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Original poster

Dismissed from interview - so humiliated

221 replies

Littleblackcatandabow · 13/07/2022 12:26

So I applied for a job which was perfect for me. Very industry specific and I had my interview today.

The role had “part time would be considered” in the description and I applied. In my covering letter I explained that the role was ideal due to extremely specific experience and industry knowledge but is also perfect for me due to being a 5 min walk from home and I can commit to 30 hours a week. (Husband travels one day a week so I need to be around for school!)

In the interview I was told that they were flabbergasted when my CV landed on the desk because of my unusual experience in the industry. The admin manager then goes onto say that it’s a full time role only.

To which I said “oh but the advert said part time would be considered. I am looking for a 4 day week role”

One interviewer - he said they would come up with a solution
2nd interviewer - she said “No thank you. Full time only. It was lovely meeting you though, goodbye” and dismissed me.

I’m just looking for reassurance that this is an unusual experience? I came home and had a little cry. I’m getting on a bit (am 36) and worried I’m unemployable.

I was employed right up until March as I was made redundant.

OP posts:
2Rebecca · 13/07/2022 12:51

I presume by "consider part time" they meant if no full time applicants apply. If you made it clear in your application you could only do part time then the woman's behaviour was unnecessary. She could have been less dismissive and still given the job to someone else able to work full time

Littlegoth · 13/07/2022 12:52

HR here. I would definitely email that feedback to their HR! I would be horrified if that landed in my inbox.

So sorry.

ComDummings · 13/07/2022 12:53

You definitely dodged a bullet, timewasting useless people.

JulielielieJulylielieJuly · 13/07/2022 12:54

I wouldn't give feedback as the nasty interviewer may use it to bad mouth you, and in such a small field. I think she may have been jealous of you. The correct etiquette would have been to complete the interview and keep professional. She sounds like she wanted to display dominance. So, you learned to avoid her and her company, lesson learned move on. Good luck!

DottyDotAgain · 13/07/2022 12:54

I work in the NHS so am gobsmacked you were treated like that in an interview - we're so used to having part-time/job share arrangements and even if we were interviewing and wanted full-time, no-one would have blinked at a part-time request being thrown into the mix during an interview!

I agree with a pp though who said to wait until you're offered the role - I always say that that's when your position is the strongest. The panel wants you and you can use the phone call job offer to negotiate on hours, pay etc. At that point they really don't want to then have to withdraw an offer they've just made and offer to the next person down, so use that phone call next time to negotiate on hours.

Definitely sounds like you dodged a bullet there though - not a good place to work... - and good luck with finding something else!

kewgirl · 13/07/2022 12:55

Not a good experience

Only thing I would say is not to say that you are interested in a job as it is close to where you live
You need to focus on what you bring to the com an y and how you benefit them

TreePoser · 13/07/2022 12:55

That's weird. You are not being unreasonable to find that rude and strange.

theemmadilemma · 13/07/2022 12:56

So unprofessional.

I bet Interviewer 1 was incredibly pissed off too. I would have been.

Iflyaway · 13/07/2022 12:58

I think the chap who interviewed me was a little shocked at the woman dismissing me like that.

Not read the whole thread so this may have been mentioned.....

Maybe she felt you could have been a threat to her own position.

So yes, you dodged a bullet. It's still a shit way to treat you though.

Giggorata · 13/07/2022 12:58

I think I might politely ask for an apology from this firm, as they basically misled you.
You went to the trouble of turning up, interview ready, a certain amount of investment in time and effort and are deeply disappointed that despite being a perfect fit for the job, there was no acknowledgement of their mistake and no flexibility.
Send to all the head honchos, the interviewers as well as HR. Ask that this letter/email is kept on file.
Might move stuff on a bit.

newhere989 · 13/07/2022 12:59

It's not you, it's her. That attitude is awful.

Original poster
Littleblackcatandabow · 13/07/2022 13:05

kewgirl · 13/07/2022 12:55

Not a good experience

Only thing I would say is not to say that you are interested in a job as it is close to where you live
You need to focus on what you bring to the com an y and how you benefit them

I only mentioned it in my covering letter as the office is located on a notorious road and has a limited number of carpark spaces per office.

I wanted them to be confident that I didn’t need to worry about traffic, accidents and road closures (they happen quite a lot!) or a car parking space.

Thank you though! 😊 I’m beginning to cheer up xx

OP posts:
Hollyhocksarenotmessy · 13/07/2022 13:08

This is terrible, and I would go back to HR, but carefully to make your point but not burning your bridges.

Dear HR,

Thank you for the opportunity to interview for x role. Unfortunately it turned out to be for full-time only and not suitable for me, so interviewer 2 concluded the interview early, but I would like to confirm that I am still interested in any future appropriate roles.'

Positive approach to sticking the boot in.

I once reluctantly interviewed for a role where I didn't think I had all the specialist skills necessary, but I was assured I was fine and they definitely wanted to see me. They asked a question on a specialist skill and I answered from my limited experience (which was very clear from my CV and application) , and one interviewer turned and rolled her eyes at the other. I wish I'd walked out.

HappyHappyHermit · 13/07/2022 13:11

So silly and short sighted of the company to miss out on a potentially great employee simply because of this. Companies who can and do offer the most flexible working options will inevitably attract and keep the best employees. Their loss, you will definitely find a better one that is just perfect for you.

Snowflakes1122 · 13/07/2022 13:12

Well I’m sure you would t want to work for such rude, unprofessional idiots either. Definitely dodged a bullet.

Good luck with job hunting. You are definitely not getting on a bit with regards to age/career.

Keep at it - you will find something better.

KatherineJaneway · 13/07/2022 13:12

She was totally unprofessional. She clearly was not prepared or she would have know that part time had been officially mentioned in the job advert. As others have said you've dodged a bullet. Any professional would have carried on with the interview because, if you were the ideal candidate, they should have spent time considering your request rather that lose out on your skills and experience.

Harridan1981 · 13/07/2022 13:15

I would assume she had other reasons for not wanting you. Very unprofessional.

Frazzled2207 · 13/07/2022 13:16

Def dodged a bullet

i recently went back into work at 43 with several years out as a sahm. You’ll have plenty of further opportunities

next time you are asked about full time I would push back a bit bur keep the conversation going by saying that you’d consider it with a certain amount of wfh. Wfh makes a massive amount of difference when it comes to managing kids etc. Depends on the company of course but ours is fully ok with people disappearing to do school runs etc. As long as the work gets done and you’re broadly contactable during office hours they don’t really care if you’re at your desk or not (we go in 1 dpw).

Divebar2021 · 13/07/2022 13:20

They were probably having an affair and you were just too attractive 😉

DillAte · 13/07/2022 13:21

The way I see it, if you make to an interview you're probably a good skill fit unless their processes are a bit shit. Beyond that, it's mostly personal preference.
My last round of interviews, I had an interview advertised at less than my salary at the time get cut short because they didn't like the nature of my responses (though they were technically correct).
The role I ended up getting was more senior and came with a >20k pay bump. Don't take it as an objective assessment of your worth.

seemsikeaniceday · 13/07/2022 13:21

Wow. I agree blessing in disguise. You did everything correctly, it’s totally their issue for advertising the role part time and not reading your covering letter.

Original poster
Littleblackcatandabow · 13/07/2022 13:29

Divebar2021 · 13/07/2022 13:20

They were probably having an affair and you were just too attractive 😉

Hahahaha! I actually snorted laughing 😂

OP posts:
Galliano · 13/07/2022 13:31

Another perspective is that if the advertising etc is done centrally by HR/recruitment then they can often put stuff in that’s not appropriate to the role despite what you tell them and this may have happened here. In my own organisation i write a job spec but recruitment add standard filler info. I then get longlisted cvs passed to me by the recruiters and never see the accompanying covering letters at all. I’ve shortlisted people for interview who it swiftly becomes apparent won’t be a good fit either down to something the recruiters have done or by their answers. I do try and speed up the interview in those circumstances (eg aim to finish in 30 mins if an hr was scheduled) but would ask a decent subset of questions. However there’s probably lots of individuals who would say they’d prefer not to go through that if they realistically have no hope of being offered the role.

Topseyt123 · 13/07/2022 13:40

Very unprofessional of her. I agree with sending feedback to HR, and you never know where that might lead.

It does seem as though you have dodged a bullet here, but keep strong and keep your chin up. Keep going with the job search, although I know from bitter experience just what a lonely and disillusioning place the job market can be.

I don't think you are too old at 36, but I guess that was the upset and disillusionment speaking.

Polichinelle · 13/07/2022 13:49

*I think she may have been jealous of you.

Jealous? What makes you think that? I think the interviewer was rude, arrogant, trying to show her superiority, but I cannot see how she could be jealous of someone who she was interviewing.

OP, don't blame yourself. This person was wrong and I would definitely write to HR to mention it. If she was meant to be your manager, you've had a lucky escape