what this person is like with an amount of authority.

Wouldn't you have to disclose why you are not there? tipping the rest of the panel off that she is a wanker anyway?

I'm not a business person, maybe I don't understand.

Original poster

Jay36 · 20/01/2022 21:37

Maybe I should attend the panel and chew gum loudly throughout 😂 just kidding

OP posts:

PinkiOcelot · 20/01/2022 21:43

@Jay36

Maybe I should attend the panel and chew gum loudly throughout 😂 just kidding

Yeh, whilst also blowing bubbles and cracking it loudly!

spotcheck · 20/01/2022 21:44

If she was horrendous to you, at interview, ( in front of other people?) then I can't imagine how bullying she would be to those she manages.
Why would you sit back and allow that for people in the company you are managing? Surely you are creating a bigger problem?

You are a director. I'm sure you are professional enough to separate the feelings of a very green graduate and the experienced manager you now are. Surely your first responsibility is with your workforce?

And what happens if you hire her, and she is hideous? By that time she will absolutely know who you are, and letting go of her would be even more complicated.

But actually, the more I think if this, the more angry I'm becoming. Are you really happy to have members of your workforce at this woman's mercy?

She chose her behaviour, and you wouldn't be the only one who she was horrible to. I think ignoring it is really irresponsible.

PinkMoon22 · 20/01/2022 21:45

@spotcheck

If she was horrendous to you, at interview, ( in front of other people?) then I can't imagine how bullying she would be to those she manages. Why would you sit back and allow that for people in the company you are managing? Surely you are creating a bigger problem?

And what happens if you hire her, and she is hideous? By that time she will absolutely know who you are, and letting go of her would be even more complicated.

But actually, the more I think if this, the more angry I'm becoming. Are you really happy to have members of your workforce at this woman's mercy?

She chose her behaviour, and you wouldn't be the only one who she was horrible to. I think ignoring it is really irresponsible.

Christ she's only seen that she's applied for the role. She's not said anything about hiring her

Kshhuxnxk · 20/01/2022 21:46

@spotcheck that's exactly what I was thinking..

MrsTerryPratchett · 20/01/2022 21:54

My old manager who was vile and treated me terribly now has to sit through meetings with my organisation. Which is bigger than his and I outrank him.

He didn't like my ideas, which are 'industry leading' and being adopted as best practice.

Wanker. He pretends he has no prior relationship with me.

Pondtoad · 20/01/2022 21:58

I think you need to be really careful. People can climb the ranks very quickly. And others can go down in estimation. Sometimes the wrong person is promoted and someone else will get a sort of double promotion once it's realised. I really dislike that management style of "keeping people on their toes" by telling them off when they haven't done anything wrong. There's something a bit abusive of power about it.

spotcheck · 20/01/2022 22:21

@PinkMoon22
But interviewing leads to hiring?

PinkMoon22 · 20/01/2022 22:22

[quote spotcheck]@PinkMoon22
But interviewing leads to hiring?[/quote]
But you don't hire everyone you interview

BatshitBanshee · 20/01/2022 22:22

Do you have a CV pool when deciding who to call for interview? If so, I would point out then that you have a personal experience with her a few years ago and she was dismissive and a bully in the interview. If no pooling process and you liaise with the recruiter, I'd just relay that she's not a fit for the role. I wouldn't get into a petty thing about it, the ultimate revenge here is just turning down her CV - and for good reason, experience of a truly awful, power-mad attitude.

SportsMother · 20/01/2022 22:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

HollowTalk · 20/01/2022 22:31

But why didn't you say you weren't chewing gum?

Luredbyapomegranate · 20/01/2022 22:36

Fucking fantastic.

If you remove yourself you’re a better woman than me.

Mistressofnone · 20/01/2022 23:02

Could you attend the start of the interview and explain that you are choosing to bow out of the panel given your past experience and ask if she recognises you?

Storminamu · 20/01/2022 23:34

The responsible thing here is to share your knowledge of her. Why wouldn't you? Just relate the facts. Recruiting people isn't a game.

FreyaMaya · 20/01/2022 23:39

@HollowTalk

But why didn't you say you weren't chewing gum?

I was thinking the same thing. I'd have said "excuse me?! I'm not chewing gum?"

Mosaic123 · 20/01/2022 23:40

Can I just say, this interview was 10 years ago and although she was nasty then it is possible, although unlikely, that she is a changed person and treats people nicely now? Have you changed at all OP?

GrandRapids · 20/01/2022 23:48

Oh this is brilliant! You have to be on the panel. Unless you decide to shred her application

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