Job candidate walks out of interview after waiting 45 minutes for manager to arrive, gets called out for being unprofessional: ‘Sorry, employment is a two-way street’

Author image for Bar Mor Hazut
Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
Jun 29, 2024 7:00 AM EDT

Every job candidate out there should approach interviews with the mentality that employers need employees just as much as employees need employment, it is a two-way street. The interview process is a test for the employer no less than it is for the candidate, as they both are there to see if the place of work could be a match. There is no reason an employer should not treat their candidates with as much respect as they expect to be treated themselves.

Which is why I think the job candidate in this Reddit story did the right thing. After arriving at a job interview with a manager at a grocery store, the candidate was forced to wait 45 minutes for the manager to arrive. Even after those 45 minutes, nobody came up to them or told them why they had to wait that long, so the candidate simply decided to leave. Later, when they discussed the issue with their family, they were told that leaving was extremely unprofessional.

What do you think? Make sure to scroll all the way down to read the full story, and then share what you would have done in this situation. After that, click here for another story of a boss who refused to pay an employee when they forgot their work badge.

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  • 01
    "You simply wasted my time"
    via Canva
  • 02
    First time walking out of a job interview
    via u/The_Ice_Queen1
  • 03
    Hey there - I had a job interview scheduled for today at 1 PM. It was at a high end grocery store which I was really looking forward to learning more about.
    via u/The_Ice_Queen1
  • 04
    I was greeted by one of the associates who led me to the cafe area where I waited 40-45 minutes, and then walked out. I got one update at 1:05 stating that he the manager would be
    via u/The_Ice_Queen1
  • 05
    out in about 15 minutes which I totally understood, but by 1:45- 1:50, I left. if they can not value my time, then I will not value theirs.
    via u/The_Ice_Queen1
  • 06
    My brother gave me a lot of and called me an stating it was unprofessional of me, but was it not unprofessional of them to keep me waiting without at least a
    via u/The_Ice_Queen1
  • 07
    status or check in? He told me I should email them to reschedule, but I'm very salty about this. I just feel it was extremely r'¦e. Thoughts?
    via u/The_Ice_Queen1
  • 08
    aseolith 3 days ago Your brother is an idiot then unfortunately. You give an interviewer 15 mins maybe 20 and then bail if they no show and don't give them a 2nd chance.
    via u/aseolith
  • 09
    ButterscotchObvious4 2 days ago Yup. There's no excuse for a hiring manager not to give you an update once those 15 minutes are up. It's a sign of poor time management, so imagine what the job would be like. They already don't respect you. You made the right call. Onto the next.
    via u/ButterscotchObvious4
  • 10
    Drumsncoffee · 3 days ago Let's just say you stuck around and got the job. The same people who made you wait at least 45 minutes would be the same people who would give you h 'I for being 5 minutes late. No. thanks.
    via u/Drumsncoffee
  • 11
    TwoWild1840. 3 days ago Nope that is way too long to waste.
    via u/TwoWild1840
  • 12
    dnthoughts 2 days ago Now go on glassdoor and leave a review. Employers pay attention and hopefully they will re-train the interviewer and the next candidate won't have their time wasted.
    via u/dnthoughts
  • 13
    UnderratedArt · 3 days ago Good for you. I would have done the same.
    via u/UnderratedArt
  • 14
    ahorsenamedbill. 2 days ago If you had been 45 minutes late to that interview, they would laugh in your face and tell you to get out. Think of it that way. Employment is not a one way street. You deserve better.
    via u/Tahorsenamedbill
  • 15
    FracturedStructure · 2 days ago • Nah you're fine. It was extremely I of them. I'd never leave a candidate waiting that long without rescheduling or providing regular updates. Manager probably has a habit of not respecting others. Find another place to work at.
    via u/FracturedStructure
  • 16
    MerryGoWrong · 2 days ago Interviews are a two-way street. Yes, the company is assessing a prospective employee to see if they are a good fit, but the prospective employee is also assessing the company to see if they are the kind of place that they would want to work for. So many companies and managers don't understand this.
    via u/MerryGoWrong
  • 17
    Writeyourwayout28 · 3 days ago I read a post where the guy talked about 5 people showing up for an interview, and after 8 hours, only 2 people were still waiting, and they both got the job. The interview was a test of patience...doesn't really relate to a grocery store job lol. I would've left too.
    via u/Writeyourwayout28
  • 18
    Gold_Repair_3557 - 2 days ago Sounds more like a test of how much co you're willing to put up with from an employer, because you know that sort of boss is insufferable to work for
    via u/Gold_Repair_3557
  • 19
    • ricky3558 2 days ago I give any appt about 15 mins then I get up and walk around the place looking for them or someone that knows what's up. My doctors hate it when I wonder around their back offices but it does get me some attention.
    via u/ricky3558
  • 20
    quirktwerk · 2 days ago I'd have waited, would have struck up a conversation hinting that I was waiting for a long time and it was a slight inconvenience. This makes the interviewer feel guilty and they will go easy on you. Maybe push you up the quest of you do tick all the boxes.
    via u/quirktwerk
  • 21
    Low_Marionberry3271. 2 days ago Sometimes I think it's okay to be unprofessional, especially when all you did was walk out after 45 minutes of waiting.
    via u/Low_Marionberry3271

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boss workplace-stories employee manager job hiring manager internet tales-from-the-workplace job candidate reddit story hiring workplace Reddit company
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