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.

@Blanketpolicy
What's your management style?.... is such a great question.

Once, the dude was a bell-end. Spoke to me like I was a nine-year old and told me I had no chance of getting a house I’d just offered on. Phoned me up to offer me the job and I said no thanks. He was totally baffled, like I’d turned down a lottery win. I also got the house. Chump.

I got out of that at a couple of companies by saying I don't drink tea or coffee! Some of the colleagues really didn't like it - tough!

What's with these imbeciles trying to take people down a peg or two during interviews.

?

Yes I did. And when I refused, they went crazy on the phone, which justified my decision.
Interviews are a two way process and some interviewers tend to forget that.

I had this twice. Once I was offered the job and took it against my gut after I felt something was off with the interviewer. She asked me to start 3 weeks later on my birthday (it was a Tuesday as well) I had tickets to something so asked if I could start the next day. She said it was that day or not at all. At that point I listened to my gut and rejected the job.
the second was for a deputy to develop qualifications type role. The interview was so hard and the questions were for at least 2 posts ahead of the role (already qualified and experienced). I called the recruiter and pulled out as soon as the interviewer hung up - he said I wasn’t the first. A year later it’s still being recruited for.

You wouldn’t be unreasonable at all, no.

Have they actually offered you the job though? It’s even more unusual/worrying if they didn’t realise the process wasn’t going well.

I haven’t been in your position, but I have interviewed people who have riled me up/irritated me and there’s no way I would have offered them a job.

Usually if you think it’s not a good fit, it’s apparent both ways iyswim?

Yes. The interviewer who put me off was not my direct boss. After the interview (which was over a dinner), the interviewer who would be my direct boss ran out of the restaurant and apologised profusely for his colleague who was grumpy because it was a hot day (it was very hot) and told me how much he thought I would be good for the role.

I accepted in the end after balancing other interviews. I am still working there. My boss is indeed the best person and the colleague continues to give grief but in the background and he gives grief to everyone anyway. Just his way.

No, but I wish I had! Thought there was something a bit ‘off’ about them but I naively figured I could get along/work with anyone. They were a NIGHTMARE from the get-go and had a long-lasting negative impact on my career and mental health.

I recently interviewed with someone who gave off similar vibes and I would likely have turned it down if I was offered it (but I wasn’t 😂).

Yes I have, definitely! You need a positive vibe, especially if it's your manager who is interviewing you.

I suspect my interviewer was the insecure manager type. From what she said about her history,I had more qualifications and experience than her, but she did her very best to put me down and doubt my ability to do the job!

I do not like insecure managers. They are the worst type to work for, as they see some people as threats and will make your like a misery for that reason. The type that got the position from brown-nosing rather than merit.

From what she said you will be overworked, it's low pay for the industry, short-staffed and no work-life balance. No hybrid work and zero flexibility too! She also takes all the privileges for herself because she's the manager from what she said.

I did a job for a month in the summer. I wish I had listened to my instincts as I did not like the interviewer who ended up being my manager. I handed my notice in within 2 weeks of being there.

No but I currently really regret that.

Just once. He took a phone call mid interview and was really rude to the person on the other end of the call. It put me right off him.

I'm not worried! I just like to hear other people's experiences. Im more interested in gut feelings and what percentage of people listen to it or not.

What riled you up about them?

Wasn't a bloke called Brent was it ?

Oh no I'm sorry to hear that. I hope you recovered from that experience.

Probably a blessing you didn't get the other role.

I had an interview and hated the interviewer! Luckily I didn't get it anyway, but I was relieved! 🤣

@xyz111 Why did you hate them? 🤣

Yes, left the interview and immediately withdrew my application. I later found out someone I worked with had also worked with the man I found really objectionable at a previous job and confirmed my instincts. Bullet dodged.

Yes, really couldn't see myself working for someone who came across as dictatorial and I did tell them that when they rang me to offer me the job.

Not the interviewer but the trust pilot reviews. Thousands of one star reviews.

I was recently offered a job but turned it down as I didn't like the person who would have been my line manager. Interview panel of four. Everyone else on the panel was friendly and fun, including the head of the division I would have been in. The woman who would have been my line manager was really sullen and a bit sulky throughout the interview. I just got a bad vibe from her and decided during the interview that I didn't want to work with her. She just seemed like she would be a moody piece of hard work. She gave some very snippy answers to a few questions I had about the role and their hybrid working policy.

When the divisional head phoned me up to offer the job she seemed really surprised that I didn't want to take it. I just said I didn't think I would be a good fit for the role. Didn't say it was because of Ms Moody. Granted she could have just been having an off day, but I trusted my gut on this one.

Yes it would have been my first job, in a fabric shop, whilst a teenager. I was really creative as a child and started making my own things while I was still tiny. I loved that fabric shop and used to save up my pocket money to buy sequins and iron on motifs and sparkly fabric. I was really excited to see a job going there during school holidays for a Saturday and holiday cover girl. I wanted a chance to work in what was essentially my Aladdin's Cave.

When I showed up, the owner/manager seemed like a chauvinist...he was middle aged, obese, greasy hair, no people skills, and seemed to use the job to hire quiet, mousy, subserviant women who he could bully and have power over. I got the sense he enjoyed punishing women. Horrible sneery way he had of talking down to them and making them feel stupid. He did it in front of me
as he showed me round the shop, like a warning.

I didn't have an interview per se. He didn't ask to see exam results or for references or gave me any questions to answer. He just looked me up and down very slowly, smirked and told me I could start on Monday, wouldn't be allowed to use a calculator (despite it being the 2000s, he was too cheap to invest in a proper till and everything had to be added up by hand!) and that he'd be furious if I forgot and used the customer entrance. I think I only got the job because I was very young with a sweet face and big boobs. The other staff couldn't look me in the eye except for a one or two who looked a bit sorry for me and nervous.

I looked at the cowed, unhappy women twice my age working there and thought, sod this, he can stuff his job, I don't want to end up like those bullied women. And he can F off the way he looked at my boobs. As if I'd be interested in an old creep. The arrogance of youth! My family weren't too happy with me for turning down a job. Creepy men were par for the course apparently and as long as I had my wits about me and was never alone with him I would have been fine, so they said 🙄.

Two months later my teacher told me he was pretty impressed by me and offered me a self employed position in his tutoring centre with him taking a tiny fee to cover room hire. I was running my own tutoring business whilst still a teenager throughout studying at uni, making really great money for a student. Stuffing the job at the fabric shop and the creepy bully of an owner was a good move.

I often wonder what happened to that sassy little teenager that I once was. Where did that confidence go?

I love the fact that many of you have the stones to walk out of interviews when you feel disrespected etc. Also withdrawing applications and letting them know why is admirable.

I think that some feel all-powerful in their little work bubbles and forget that to outsiders they are just another person.