FAIL Blog

'I'd like to rescind my application': Candidate rescind's application over interviewer's impolite email

There are a lot of reasons not to hire a potential candidate, and on the other side of that coin, there are a lot of reasons why a candidate shouldn't pursue a role. Certainly, if the other party isn't willing to follow (or capable of following) basic etiquette and decorum, that's a pretty good sign that the ensuing relationship isn't going to be a bountiful one. 

In a world where much of our communication takes place in non-verbal written mediums, it's important to remember that it's incredibly easy to misread the intended meaning and voice of the author. I mean, how many of us have read a text or an email and assumed that a romantic interest or our boss was displeased with us? When, really, we just read the message with the wrong inflection or the author just communicated in a dry or officious manner.

Like what you see? Follow our WhatsApp channel for more.

Posted by Brad Dickson
Advertisement

  • By no means do I think the solution to this is one that we've adopted in corporate culture… with excessive niceties and softening of messages becoming the norm in order to guarantee that no one could ever possibly misconstrue your intended meaning.

    That all being said, there's the misinterpretation of written communication, and then there's just plain old lack of willingness to be polite. And when the person you're refusing to be polite to is a potential candidate for a position that you're hiring for, don't be surprised when they back out of the hiring process altogether—just like this candidate did. 

    Of course, if you're talking to candidates like this, we hate to think about how you treat people already in your employ. After all, there's either incompetence at play here (some people really like the power that interviewing gives them), or there is the intention of weeding out anyone who isn't willing to handle your mistreatment.

  • Advertisement
  • 1
    tip for employers: being an a to potential candidates is not a good way to get them to want to work with you 12:13 Invitation to interview Inbox Hi to me ✓ 0 8:35 AM ✓
    Via u/hiturtleman
  • 2
    Hi Hi to me ✓ Thank you for your application to work at ! I am writing to schedule an interview. I wonder if you are free on coming Monday, December 18th. Great slots for me would be 11.15AM EST; 11:45AM EST or 3PM EST. I look forward to hearing from you. me 11:09 AM ●●● 8:35 AM to Ĵ Let me know what works for you! Ĵ : Thanks for reaching out! Unfortunately I will be at work from 8-4:30 on Monday through Thursday. I would be available for an interview later in the afternoon any of those days or
    Via u/hiturtleman
  • 3
    Hi to me ✓ 11:43 AM Ĵ Thanks for the quick reply. How about this: if you would like to work at in the future, how about writing us a proper statement that speaks to why you want to work here and what skills and experience you have to share with our community and students. Once I have more to work with, we will schedule an interview. Does that sound ok? The letter you sent in was very generic and I'd appreciate more enthusiasm for working at more specificity. and Have a good weekend!
    Via u/hiturtleman
  • Advertisement
  • 4
    me 12:08 PM to ↓ If that is the case, then I am quite confused as to why you bothered offering me an interview in the first place. I'd like to rescind my application. Reply → Forward
    Via u/hiturtleman
  • 5
    Weak-Snow-4470 13 hr. ago They got mad because you asked them for a different interview time instead of jumping at the opportunity to take one of their time slots. I know it's a cliche, but....you dodged a bullet. Reply Share 3.6k OutlandishnessOk9997 12 hr. ago Any place with inflexible interview times is garbage. I learned this the hard way with my previous employer being like that lol Reply Share 983
    Via u/hiturtleman
  • 6
    Orcus424 12 hr. ago Inflexible interview times could mean that they run a skeleton crew and need to hire people immediately. Lots of restaurants and fast food joints are now running skeleton crews to save money. Owners want higher profit margins. Reply Share GOO 369 SafetyDanceInMyPants 11 hr. ago Owners want higher profit margins, but restaurants are also just failing. It's not a super profitable business even at the best of times. But, you know, if you can't afford employees you can't afford t
    Via u/hiturtleman
  • Advertisement
  • 7
    YerBoyGrix 13 hr. ago "Your reasonable response clarifying your availability for an interview has communicated to me that you're not nearly as desperate as I would like you to be. I am infuriated by the lack of power disparity between our positions and now demand you polish my 1.8k Reply Share Orisara 10 hr. ago I remember doing some talks for part time positions. When asked why part time I used to say "because I don't need the money." Not all but plenty of them changed attitudes when I said tha
    Via u/hiturtleman
  • 8
    Stumblecat 13 hr. ago No i go home They're filtering for people who will take their abuse. 261 Reply Share Radu478 hr. ago Most important comment 24 Reply Share
    Via u/hiturtleman
  • 9
    SammyKetto 14 hr. ago How did you manage to avoid calling them something awful? Good for you though, I also commend your restraint. 442 throwawayalcoholmind 12 hr. ago Sometimes a firmly worded refusal smacks like a string of swears. 184 Reply Share 47 SammyKetto 12 hr. ago I'm British so I'd have to drop a c-bomb Reply Share Reply Share .
    Via u/hiturtleman
  • Advertisement
  • 10
    BostonTakeAway 14 hr. ago Good for you and that place. They need the position filled more than you need to work for them Reply Share 450
    Via u/hiturtleman
  • 11
    cheapbasslovin. 13 hr. ago A very kind and diplomatic way to say, "How about this:...... off." I like your style. 89 Reply Share
    Via u/hiturtleman
  • 12
    Dimarya276 13 hr. ago I wonder if the owner of that company knows that their recruiter is talking to prospective employees in this way? 146 Reply Share cero1399 13 hr. ago Could be that its the owner himself, or a higher ranking manager (or yes the recruiter) thinking " this, I'm not gonna stay longer at work unless I'm sure this is worth my time". Would explain the invitation during work hours but demanding extra for an afternoon interview 78 Reply Share
    Via u/hiturtleman
  • Advertisement
  • 13
    kuda26 14 hr. ago ↑ 134 Reply Share
    Via u/hiturtleman
  • 14
    Even Beautiful_7650 14 hr. ago OP, please, what did they respond? Reply Share 151 hiturtleman OP. 14 hr. ago nothing yet, i'll add an edit with the response if i get anything back Reply Share 280 :
    Via u/hiturtleman
  • 15
    Flamingpotato100 13 hr. ago The employers are the ones posting the listing. They're the ones that need the work done. It's funny you often get the question why should we hire you? My question is why should I work for you rather than any other employer who is also in need of my skill set? If the employer doesn't show enthusiasm in hiring me and my skill set that's nowhere I want to work at. Reply Share 50
    Via u/hiturtleman
  • Advertisement
  • 16
    aimlessly-astray 7 hr. ago edited 3 hr. ago companies don't know how to hire. Say it louder for the people in the back! I was invited to an interview, and after going through my experience, the guy's like, "it's a little concerning you don't have [skill]." Well, why in the ever-loving did you call me in for an read my interview then?! Can you not resume?! Because maybe if you had, you'd have noticed that skill wasn't Jon there!!! Good god, I've given up on companies having any semblance of compe
    Via u/hiturtleman
  • 17
    Destithen 11 hr. ago They want doormats, and this kind of stuff weeds out people who know their worth. If you're not willing to jump through hoops for them without even the promise of a reward, they won't want you. They know what they're doing. Reply Share 10
    Via u/hiturtleman

Stay up to date by following us on Facebook!

Tags

workplace discussion employment issues antiwork workplace-stories jobs employment-discussion job work coworkers job seeker workplace job interview interview employment in the workplace

Next on FAIL Blog

Scroll down for the next article

Comments

Advertisement

Hot Today

Boss refuses to give in to employee's demands until they quit: 'He is scrambling. He has no one to fill my position' 1
Coworker does vacant manager's position for a year under guise of promotion: '[They] resigned because, surprise!.. It didn't happen' 2
'Let the newbie fail': Finance worker stunned that new hire refuses to learn because they're "not the boss" 3
'There is nothing to sue': HOA board member bothers family about fees after matriarch's passing, family sells house against his will 4
'There is no world where $250 was an appropriate offer': Choosing beggar demands to buy $2K tires on marketplace for $250, owner makes him work for it 5
'The exact apartment he had for $150 is now $2,400': Hardworking Gen Xer gives his dad a wakeup call after getting criticized for not being a homeowner 6
'There is no world where $250 was an appropriate offer': Choosing beggar demands to buy $2K tires on marketplace for $250, owner makes him work for it 1
'You're about to be real short-staffed': Overworked employees take on extra shifts only for management to announce they are cutting the bonus pay so they can hire more staff 2
'He changed everything that made the business successful': New game store owner prevents regulars from renting gaming room, resulting in massive customer loss 3
'A lady... brought in an entire rotisserie chicken to watch "Infinity War"': 30+ Unexpected movie theater snacks that viewers snuck past concession stand employees 4
'There is nothing to sue': HOA board member bothers family about fees after matriarch's passing, family sells house against his will 5
'When he stepped on the banana peel, his body flew forward': 20+ Childhood memories that had no business being this funny 6

Follow The Laughs

Terms | Privacy | Security | DMCA Policy
Advertisement