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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:
Notanotherwindow · 15/07/2022 19:16

I would like to congratulate you, OP on the bullet you just dodged. Imagine what they'd be like to work for. They're lying to get people to even apply to work for them, that doesn't bode well for the staff they already have!

Sillyname63 · 15/07/2022 19:17

I think she felt intimidated by you and that's why she dismissed you in such an off handed way. I wouldn't be surprised if in a month or two you get a phone call asking if you are still interested, if you d and you still are I would use it negotiate a better pay deal. Did you get the interview via an agency if so I would complain that you thought the company were misleading people in their advertising. Good luck in your job search

lapasion · 15/07/2022 19:20

I’m sorry OP. That’s so shit. If it’s any constellation, it’s worse when they bullshit you in the interview saying they’ll be flexible etc and then when you start they shoot down any requests. Dealing with that right now. I suppose at least they were upfront about what they wanted! But yeah bullet definitely dodged.

The good news is, sounds like you may be able to find some remote opportunities in your industry. If there isn’t much locally then this could be a good choice.

saleorbouy · 15/07/2022 19:39

You should question with H.R why you were called to interview if your cover letter clearly stated you work hours requirements were PT and a PT role was mentioned in the advertisement.

Triptinratbat · 15/07/2022 19:42

@Littleblackcatandabow the Universe has better things in store….. for you

Dismissed from interview - so humiliated
bridgetreilly · 15/07/2022 19:43

I can’t quite see what was humiliating, tbh. Frustrating and unprofessional, yes. Disappointing, obviously. But all they said was that they were looking for a full time person while you were looking for a part time role. There’s nothing about that which suggests anything negative about your performance at the interview or experience evidenced on your CV. It’s nothing personal at all, in fact.

Okaaaay · 15/07/2022 19:45

Firstly, you are not getting on at 36. Absolutely awful, unkind and unprofessional behaviour - I would be mortified if a colleague acted like that. Stuck in the 80s in terms of only accepting full time. Sorry OP, this was firmly their bad and nothing to do with you at all (it could have been anyone). Outrageous and I would definitely feed back to HR. People like that have no place in business, or interviews, these days.

girlmom21 · 15/07/2022 19:46

Triptinratbat · 15/07/2022 19:42

@Littleblackcatandabow the Universe has better things in store….. for you

Is that the New Testament or the Old Testament?

Triptinratbat · 15/07/2022 19:49

@girlmom21

I’m so sorry not that of the Christian faith so don’t know. I got it as a forward on WhatsApp but think it’s so profound. Have seen similar quotes from other faiths.

girlmom21 · 15/07/2022 19:50

Triptinratbat · 15/07/2022 19:49

@girlmom21

I’m so sorry not that of the Christian faith so don’t know. I got it as a forward on WhatsApp but think it’s so profound. Have seen similar quotes from other faiths.

I was just joking 🙃

SoHereBesMe · 15/07/2022 19:51

This happened me, sort of. I didn't get dismissed in interview though.
Explained to recruitment agency I would only ever consider 3 day week due to child care. First time round, a few years ago a job came up, I enquired about it and was told nope full time only.

So that was OK, I forgot about it until they phoned me this year. Asked if I was still interested as part time was now a possibility. I said OK. Had an interview that went really well. Talked about part time hours and why i needed them. Got the impression that the interviewer just had to fill in the paperwork and feedback to whoever else.

Two weeks passed. Recruitment agent came back a few times and said they were just finalising paperwork etc and would likely be back with an offer in next couple days. Started to get excited.

They phoned back and said nope, part time wouldn't work. Never again.

Cheesecakeandwineinasuitcase · 15/07/2022 19:56

Imagine what it would have been like to have that woman as your boss. You’ve definitely dodged a bullet there.

riceuten · 15/07/2022 19:56

Consider this a bullet dodged - they would have been a nightmare to work for if they were that cruel or disorganised

Johnnysgirl · 15/07/2022 20:12

Something about you (your superior experience?) was a threat to the 2nd interviewer, clearly.

riceuten · 15/07/2022 20:15

I had a couple of interviews that were a complete waste of time because of unexpected last minute changes to the terms and conditions. Two where they didn't tell me the role was a fixed term and one of them said "ALL roles these days are fixed term, actually" - one actually admitted they didn't advertise it as fixed term "as no-one would have applied otherwise" (thank you Stonebridge Housing Action Trust) They actually offered me the job, but I turned them down and when they re-advertised, put "TWO YEAR FIXED TERM CONTRACT" in the same font size as the job title, so at least I achieved something.

Another asked me to do a test that was not in the JD/PS, nor was it in the invitation letter for the interview, and one woman on the panel started to say that I had "wasted their time applying for the job and coming to interview" if I didn't have the technical skills the test would have measured. I asked her to point out where on the JD/PS/letter did they outline the necessary skills. I at least got an apology letter from HR about that one, admitting they had messed up.

I do consider these all bullets dodged.

GingerWit · 15/07/2022 20:18

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.

You're 36, not 76, 86, 96. I am 36. I work for the DWP, you are not getting on a bit..you'll be sorry for making out you're old when you actually end up old.

Things happen for a reason. They don't deserve you, you will find better. I would actually report them to ACAS and the website advertising the job for misleading and false information to attract more attention. They sound pretty dodgy and you dodged that bullet.

Springduckling · 15/07/2022 20:30

They do sound shit, but honestly you sound an idiot for saying you're getting on a bit at 36.

Plenty of us are way older than that and if we all were hopelessly unemployable I imagine the country would grind to a halt.

Dibbydoos · 15/07/2022 20:51

Their loss! You are def employable, keep at it!

underneaththeash · 15/07/2022 21:09

I had a similar experience, except they contacted ME!
I currently only have Monday/Tuesday morning available. Someone contacted me on linked in, I explained this, contact said no probs. Went for interview - which cost me £35 in train fares, to be told that they wanted a full-timer, working every weekend. Again I had specific quals and experience.

I was furious, I’d missed an afternoon of revision with DS before his French GCSE.

I told them I was annoyed and expected my train fare to be reimbursed and to be fair they did. However, they emailed a month later offering me the job. Which I obviously turned down. The whole thing was weird.

Maray1967 · 15/07/2022 21:21

At my first professional job interview I understood that one of the roles might be split between two part timers. When I was offered it I asked whether it was full or part time. HR person said it was only ever full time. Clearly head of dept had one view and HR had another. Sounds like something like this happened to you.

DangerouslyBored · 15/07/2022 21:23

Getting on a bit at 36 🙄

Suja1 · 15/07/2022 21:26

This is nothing new. I went for one interview when the interviewer, after the initial chat, went through "my" CV. Except it was blindingly obvious immediately that it was someone else's. I explained that there must be a mix up and she said that she had never intended to interview me and must have been given the wrong CV. No apologies and I was dismissed!
Another time I went through two quite gruelling interviews, one group and one in front of a panel. At the end of the day I received the call offering me the job. I was delighted and asked who I would be sharing the job share with. Oh, HR had messed up and there was no job share.

In my opinion, HR has had a lot of explaining to do over the years.

EarthSight · 15/07/2022 21:43

I came home and had a little cry. I’m getting on a bit (am 36) and worried I’m unemployable

God. How utterly depressing and telling of our society that women even think they could be over the hill for work at the age of 36. Some industries are very young across the sexes, but unless you're one of those, you shouldn't have to feel like this.

It was lovely meeting you though, goodbye” and dismissed me

Despite their enthusiasm, they must not have wanted you that much or lied in the advert. When I say you, that doesn't mean you personally. That means they clearly had a very flippant attitude towards employing someone. It's possbile they lied about the part time thing in order to get better and more candidates.....but then had no intention of following through with it as they might have had sights set on full time all along.

EarthSight · 15/07/2022 21:51

@DangerouslyBored This is pretty revealing of what our society thinks of anyone over the age of 30, and women absorb that message. You are put in a granny or scary witch box. Men seems to constantly pant at much younger women online. You are considered over the hill in your mid 30s, and to be honest, some men think you're a bit old if you're older than 25. Porn standards mean that women are practically 'mature' if they are older than 20, and then there's the teen category of porn which is the most popular, apparently.

I'm pretty sure my previous workplace took the piss with a colleague of mine because it's a very young environment, and she was in her early 40s. They think that other workplaces won't give those women a job as readily, and they fully capitalise on that vulnerability. In some cases, I think they either actually think that, or they sense the woman thinks that and manipulate that sense of desperation. If you add dependents as well, you can see how employers can feel like they have older women in their grip and just take advantage.

EarthSight · 15/07/2022 21:53

@underneaththeash That's a total piss take. Well done for expecting them to reimburse you. Cheeky fuckers.