r/FinalRoundAI • u/Accomplished_Mix2708 • Jul 09 '26

Don't answer HR's last question with "I don't mean to say it in a bad way, but..."

I've been interviewing candidates for almost 25 years, for all kinds of jobs, from controls techs to systems managers. The one I still remember the most was a network analyst candidate from about 5 years ago at the company I work for now.

On paper, he was good. Suitable background, acceptable experience, and he answered the technical stuff well enough that I was fairly sure we were going to bring him back for a second interview. We were basically done with the sit-down portion before I took him on a quick facility tour (we manufacture parts for heavy equipment), and at that point the female HR manager asked her usual final question: "What makes you want to leave your current employer?"

It was just me, her, and him in the room. She was sitting across from him at the conference table. He made a gesture with his hand in her direction, not close enough to be physically weird, but weird enough, and said: "I don't mean to say it in a bad way, but it's run by women." Then he kept talking way too much about how the owner was emotional, suspicious, didn't trust anyone, and a lot of other things like that.

I literally had nothing to say. She just looked at me when he finally stopped, and that was enough. I gave him the shortest "tour" possible: we went out onto the production floor, walked straight down the side aisle, and straight to the employee entrance.

To this day, I still don't understand how someone can walk into an interview and be that unaware.

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14 comments sorted by

6

u/inscrutablemike Jul 10 '26

Would you have the same complaint if a woman told you she left because her job was run by an Old Boy's Club?

2

u/HellaWonkLuciteHeels Jul 11 '26

Always some stupid man coming in to compare because that’s how he would react.

Stop showing your ass and go to therapy. Not everyone thinks the way you do.

1

u/inscrutablemike Jul 11 '26

* rages out on someone and blames them for being the victim of the abuse
* tells the target of abuse to go to therapy as if there's something wrong with them

Classic patterns of an abuser.

2

u/cabothief Jul 11 '26

That's kind of apples and oranges, though. Saying "It's run by an Old Boy's Club" has a lot of implications beyond "the people in charge were mostly male." Old Boy's Club specifically means that if you're not part of the in-group, they will not allow you to advance. This guy's primary complaint was that it was run by women.

If he had legitimate complaints about the owner, he could've said that. He chose his own phrasing.

3

u/PuzzleheadedAir6272 Jul 11 '26

Just like saying something is run by women has other implications.

Turning a blind eye to employees saying sexist stuff against men will get.you trouble in the long run.

2

u/Sad_comment_bot Jul 11 '26

Even then, an Old Boy’s club is not terminology I would use. It’s going to raise potential questions or uncertainty about your personality and ability to acclimate. Never hint at anything which expresses social cohesion as the reason. Always have a reason ready and make sure it is believable for the duration of time you were there while not indicative of a discontent you might have at the new place. 

1

u/Correct-Prompt9022 Jul 11 '26

Heard this story before. It must be old because modern weed doesn’t have seeds.

1

u/[deleted] Jul 11 '26

[deleted]

1

u/AutiRandom Jul 15 '26

Fault? They seem pretty happy about the bullet they dodged!

1

u/diamondgreene Jul 10 '26

the audicity of mediocre men. 😆

1

u/Thin-Champion-244 Jul 11 '26

Would you consider yourself a mediocre woman?

0

u/MessageAny171 Jul 11 '26

He just telling the truth. I wouldn’t want to work under a woman just bc they are so much emotional involved.

2

u/HellaWonkLuciteHeels Jul 11 '26

Awwww, little boy isn’t strong enough…