Have you ever taken a job where you didn’t like potential colleagues at interview

[Badvibe]

I’d be mad right? That’s my gut feeling.

I was invited to interview recently. A week on and they’ve offered me the job.

It’s a senior role and suits my specialism, 30% pay rise.

I didn’t warm to almost half of the people (3 out of 8) on the panels, as in I thought they were somewhat unfriendly and felt they challenged my answers because they held different views on how something would be tackled in real terms - fine, were all entitled to our opinion but it isn’t how I would deal with recruitment.

I’m very experienced in my field, not saying that different approaches aren’t valid but I don’t think interview is an appropriate place for their responses. Slightly concerned about the culture having interviewed (although staff consultation results are ok/fairly good).

They’ve also switched position on something I explicitly asked about in a pre application phone call - I wouldn’t have applied and definitely wouldn’t take the job unless that was changed back.

So I could have a convo about the change but is it really worth it given my gut feeling - I’ve got five hours to respond.

I'm not sure, 30% would make a significant difference to you life? I'd go back and negotiate. And why did they offer you the job? It doesn't feel like you are an obvious fit,'..

I probably wouldn't if they were colleagues I'd be working directly with. I've felt this at interviews in the past and been relieved when I wasn't offered the job!

The only time I did was once when I was interviewed by someone who was going to manage me and she seemed extremely frosty and uninterested in the interview and kept looking around the room like she was bored. At the time I was desperate to get out of the field o was working in and took it but it was a big mistake. She was an absolute horror to work for, completely nasty.

In my current role I was interviewed by my line manager and senior manager and a colleague who I would be working closely alongside and I felt a real rapport with all of them in the interview and could tell I liked them as people (down to earth and friendly).

I think it depends but personally I wouldn't risk it. No money in the world is enough for me to spend that amount of time with arseholes.

Having said that you will always get clash of personalities or people with different views in the workplace but I'd go with your gut.

I don’t know. The fact they switched on something seems a key factor and so you should definitely have a conversation about changing that back and how they handle that conversation is likely to help you decide.
I recently had an interview where I just felt there wasn’t any chemistry either way despite being a good fit on paper. I am waiting to hear if I get through to the next round. Was your meeting in person? If not, I wonder if Zoom might have been a factor.

I'm not sure I'd take the role . If there are concerns at I interview imagine what they'd be like when everyone isn't on their best behaviour.
In my working career I've learnt that it doesn't matter how much you earn if every day is miserable and colleagues can make or break the enjoyment of a role .

Thanks! I’m very much leaning towards a no. It is a perfect fit on paper. I’d be lying if I said that the salary wasn’t the biggest attraction.

I’d lose half of it instantly though and have a longer commute (more time and expense) so not as big of a difference as it might seem at the end of the day.

That’s exactly what I thought Hattie - what would they be like on a daily basis. I recruit in my current role and wouldn’t dream of conducting myself like some of the individuals I met last week.

Honestly, I wish I had gone with my gut reaction when I interviewed for my current job. Panel of 3 and 2 of them were quite hostile and whispered to each other. But I had been out of work for a bit after retraining and felt that on paper it was a brilliant opportunity.

I knew walking out both that I had probably got the job and also that I felt sick at the thought but convinced myself it would be fine. It isn't fine. The two on the panel- one if my line manager and the other is the MD and they are thick as thieves and get their kicks out of bullying people. The third person on the panel who was meant to be the head of department has just gone on long term sick leave. The only good thing to come of it is that I am about to hand in my notice and while I have nothing to go to I would seriously work in any job I could find rather than that.

Are you sure they were t being challenging deliberately?

To see how you react when challenged/ ‘under pressure’ ?

I've only ever had concerns about an inteeviewer once and I remember thinking the guy was a twat afterwards. Still, in my inexperience, I took the role and it was a very big mistake. My instincts were right from the interview that the company wasn't for me as it turned out to be a terrible place to work.

Trust your gut! I always will now, no matter the pay bump.

They weren’t being

In person Snowing. Two x 1.75 hours of in person with two panels.

I can deal with tricky people (bit wearing daily though!), it’s the overall culture that’s more of a concern.

No on one occasion where the interviewer would have been my manager and spent his time trying to tell me how amazing he was and trying to minimise my experience and saying I would have to significantly upskill when in the role. I told the recruitment consultant he was an unnecessary arsehole and explained that was why I wouldn't be taking it further. She was mortified.

Yes when one of the interviewers would be a peer and was glum and frosty though the whole interview. Direct line manager was lovely. Took the job. Glum and frosty turned out to be absolutely lovely and just had resting bitch face and loved to challenge but always listened to and considered alternative viewpoints. Having a clear and considered opinion was part of the job so she took the role to test me on that point.

Unless I was desperate I wouldn't take it. You've already said, the pay rise would largely end up going on travel cost.

Trust your instincts!

Yes, didn’t get good vibes off the person doing the interview but the pay was better than the other role I’d been offered and I reckoned I could get on with anyone. Biggest mistake of my life. It was awful, and wrecked me for a long time.

Compound that with the switching position concern, I’d run a mile. Trust your gut.

Not desperate but would like a change. After a decade as HOD there’s nowhere to go in my current role and I feel like I need to get out.

Pay rise sounds great but I’d potentially be left with £300-400 a month after tax, pension and the big travel costs plus an extra four hours on my commute each week.

Thanks all, I’m pleased it’s a no from almost everyone. I’m not going to bother having the conversation about the change!

I wouldn't. A internal role came up recently at work for a position which would essentially be a promotion up two paygrades for me. I was heavily encouraged to apply by the hiring manager but I refused because the dynamic within that team is utterly broken. I don't always like my current job, but it would be like jumping out of the frying pan and into a roaring furnace. No pay rise is worth my mental health.

Working with nice people is my number one criteria so I wouldn't take the risk. There's too much time spent at work to deal with politics and awkward people - it's draining.

I'd agree with the others and that if you got a bad feeling it's not worth the risk. Have you checked them out on Glassdoor? (Employee review site). Sometimes it's quite telling.

Always go with your gut! The interview process is as much about you interviewing them as it is them interviewing you. In one process Id done well for the first row rounds and I'd got in like a house in fire with the people I'd met. On the third and final round I met my would-be line manager and it was an instant no from both of us (obviously not verbally!) I'd already told my DH I wasn't going to take the role if offered but unsurprisingly I didn't get the role (despite up to that point being pretty certain I would and performing well in the last round). I think we could both just tell we wouldn't get along.

In another I turned down a role offered because in the interview I'd talked about things I was interested in, which in all other similar roles I'd done would cover, and was told repeatedly "well we wouldn't need you to do that" and "we generally don't focus on upskilling in this role" as a response to me talking about development opportunities. Why would I work for a company that didn't want to invest in me as a person? It was clear it was a glass ceiling kind of place with a very rigid hierarchy. So it wasn't for me!

I've interviewed twice where I didn't like the people.

One interview was just really frosty, they didn't make any attempt at all to "sell" the job to me, it was all about how challenging it would be and how they needed someone outstanding. They refused to answer the questions I asked. Quite probing but entirely relevant in deciding if you'd want the job. Anyway I didn't get it and the person who did lasted 3 months, then the entire board were sacked!

At another I was offered the job. Part of the interview involved meeting the outgoing postholder as there'd be a short overlap. I knew from being in the industry that there were lots of problems with her and god only knows why they included her in the interviews because although the panel told me she was retiring within the year, it was clear she had no such intentions. After I was offered the job the "boss" was really unpleasant during the negotiation stage so I withdrew. The "outgoing" person stayed another 3 years and the general staff turnover during that period was huge.

I think you've done the right thing.

Have you considered asking your current employer for a payrise? Disclosing you've had a job offer on more money and that seems to be the market rate?

I did take a big internal promotion years ago to a post they couldn't fill because essentially the person you'd be working for was a bully. I learned to "manage" him and we developed a good mutual professional respect, I never had any difficulty with him, but I think that's different to a broken team.

I had a very similar situation, what the job was evolved during the interview, the boss was very clear that she wouldn't be supportive and one of the other staff came into the room interviewees were in (to get a sandwich) and, I kid you not, said don't do it!' while we were all sat there and skipped out again. I was offered the job but I didn't take it.
There's strength in a gut feeling & other jobs will come along.

I've now declined and am happy with my decision.

There was more I didn't like (didn't post). Something that stuck on the day was 'we'll be in touch with the successful candidate', well, I happened to be the 'successful candidate' but at the time I thought, how rude!! When people have given up a day to attend an interview, plus prep time the last thing you can do is communicate your decision to attendees. I wouldn't dream of not contacting candidates who I had actually interviewed. A couple of other comments made me focus on the culture of the place too!!

You're right Makka, there will be something else at some point and I will just carry on doing the job I enjoy but find slightly unchallenging for now (but with very nice people).