Have you ever walked out of a job interview?

Thank goodness most of these nightmare scenarios wouldn't happen today. Or shouldn't.

Smoking at work seems so shocking now. Watching old black and white films can have jaw dropping moments with all the ...isms scattered about. Racism ageism sexism etc.

I once went for an interview for an I.T. support role to manage a database and apps for a small company. It was freelance and I’d applied directly to a job advert. At the end of the interview I was informed of the hourly rate which was little more than minimum wage. I told the male interviewer I paid my cleaner more (which was true) and walked out.

I withdrew from an interview when I discovered that I would be expected to teach a class of boys (in a mixed school) with various learning and behavious problems in a converted cloakroom. Nightmare scenario or me.

My DH went for an interview for a charity, after being shown up a flight of stairs where the carpet was filthy he was asked to use a laptop and mouse that were caked in grime. He went ahead with the interview but decided it was not going to be for him.

What’s funny? I have obviously missed the joke.

HA HA HA!

Good on you! I hate smokers and their filth!

Years ago, when we still did application forms on paper, I filled in one for a shop manager. I filled in all the questions except one saying ''State Religious Beliefs'' I'm Atheist and while they mentioned absolutely EVERY RELIGION known to Man for me to tick, they didn't put a box to be ticked for ''Atheist'' or ''N/A'' etc. so I left it blank.

In the interview she asked why I left it blank so I explained and she said ''You're not religious? You don't believe in God?'' I replied no, I don't, I talk to the universe, not pray to a God. She looked absolutely horrified!

I then explained that absolutely NOWHERE on the form or job description does it say non-religious will not be accepted, and the job title is for a shop manager, not a vicar!

I told her if I was applying as a shop manager of a place of worship such as a cathedral shop, then I can understand being asked such a question as it would be based on and in connection with a religious community but it's not so tough!

I walked out without being dragged through the rest of the interview by Miss Psycho Religious Nut!

Another time I had an interview as a restaurant waiter, she made it very plain that during breaks I'm not allowed to eat/drink on the premises, only off premises. There was a break space for staff but she didn't want me having a break there! I withdrew my application immediately!

I seem to have had crossed wires and cross words at academic interviews.

Academic interviews dont ask about partners, children and so on. They tend to be very PC. However often they want to see how you will fare in arguing your case.

At one with quite a famous prof (who is a household name) I was applying for what was advertised as a full time post. Right at the end the interviewer explained that they had an existing staffer who wanted to drop down to half time hours. He asked if I would consider a job share. I told him no, because I needed a full time salary to cover my outgoings. I siad I considered the ad to be misleading as it had referenced a full time post with no mention of job share alternative. I knew that if I had agreed I would get the dirty end of the stick in respect of tasks and hours the existing incumbent didnt want to do.

They offered it to me as a job share anyway and I refused on the grounds that the advertisement had been grossly misleading.

Another academic interview was for a two year research post to investigate a certain topic. The interviewer expected me to tell him off the top of my head how I would go about doing this. I reminded him that they proposed to employ someone for a two year period to explore this issue. Therefore expecting someone to solve their problem at interview without preparation was an unfair and rather unrealistic question.

No, I didn’t walk out of an interview. However after half a day at the HMRC I walked out and knew I wouldn’t be paid.

I didn't walk out but did bring the interview to an end when it was made clear to me that many in the office did smoke and I would just have to put up with it. So I stood up and said that couldn't tolerate that and goodbye.
This was some years ago, the nineties.

I didn’t walk out, but was once being interviewed when the chair of one of the interviewers, who was a senior surgeon, broke when he leaned onto the back legs. He didn’t bat an eyelid, he conducted the rest of the interview on his knees, with his elbows on the desk. It was like a dare not to laugh, I spent the rest of the interview biting the side of my cheek to stop myself.

Yes. I was being interviewed for a teaching assistant post. The interview panel consisted of the head teacher and 3 governors, one of whom was a recently retired class teacher at the school.

This individual seemed to enjoy making me feel small and uncomfortable and I just decided I didn't want the job.
I stopped her in full flow and then addressed the headteacher, ignoring the muttering from the bully.
I told her that whilst I was pleased to be called for an interview, I would be withdrawing my application.
I was about to gather my things and leave the room when the chair of governors asked me to stay as "we all need some practice at correct interview techniques."
I took that as a pointed dig at the unpleasant retired teacher.
I stayed. Her face was a picture.

Oh yes, once. The interviewer said he was looking for ‘a number two’. That was not what had been described to me. I told him that I was nobody’s number two and bade him farewell. (In the days when I had to work fairly locally for family reasons, before I was free to work in London.). Ghastly individual, greasy hair and multiple rings - I wouldn’t have been associated with him in a million years.

At an interview many years ago I walked out when the manager came onto me about 3mins into it.

I once went for an interview at a care agency (it was for an office job there). The interviewer answered the door with his Labrador puppy, which jumped up me and left muddy marks on my nice clean skirt. I was shown to a room and offered a seat that was covered in dog hair. The interviewer was picking bits of his lunch from his teeth. I simply picked up my handbag and left.

Very nearly at a university interview. The interviewer/Reader proceeded to put his legs up on the beautiful oak desk. I didn't know where to look, but gave him a rude frown.! 😲
But I was offered a place anyway.

I thought I was doing really well at an interview many years ago but might have walked out had I known, while I was being interviewed, that one candidate was smugly saying to another candidate in the waiting room "It's not what you know, it's who you know round here".
Of course, as the other candidate and I were new to the area and knew no-one, guess who got the job!
I heard later that she was under qualified and hopeless at the job 😃
Karma.

No but I did get the giggles at the interview.

I went to Whitehall and the interview took place in a huge room with a panel of interviewers.

My chair was in the middle of this cavernous room, and they invited me to get closer - so I shuffled forward on this heavy chair, leaving my umbrella, handbag etc in the middle of this huge room, which struck me funny, but the first question began with “when you were a mother.” Which completely floored me. I gasped my reply through the giggles, that when I left home that morning I still was!!

The poor questioner looked suitably embarrassed.

And yes I was offered the post😄

I had a job interview in Edinburgh... just as the introductions finished, the person involved said to me "You aren't Scottish?", I confirmed that I wasn't, he then said "your name is Scottish". As he was speaking the utter dismay on his face was very apparent.
I decided at that point it was a waste of time so left and no, being Scottish wasn't an occupational qualification!

In the 70’s, I worked in local government and in those days, most of the Councillors were very rough and ‘knew’ where a woman’s place was (or should be)! Think apron and sink!!
In a Social Services interview, I was referred to as ‘now then Bonny Lass’ and asked on several occasions when I’d be having bairns!
It was the same sort of thing when I applied to be a 999 call handler for the Fire Service.
Unfortunately, in those days, I hadn’t the nerve to tell them where to get off!

Yes, I applied for a job and was called for an interview and thought they were going in alphabetical order.
A chap came through and thanked us for attending and they had chosen the candidate. I put my hand up and said I had yet to be interviewed. After a confer they took me to be interviewed.
I knew I had not gotten the job and waited to see what excuse they would use. They didn't have one but waffled about how I would not fit into the school.
I told them it had been a fix from the start as the appointed candidate had told us it was her job whilst we were all waiting. I also said they could not have read my application or they would see I came from a comparable part of the country then got up and said they would hear more about it.
The head phoned me the next day to apologise and blamed the Governors she also said she possibly had another job coming up would I accept that? I told her very politely no and let her know she had realised who my present head was and her political connections.
I stayed where I was and refused an official complaint that my head wanted to put in for me.

I once had a row with my interviewers; it was 1994 and I was applying for a social work job.

Long story short, I was asked about my childcare arrangements and refused to answer, citing that my domestic situation was none of their business. After much argy bargy I told them that I would answer their question if they could assure me it had been asked of the previous male candidates. Of course it had not and so I maintained my refusal.

I got a phone call later, offering me the job along with a rather fulsome apology, but my husband was initially perplexed that I didn’t just tell them we had an au-pair.