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I had a job interview today and it got me thinking. Have you ever declined a job offer after the interview or declined to attend a secondary interview

I interviewed at a place earlier in the week and it got me thinking about my experience and how many others have been in my shoes. I walk in roughly 10 minutes to spare and head up to the front to let the staff know who I was and what I was here for. A man comes out questioning me asking me if I was at the correct location. I pulled out my phone looked at my email and read back the address asking if that address was this one. At this point I'm questioning myself thinking did I make a mistake? The man seems frustrated and stated I didn't know I had an interview today and told me to go sit over in a designated spot. I went and waited and the man comes over and begins asking me the usual interview questions. Why here? What do you bring to the table? What is your availability? While I'm talking I notice him pressing his pen down pretty hard onto the clipboard taking notes as if I just ruined his day. Maybe I over analyzed and it's all in my head but he just seemed pretty agitated and rather impersonal. I tried to make small talk and connect but they weren't having any of it, no smile, no eye contact. I was told they needed to talk it over with their boss and I would hear back if they decided to proceed to the secondary interview.

Today I get a email saying congratulations I've been moved forward to the second interview and all I needed to do was select a date and time. I'm thinking of turning it down because my gut is telling me to. Yes, I need a source of income but I have a voice in the back of my head telling me I'm not going to be a great fit. The voice is saying don't do it keep searching.

I was curious if anyone else got off vibes after leaving an interview or even declined a secondary interview due to a similar feeling or situation.

On a side note the job interview today went better and felt much better. I just have to wait and see what the final decision will be.

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Notladylike

Yes loads of times. I’ve been at the same place for ten years. Every so often I put feelers out

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Notladylike

@NovaNine Sometimes that has happened and it sucks. I’ve got a good role for the moment though. Usually when I explore external options it will be less money for more work so fuck that.

NovaNine · 56-60, M

@Notladylike I've always loved that while reading job listings. Your observation is correct with stating more work for less money. Here I will pay you say $10 per hour to run the place while a higher paying position in the same company has fewer responsibilities. It's like they think we are suckers though they say a sucker is born every minute.

kentex35 · 100+, M

@NovaNine if you are indispensable you'll find it hard to get promoted, what I mean is I had a buddy that was a hell of a carpenter. And this general foreman that we worked with occasionally and he was good. He knew how to run men. Anyway he was always promising my buddy he would make him foreman. But something always happened and my friend came up shirt again. After a few years the truth came out. He said,"Phil, you're just too good with your tools." Phil, my buddy was pissed. But he made money for them. He was a hard worker one what he was doing and with that foreman job like a carrot on a stick, the general foreman could give him an assignment, usually aggravating, had to be exact, and had to be done fast concrete was on the way rush job. I know I was often partnered up with him. I was the saw man, because no one could analyze and get started like him. And the general could go on with the rest of the job and not look back because Phil always delivered. Indispensable.

exexec · 61-69, C

Yes. I have found that my gut feeling is usually right, and that's probably true for you.

NovaNine · 56-60, M

@exexec It's usually pretty accurate unfortunately I don't always listen to it which lands me in hot water later on.

ProfessorPlum77 · 70-79, MVIP

[c=000000]I have turned down a job as a teacher in a prison. I was going to work with the prisoners and help them prepare for the GED testing. I took a drug test, passed a background check, etc. However, a night or two before I was offered the job I had an overwhelming feeling of claustrophobia come over me. When the lady called to offer me the job, I had to turn it down. The ironic thing is about six years later I worked as a volunteer two evenings a month in the same prison. [/c]

LeopoldBloom · M

Same here. I had an interview today and had already decided I didn't want the job, but I decided to go through with it anyway. If they offer me a follow-up interview I will probably decline.

I interviewed for a temporary detail last week which sounded great, but just found out today that they cancelled it.

NovaNine · 56-60, M

@LeopoldBloom That's the worst when you find something you are genuinely excited about and the position becomes closed before you get your chance to shine or cancel on you never rescheduling. I'm sorry man.

SW-User

Dress for success. Look confident and friendly and please don’t frown. Act like you’re a doctor walking in that room. If you want something badly you will try your best

Tamara68 · 56-60, F

I once got a job offer, but the man I was supposed to be working for, was a creep. I turned it down. One month later I found a much better job.

Fertilization · 36-40, F

I think you should go for this job.
Better than regretting anything later.

No matter you work for a day, a month or an year. At least you wouldn’t be overthinking about any sort of thing later in life.

I turned down a job offer when I needed it the most. I didn’t realise what the hell I was doing..
Perhaps, a nervous breakdown.

Now at this point of time I think I should have at-least given it a try. I could have learnt a lot. I could have given myself a good exposure, had I taken up that job.

BiasForAction · M

Yes I have taken myself out of the running in numerous occasions— when I realized the job wasn’t for me.

NovaNine · 56-60, M

@BiasForAction I feel that's the logical approach that way nobody wastes anymore time. Time is arguably probably the most precious currency on earth we have.

Ferric67 · M

I declined a job at the start of my last interview.
My logic.
The pay did not justify the increase in work.

PatKirby · M

Don't take that job if it's offered. That place has already shown you it doesn't have its shit together: lack of respect, lack of preparation, frustration, antagonism sprinkled with a bit of indignity. That's what awaits you.

I've been taking jobs just for the money while ignoring the health declining stressors for 40+ years - it's not worth it. You can smell the bait and switch from here. Fuck that disorganized house of woe, move on you're worth more than that.

Morrowind · 26-30, M

Yes I have declined multiple times after and during the interview

Underconstruction · F

Wishing you all the best in whatever path you choose.

Thevy29 · 41-45, M

Went for a Job at the Silo's. First interview went great and then was put into a classroom for training in various things for it followed by a tour of the area. After seeing how unsafe the workplace was. I chose to seek work elsewhere.

MarkPaul · 26-30, M

Wow. Congrats! Tbh (<-- and no, this isn't about drugs) I didn't think you had it in you. I'm glad I was wrong. Keep going. You can always turn it down AFTER they offer you a job. At least go all the way.

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NovaNine · 56-60, M

@MarkPaul I'm content in staying in my lane. I have no desire to be "hip" or "with it".

MarkPaul · 26-30, M

@NovaNine I don't appreciate your attitude and your behaviour seems like it's only going to lead you into trouble.

NovaNine · 56-60, M

@MarkPaul No, no attitude here I'm just content with where I am.

Starcrossed · 41-45, F

Once

Torsten · 36-40, M

yeah. I dont look at job interviews as me trying to pitch working for them. Its them pitching me on why working there is best for me

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NovaNine · 56-60, M

@Stereoguy If I may be honest I would prefer the second job over the first. The first guy seemed uninterested and cold. The second guy was more personable and was receptive to the small talk and connection building I was trying to foster. I like to speak to the other person like another person instead of a interviewer and interviewee type of role exchange. I feel you get a better sense of a place and a person by humanizing it all with an added bonus of getting to see what I'm all about.

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NovaNine · 56-60, M

@Stereoguy Thanks man I'm hoping for a favorable answer if not the search continues.

pianoplayingsteve · 31-35, M

I one time applied for a job. They were visibly impressed with my CV. I passed the training and trial shift. This was now over a month since they closed the job position. Told me they now just needed to create my work schedule. I then mentioned I have a slight disability. It didnt effect the work, I just thought I should mention it. The supervisor looked at me with disgust and then a few days later said he had found someone else.

NovaNine · 56-60, M

@pianoplayingsteve You know I bet you could nail them on ableism for that. I'm sorry that happened to you but it's their loss completely. Now you got me wondering even more as another person with a slight disability mine is visible unfortunately how many people have honed in on it and passed on me for that alone.

pianoplayingsteve · 31-35, M

@NovaNine I was worried they could afford good lawyers and put me in the wrong even though I wasnt. And then I'd have to pay their court fees. And how would i prove it.

And yeah they may have passed you up based on it. Small disabilities are the one immutable characteristic where you don't get some social justice movement behind you claiming anything against you must be an ism. You are on your own, and this form of ism is the only real one to exist.

NovaNine · 56-60, M

@pianoplayingsteve Unfortunately that is an issue with companies with deep pockets affording these high level lawyers to run over the little guy with. I wish it wasn't that way truly. I'd be in the same situation as you they'd just say your honor this man is a junkie just look at him. The court and jurors would gasp and I'd be vilified and steamrolled. I hate this planet sometimes.

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NovaNine · 56-60, M

@Ynotisay I don't believe the man who interviewed me was HR as he had a manager listed on his nametag. I believe he was a lower level manager and if I did work there would probably have to interact with on a regular basis. You must have went through some real rotten ones to have walked out. I've never had the stones to up and leave but I sure wanted to at times.

Ynotisay · M

@NovaNine Ah. Well that's a little different. If that's a potential colleague, and he acted that with you, it doesn't bode too well for a good working relationship. In my situations it was easy. They owe me nothing and I owe them nothing. If it's a bad vibe to start that doesn't usually get better. Something good to remember though is that good companies WANT you to be the person to fill the role when you walk in the door. If you don't get that feeling quickly then it can say a lot.

NovaNine · 56-60, M

@Ynotisay Amen brother amen

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NovaNine · 56-60, M

@icedsky That's really odd you think when interviewing someone for a potential slot in any given company the interviewer would show professionalism and put their best foot/face forward. Lure the prey into the web before the spider goes in for the kill. Very interesting interview.

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