'The front desk clerk looked horrified and apologized': Woman drives 30 minutes to job interview at hotel chain, is sent away before the interview starts

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JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Oct 18, 2024 3:00 PM EDT

Interviewing for a job is one of the most nerve-racking experiences we all must go through. Having to sell yourself to a stranger on the spot is not something that most of us are comfortable with. You come with your talking points, ready to run through your work history and share your skills, and you hope that nerves don't overtake you when you get there. 

Unless you're a psycho, the commute to the interview is most likely an unpleasant experience, full of anticipation and anxiety. So when you finally get it over with, you hope there's some measure of relief. But what if you never get that? What if you spent all this time getting ready and then it was over before it started? That's what happened to one woman who was inexplicably rejected before she could even interview. Read on for the story and see what you would have done.

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    Cheezburger Image 10417061120
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story

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    Got told I had an interview, then got turned away in the lobby
    via u/mochamoc
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    I applied for a job last week at a certain big name hotel chain, and they messaged me to schedule an interview. I called yesterday to confirm that I was coming to said interview.
    via u/mochamoc
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    Today, I walk in to the lobby, tell the (very nice) clerk at the front desk that I'm here for my interview and give him my name, and he hands me a paper application to fill out, which was a bit weird since I already filled out one online and submitted my resume, but I didn't say anything and just filled it out again. Afterwards he called the manager to let her know I was here for an interview.
    via u/mochamoc
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    A woman who I assumed was the manager came jogging down the hall, skimmed my application sitting on the front desk for about 20 seconds, then turned to me and said, and I quote, "There's no point in doing an interview, so you can just go home. We'll call if we're interested, but I don't think that'll happen." And then just walked away.
    via u/mochamoc
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    I was just shocked and the front desk clerk looked horrified and apologized. I almost cried on the drive home but the more I think about it the more | get instead. I basically drove 30 minutes for an interview just get told to off like my time is worth nothing. No wonder all the reviews for the hotel say it's understaffed. If this is how you treat potential hires I can't imagine how you treat your actual employees. Unprofessional as
    via u/mochamoc
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    EDIT: Thank you everyone. I wasn't expecting this to get much attention so I appreciate the support. For those asking what hotel chain, I posted the name twice in my comments. I will be sending an email to the corporate HR overlords as everyone suggested.
    via u/mochamoc
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    Froyn 19h ago Big name hotel chain means they have a corporate office. I'd call and inquire if this is within their "standard procedures". Maybe ask for the address information for their accounting so you can remit reimbursement for time/gas.
    via u/Froyn
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    mochamoc OP. 19h ago • I'm feeling insulted enough that I did think about sending a message to corporate, even though I doubt it would do anything, so maybe I will. I replied to their rejection message and told them the whole thing was very unprofessional but of course that didn't get a response.
    via u/mochamoc
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    . justherelooking2022 17h ago • Sounds like Hilton. Had this happened to me when I walked in. I was a plus sized girl, you sadly don't fit their "look". Someone else would love you for a job I'm sure!
    via u/justherelooking2022
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    mochamoc OP 17h ago • • Sounds like Hilton. You'd be right, it was Hilton. I'm so sorry this happened to you too, I hope you found better after that horrible experience.
    via u/mochamoc
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    Brief-Feed208 19h ago . Sorry to hear this experience, it sounds like you are better off though. If this is how their process flows for interviewing, just imagine how painful the day to day would be. Sending positive vibes that the right thing comes your way soon!
    via u/Brief-Feed208
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    Due_Guitar8964 • 18h ago • I got an interview with a company and asked the person setting it up how I should dress. Dress, she said? Yeah, business casual, casual, formal, what? She said business casual would be fine. So Dockers and a sport shirt, get ushered in and the manager is dressed in shorts, a t shirt and sandals. Once past the pleasantries he asks why I
    via u/Due_Guitar8964
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    dressed the way I did. I told him I asked and this is what I was told. He said, with his unclipped toe nails hanging out that we like to see people show up in suits. The interview was, for me, over at that point.
    via u/Due_Guitar8964
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    54sharks40 • 19h ago • Oh you call corporate and name that person
    via u/54sharks40
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    Amazing-Macaron3... • 18h ago. Could be a fake interview which happens a lot. Corporate sometimes demands they need to interview a certain amount of candidates before they fill a position.
    via u/Amazing-Macaron3009
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    I remember where I used to work for a job but were still required to do 3 interviews and waste a bunch of people's time. Yeah so they'll straight up attack somebody's self-confidence and waste their time just to check a box for nothing in return.
    via u/Amazing-Macaron3009
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    Ceilibeag 19h ago • Sounds like they thought you were a walk-in. Did you tell them you submitted previously and that you had an interview already scheduled that day? Those workers might not have known you were coming in.
    via u/Ceilibeag
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    mochamoc OP. 19h ago · I thought this too, but when I got home I saw that I had a generic copy paste "thanks for the applying but no thanks" rejection message on indeed, which is where we discussed interview times. Plus when the clerk was on the phone I overheard him telling the manager today's date, which makes me think that she just... forgot we were scheduled or something.
    via u/mochamoc

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