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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not wait any longer?

191 replies

AtTheZoo · 04/07/2023 10:29

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?

OP posts:
Randomness12 · 04/07/2023 14:42

I hope you left and told them why. Id not return unless there was an apology and a full explanation not just "soz, ran late"

With the last minute invite for today plus this I'd be considering whether this is standard practice for them and whether I wanted to be part of it.

As for @olympicsrock comment, I'm also NHS and wouldn't keep people waiting, especially for an interview. Clinics are different as patients can be unpredictable but for an interview or meeting this is unacceptable. Your time is no more valuable than anyone else's. It's not stropping off, it's about mutual respect.

Catspyjamas17 · 04/07/2023 14:42

I would wait, but if it was the person I'd be working with interviewing me, I really wouldn't want to work for someone so pressurised and/or disorganised that they are half an hour plus late when interviewing a new person. OK if there was some emergency but if it's just poor scheduling it's inexcusable.

And I've given that as feedback before as to why I wasn't interested in taking the opportunity further. It wasn't the only reason, but it was part of it.

RedRobyn2021 · 04/07/2023 14:43

Yeah over an hour waiting? That's extremely rude. I would honestly leave.

What did you decide to do OP

SheRaaaaa · 04/07/2023 14:44

I wouldn't wait an hour, I'd speak to reception at the 20 min mark and leave by the 30 mins.

Zonder · 04/07/2023 14:47

Did you leave? I would have done unless I really wanted the job. It doesn't reflect well on the company.

ThanksItHasPockets · 04/07/2023 14:47

olympicsrock · 04/07/2023 14:35

I think you were massively precious.
I work for the NHS. Things are unpredictable , some interviews run over. My clinic appointments fairly frequently run an hour late.

Not a reason to strop off especially not after 30 mins waiting as you initially suggested. Were you very very stressed?

How do you know the prospective employer was the NHS?

Codlingmoths · 04/07/2023 14:48

An hour waiting and no proper message, and it sounds like they are in another interview not having an emergency board meeting … I’d go. They could wrap up another interview any time they wanted if they were professional about it.

Crunchymum · 04/07/2023 15:02

Did you she get off the plane????

Come on OP - did you leave or not?

ThursdayFreedom · 04/07/2023 15:03

AmITooOldToDoThis · 04/07/2023 13:17

I had an interview for a senior role recently.

Asked to attend for presentation at 11am, facilitation exercise at 11:45am and then interview at 4pm. I had to double check that they hadn’t got the timings wrong.

They called at 8am on the day to ask if I could go for 10am instead. I agreed.

When I arrived they had someone else’s presentation up. After the facilitation they put me and the other candidate in a holding area together. Awkward.

The other person’s interview was then at 1pm and mine was moved to 2:15pm. They lock the reception area at 3pm but the person bringing me out took me there. I was locked in for an hour before security came and let me out.

Unsurprisingly, I didn’t accept the role.

They locked you in? Jesus, they'd have had walls & windows to repair if they'd locked me in. I don't 'do' being locked in & react before I think!!

it's making my heart race just thinking about it!!

HereIfYouNeedMe · 04/07/2023 15:15

Crunchymum · 04/07/2023 15:02

Did you she get off the plane????

Come on OP - did you leave or not?

Haha love the reference!

So many threads where we're left hanging lately!! 😣

OhwhyOY · 04/07/2023 15:15

Did you leave? An hour is not on, without q clear explanation and profuse apologies.

Chocolateship · 04/07/2023 15:17

olympicsrock · 04/07/2023 14:35

I think you were massively precious.
I work for the NHS. Things are unpredictable , some interviews run over. My clinic appointments fairly frequently run an hour late.

Not a reason to strop off especially not after 30 mins waiting as you initially suggested. Were you very very stressed?

Not everywhere has low standards like the NHS to be fair. Interviews are a two way thing, prospective employees are also judging and getting a feel for the organisation- being late is so unprofessional, so disrespectful of someone's time and I bet would make most reconsider whether they wanted to work somewhere like that. It's different for genuine emergencies which are thankfully rare, but it's poor planning if interviews are regularly running over and starting late.

ipsofatto999 · 04/07/2023 15:18

This happened to me once. I did leave and emailed them to explain why. They phoned me the next day to apologise and it turned out one of the panel had not turned up but instead of just telling me that, they left me sitting in reception for almost an hour. Absolutely bizarre way to behave.

As applicant experiences go, that is very poor and leaves the distinct impression that hiring etc is chaotic at the organisation. A lucky escape I'd say. Hope you've either been seen by now and there were grovelling apologies and a very good reason or that you've left and told them why. You sound way too good a candidate for this kind of nonsense!

Kingsparkle · 04/07/2023 15:18

@Chocolateship - definitely agree it’s a two way thing. I have withdrawn applications after a couple of interviews because I just knew it wasn’t a culture I wanted to work in.

Jellifulfruit · 04/07/2023 15:23

Hopefully you left and fucked it off 🤞🏻

huntingcunting · 04/07/2023 15:24

Fuck that....

Did you leave OP?

MathiasBroucek · 04/07/2023 15:27

The most likely explanation is that something has happened that's grabbed everyone's attention. Something serious and probably unrelated to your interview. Of course they should have let you know and rescheduled but people don't always do what's right when they're in a panic

Loyalty · 04/07/2023 15:51

I actually need to know if she stayed for the interview or not this time 😂

TolkiensFallow · 04/07/2023 15:58

I hope you left

TallulahBetty · 04/07/2023 16:00

Why is everyone going on at OP to update? It's 4pm, she is most likely still at work! Now if she hasn't updated within the next 12 hours, yes that would be frustrating, but not when she clearly stated she need to go back to work......

Fightyouforthatpie · 04/07/2023 16:28

olympicsrock · 04/07/2023 14:35

I think you were massively precious.
I work for the NHS. Things are unpredictable , some interviews run over. My clinic appointments fairly frequently run an hour late.

Not a reason to strop off especially not after 30 mins waiting as you initially suggested. Were you very very stressed?

I couldn't disagree more.

Inkpotlover · 04/07/2023 16:38

What did you do in the end @AtTheZoo ?

IncognitoMam · 04/07/2023 16:41

What did you do? Pretty poor on their part.

Kingsparkle · 04/07/2023 16:45

Why do people think this is the NHS? Surely if it was, the message to reception would have been soz, just saving a life, rather then sorry, overrunning.

BurntOutGirl · 04/07/2023 16:46

Fightyouforthatpie · 04/07/2023 16:28

I couldn't disagree more.

Show quote history

If they frequently run an hour late, then a re- evaluation of the running of the clinic needs to be undertaken.

That is unprofessional and completely unfair on the patients and staff who then either forgo their breaks or have to work late.

I also work for the NHS and do understand that emergencies occur... but not frequently