Have you ever refused job due to not liking interviewer?

[loadsoftwonk]

Had an interview today and was totally put off by the interviewer.

Have you ever gone against your gut by taking a job after not liking the person who would be your manager?

AIBU or should you always go with your gut. I didn't like the things she was spewing.

I was interviewed for a position along side three others for two positions. It was an all day interview process set out with four separate interviews. I hated the guy who would have been my manager. Really obnoxious and thought so much of himself.

At lunch I was talking with the other candidates and they all said how much they disliked them.

I purposely messed up my role play interview, as no way could I would under this guy. Money would have been great, but happiness comes first.

Edited to add- also the interviews over ran, so they gave us lunch and asked us to eat during our interview.

Yep only a temp job as an early 20 something but the interviewer lied about the origins of the products they sold. Not an error, he was bullshitting. I did know this for sure. I thought 'bollocks' and tried elsewhere. Didn't seem like an honest company.

Yep, several times. It’s never ended up being something I’ve regretted later on.

I haven't but I like to think I would if I didn't need to take it.

Maybe say the role didn't suit but ask if they could keep you in mind for future opportunities.

Yes I did it a year ago, she came across really badly at interview. I did a bit more research which confirmed my thoughts. A much better opportunity came up just after and I'm really happy. I recently came across the person who took the other job and she says she's enjoying it, but she's a very different person to me. I definitely did the right thing.

Yes definitely! This was years ago but I was late teens early 20’s looking for an office job. I went on a few interviews for jobs I didn’t really want for interview experience. If it turned out the job actually sounded good I would reconsider.

The interviewer would have been my boss. He actually asked me my nationality and I knew even back then you couldn’t ask that (early 1980’s).
I was evasive and said ‘Eastern European’ and he told me he wasn’t surprised as I had a large schnoz (nose…not sure how to spell it!)!!

As it turned out he did offer me the job and I quickly declined and told him I’d just accepted something else. Definitely dodged a bullet there!

Yep.
1st interview was in 2 parts, first half with department manager went well. Second part with a HR representative was horrific. The way I was spoken to made it clear I would not want to work there if they were considered acceptable questions/attitudes.

I was invited to final interview with a senior manager but instead advised them I was no longer interested in working for them.

Yes perhaps you intimidated her in some way, whereas she didn't deem the other person a threat.

Yes. I’m an EA so work very closely with the people I work with so I’m always careful about ‘click’.

I interviewed for an organisation where the HR person could hardly be heard, I’m quite gregarious, not loud but present and I thought, not for me. They invited me back and the director I would work with interviewed me, he was pleasant but no click so I told the agency no. They invited me back for lunch with the team (small company) and it was like pulling teeth making conversation. I said no. Agency convinced me to take it when offered (after a CEO and his EA interview which were also like warm).

Reader, after a month of silence and weirdness I packed up on a Friday, sent them an email and said I didn’t think it was working and I was out of the country for personal reasons. Promptly deleted from my CV.

I am not proud how I dealt with it, but I knew all along I shouldn’t have taken it.

i also once turned down a job because the director in question couldn’t find the time in his busy diary to meet me and was going ‘to trust the judgement’ of those who had met me. I like the organisation and everyone I met, but I needed him the value the relationship and make the time.

How bloody rude. I cannot believe that he said that. Imagine working for the idiot!

Literally this - had exact same situation a couple of weeks ago. Remote interview for which they were 15 min late. When they arrived, one of the guys randomly got up to put in eye drops (?!). "Bad cop" was condescending, and so smarmy, and took every opportunity to point out things he considered "wrong" with my answers. Interview ran over by half an hour, showing a total lack of regard for my time.

Overall it was so bad, I withdrew my application the same day without waiting for a decision. Wish I could say this was for a small employer but it was for a lawyer role at a public sector body with hundreds of employees, so just goes to show this stuff can happen anywhere!

My advice is - if you aren't desperate for a new job, go with your gut and run for the hills!

Good. Like everyone says and I gave always a thought - we are interviewing them as much as they are interviewing us!

Yes, absolutely, but only after taking a job I shouldn't have when I was very young. Two male interviewers and they spent a good bit of time rolling their eyes about how they weren't allowed to ask if I was going to get pregnant and waste everybody's time. I fell into their trap and earnestly assured them that I absolutely would not! What was I thinking. I lasted four months in the job and have never been so miserable.

I wish I had.

I once had an interview with a senior a supply chain manager, the interview went well mostly functional type questions and he ended up bringing out examples of problems he had been having and I gave him ideas of things that had worked for me before and he was quite excited. Interview ran well over time.

At the end of the interview when asked if I had any questions I asked what his management style was. I was gobsmacked when he told me he saw himself as the corporal (or some other militarily title, can't remember it was 12 years ago) of his unit, he had gained his stripes (he motioned stripes on his shoulders) and had earned the right to pull people up if they didn't do their job well. That if he noticed a problem he would go out into the office and speak to the person publicly so everyone was clear on the standard that was expected of them.

I was impressed I managed to keep a straight face, had decided no way I could work for this guy, and told him it was interesting he went straight to how he deals with issues with performance rather than how he motivated his team and asked him if he really thought that was the way to motivate and get the best from people or to encourage an interviewee to join his team - he didn't flinch in his position. In the end I said can I be as honest with you as you have been with me, and I told him I could never work for him and the reasons why which amazingly he seemed quite shocked at - I have never met anyone with so little self awareness.

On the way out I walked past his team (behind him), impersonated his strut, mouthed "good luck" to them and indicated he had a screw loose! One of them spat out their tea, but most seemed to agree - poor sods going into that every day 🤣

Yes I did, and I came home and withdrew my application.
What was surprising, but pleasing, was months later a group of people at work were talking about the company, and it turned out a colleague had previously (provisionally) accepted a job offer there but asked if he could spend a day with them just to get a better feel.

They said yes, and when he got home there was a letter waiting for him which was a withdrawal of the offer!

They are a large wound care manufacturer in Hull.

Oh yes. And the interviewer was a very famous TV presenter, known for a "real life" TV show and charity.

I felt very uneasy, despite my good friend being one of the panel along with said TV presenter. Then I spoke to someone who had worked with her before. "Don't do it, she'll have the skin off your back."

So I didn't.

I was looking after her many years later for another show and she was supremely rude to me. I had great pleasure telling her what I thought of her. She was actually stunned silent. No idea if she remembered me, probably not, and it was probably very unprofessional of me to be so blunt, but she was vile and someone needed to tell her.

It's not rejecting a job offer but I have walked out of an interview about ten mins in. The interviewer and I just massively didn't click and when they started asking me about my biggest weakness etc, looking bored and checking their phone, I just stood up and said this clearly isn't going anywhere, I'm going to leave and stop wasting both of our time. He looked shocked, God knows why 😅

A couple of times. But indirectly so.

With the first, my salary expectations were too high for them. I would have settled for something lower if I wanted the job, but that was my excuse for withdrawing from the process.

With the second, I made it clear that I only wanted to work in a certain area and had no interest in working in the other. The role was a 50/50 split. Again, would have accepted the role buy didn’t like the interviewer so that was the perfect excuse.

You’ll be working with these people - listen to your gut if you don’t like the interviewer.

@TheresaOfAvila - they don't treat their longer serving employees much better either. Hope your colleague didn't end up without any job.

Omg I love this. It would have been hell working for him.

Was interviewed by a tosser and a sad-looking woman. Don't remember her saying anything.
He obviously wanted to take me down a peg or two and at one point said "we all make tea here".
I didn't have a quick comeback but I called into the recruitment agency straight after and withdrew my application.

@TheresaOfAvila So weird. I wonder why they did that. I think a lot of employees want you desperate for a role in their company.

The gut knows best.

No, though on one case should have done. Left the job after five months.