'I have almost 4 years running a multi million dollar account': Interviewers bait and switch prospective employee with sales account manager role, offers them a $16/hr warehouse position

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JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
May 14, 2025 10:00 PM EDT

Whenever you go in for a job interview, you're taking a risk. You may not know what you're actually in for until you're talking to someone, finding out the reality of a job. You can say anything in a job posting online. Some of them are vague, some of them are detailed, and you never know what you're actually getting into until you step foot in the building. But just because that's the reality of looking for work doesn't mean it's a good thing. If we want to move toward a more fair and equitable way to approach work, then we should try our best to be honest about the job we're hiring for. 

It can be such a disheartening process to look for work. It's tough out there, even for experienced workers. You put out so much and you might not get much in return. So when you finally get an interview, it can feel incredible. 

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  • 01

    Bait and switch interview

    Went in for a sales account manager role and the 2 boomers interviewing me tried to offer an entry level trainee position at $16 an hour LOLOLOL. Essentially grunt work stocking/warehouse work.
    via u/duhrealski
  • 02
    XXXXXX www
    via Mina Rad

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

  • Sadly, though, that hope can be taken away as soon as it is inspired in you. Employers are not always honest about what they're looking for, and some of them might want to take advantage of you. That's what happened in this story. Scroll on for more.

  • 03
    I have almost 4 years running a multi million dollar account. They spent 40 mins trying to sell me on this position that I did not apply for. It seems like they have never conducted a professional interview before. They didn't ask what skillset I can offer just take this position and maybe we'll have an opportunity for you.
    via u/duhrealski
  • 04
    Basically said since I didn't start from the bottom I would struggle in the position. I think it's actually since they both started at the bottom they think everyone after them should do the same.
    via u/duhrealski
  • 05
    They asked me how old I was and how much I made. I thought this was illegal, age discrimination and all you know? After that I stopped the interview and said thanks but no thanks. I applied for a management position not an entry level position. What a waste of my time.
    via u/duhrealski
  • 06

    Commenters shared the struggle of this kind of interview.

    Patrick42985 · 4d ago I had a bait and switch interview a few summers back where what I applied for and what they tried to sell me on on once they got me to show up were two completely different things and two completely different pay grades. What they were
    via u/Patrick42985
  • 07
    trying to sell me on would've been a significant paycut from what I was already doing and something they should've realized if they looked at my resume. I cut them off mid interview and got pretty aggressive and asked them why the f would they waste my time being intentionally
    via u/Patrick42985
  • 08
    deceptive with this bait and switch sh. And that whoever thought this was a good idea is a moron. They seemed shocked at how I responded, but they literally wasted my time in bad faith hoping I was some dude desperate for a job where their sunken cost fallacy tactics would work.
    via u/Patrick42985
  • 09
    flatpackjack • 4d ago I had this happen twice. The first place I interviewed for an hour and half and they said my portfolio was a perfect match. At the end || they said we don't actually have a position, just wanted to see if there was local talent."
    via u/flatpackjack
  • 10
    The second place was a one-man non-profit selling prints of birds to support estuaries. After offering me the job, he said I would primarily be working on his for-profit er c watercolor business.
    via u/flatpackjack
  • 11
    tidymaze 4d ago The orange home improvement store did this to me as well, but before the interview. I applied for the ops manager position, something I have experience in. I got offered cart pusher. F that noise.
    via u/tidymaze
  • 12
    WAL iers by age
    via Walls.io

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

  • 13
    Obi-Scone 4d ago Oh I've been in that position I think the third time I had another role lined up, so I just kept them hanging on and hanging on, even convinced their HR that I'd sign all the paperwork on the day, etc.
    via u/Obi-Scone
  • 14
    Then had a lot of fun explaining why I took the other job. Wasn't as satisfying as you'd expect, but it was funny at the time and they went pop about 2 years later because the CEO was as -pest, iirc. So I've no regrets.
    via u/Obi-Scone
  • 15
    Ok_Focus_7863 · 4d ago • I had a bait and switch last summer. Thought I'd be interviewing for an office job at a payroll company, ended up in a group interview for a door to door sales company that had just moved to my city a couple months
    via u/Ok_Focus_7863
  • 16
    previously (company from Florida, I'm in NYS). Was a total pyramid scheme. Basically told them they were crazy if they thought d2d sales in this city would be in any way profitable. They'd be more likely to end up with people getting shot
    via u/Ok_Focus_7863
  • 17
    tvblueeyes 4d ago I had a local grocery florist. do this to me after applying for a floral designer position. During the interview she told me that I didn't have enough experience for the position, (despite my portfolio and having my resume? lol) and
    via u/tvblueeyes
  • 18
    that everyone started as a minimum wage sales clerk and moved up. I pushed back hard and told her that I wasn't interested in a job I didn't apply for and why did she bother wasting both of our time if I "didn't qualify". I found out later from
    via u/tvblueeyes
  • 19
    crossing paths with others. who worked there that this manager was a particular kind of nightmare causing really high turnover. Shocking.
    via u/tvblueeyes
  • 20
    AikoG84 4d ago My roommate just went to an interview that ended as a bait and switch. He was brought in to interview for a T2 tech support and IT position. At the end of the interview they told him it was actually for a sales role for a software program that he was also expected to do tech support on.
    via u/AikoG84
  • 21
    I am baffled that employers do this, especially for sales position. Sales requires you to be people friendly, and isn't a job for everyone. I hate the job market. Me sbd roommate hust want to go into work, do our tasks while interacting with as few people as possible, and then go home.
    via u/AikoG84
  • 22
    madkins007. 4d ago Bass Pro did this to me years ago, but to be semi- fair, the store was in a major reorganization mode. First interview for a floor position in camping went very well. Second interview- first guy is gone. New higher up tells me only PT is
    via u/madkins007
  • 23
    available and the key metric is a do-or-di number of new credit card accounts. Shady as h I and really, really stupid on Manny levels. Noped out and lost all respect for the brand.
    via u/madkins007
  • 24
    scooter_orourke .4d ago They did this on purpose. They want a management level employee who is desperate for a job.
    via u/scooter_orourke
  • 25
    Desertzephyr 4d ago I had one of these right after I got laid off. I went through three weeks of interview process, did work for them, solved an unbearable problem, did all the things I swore I'd never do for a prospective employer, and then the night before I was offered the position
    via u/Desertzephyr
  • 26
    changed the position title from operations manager to some obscure title and changed the job description in the offer email. I was desperate so I took it. It ended up being a 100% cold calling sales position selling in-person office technology at the height of the tech layoffs, calling the same tech companies to sell
    via u/Desertzephyr
  • 27
    them these devices. Absolutely not. I immediately quit. Got my unemployment back when they told unemployment they weren't going to pay. me because I wasn't a good fit and only worked three days.
    via u/Desertzephyr
  • 28
    Run the other way when a company does this. If it feels like a bait and switch, just disengage completely in the interview process.
    via u/Desertzephyr
  • 29
    master_prizefighter · 4d ago Back Aug of 2012 I had a similar bait and switch job interview involving sales for Dish network. Then found out the sales was for AT&T U Verse. I went to a couple of "training sessions" then I shadowed one of the
    via u/master_prizefighter
  • 30
    supervisors for a day. The amount of disorganization, lying, and bait and switch for hours and pay I decided no. Thank goodness the job ended up collapsing over time.
    via u/master_prizefighter
  • 31
    GableCat 4d ago • Had this happen to me too. Had a young kid at the time and would have to pay for daycare. I was like, I'm sorry but this wouldn't even pay for daycare. The nerve wasting my time like that. That is why I think employers should have to pay people to interview.
    via u/GableCat

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