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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Is this unprofessional?

254 replies

Mindthenicedeadpeople · 02/09/2026 12:11

Job interview for 12pm

10 candidates all booked in for 12pm being seen individually by one person.

So whoever is here last will presumably be interviewed an hour later than booked.

OP posts:
user293948849167 · 02/09/2026 16:12

Yes that’s rubbish, we would offer individual times for candidates unless it’s a group interview

Gloriia · 02/09/2026 16:20

Morepositivemum · 02/09/2026 15:43

When I see someone in tracksuit bottoms I feel sorry for the person that nobody told them in their life to dress professionally. If I saw a child there I’d assume it was an unavoidable circumstance. The mis handling of timings to me says yes there was a mistake but I wouldn’t go online about it then leave after declaring myself better than this and contacting them with a cutting email. I honestly mean this op, you should look at the attitude and vibe you’ve given off here or you should aim for something that isn’t customer facing

You don't need telling to dress smart for an interview. It isn't rocket science.

Cosimarocks · 02/09/2026 16:24

Was the interview at the dental surgery? And so waiting in the dentist’s waiting room? If so are you sure they were all there for the interview? Might some of them not have been patients?…

Averynicelady · 02/09/2026 16:26

You’ve dodged a bullet!

This place won’t get any less chaotic or more considerate once you work there

Morepositivemum · 02/09/2026 16:26

Gloriia

Honest I’d have thought that too but maybe that comes from the privilege of being told from school age that you dress professionally for interviews- I wore a shirt and suit trousers age 15 to a pound shop interview! Some people may not have been told this

LeedsLoiner · 02/09/2026 16:28

Mindthenicedeadpeople · 02/09/2026 12:20

Also as an aside when did it become normal to wear trackie bottoms and old trainers to an interview?

When you don't want the job but the Job Centre Work Advisor has made you apply?

Morepositivemum · 02/09/2026 16:29

CliantheLang

Honestly I just believe in giving the benefit of the doubt. Just a different opinion to you that’s all!

Teuchterlass · 02/09/2026 16:32

Mindthenicedeadpeople · 02/09/2026 14:43

No, it was East Sussex. Can there be two places this unprofessional?!

Oh this guy is a doozy! Not really safe to post on an open forum, sadly. I’m glad it isn’t him!

mikehandlesburning · 02/09/2026 16:33

You sound great OP! Fuck that shit would be my approach too.

Morepositivemum · 02/09/2026 16:34

CliantheLang

ps I’m a ‘silly little woman’ and never been on Reddit!! Have a good day!!

comeoncolleen · 02/09/2026 16:37

momager22 · 02/09/2026 12:17

I’m an internal recruiter.
Unless the format was explained in advance to the candidate either by the recruiter or hiring manager I’d assume the company was a shitshow and run a mile.

I'd assume the job is on the level of those roles advertised on the internet where pay is commission-only or you have to pay them for 'training packs'.

Intrigued20 · 02/09/2026 16:37

What absolute arseholes. The cheek of it. Good for you leaving.
I remember years ago, a job interview at WHSmith which consisted of around 15 of us unlucky souls sitting in a semicircle. No prior notice that this was what they were going to do. I vaguely remember we were supposed to pipe up with interesting stories about ourselves. Utterly hideous 😂

Mindthenicedeadpeople · 02/09/2026 16:38

Cosimarocks · 02/09/2026 16:24

Was the interview at the dental surgery? And so waiting in the dentist’s waiting room? If so are you sure they were all there for the interview? Might some of them not have been patients?…

Edited

Nope, it’s a small waiting room and I heard them all say they’re here for an interview at 12.

OP posts:
T5somp · 02/09/2026 16:50

I wouldn't necessarily for a reception job as seems potentially a bit more formal, but I've changed from skirt suit to just black trackies or jeans, trainers and a polo shirt for interviewing over the last 5 years or so, I always felt ridiculously over dressed compared to the interviewer but also other candidates.

Sounds like a shit show though and wouldn't have boded well for them respecting your time going forward, lucky escape walking out!

JaffaDogCrab · 02/09/2026 16:50

Mindthenicedeadpeople · 02/09/2026 14:35

Rightly or wrongly, I have sent the below…

Hi B***,

I was unfortunately unable to interview today due to the lack of professionalism shown by the company.

I arrived first out of the 10 plus candidates that were booked for interviews within a hours time frame.

However after a hour of waiting while candidates who arrived over half an hour later than myself were seen I resigned myself to a wasted journey and a silver lining that at least I learned about your disastrous management prior to accepting a job offer.

Kind Regards,

Dead People

Maybe that’s why they needed a receptionist - to bring some organisation to the practise?

KeepPumping · 02/09/2026 16:57

SerendipityJane · 02/09/2026 14:37

At least we know why the UK has such pisspoor productivity.

It is a dentist, they make money whatever the economy is doing.

Sometimeslifeishardbutwecarryon · 02/09/2026 17:01

LondonLass2026 · 02/09/2026 12:47

Saw this when I interviewed for a Marketing role at the GAP head office in Central London years ago. I turned up all excited about the opportunity ahead of me, and to my horror there were about 20 other people too, all of us with the same timeslot.

It was a joint interview, with us all sitting in a circle. We just had to pipe up when we were spoken to. It was truly horrible.

Ooh it also happened in Kew, again when I thought it was a proper interview, and there were about 15 girls who turned up with the same timeslot as me. I think that might have ended up being for a telesales job, when I'd been told it was for a Personal Assistant role.

Ouch. Dreadful behaviour (I'm an ex-recruiter).

titchy · 02/09/2026 17:03

Mindthenicedeadpeople · 02/09/2026 12:20

Also as an aside when did it become normal to wear trackie bottoms and old trainers to an interview?

When you’re there to tick the UC box….

SchrodingersParrot · 02/09/2026 17:03

Mindthenicedeadpeople · 02/09/2026 14:35

Rightly or wrongly, I have sent the below…

Hi B***,

I was unfortunately unable to interview today due to the lack of professionalism shown by the company.

I arrived first out of the 10 plus candidates that were booked for interviews within a hours time frame.

However after a hour of waiting while candidates who arrived over half an hour later than myself were seen I resigned myself to a wasted journey and a silver lining that at least I learned about your disastrous management prior to accepting a job offer.

Kind Regards,

Dead People

Well done, OP! Please let us know if you get a response!

Theworldsgonemadagain · 02/09/2026 17:06

Thats a shit show. He should have filtered through the candidates by their applications and interviewed a max of 5/6. Sounds like he's interviewed everyone. What a waste of time. You are better off out of it.

PrettyPickle · 02/09/2026 17:08

Morepositivemum · 02/09/2026 15:43

When I see someone in tracksuit bottoms I feel sorry for the person that nobody told them in their life to dress professionally. If I saw a child there I’d assume it was an unavoidable circumstance. The mis handling of timings to me says yes there was a mistake but I wouldn’t go online about it then leave after declaring myself better than this and contacting them with a cutting email. I honestly mean this op, you should look at the attitude and vibe you’ve given off here or you should aim for something that isn’t customer facing

Sorry, in my experience as an interviewer, its generally a choice. You are totally misconstruing the OPs comments..

Parents should bring kids up to dress appropriately, i.e. funerals, evets, weddings, interviews etc. If they miss it then it gets taught in careers at school. Then there are numerous examples in social media and TV. If you really want something, you do your research and you set your stall out.

I have had candidates coming to interviews in thread bear trousers, very clean but old shirt and tie and mismatched jacket, sometimes wearing Dads or Mums suit from a different era. They make an effort, it shows they are interested in the job. On the other hand if I am interviewing for something more practical a handyman, tradesperson, etc, I would still expect to see clean and smart probably not office wear. But trackies are casual wear. You could possibly get away with smart trainers with office clothing but you need to show you want to make a good impression and you are keen to impress. That doesn't mean a designer suit, it just means making an effort.

Turning up for a reception job in trackies and a trainers would tell me they were not the right fit for the role and that they weren't really interested and its just a tick box exercise, unless I knew for example, I had invited them at last minute and said it was OK to come as they were.

The OP passed comment on the trackies and trainers as inappropriate wear for this reception role, she had not written to the potential employer about this, she has written to them about the blatant disrespect and disorganisation of their interview process. It says a lot about the employer that is not complimentary and they need to know they maybe losing quality candidates because of it.

Ponderingwindow · 02/09/2026 17:39

I never even had an interview that short or that disorganized when I was a teenager.

Daisymail · 02/09/2026 17:40

Bravo! A very witty commentary, I was so disappointed when you left early (well, not early but you know what I mean).

NeverDropYourMooncup · 02/09/2026 17:41

Maybe a) The previous receptionist is now his ex-wife and b) the five minute interviews were because as soon as they opened their mouths, he thought 'NOPE'?

JaffaDogCrab · 02/09/2026 17:42

PrettyPickle · 02/09/2026 17:08

Sorry, in my experience as an interviewer, its generally a choice. You are totally misconstruing the OPs comments..

Parents should bring kids up to dress appropriately, i.e. funerals, evets, weddings, interviews etc. If they miss it then it gets taught in careers at school. Then there are numerous examples in social media and TV. If you really want something, you do your research and you set your stall out.

I have had candidates coming to interviews in thread bear trousers, very clean but old shirt and tie and mismatched jacket, sometimes wearing Dads or Mums suit from a different era. They make an effort, it shows they are interested in the job. On the other hand if I am interviewing for something more practical a handyman, tradesperson, etc, I would still expect to see clean and smart probably not office wear. But trackies are casual wear. You could possibly get away with smart trainers with office clothing but you need to show you want to make a good impression and you are keen to impress. That doesn't mean a designer suit, it just means making an effort.

Turning up for a reception job in trackies and a trainers would tell me they were not the right fit for the role and that they weren't really interested and its just a tick box exercise, unless I knew for example, I had invited them at last minute and said it was OK to come as they were.

The OP passed comment on the trackies and trainers as inappropriate wear for this reception role, she had not written to the potential employer about this, she has written to them about the blatant disrespect and disorganisation of their interview process. It says a lot about the employer that is not complimentary and they need to know they maybe losing quality candidates because of it.

thread bear trousers?

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