Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Work

Chat with other users about all things related to working life on our Work forum.

THEY rejected ME

43 replies

Ventingjustbecause · 17/05/2024 14:56

I had what was supposed to be a trial shift for reception at a solictors office this week. As I walked in my heart sank as it was a tatty place above a takeway and it just didn't have a professional feel to it. The people were nice enough but it all seemed a bit low rent. Like imagine the series Better call Saul where he's in the back of a nail salon. Not quite that bad but not set up how I imagined and it felt unprofessional.
The person I was meeting who had (kind of) interviewed me, left me on my own, twice for over 10 mins a time while doing other stuff that they'd arranged knowing I'd be there.

One of the solicitors who is also the director had not remembered a meeting with a client so just hadnt turned up. Also has two other jobs he's doing in different fields which as a lawyer I thought was odd. Like isn't it enough being a solictor?

My actual interview had been online and there was no interest in my CV or work history at all, just me as a person. I didn't mind that and was invited in to meet properly. I was there two hours while I was shown literally everything. The salary was shocking but I could have easily done the job and the hours of work were good. It felt like it was in the bag but I just couldn't actually imagine working there.
I was very torn as to whether I'd take it and I was leaning towards no. My gut instinct was no.

Today I found out that they are "persuing other candidates" . I feel really really bad. I think because of how crappy it was. My pride has taken way more of a battering than if it was a difficult interview for a higher profile job in a professional setting.

Just wanted to vent really.

OP posts:
MidnightPatrol · 17/05/2024 14:59

I wouldn’t worry about it.

Your scepticism may have come across during the shift - and they may have thought you just wouldn’t last long.

I often interview people where I think ‘they will be looking for the next thing too quickly’ - likely to outgrow the role, or will be looking for something with a better salary vs their experience.

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 17/05/2024 15:00

You're too good for them!

Renamed · 17/05/2024 15:01

I’m sure you were very professional but they probably sensed a little of your WTF thoughts and decided you “wouldn’t fit in”!

As that is true and you wouldn’t have it any other way, you have nothing to be ashamed of?

Sparla · 17/05/2024 15:02

They did you a favour. They probably twigged you were unimpressed.

OpusGiemuJavlo · 17/05/2024 15:04

I think they realised that you were way above their league. They may have been looking for someone a bit naive and ignorant if we are talking Better Call Saul territory - the better to ensure anything shady isn't spotted.

Nitgel · 17/05/2024 15:06

i once did a trial shift in a nursery and they didn't want me back. I was upset but i think it was because at lunch, when a child dropped a potato I put it back on their plate. (2 second rule?)

I have lived with the guilt for years.

I was also horrified when they let the children literally pour paints straight out of the containers all over the tables and i think that must have showed in my face.

TeaandScandal · 17/05/2024 15:14

I think they realised that you were way above their league
That’ll be it. They’ll be aware that even if you’d accepted the job you wouldn’t actually stay for long.

TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 17/05/2024 15:16

People don’t always hire the person who has the top skills, they go for the person they feel will be the best fit and isn’t likely to leave. It’s no reflection on you at all.

alloalloallo · 17/05/2024 15:17

Sparla · 17/05/2024 15:02

They did you a favour. They probably twigged you were unimpressed.

Yes, I agree. They probably realised.

I had a job interview recently. The job wasn’t at all what they advertised for, so I was honest in the interview and told them there and then thanks for inviting me, but the job wasn’t for me.

I was royally pissed off to get a rejection email a couple of weeks later. I was like, I told you I wasn’t interested. Bloody cheek. I was itching to email back.

Theunamedcat · 17/05/2024 15:18

They might just be using candidates to fill a gap and not actually have an official "job"

Every Christmas the local pub advertises for pot washers you do two unpaid trial shifts they never hire you took a few years for some people to catch on basically they needed extra help and didn't want to pay for it they were (quite rightly) called out about it and kept a low profile last Christmas 😉

Ventingjustbecause · 17/05/2024 15:21

I already feel better. Just one of those things I guess. I was rejected from Aldi years ago when I was really desperate for a job. The interviewer said he really only asked me in to see what I was like and that he couldn't hire me as he knew I was over qualified! Thanks everyone for being kind x

OP posts:
Ventingjustbecause · 17/05/2024 15:25

Theunamedcat · 17/05/2024 15:18

They might just be using candidates to fill a gap and not actually have an official "job"

Every Christmas the local pub advertises for pot washers you do two unpaid trial shifts they never hire you took a few years for some people to catch on basically they needed extra help and didn't want to pay for it they were (quite rightly) called out about it and kept a low profile last Christmas 😉

Wow! That's scandalous.

OP posts:
Lengokengo · 17/05/2024 15:25

I have been rejected for a couple of roles. Both in places that I would have rejected if I had had an offer. It did smart at the time, but I ultimately got better offers, so all was fine in the end. Put it down to experience, and it will be a funny story v eventually.

Ventingjustbecause · 17/05/2024 15:27

alloalloallo · 17/05/2024 15:17

Yes, I agree. They probably realised.

I had a job interview recently. The job wasn’t at all what they advertised for, so I was honest in the interview and told them there and then thanks for inviting me, but the job wasn’t for me.

I was royally pissed off to get a rejection email a couple of weeks later. I was like, I told you I wasn’t interested. Bloody cheek. I was itching to email back.

Edited

Oh I don't know how you resisted. Cheek of it!

OP posts:
Ventingjustbecause · 17/05/2024 15:27

TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 17/05/2024 15:16

People don’t always hire the person who has the top skills, they go for the person they feel will be the best fit and isn’t likely to leave. It’s no reflection on you at all.

I know I need to think more like this, but it stings

OP posts:
Ventingjustbecause · 17/05/2024 15:29

OpusGiemuJavlo · 17/05/2024 15:04

I think they realised that you were way above their league. They may have been looking for someone a bit naive and ignorant if we are talking Better Call Saul territory - the better to ensure anything shady isn't spotted.

I don't think they were dodgy but did get the feeling they were possibly a bit financially strapped.

OP posts:
Ventingjustbecause · 17/05/2024 15:31

MidnightPatrol · 17/05/2024 14:59

I wouldn’t worry about it.

Your scepticism may have come across during the shift - and they may have thought you just wouldn’t last long.

I often interview people where I think ‘they will be looking for the next thing too quickly’ - likely to outgrow the role, or will be looking for something with a better salary vs their experience.

I think I hid it well mostly but I wasn't gushing when asked what I thought. I was being polite but maybe not enthusiastic enough!

OP posts:
Ventingjustbecause · 17/05/2024 15:31

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 17/05/2024 15:00

You're too good for them!

You know what, I think I am. And it was a pain to park there.

OP posts:
Ventingjustbecause · 17/05/2024 15:33

Renamed · 17/05/2024 15:01

I’m sure you were very professional but they probably sensed a little of your WTF thoughts and decided you “wouldn’t fit in”!

As that is true and you wouldn’t have it any other way, you have nothing to be ashamed of?

The last receptionist left after a short time because they said she'd been gone two weeks but I saw the post advertised before. That was about 4 months ago.

OP posts:
beatrix1234 · 17/05/2024 15:35

You had a chip on the shoulder and it was very clear (to them too) you didn’t fit there.

Ventingjustbecause · 17/05/2024 15:35

Sparla · 17/05/2024 15:02

They did you a favour. They probably twigged you were unimpressed.

I think they've saved me too. I am too qualified for them but I've had a long time out of work so I am really just looking for something to ease me back in that's not too mentally taxing.

OP posts:
Ventingjustbecause · 17/05/2024 15:36

beatrix1234 · 17/05/2024 15:35

You had a chip on the shoulder and it was very clear (to them too) you didn’t fit there.

I wouldn't describe it as that. I am always very polite and gracious but I was shocked. A chip on your shoulder is a different thing entirely.

OP posts:
Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 17/05/2024 15:37

Law firms are brutal especially run down high street ones like this one. So I’d say you’ve dodged a bullet there (ex legal sec).

plus their receptionists (I’ve done this there too) get all the flack and rudeness.

They also tend to pay admin staff badly god knows why it’s hardly kudos working there!

beatrix1234 · 17/05/2024 15:38

Ventingjustbecause · 17/05/2024 15:36

I wouldn't describe it as that. I am always very polite and gracious but I was shocked. A chip on your shoulder is a different thing entirely.

Your description of the place is very poor, you were quite shocked at the whole thing and how “beneath you” it felt. Flash news: they sensed that too, and that’s probably why you didn’t make a good candidate.

Ventingjustbecause · 17/05/2024 15:40

TeaandScandal · 17/05/2024 15:14

I think they realised that you were way above their league
That’ll be it. They’ll be aware that even if you’d accepted the job you wouldn’t actually stay for long.

I probably wouldn't have accepted. If I had I'd have stayed just long enough to get some more history on my CV and a reference.

OP posts: