To feel a bit annoyed this is why I got rejected?

[ToeSucker]

I completed 5 rounds of interviews for a company. For the final interview, I had to travel across the country for an in-person meeting.

At this meeting (I met the whole team) there was a coffee break where we popped out to the local coffee shop.

The hiring manager asked me what I wanted. She also asked me what the team members next to me wanted. She paid for everyone's drinks.

Today I received a call from HR saying I was rejected, but mentioning I owe the hiring manager £3.70 for a coffee.

I'm shocked by this. I'm not sure I should be. I should have offered to pay I suppose but you're not in a normal frame of mind during interviews. I'm more annoyed I had to pay almost £240 for the train tickets and got rejected with this seemingly contributing to why.

When i was a teenager I applied for a job at a well known American themed restaurant. They sent me a letter but with no stamp so I had to pay a couple of pounds, only to find it was a rejection letter

Not in a job interview situation where they have suggested you go for the coffee so you didn’t have a choice. One doesn’t usually expect to take one’s own drinks to a job interview.

I don’t think so, we reimbursed the undergrads who came for interview, everyone else was under their own steam - if coffee/lunch/dinner was part of it that would have been covered.

Hang on, did they say the coffee thing was part of the reason for rejecting you, or just ask you to pay for it?

I mean, either way it's outrageous. If she wanted you to pay for your own, she should have stood aside at the cafe and said, 'I'm just paying for the team' or something, or used her words after you'd ordered and she'd paid to ask you for the money back. Which is still tight as fuck, obviously, but at least it's clear.

I think you've dodged a bullet.

I work in the government and nonprofit sector. There are strict rules about gifts. I would still expect travel to likely be covered. I absolutely would expect the host organization to pay for all food and beverage for the day.

taking the person being interviewed out for lunch or coffee is part of the process.

You say seemingly. What did they say?

Sounds like a lucky escape to me. I would assume that the hiring manager could've claimed the coffee back on expenses.

Having spent many years as an EA in a large multinational, when it came to final interviews for senior roles, we would cover the travel costs for extensive travel. We've covered the travel costs of many candidates over the years.

Tell them to shove their coffee up their arse.

Bunch of cunts.

Also 5 interviews is ridiculous.

I’d send it without a tamp and they’d have to pay the charge!!

Five interviews is so ridiculous. You dodged a bullet anyway.

Tell them the money is with you waiting for them to collect it. Tell them it’s about £250 on the train but it might be cheaper if they drive.

I’m amazed when I read on MN about people splitting the cost of coffee on a date, or someone referring to a friend or relative “owing them £3 for coffee” or whatever, but this is shocking! The hiring manager can surely just expense it?!

🤣🤣👏👏 username made me laugh, love it! I would message or email the hiring manager saying in a professional way " dear bawbag, thanks so much for the interview and getting to know you and the intel of the position, I did, indeed like the prospects, but the company five doors down the road offered me a better deal, with a family i really have to take this anyway.

If you think I will pay 3.70 for a coffee for you and your boring fake chat then you can swing hen.. bolt...bring a flask like the rest of us. Posh fucker!.

Also im just 5 doors down if you want a nescafe like the rest of us workers 😉.

Please dont ask for the 3.70 when you pop in to my new job in front of my new employers..that would be a bit embarrassing for you.

Kind regards.

🤣🤣🤣.its true, why go for a coffee with a friend or work mate and not, say "I'll pay this and you next?". My dad's a weirdo, he IS loaded and when I take him things, fish, fancy cornish salt, cakes..."how much do I owe you?" NOTHING ffs. Found it on the back of a lorry, god!!

Who asks what you'd like to drink & then asks for the money after? No one, it's ridiculous & what a lucky escape you had.

I'm extremely dubious that this is true.

Name and shame in tabloids op

Me too. It’s BS

Google review now and a scathing email reply to the company, CCing anyone important you can find on the website.

Ridiculous. I find it hard to believe its actually true tbh.

Omg 🤣 😂
How pathetic of them.
Definitely pay in pennies as suggested by a pp

No you wouldn't

I had to travel for an interview once but they paid my travel expenses - this is disgraceful and they should be embarrassed - she can claim these drinks back as expenses 🤯 my hiring manager meets people all over the country in various settings and she claims all the coffees back for her and the people she is recruiting and honestly, it’s not an issue and we aren’t even a huge business. At least it’s money I don’t have to pay tax on 🤣

I would send a polite email saying it was not made clear at the time that you were supposed to pay and that as you spent £240 going there and was rejected after 5 interviews you consider it a strange request.

£240 is about the cost, maybe a bit less, of a walk up peak fare from my home in the northwest to London. Yes, I paid £45 quid a few weeks ago for a leisure trip but I chose the date, bought in advance and selected off peak. Interview candidates generally
can’t dictate when an interview is scheduled in order to get a cheap advance fare.

Absolutely this. Completely unreasonable and this company should be outed.
I would reply that you'll be sending a counter claim for your train fare.