Would you wait - interview

HashSlinging

Hypothetical question, but how long would you sit in an interview room without contact from an interviewer. I remember sitting for 20mins and then getting so pissed off I got up and walked out.

Got a call from them a few mins later asking where I was, and told them I was on the way home, and next time they should show some respect.

WhiteWashMan

sounds a bit strange, but I guess it would depend on how much I wanted the job.

But since I only go for jobs I really want, Id probably wait it out. There may be a real reason why Ive had no contact.

I certainly wouldnt leave, Id go and ask reception what the story was though.

the_syco

What WWM said. Leaving after waiting 20 minutes is pointless. The interview may only last 10 minutes, but if someone was late, it'd have a knock on effect. If this happens, I usually ask after 15 minutes what's up.

Dudess

HashSlinging wrote: »

told them I was on the way home, and next time they should show some respect.

Heh, you obviously didn't want the job that much.

milltown

You say interview room, not waiting room. Did they show you in and then leave you there? Maybe they were observing you through a two way mirror to see if you'd crack.

Seems the height of bad manners though. I might leave myself but I don't think I'd last 20 minutes without making enquiries as to wtf?

Sort of on the subject of bad interview etiquette, how normal is it to attend for an interview and hear absolutely nothing afterwards? No "thank you for coming in but..", no "sorry but your not what we're looking for", no "we'll keep your CV on file". It only happened me once but I thought "what a fecking cheek!" I took time off work to come and meet you for interview and you won't even offer me the courtesy of a phone call! BTW I'm talking about a specific, fairly specialised job, not a walk in off the street open day.

projectmayhem

if it was in the actual interview room i'd wait 15/20mins then ask someone what's going on. i wouldn't leave. the interviewer might be running late, and could be very apologetic.

for the sake of 20mins i wouldn't throw a potential job in the bin.

Saint_Mel

I thought you meant you were sitting in front of the interview panel
in total silence for 20 mins before you upped and left! Now that would
be uncomfortable.

If it was a case of waiting for the interviewers to come into the
room I'd have hung around.

JJJJNR

Same thing happened to me recently, had a one hour window to do an interview, and the interviewers knew this, anyway arrived to do the personality test which I completed in 10 - 15 mins, handed it back into the HR person who told me that the interviewers would be in to me in 2 minutes, 25 minutes later no one showed up, so I went out to the HR person who was also gone.... Got my jacket and walked out the door.

Walked passed two guys in the corridor, who look suspiciously like the interviewers (papers in hand etc). Then on my way out the door I hear 'scuse me Jimmy John Joe are we going to do our interview now, I replied NO, I've another appointment scheduled and didn’t want that to be effected. TBH I treat things like this as blessings in disguise, if they are going to treat a potential employee like that sh*t knows what there going to treat you like when your working for them..

You dont get a second chance to make a first impression and in an interview situation it works two ways.

Morlar

projectmayhem wrote: »

for the sake of 20mins i wouldn't throw a potential job in the bin.

That seems the sensible approach to me. Often companies will assign somone to interviews who doesnt do it very often - ie a person in the dept to be hired into or whatever. Or it could just be that they werent ready or had other interviews over-run. A bit of maturity could have got you that job. I suppose it boils down to whether you actually wanted the job or whether you were going through the motions.

kittensoft1984

i know from expierience that interviews can run over as i have had some run over in the past.

however if the interviewer was running late it would be good manners on the companies part to let the person know.

Interviews are nerve racking enough as it is without being left for a long time with no answers.

homeOwner

Personally I think its foolish to leave in a huff. Presumably you were interested in the role. I do alot of interviewing and sometimes for reasons outside of my control I end up running late due some urgent issue or an imprompu conference call. I try to send someone out to tell the candidate I am on the way but its not always possible.

If you have to leave you could tell reception that you have another apointment and leave your contact details to reschedule.

I guess it depends on the role you are going for. In my line of work each day is different to the next and it is impossible to predict how your day is going to go, I would have a poor opinion of someone who isnt dynmaic enough to adapt and go with the flow. I would have no problem with someone leaving a polite message at reception for me that they had to leave but could come back another time.

JJJJNR

kittensoft1984 wrote: »

i know from expierience that interviews can run over as i have had some run over in the past.

however if the interviewer was running late it would be good manners on the companies part to let the person know.

Interviews are nerve racking enough as it is without being left for a long time with no answers.

Well thats the way I felt, I had the manners to turn up couple of mins early, have myself presentable, and make the effort.

It was a once off thing I'd never experianced before, so didnt know what to do, only option was to leave as I had another appointment. If I had all day to sit there and knew when the proper interview would start I would have waited but I couldnt as I was left in limbo, which was a very stressful experiance looking back.

kittensoft1984

yeah i can understand that.

however like homeOwner said it would have been more profesional to leave a message with reception to rearrange the date.....

sovtek

I once paid 13 pounds Irish to take a taxi to an interview. After the initial interview by the HR person, who happened to be training someone that sat in the interview, I was told that the second interview would not be necessary. I asked her why. She said that someone had looked at my CV and thought I did not have enough experience. I then asked her why they would call me in if they could have just looked at my CV and told me that. I then asked her if I could get my money back. Give you 3 guesses to her response.
They called me for another interview a month later. Told them to piss off.
I had an interviewer totally take the piss out of me when I asked a perfectly reasonable question. He was the most arrogant bastard I'd ever come across in that context. If I wasn't so desperate for a job and had it over again I would have walked out after telling him that I would not want to work for such a prick.

cold_filter

Went for an interview about this time last year to a company that was going through an expansion, It had probably about 100 people in it at the time.

My interview was to be with the MD, HR and what was to be my line manager.

The MD was held up but we had a couple of coffees and a chat so that was fine.

Being left waiting at reception is not on.

AckwelFoley

Hypothetical question, but how long would you sit in an interview room without contact from an interviewer. I remember sitting for 20mins and then getting so pissed off I got up and walked out.

Got a call from them a few mins later asking where I was, and told them I was on the way home, and next time they should show some respect

hahahahahahahahahahaaa!

Yer not likely to get employed with that attitude.

MIN2511

I do have problems with interviewers who don’t
• Keep to time
• No response or feedback when they don’t employ you
• Are training a new employee on your time
OP, I understand what you mean although I don’t have the balls (yet) to do it. I reckon you are experienced and can afford to pick where you want to work.
I also hate when I send my CV to a company and after a month they ask me if I am still interested….

JackieChan

I had an interview in town about two years ago and was told to be there at 9am. I followed interview procedures and was there at about 5 to 9. Talked to receptionist and she advised that she was not aware of any interviews that morning. Positive start!
At 9:15 , checked again with receptionist and she said there was no answer from interviewers phone but to wait a few more minutes to see if they would arrive in. After another 15 mins a chap came down the stairs and said that they were waiting for me! I explained things and he didn't seem that interested.....and thats as good as the interview got,made a right dogs a*se of it!! Sometimes you just have an off day and that was up there with my worst!