Last minute interview followed by immediate rejection

[Lifeisonhold]

I applied for a role last week. The pay was very low but I’ve been made redundant and thought “sod it!” - we are in the SW and salaries are much lower here (although this was National Min Wage for a mid level marketing role!)

On Sunday night at 9pm ish I received an email inviting me to an interview at 9am the next morning (Monday).

I phoned everyone I could, but nobody was available to look after my son for an hour while I went to the interview.

DH was due to travel with work before 7am on the Monday to London (we’re in the SW so we have to catch the earliest trains!)

Anyway, I emailed the woman back and explained I can’t come in at such short notice and asked if we could reschedule when DH is back on Tuesday (he doesn’t travel often) or when someone is available to look after DS.

She emailed me back saying “no, sorry. Its at 9am or not at all!”

I feel like I offended her somehow. I’ve never been treated that way before and I feel like I’ve burnt bridges with a professional connection. She’s the CEO! So I’m a bit embarrassed.

Was she being unreasonable or was it me?

YANBU sounds like you’ve had a lucky escape!

That's quite odd. Perhaps you have dodged a bad one though. Something will hopefully pop up soon working for someone who isn't unhinged.

Massive red flag! You dodged a bad job there

You were a last minute filler. I wouldn't give it another thought.

There's red flags over all of this and screams toxic culture. I think you've had an incredibly lucky escape. I'd pay no further thought to this and move on to the much better thing which will be around the corner for you.

As someone who works in recruitment YANBU! We definitely would never arrange an interview so last minute. We would want you to have time to prepare for a start. We also do our best to rearrange for people who can't make their time. In fact I don't think I have ever not rearranged when needed.
It was almost like you were being tested to see if you could drop everything and get there last minute. It sounds like you have dodge a bullet.
Good luck in your job search OP

Another vote for lucky escape here. If this is what it's like when she's trying to impress you goodness knows what it's like for actual staff!

She has done you a huge favour op.

Thank you everyone for the reassurance!

They have just reposted the role online. It’s a shame as my CV was the perfect fit.

I guess she’s the type of boss who makes unreasonable demands.

Imagine being on NMW and paying £1000 month rent - it’s not ideal. So I doubt they had many experienced applicants.

You DO NOT want to work for those people. That woman is shockingly rude and unprofessional.

Don't reapply. You were perfect for the role but the role isn't perfect for you. You're worth more.

This with bells on.

January 2021 - Got an email to attend customer service interview next day in the afternoon on a Sunday night at about 10pm - couldn’t make it and never heard from the company…

May 2022 I got a role with them and found out how the year before I’d had a lucky escape!

Company owner was not an approachable guy. Reading what you said about the CEO just takes me back!

Reply back 'not at all. Thanks'

12 hours notice is a bit short and a bit of a warning as to how effective the company is tbh. If the interview involves a panel they are often only available for that one day so while it may not be possible to move the interview, if the job's been readvertised they could offer you a slot on the next day the panel is together. In your case, my advice would be to decline if they do offer!

To be honest you doged a bullet with that job. It had a load of red flags. The fact was that they would not let you change the day/time of an interview after giving you as little notice as possible.
Offering nmw for that role shows they don't want to pay someone what they are worth.
With the current cost of living going up so much over the last few months you need to be earning above nmw to have some cash left after paying towards childcare and bills.
One of my friends took a job a bit like this a few years ago. It had a high work load, promised a bonus that my friend never got and then she did not get a pay rise one year. She found out other companies were paying far more. She left and got a better job.
I would keep looking for another job as I am sure you get a better one paying a bit more.

That CEO has no idea how to recruit and doesn't understand the current market

How awful, how were you supposed to prepare!

Agree with pp, definitely dodged a shitty workplace there!!

You've dodged a bullet. Sounds like they'd be quite toxic to work for. Also sounds like maybe there is a staff turnover issue and they're desperate to get someone in pronto, which has obviously backfired if the job ad is up again.