'My interview was at 10:00 AM': Job candidate waits two hours for his interview, walks out and gives HR a piece of his mind

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Apr 14, 2025 8:00 AM EDT

Professionalism goes both ways. Every recruiter, manager, and human resources representative expects a level of respect, decorum, and maturity from the candidates they interview for various positions. Unfortunately, these folks tend to forget that the same behavior is expected of them as well. Employment is a two-way street, after all!

With this in mind, both interviewers and interviewees should be respectful of one another's schedule and time. If you go through the back-and-forth to set up a meeting, don't flake! Of course, emergencies come up, but there is always a decent way to bring up last-minute conflicts and to show that no one is being actively disrespected. Again, it's painful and silly how reckless people are with other people's time. Not only does that disrespect show a supreme level of selfishness, but also it shows a disturbing embrace of corporate hierarchy, implying that because the interviewer is higher on the "food chain," so to speak, they can treat others differently. Red flag if there ever was one!

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  • 01
    I had a phone screen last week with HR, had a great conversation and was excited about the role I applied for. I am grossly overqualified for this position but have been out of work for a bit and thought I'd just give it a shot.
    via IndependentNation7
  • 02
    Cheezburger Image 10493088000
    via Unsplash+ (Ahmet Kurt)

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

  • It sounds like this was the kind of decent job candidate who was ready and hoping to give these people the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps something serious did come up, he probably thought. Of course, at the end of the day, it doesn't sound like there was any sort of emergency. It just sounds like entitlement!

  • 03
    A couple days after the call, I was scheduled for an interview which was this morning at 10am.
    via IndependentNation7
  • 04
    I arrive at 9:45am and let the receptionist know I was there for an interview. He comes back and tells me to just sit down and someone will be with me shortly. Then he disappears.
    via IndependentNation7
  • 05
    45 minutes went by and I told myself that at the 1 hour mark, I'm going to leave.
    via IndependentNation7
  • 06
    At the 1 hour mark, I couldn't bring myself to leave. I felt like it would be so ride to just leave. So I kept sitting. And waiting.
    via IndependentNation7
  • 07
    I scrolled on my phone for another 45 minutes and realized that it was literally 11:45am. Almost noon. My interview was at 10:00am.
    via IndependentNation7
  • 08
    I don't know what came over me but when I saw the time and didn't see anyone at the reception desk to talk to, I walked the f out.
    via IndependentNation7
  • 09
    I always try to be kind, polite, and super understanding especially during an interview process but nearly 2 hours of waiting? I realized that I was actually the one being disrespected.
    via IndependentNation7
  • 10
    I texted the HR rep who I had been communicating with and let him know that I waited for 1 hour and 45 minutes without an interview and I will be withdrawing my application.
    via IndependentNation7
  • 11
    He texted back super apologetic about it and literally said that he would've done the same thing. You know it's f ed up when HR agrees with you.
    via IndependentNation7
  • 12
    Cheezburger Image 10493088256
    via Unsplash+ (Ahmet Kurt)
  • 13
    . GermantownTiger • 15h ago You dodged a bullet by walking away. Any company that allows this sort of thing to happen without an explanation is run by knuckleheads.
    via IndependentNation7
  • 14
    StolenWishes 16h ago After half an hour tops, I would have been walking into the office area - or pounding on the door to same.
    via IndependentNation7
  • 15
    MyLittleDiscolite . 15h ago They would not have waited five minutes for you
    via IndependentNation7
  • 16
    Gingereej1t 16h ago . Whoever was doing the interviews already had a person in mind, likely an internal candidate/family friend/love interest, and would have reported OP as a no show, so would have been clear to hire their preferred choice
    via IndependentNation7
  • 17
    Saraemsweet76 • 14h ago It should be law they have to pay people for interview time so this sh doesn't happen. All of a sudden they would be hiring people sight unseen.
    via IndependentNation7
  • 18
    falanian • 16h ago . Yeah at that point they no- call no-showed to the interview. Insane behavior. Did you get a text back quickly?? Because if so, what the h I happened that they missed it but were available by phone?
    via IndependentNation7

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