Job candidate gets told to leave the interview after they ask to eat lunch in the office instead of going out with the team: ‘You didn't pass the vibe check’

Author image for Bar Mor Hazut
Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
Jan 29, 2025 12:00 AM EST

When looking for a new job, we all want to impress a workplace we interview for so badly that sometimes we forget that the hiring process is about the vibe check as much as it is about professional compatibility. We prepare for all the questions about the job, our experience, and the company, but we rarely prepare how to prove that our personalities will mash well with the workplace and its people.

Luckily, personal compatibility is usually not something we need to prepare for, it is either there or not. Interviewers have ways of determining whether a candidate will fit with the rest of the team, and all candidates have to do is be themselves. They shouldn't try to be someone else, because, in the long run, it simply won't work. 

However, candidates should still keep their eyes open for these compatibility tests and try to be on their best behavior if they want to secure the job. If they are not willing to put in that extra mile, they are just wasting everyone's time.

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  • The job candidate in the story down below didn't pass the company's vibe check, much to everyone's surprise. All because they were not eager to go out to lunch with the rest of the team. That lunch was the interviewer's way to determine whether the candidate would be a good fit, and when the job candidate asked to not go out to it, they proved that they would probably not be a good fit for the company.

    Keep scrolling to read the full story and determine for yourselves if you think the company made the right call.

  • "Apparently they felt offended?"
    via Rido

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • "TIFU, went in for a job interview and asked to eat lunch in the office instead of going out. Was told that was why they weren't going to hire me."

    Going to try to keep this short. Looking for a job had a recruiter hit me up about a good fit. Zoom interviewed with a company once for two
    via krazy2ki**er
  • hours. They liked me so much they flew me to their HQ to meet the team. (Essentially I was as good as hired) The flight in was rough as h l with the
    via krazy2ki**er
  • person in front having their seat down and my knees getting grinded by metal while we bounced around in the air. After 4 hours we landed and I
    via krazy2ki**er
  • went right to the hotel room to sleep. Woke up the next morning went into the office and started meeting with the team. The CEO says they had a
    via krazy2ki**er
  • schedule laid out with me to meet the entire team and asked if there was anything they could do to accommodate me. I saw on the schedule that it said go out for lunch. My knees
    via krazy2ki**er
  • still hurting from the flight I spoke up and said, is there any way we can do a meet and eat here in the office? He said "I guess" with a confused look on
    via krazy2ki**er
  • his face then excused himself and exited. The CFO followed suit and left while I remained behind with a revolving door of team members coming in
    via krazy2ki**er
  • to talk with me. Closer to lunch the CEO stops back in and says, "I really think you need to take the team out to lunch, it will be good for you to bond." I instantly replied, "Ok that
    via krazy2ki**er
  • works for me!". Went to lunch came back kept doing interviews. CFO comes in at the end and says "We appreciate your time and thank you for coming in, but we are
    via krazy2ki**er
  • going to pass on you and look at other candidates. We already called you an Uber which is here follow me". Traveled back home after spending the rest of that day at the airport.
    via krazy2ki**er
  • (Thank God for Delta Sky Lounge) Red eye back, got home at 6am went to bed. Recruiter calls at 10am and says I have feedback on the interview. Apparently there was some issue
    via krazy2ki**er
  • about lunch and they felt offended? I explained what happened and said to the recruiter you were great to work with please call me if another position comes up.
    via krazy2ki**er
  • TL;DR: Went to a job interview asked if we could eat lunch in the office not go out. CEO took offense to the accommodation request and the recruiter said that was why I didn't get the job.
    via krazy2ki**er
  • I've read all the comments so far. Best comment: I snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.
    via krazy2ki**er
  • Cheezburger Image 10459928832
    via Mike Marchetti

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • ShinyArticuno_420 From a teammate perspective, you are the person that ruined a free lunch
    via ShinyArticuno_420
  • mckillio I'm a bit unclear on the two lunches. I got the impression that the original lunch would have been more people but the actual lunch was fewer
    via mckillio
  • Either way, as Strawberry has pointed out, something isn't adding up with the story, whether that's on you or not.
    via mckillio
  • krazy2ki er OP We ended up going out to eat, we went to BBQ, it wasn't a big deal, but apparently my initial request was.
    via krazy2ki**er
  • Rsqueak115 During an interview once for a medical office I accepted a cup of coffee! Not hired as there are no drinks allowed at the desk areas???????????????
    via Rsqueak115
  • krazy2k er OP Wow, that's crazy. I hope you landed somewhere that appreciates you.
    via krazy2ki**er
  • Teendirtbag You didn't pass the vibe check. I wouldn't call a rough plan ride enough reason to not go out to the scheduled lunch after they flew you in to see if you fit with the team.
    via Teendirtbag
  • FreeWatercressSalad You declined an invitation from the CEO for a social team- meeting lunch on the first day in the office, and instead asked to be accommodated by having everyone else change their lunch schedule to work around you.
    via FreeWatercressSalad
  • That is not the first impression I would want to make. Others are saying you dodged a bullet but I'm going to bet that's the same thing the company was thinking about you.
    via FreeWatercressSalad
  • USAF_DTom Your knees hurt? What kind of excuse is that? It's lunch, not a hike. You went against the grain of the team without even being a member. You put yourself above them in a matter of hours.
    via USAF_DTom
  • woolash People like going out for a nice lunch on the company dime and seeing how people interact at such an occasion is interesting and possibly useful.
    via woolash

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boss workplace-stories employee manager job candidates tales-from-the-workplace job candidate reddit story overworked-employees workplace Reddit company job interview interview
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