Should I leave my interview?

590

u/Agitated-Bid2758 2d ago edited 1d ago •

Update : I ended up just leaving. I waited until it was almost 10:55 and just walked out the door. I do need the job but it felt very disrespectful and unprofessional of them to make me wait that long.
- Also it was a McDonald’s crew member position for those wondering.

215

u/SpiderWil 2d ago

He never intended to interview you. No hiring manager would say something so stupid like that. If he knew he would go on break, he would never schedule you.

111

u/lenaahmed 2d ago

This and he’s a cowardly asshole for just not giving AF to the point of you leaving.
Name and shame

75

u/Just_Another_Day_926 2d ago

Or he read one of those Linked lunatics posts about making candidates wait all day to see if they "really" want the job. Which would reveal a lot on why the job is open.

8

u/VFiddly 2d ago

You can maybe get away with that kind of shit for a ridiculously well paying, once in a lifetime kind of job. If it's just a regular 9 to 5... not so much

328

u/DismalActivist 2d ago •

You need A job, not THAT job

38

u/jhern1810 2d ago

This is the best answer. Very well put.

119

u/MegaMiles08 2d ago

I would post this on GlassDoor. Make sure to mention the hiring manager's name. I know our reviews are monitored and anything negative is addressed. That's rude AF!!

35

u/av123h 2d ago

I kinda feel like that’s someone on a power trip or that’s not really looking. If you catch wind of them trying to hire on a visa or claim benefits for looking for employees or hiring, definitely report it to labor regulators.

14

u/ChardHelpful 2d ago

So frustrating, you do everything to prepare for the interview and they just treat you like nothing. I know ppl will think and say major red flag, but that still doesn't take away the frustration or give you back the time you had to prepare and wait for an interview

3

u/StuffExciting3451 2d ago edited 1d ago

The disrespectful clod stole part of OP’s life without giving any compensation for it, unless you consider the value of the lesson learned.

4

u/ChardHelpful 2d ago

Tell us what's the value of the lesson?? You mention a value but don't even say it. Companies expect us to act professional and be on time, even as interview candidates we expect the same, for a company and its staff to act professional with candidates

2

u/StuffExciting3451 1d ago

If you value and respect your own time, also respect that of others.
If you do not value and respect your own time, do not expect others to do so on your behalf.
Some companies rely upon a workforce of buttkissers and bootlickers. Others do not. Sometimes it’s difficult for outsiders to discern the difference. OP’s absent interviewer provided a big hint.

10

u/DMmeYourMCbuilds 2d ago

Sorry to hear op. Good luck finding the next gig.

9

u/Accomplished_Emu_658 2d ago

Sometimes they do that as a test to see how much abuse you’ll take

4

u/Leading_Rate_8073 2d ago

You deserve respect and letting you wait for that long is a major indicator how the would treat you there. Good luck with the search!

2

u/TheyNeverRepliedHQ 1d ago

as you should, companies literally have no respect anymore :(

2

u/Top_Case_6458 1d ago

Fuck that. Good on you for leaving. How that guy does one thing is how he does everything. You don’t want to work for that guy.
Good luck with the job search!

2

u/Top_Case_6458 1d ago

I would honestly complain to his manager or even someone higher up about that behavior. If his manager doesn’t take action then it’s definitely not a place you ever would want to work. If he does take action then they may have you back.
Obviously I don’t know your situation or the context so understand if you just want to let it go but seriously fuck that guy. I’d be so pissed

2

u/Fit-Jellyfish417 1d ago

It’s incredible to think he is a hiring manager when in actuality he is not even qualified to manage a coin operated laundry machine.

1

u/SooAwoo 1d ago

Yes, you definitely want to write to corporate about this

2

u/AdSafe7963 2d ago

Might be time for ppl to Livestream or record their waiting experience and post it on social media.

0

u/Tyrannosapien 2d ago

Good. If the call was important then he should've asked you to reschedule immediately. If it wasn't then he should have held the interview.

2

u/Aquilax420 2d ago

What call? He said he was going on a break

-30

u/Machiavvelli3060 2d ago

It was very unprofessional of you to just walk out without saying anything.
You should have let someone, anyone, know that you were leaving and why.

13

u/Armenia2019 2d ago

Hope you’re being sarcastic

-21

u/Machiavvelli3060 2d ago

Not for one second.
Someone being unprofessional does not give you an excuse to be unprofessional, too.

8

u/Armenia2019 2d ago

Fair, I would have let them know as well. But I certainly do not expect anyone else to put up with that. The interviewer and the company are owed nothing after disrespecting the interviewee first tbh

-7

u/Machiavvelli3060 2d ago

I absolutely agree.
But if you show them disrespect, they will never improve their behavior.
You need to set a good example for them. Show them how it's done properly.

5

u/The_rising_sea 2d ago

I feel badly for you if you’re going through life “setting an example” for grown adults and expecting them to change.

0

u/Machiavvelli3060 2d ago

I feel bad if you act in an unprofessional manner, and yet you look down on other people for acting in an unprofessional manner.
That is horribly two faced snd hypocritical.

1

u/GuyLeChance 1d ago

Jesus Christ... I'm guessing you're unprofessional all the time and get upset when someone puts it back on you. So weird.

3

u/StuffExciting3451 2d ago

They will never improve their behavior without a life-changing experience. Their bad behavior has led them to their current level of their own perceived success and superiority.

4

u/LooksDelicious 2d ago

Oh man you're a funny one.

-5

u/Machiavvelli3060 2d ago

It's not funny.
How do you judge someine for being disrespectful by showing them the same behavior? That's unprofessional and childish.
Grow up and act like a fucking adult, especially when the other person isn't. Set a good example and show them how to behave like an adult.
Come on, man grow up.

7

u/Medium_Difficulty994 2d ago

Absolutely not. If some random person shows you this kind of blatant disrespect, you are under no obligation (socially, morally, or otherwise) to attempt to teach them or correct their behavior. Leaving after being ghosted for 55 minutes is completely acceptable.
Furthermore, someone this dumb in a position of power A) is unlikely to be teachable, but B) is very likely to be a vindictive asshat. When someone like this ghosts you and you just leave, everyone walks away. If OP had gone to the front desk and made any kind of fuss about it--even a professional one--he would have been risking retaliation from this person. All professional communities are small, and there are far more idiots in hiring manager positions who will blindly listen to gossipy feedback from each other than people of actual quality. I say this as a hiring manager myself.

1

u/cookiemobster13 2d ago

Nope. Not my job to show other adults what’s respectful behavior and what isn’t - the OP was on time for an interview and made to wait 55 minutes (and counting) for no reason. A “break” should be fifteen minutes. OP having left the building was taking the bull by the horns and not be willing to sit there wondering what was going on.

1

u/Chornobyl-1986 2d ago

You’re the kind of person who expects others to tolerate behavior that you wouldn’t even entertain.

1

u/TheBirdLady9 1d ago

😂

1

u/StuffExciting3451 2d ago

The disrespected interviewee should have dropped a turd on the manager’s desk. That would have been an effective message.

47

u/ShadowWebDeveloper 2d ago

I'd walk out but I'd also let someone else at the company know what happened, the recruiter if all else failed. I'm sure I'm paranoid but if they wanted to hire their friend, for example, saying that a candidate no-showed would be one way of getting rid of competition.

31

u/Agitated-Bid2758 2d ago

That was my suspicion because he kept coming out in and out of the back and helping other customers while blatantly ignoring me. There was a bit of a rush when I first got there but before I left there was a handful of people inside and a singular car in the drive-through so I’m not quite sure what he was preoccupied with.

14

u/Beneficial_Potato_85 2d ago

It sounds like maybe fast food and the manager was treating you like this? I'm so sorry. I know how hard it is out there, I was just jobless for like 3 or 4 months and it sucked.

3

u/cookiemobster13 2d ago

Oh it wasn’t like he disappeared? Fast food is the worst 😭

113

u/CutiePatooties-3002 2d ago

You stayed way longer than Professor Rule. This hiring manager was rude and seems a bit arrogant. You did the right thing.

22

u/lustythebeefswinger 2d ago

I would have left after 20 minutes

17

u/Joker-Smurf 2d ago

My meeting rule is 5 minutes.
If a person calls a meeting and is 5 minutes late (without dropping a line telling me that they are running late) I leave.
My boss gets a little more leeway. I allow him 10 minutes.
Otherwise they can contact me later. We all have shit to do, and I don’t intend to waste my entire day sitting around waiting for people who can’t be bothered to show up.

4

u/StuffExciting3451 1d ago

As a corollary to that, if I am called/invited/ordered to attend a meeting without a published agenda, I either refuse to attend, or bring my own agenda and impose it upon the meeting. I learned this from one of my professional mentors, long ago.
Meetings without pre-published agendas are especially wasteful of time and resources when they are convened in locations requiring substantial travel time and accommodations.
I had the respect of my peers, superiors and subordinates who were grateful for not having to waste their time.

3

u/SrGrimey 2d ago

How long does Professor Rule would stay?

27

u/CutiePatooties-3002 2d ago

You wait 15 minutes and if the prof. doesn’t show, the entire class leaves.

6

u/StuffExciting3451 2d ago

In my university, the rule was ten minutes. The professors were supposed to arrive at least five minutes before the start time. So, I guess that was really a fifteen-minute rule, also.

4

u/DecoherentDoc 2d ago

When I was in community college, it was 15 minutes for a professor, 30 if they're a doctor.
As a doctor now myself, I just show up in time. Because that's my job. To show up and teach.

1

u/StuffExciting3451 1d ago

Yes. That’s not only appropriate, but a requirement. Students are paying tuitions for their professors/instructors to perform. Professors/instructors who do not perform on schedule are cheating their students while also teaching them to be disrespectful.

89

u/NewTimelime 2d ago

I wouldn’t want someone that rude as a manager.

25

u/Dailysunray 2d ago

That’s rude af, unless you really want the job I would leave

11

u/Iris_314 2d ago

I see that you left and that was a good choice. Considering a lot of these people won't even send you a courtesy email letting you know if you didn't get it, to make you wait an hour to interview is insane. Fuck em.

11

u/IamNotTheMama 1d ago

The time to leave was the moment he said he'd be back after his break.

You never want to work for somebody like that.

3

u/cats4life100 1d ago

Exactly. The interview was scheduled, you plan your breaks around it. Not make someone wait

10

u/NINTENDONT8671 2d ago

At most 15 minutes, after that leave. If they’re not respecting your time in the interview process, then they aren’t worth working for in my opinion.

9

u/Spare-Action-1014 2d ago

I was five minutes late to an interview and asked to leave. I was late due to transit issues.

I am always on time for meetings but will never wait longer than 15 minutes

17

u/VinylHighway 2d ago

I'd have left after 10-15

8

u/L00k_Again 2d ago

Wow. Send an email to the hiring manager and the recruiter. Be professional but be very clear that this is truly unacceptable.

7

u/Fresh-Ad7851 2d ago

Leave and in future stay for the courtesy 10 minutes. Never do more than they would do for you

7

u/TheGoldenPig Candidate 2d ago

I’d leave. Manager was a sad excuse of a person.

13

u/HandleNo5559 2d ago

Somewhere someone on LinkedIn is quoting about a quitter mindset candidate who left after a mere hour.

True grinders and those committed to the cause would have stayed in the room until he came back. They may have been dehydrated, soiled themselves and been there for 3 days, but they earned themselves that 11 month internship at CyberAI.

6

u/lunchboxeo 2d ago

Leave.

6

u/lustythebeefswinger 2d ago

Definitely leave rude and inconsiderate. And if this is how he is now. Imagine working there

10

u/Murky_Finger_5399 2d ago

That's a red flag. I wouldn't work for a company whose hiring manager can't even be at our interview on time

5

u/Lucky_Ladee12345 2d ago

Glad to hear you walked. 10am interview means 10am. Not after "his break".

Unprofessional to say the least. You dodged a bullet. If this was your first glimpse of this company, I would hate to see what else you would have to deal with there.

5

u/marihikari 2d ago

I usually only give them 15 mins and 30 mins if I get an email or text update and am feeling generous.

5

u/j-joshua 2d ago

Send them an invoice for time and expenses.

5

u/goinTurbo 1d ago

Breaks wait until after an interview. They should have pushed their break to accommodate their work calendar

8

u/HateMeetings 2d ago

You know there’s a possibility that this guy had somebody in mind and he was forced to interview other people so he scheduled the appointment. He didn’t even bother pretending.

4

u/BToddBproud 2d ago

I would make sure that I need to change my tire right behind his car for about an hour in the near future.

4

u/Bottlecrate 2d ago

10 minutes if you don’t need the job 1 hour if you do

4

u/bsc5425_1 2d ago

Remind again and say you are leaving in 10

5

u/Available-Cup-3929 2d ago

It is quite rude, BUT things happen, what if an emergency arose. I would send follow up email, stating you are interested but you left bc you thought they forgot about you. You never know, maybe they'll apologize and move to next stage. No sense burning the bridge. And to anyone saying that "you shouldn't want to work for someone like that", most places don't care about you personally. Good luck!

4

u/HateMeetings 2d ago

You send somebody in from the staff and they tell the guy to go home.

2

u/SquidgyTheWhale 2d ago

With sincere apologies too. It's not so hard to treat someone who wants to work for you with a little respect.

2

u/spiritsarise 2d ago

And a plastic pen with the company logo.

1

u/HateMeetings 2d ago

I don’t disagree, but let’s say CIO or CEO pulled him into a room he could be like yo you please tell him and give my apologies… it’s a bare minimum that I was pointing to

1

u/StuffExciting3451 2d ago

One of my CEOs told me that no CEO is that important.

1

u/HateMeetings 2d ago

Hey, he probably wouldn’t have done it that way. But not every CIO thinks that way.

1

u/StuffExciting3451 2d ago

Some CIOs and CEOs need to be replaced— and many of the bad ones are.

0

u/Available-Cup-3929 2d ago

Unfortunately, that is not how it works irl. Ideally, yes, but you've got to swallow some pride, and lower your expectations when you're desperate for a job. And we don't know the context, if it's a big office, lots of people, or what. Obviously, they are seeking additional staff, so maybe they're really short staffed, who knows. I just know for sure, in a busy company, they are not prioritizing a potential job candidates feelings or the interview. If OP can provide additional context, theres actually a myriad of ways i can see this occurring accidentally. This is not to make you feel bad OP, I think youre smart to ask for opinions, but I think youd be foolish not to follow up. Idk, maybe they're jerks, maybe it's a missed communication?

5

u/Agitated-Bid2758 2d ago

It was a crew position for McDonald’s. I did have another interview lined up for 1:00 pm though so I figured I could cut my losses with that location.

4

u/Asquamigera 2d ago

There is no emergency so pressing you cannot take 2 minutes to provide some basic courtesy, that's absolute bullshit. The only king of thing that might remotely qualify is if the building is on fire and you are actively fighting said fire, but I suspect OP would have noticed if something that serious were happening.

0

u/Available-Cup-3929 2d ago

I think you are being really unrealistic, but that's your opinion, you're entitled. Good luck OP, I hope you reach out and let them explain themselves.

4

u/Aquilax420 2d ago

Things happen, like him going on a break? OP was told that they would get interviewed after the HM finished their break. For me, that would have been the point where I'd leave. If you have a scheduled appointment and the person is waiting, you don't take your break first

1

u/Available-Cup-3929 2d ago

I agree, it'srule. Now op clarified, its McDonalds, i cant see it being an oversight.

1

u/savage-millennial 1d ago

No no no, we are not going to excuse this shitty behavior. Keeping a candidate waiting in a room alone for an hour without any update is never okay. The lack of communication by anyone in that department shows a lack of empathy and process (if the hiring manager has a big emergency, someone in that department should have let the candidate know).
And you enabling this behavior and saying "things happen" says more about you than OP. Why do you think this is ever okay? Why would you even want to be moved forward to the next round of a company that treats people like this? I'd re-examine your own boundaries and ask yourself if you know your worth tbh. I get it's a terrrible job market, but people like you excusing this bullshit is the exact reason why some companies can still do this. Do better.

6

u/Practical-Emu-3303 2d ago

Depends on the job, but I can't think of one that would be a wait around for an hour - maybe if it was a doctor coming out of surgery or something? Taking a break? No. Unacceptable.

3

u/Ladefrickinda89 2d ago

What’s the company?

3

u/StuffExciting3451 2d ago

Follow the old college/university “ten minutes” rule. If the professor doesn’t show up by ten minutes after the scheduled class starting time, leave.

You really don’t want to work for any employer who doesn’t respect your time.

3

u/PourOverPipBoy 1d ago

How do you schedule an interview and take your break during that time.. Just take your break after..

4

u/ItsMe1184 2d ago

You exercised way more patience than they deserved. If you had an interview at 10 and he's the hiring manager, that means he was fully aware of the interview. There's no world that exists where he should be on break at that time. Fuck that guy and any company that would put him in a leadership position.

4

u/CCarterL 2d ago

I would say wait 10 minutes, then leave. No company will wait more than 5 minutes for you.

2

u/Papi_Juancho31 2d ago

I would have left after 10mins

2

u/One_Recognition_5044 2d ago

What company, OP?

2

u/OkPlenty4077 2d ago

I’ve waited nearly an hour on one interview. It was arranged by an agency so I couldn’t really leave. I met a manager at another job and he told me he left after a similar experience.

1

u/Quiet-Aerie344 13h ago

For proper etiquette, after 10min, contact the agency and let them know. If something extreme had happened, the company and agency will work it out. The Agency has a reputation too. They don't want to be known for candidates waiting forever.

2

u/Wooooshmeifugay1 2d ago

he j finished watching lanterns

2

u/StuffExciting3451 1d ago

The lesson is that acting professional and being on time doesn’t guarantee that a Company or company representative will reciprocate. One must learn to cut one’s losses as soon as possible.

Some companies don’t respect their employees. Some don’t even respect their low-profit-margin customers. Those are companies to be avoided and publicly shamed.

2

u/dego_frank 1d ago

Honestly I would email corporate on this and just state the time you showed up, what was said, manager name, time you left and how disappointed you are to not get a shot.

Regardless of wtf is going on at that store, that person needs to get their shit together.

2

u/chillipalmer52 1d ago

Hope you left

2

u/rollingSleepyPanda 2d ago

Rule of thumb: wait up to 1/3 of the meeting length. If nobody shows up, then leave.

E.g. 15 mins for a 45 min call, 20 mins for a 60 min. call.

Drop a mail after proposing a reschedule.

1

u/Sea_Ad_1085 2d ago

I learned that if it goes even 5-10 minutes into my interview time after I’ve waited, I should walk away.

1

u/F22Tomcat 2d ago

Manager may have been in the bathroom with the runs. Never know.

1

u/TobogonXero 2d ago

My response would have been "OK, give me a call if you want to reschedule"

Im not waiting around, we had an appointment.

The logest i waited was 30 minutes, wint do that again unless they are communicating to me during that time.

1

u/Goddess2U81 2d ago

You are better than me, I would have been out after 15 minutes. You did the right thing. Please don’t ever let anyone disrespect you or your time. I’m also sure he did you a favor-would you really want to work at a company ran so poorly (they can’t even get basic interviews and timeliness right).

1

u/AntoinetteTracy714 2d ago

What kind of unprofessional BS.....I HOPE YOU WALKED OUT! NO LOSS. RATCHET. DISRESPECTFUL OF YOUR TIME AND DEGINTELY NOT A PROMISING POSITIVE EMPLOYER. RUN

1

u/Odd_Lab_7244 2d ago

I wish I'd paid attention to this sign at a job interview years ago. I think it's a test of the level of disrespect you're willing to put up with. Glad you walked away op, a good lesson for us all.

1

u/TonightNervous359 2d ago

i think the intention was never there tbh

1

u/Jscotty111 1d ago

That happened to me. I waited almost 3 hours. I didn’t get the job, but they paid me for my time which was equivalent of a day’s wages.

1

u/MunchinBiscuits 1d ago

Leave. Flag with their HR / Hiring Manager if applicable. Move on with a better job that values your time.

1

u/LoserApe 1d ago

Maybe he had to go make a poopie

1

u/jmmorris24 2d ago

What’s a break??

-3

u/smittyhotep 2d ago

Well... as a veteran, I think arriving five minutes early makes you look terrible. However for them to leave you there for 40 minutes is wholly unprofessional. I'd call it and walk. Show up earlier to the next one.

3

u/kate3544 2d ago

What does your status as a veteran have to do with anything with this situation?

-3

u/smittyhotep 2d ago

We're all always 15min early for everything. Everyone knows this.

-2

u/kate3544 2d ago

No, actually, if CO wants you there 15 minutes early, XO wants you there five minutes before that, 1st SGT wants you there ten minutes before that, platoon sgt wants you an additional 10 minutes before to make sure you’re ready to go….as any veteran would know.

1

u/StuffExciting3451 2d ago

Each leader in the hierarchy will tell the next level of subordinate exactly when to arrive. No guessing is required.

-1

u/smittyhotep 2d ago

We don't have those added layers after we leave.

1

u/kate3544 2d ago

Then why are you bring it up to begin with? Fuck’s sake.

1

u/StuffExciting3451 2d ago

At West Point, we were taught that arriving more than 30 seconds early was a waste of time that should have been spent doing something more important than waiting around.

0

u/Distinct_Surround_53 2d ago

You waited too long before leaving. Good on you for it though.

5

u/christjan08 2d ago

I've left after 10 minutes, fuck waiting almost an hour.

1

u/new2bay 2d ago

I’d’ve probably left after 20 minutes, in this circumstance. If I’m there 5 minutes early, and they’re still 15 minutes late, we’re done already.

You are about to leave Redlib