To not wait any longer?

[AtTheZoo]

Got an email yesterday asking me to come in for a job interview at 10am today.

Arrived on time. Been sat in the waiting room for 30 mins. One glass of water. Told things are running over but no apology.

Weird feeling just want to walk out. AIBU?

@Hehasasecretfriend It’s 40 mins plus an hour for the actual interview. More than reasonable that OP can’t wait an extra 40 minutes on top of the time they had set aside for the interview.

Did you walk? I would totally feel the same. But also would probably want to be offered the job and THEN tell them to do one (if I still felt like it). Especially if you have prepped so hard. My dh told me to always try and get the job offer regardless. That way the power is all yours! Cheeky fuckers!

I would leave and very politely tell the receptionist that you have a meeting at x hrs and cannot wait anymore. The message you're sending is a strong one: 1) your time is very valuable 2) you're not desperate for the job as you already have one 3) you have other important commitments 4) you're not willing to put up with BS, abuse and bad behaviour. Basically you're telling the company you have standards thus bringing value to yourself.

When I've been on interview panels, we are expected to run very tightly to time. Every candidate gets equal time, same questions, same chance to present themselves. No way would we be allowed to run over unless there was some sort of emergency and someone got stuck in the lift somewhere. I hope you had the opportunity to explain to them that you were unable to wait any longer as you had to return to your work and keep the commitments you had made that day - as you are a punctual and conscientious person, after all.

Wow. That's a terrible sign for the company honestly. I could understand 15-20m with an explanation but by 30m I'd be off, sending a polite e-mail saying I attended for the interview but as it didn't take place as planned I left, if you'd like to consider rescheduling then please get in touch.

But it would massively put me off them forever. Imagine the gumption it takes to ask someone to attend at 11 and then continue with what you're doing for a bloody hour knowing they're sat there waiting!

Most people have things to get back to, jobs, childcare, etc. You were a bit of a mug to sit for an hour tbh, in the nicest way possible.

If you go in, explain how you would manage the schedule better!😂

I would not have waited more than 15 mins, especially without anyone coming to explain the delay.
A gut at my work deliberately leaves any of his visitors waiting 15min over the agreed time

It's simply rude
I wouldn't want to work there - their loss op

I often think that those interviewing forget that they are being interviewed too. If you’re not desperate for the role and like where you are I would probably see this as a big red flag about how they value peoples time. More fool them.

I’m really surprised by some of these replies.

I’ve been to a few interviews recently as I’m looking for a new job.
All of them have an arrival time of 8:30/9ish but I’m rarely seen before 10am.

There are multiple candidates and it’s an all day interview and so we’re often waiting around for an hour or if not more between the actual interview, the tour, the mini teaching session and the panel etc.

I know teaching interviews are different to some other interviews but I wouldn’t think anything of waiting an hour to be seen as I know previous candidates can run over.

Tbh it sounds like you don’t really want the job anyway but if you did I’d wait to have the interview as you’ve come this far.

This is such a waste of time as a way to interview people!

Absolutely this. Major red flags about the organisation if they treat potential staff like this. Disappointing, but defo a bullet dodged op.

Hmm. If they are still interviewing the 9 o clock at 11 then it sounds like the preferred candidate, probably internal. A role they had to advertise, but they know fine well they will be promoting Beryl from Accounts!

Sorry OP its shiz for you.

45 mins to an hour I might consider leaving. But depends what job it was! Audition for a main role with a Hollywood director, I’d probably hang around 😂.

An hour's wait with no explanation other than."running over" is ridiculous. So yes. "Sorry but I have meetings scheduled this afternoon so can't wait any longer" is fine.

I've been to selecting processes that take 2/3 days. The point is what is expected is explained beforehand. I am told it is all day/week before I rock up.

What happened?

did they message you?

I do agree but every school and college I’ve been to seem to do it this way.

Its mentally exhausting though because you’re there from 8:30-3pm and it’s so stressful all day and you’ve spent ages prepping for days before hand, as well as setting cover work for the day and then you’re unsuccessful and it’s so deflating.

I went to one last week where a teacher went on maternity leave and chose not to return.
One of the candidates was the current teacher of the class who was covering the maternity cover and she obviously ended up getting the role.

I almost cried because I thought what a complete waste of everyone’s time.

I’d leave after an hour. That’s so rude.

Oh wow what role is that for?

I can’t complain about mine being one day then!

assuming you left at 11, OP, i'd have left a message with the receptionists that the head of the panel should contact you at their earliest convenience.

And then see what happens. But inwardly, i'd have written it off already.

This. ⬆

It is beyond discourteous.

The least they could have done was apologised, given you a rough time estimate, and then asked you if you would mind waiting, or if you would prefer to reschedule the interview.

I would have executed someone to offer you tea/ coffee with a wait this long, too.

*Expected, not executed

Most interviews are one-offs that don't take more than an hour. For a fair process, the same questions will be asked to all candidates being interviewed and there will be a marking system. Frankly, if as an interviewer you haven't got all the information you need out of the candidate within an hour at most, either you or the candidate is doing something wrong.

I do hope you sent some follow-up, OP? At the very least you are entitled to an apology and an offer to repay your travel costs.

I’d leave and then feed back to them that you found it poor.

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