Abrupt interview: good or bad sign?

Idjit

I've just returned home from a rather abrupt interview for an office job. I went in prepared with answers and information about the company and never got a chance to use any of it.
The job ad was simply repeated to me and I was asked if I was capable of performing the tasks included. (the tasks are extremely simple and I have 4 years of relevant college education clearly laid out on my CV).
After I answered, I was dismissively told that I would be called if I was successful and 'thanks for coming out'. The interview did not so much as look me in the eye and there was no handshake or further communication so I had to show myself out.

I don't understand whether this is a positive or negative sign. Why would they drag me all the way out there to confirm what was written on my CV? If I don't have what they are looking for, why did they even invite me to interview?

Is this a common occurrence with recruiters?

Bandana boy

The interview being that short I am pretty sure means you will be unsuccessful.
I know that I keep the interview going for as long as I require to understand if the candidate is suitable for progression to the next round. Maybe something about you put the interviewer off and he had made a decision that you were not suitable and decided to expedite the process.

He could have been doing the interview under duress ,either unwilling to engage in the hire or had a preference for an internal candidate and HR are forcing the examination of outside candidates.

Either way sounds unpleasant ,best of luck in the future

griffdaddy

Was this a public service appointment by any chance?

Idjit

griffdaddy wrote: »

Was this a public service appointment by any chance?

It was an office administration position within a private company. Very unpleasant and unprofessional interview altogether. The only time I've ever walked into an interview feeling instantly unwelcome..

Idjit

Bandana boy wrote: »

The interview being that short I am pretty sure means you will be unsuccessful.
I know that I keep the interview going for as long as I require to understand if the candidate is suitable for progression to the next round. Maybe something about you put the interviewer off and he had made a decision that you were not suitable and decided to expedite the process.

He could have been doing the interview under duress ,either unwilling to engage in the hire or had a preference for an internal candidate and HR are forcing the examination of outside candidates.

Either way sounds unpleasant ,best of luck in the future

Thank you for that information, most people I've talked to so far have been saying the same thing as you. Even so, it was very unprofessional and impolite behaviour and I hope I don't have to deal with it again! Never felt so uncomfortable in an interview before!
Best of luck to you too

Faith

I'd be thinking that they've already filled the position internally but had to advertise and interview for it anyway. I've encountered that several times in universities recently.

Idjit

Faith wrote: »

I'd be thinking that they've already filled the position internally but had to advertise and interview for it anyway. I've encountered that several times in universities recently.

If that's the case, it's very frustrating! I'd rather they simply told me straight out so I don't waste commuting money and time getting to the interview.

confuseddotcom

Had an Admin Interview today too was wondering if same place but you're in Dublin. Was actually gonna write about this somewhere wherever appropriate, but my Interviewer was absolutely lovely, really friendly and decent and respectful and all that. But what kills me about Interviews is how good they are at keeping the charade up, being so hopeful and optimistic and preppy and peppy and everything! Most Interviews I've been at are usually like that. I usually leave feeling hopeful and confident at the end walking out but it's all fake and false hope as they have just portrayed it like that! As soon as I've left they could be re-shaping their fake smiles and false eyebrow enthusiasm of me, and heartily agreeing / confirming that they havn't a notion of hiring her! Deffo can't fault them for being good at what they do anyway! Best of luck in your endeavours.

confuseddotcom

Jade182 wrote: »

If that's the case, it's very frustrating! I'd rather they simply told me straight out so I don't waste commuting money and time getting to the interview.

Yeah that's another thing. I'm sick at the mo. and still put in the effort to go like. I'd nearly swear 2 Interviewers a fair while back only called me in out of pure nosiness and nothing else, and possibly to see me squirm a bit lol. Neither of the 2 of them had any intention of hiring me.

freeze4real

I had an interview with BOI. It took me 2hrs to get to the location and 17euro for transport.
And the interview lasted 5 feckin minute.


I didn't get it.

Idjit

confuseddotcom wrote: »

Had an Admin Interview today too was wondering if same place but you're in Dublin. Was actually gonna write about this somewhere wherever appropriate, but my Interviewer was absolutely lovely, really friendly and decent and respectful and all that. But what kills me about Interviews is how good they are at keeping the charade up, being so hopeful and optimistic and preppy and peppy and everything! Most Interviews I've been at are usually like that. I usually leave feeling hopeful and confident at the end walking out but it's all fake and false hope as they have just portrayed it like that! As soon as I've left they could be re-shaping their fake smiles and false eyebrow enthusiasm of me, and heartily agreeing / confirming that they havn't a notion of hiring her! Deffo can't fault them for being good at what they do anyway! Best of luck in your endeavours.

I don't mind it when they are optimistic and peppy as it's more professional than being grumpy and impolite even if it's fake (for example, the dismissive way I was treated today put me off the company entirely even though it was probably a realistic response to me!).

Best of luck with the job hunt yourself and trust me when I say that a fake polite interviewer that doesn't give you the job is better than a genuine rude interviewer that doesn't give you the job haha!

Idjit

freeze4real wrote: »

I had an interview with BOI. It took me 2hrs to get to the location and 17euro for transport.
And the interview lasted 5 feckin minute.


I didn't get it.

My interview today cost me ten euro in transport and my entire morning and my interview lasted even less time! It's infuriating isn't it? Why can't they decide based on your CV whether they are going to put the effort into interviewing you properly??

Eoin

It was actually less than 5 minutes? That's very rude and inconsiderate. I'd spend longer than that on a phone screen.

Idjit

Eoin wrote: »

It was actually less than 5 minutes? That's very rude and inconsiderate. I'd spend longer than that on a phone screen.

Yes, it was genuinely less than five minutes. Very upsetting for me as I had so much prepared! I actually had to keep my jaw from hitting the floor when I was dismissed so quickly and then felt embarrassed as the interviewer didn't so much as look at me as I got up to leave, just went back to looking at his PC.

I had to show myself out of the building; it all just felt very unprofessional and impolite!

cloudatlas

That's very rude indeed. They probably have filled the role. If you don't get it and you don't think you would apply there in the future you could send the human resources team an email just to give them feedback on your interview experience. Something short to the point without emotion. You felt disappointed and thought that five minutes wasn't long enough for them to make a fair assessment of your capabilities etc..

Idjit

cloudatlas wrote: »

That's very rude indeed. They probably have filled the role. If you don't get it and you don't think you would apply there in the future you could send the human resources team an email just to give them feedback on your interview experience. Something short to the point without emotion. You felt disappointed and thought that five minutes wasn't long enough for them to make a fair assessment of your capabilities etc..

I may do that at some point. It seemed indecent to treat someone like that regardless of the status of the vacancy, you know? Before this one, every single interviewer I had come across had been polite and professional in their own ways. Some are more stern than others, but they are always mannerly at the very least.

cloudatlas

Jade182 wrote: »

I may do that at some point. It seemed indecent to treat someone like that regardless of the status of the vacancy, you know? Before this one, every single interviewer I had come across had been polite and professional in their own ways. Some are more stern than others, but they are always mannerly at the very least.

Obviously hold your horses for the time being. You may get it. If you don't request feedback and then have a think about it. If you still feel strongly about it and you don't care about working there in the future then maybe a polite email would be in order otherwise walk away and just chalk it up. Looking for work can be emotionally charged these days when there is so little opportunity out there.

Idjit

cloudatlas wrote: »

Obviously hold your horses for the time being. You may get it. If you don't request feedback and then have a think about it. If you still feel strongly about it and you don't care about working there in the future then maybe a polite email would be in order otherwise walk away and just chalk it up. Looking for work can be emotionally charged these days when there is so little opportunity out there.

That's very good advice, thank you. I wouldn't go flying off the handle however so no worries
Again, thank you to everyone who provided information. I'm fairly sure I haven't got the position but perhaps it wasn't suitable for me after all anyway! Best of luck to those pursuing the same hunt as me!

vitani

You never know - my first interview for my current job lasted about ten minutes. I walked out of it and sent a text to a friend saying it was the worst interview I'd ever had and there wasn't a hope I had the job.

Best of luck. Maybe the interviewer was just having an off day.

sligoface

They shouldn't have treated you like that, I would just forget about them. If that interview is any indiction, it would not be a good workplace environment. At least you know the next interview you get is nearly guaranteed to be better!

hmmm

Even if they had filled the job already you think out of simply pretending to be polite they'd at least have given you a proper interview.

If it was me I'd be thankful I didn't get the job (assuming you didn't), it doesn't sound like a good place to work.

I'd also happily hang whoever it was gave you the non-interview by sending a polite note to HR expressing your frustration at the interview process and how you feel it reflects on the company. They may not realise this is going on.

Stonky

Jade182 wrote: »

Yes, it was genuinely less than five minutes. Very upsetting for me as I had so much prepared! I actually had to keep my jaw from hitting the floor when I was dismissed so quickly and then felt embarrassed as the interviewer didn't so much as look at me as I got up to leave, just went back to looking at his PC.

I had to show myself out of the building; it all just felt very unprofessional and impolite!

Seems to be a pattern here. Are your fully presentable with no visible tattoos? And your washed and odour free?

amdublin

Stonky wrote: »

Seems to be a pattern here. Are your fully presentable with no visible tattoos? And your washed and odour free?

Seriously

Pattern

Dude, sounds like a rude interviewer and a bad company to work for if that is the way the treat people.

Chalk it down and best of luck for your next interview.

Idjit

Stonky wrote: »

Seems to be a pattern here. Are your fully presentable with no visible tattoos? And your washed and odour free?

What do you mean by pattern? This is the only interview that this has ever happened to me so where is the pattern?

I have no tattoos, wear a shirt and slacks and am generally well presented.

sligoface wrote: »

They shouldn't have treated you like that, I would just forget about them. If that interview is any indiction, it would not be a good workplace environment. At least you know the next interview you get is nearly guaranteed to be better!

Thank you. I didn't get the job with them but I actually feel relieved for that! I am currently in second-round interviews for two different positions and have gotten excellent feedback from one about my interviewing style so my confidence is back up!

Thank you all for your replies, I think in the end it was simply a bad interview for whatever reason. I'm not going to report the interviewer because as I've seen here, it could have been a multitude of reasons that caused the interviewer to seem so rude.

Good luck to anyone here doing their own interviews and thanks again to those of you who gave kind and rational replies!

amtc

years ago I went for an interview with quite a senior job in a big multinational - guy checked his email and took a call during it. Wasn't too impressed. Anyway after I complained was re-interviewed and offered the job subject to reference but with no definite salary indication, but the job I was in was the only one I had to date. Hence, I wasn't prepared to give my current employer as a reference (btw this was a c.70k job in 2004, so wasn't tech support etc) - guy couldn't figure out why I wouldn't comply with 'american regulations'....

...I know the girl who eventually took it, and she walked out after 3 days. Bullet dodged.

LynnGrace

I think it is very bad to treat anyone like that, and a poor reflection indeed on the company, regardless of how the interviewer feels, or is having a bad day or whatever. Most people put a lot of time and effort into preparing for an interview, and it is very unfair of an interviewer to not give the interviewee a chance to demonstrate that, on the day.
You are better off out of there, and I am glad to see you have more options open. I would be tempted to ask for feedback though, it would be interesting to see if the interviewer could provide any...
Hope your latest options will come up trumps for you. Best of luck.