Job candidate hangs up on interviewer mid-sentence after a train wreck phone interview: ‘Clowns hire other clowns, and the whole place turns into a circus’

Author image for Lana DeGaetano
Lana DeGaetano • "Show me to me please."
Jan 3, 2026 1:00 PM EST

Job interviews are stressful enough without conceited, narcissistic potential colleagues as our interviewers. The job market is unforgiving, and the fact that we need money to survive in every way makes the job search our top priority. This pressure influences us to overthink, second-guess, and most of all, flail under pressure. We can cry all day about why the system is set up the way that it is, but that does us no good; We have to keep on, and keep on quickly. No matter what, there's a role out there for all of us, and it's up to us to discern what is good for us and what we'll quickly pass on.

The digital age makes it slightly easier to put our work eggs in multiple baskets. Platforms such as LinkedIn and Indeed guide us in a direction best-suited to our career needs, and cell phones help us keep in contact with potential employers more easily than in the past. Unfortunately, what comes with digital interviews is the potential for folks to feel too comfortable saying anything that comes to their mind. Yes, even the impolite thoughts. Especially the impolite thoughts…

Power-tripping members of upper management in their respective workplaces have one thing every time, and it's the gall to do and say whatever they please. If you are interested in their company, too bad. What can you do for them? By the way, you're unqualified. Also, give us 25 minutes to berate your accomplishments. Wait a month. No, we don't want to move forward with your application…

Scroll below to read about one phone interview a job seeker recently had, where they decided that they aren't going to waste their time listening to the director of a company make fun of them.

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  • businessman talking on a mobile phone while sitting at his desk looking at his computer
    via Getty Images For Unsplash+

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • "I just hung up on an interviewer mid-sentence after the disrespect reached a whole new level."

    I had an interview for a contract job at a small company, and it was the weirdest interview of my life.
    via bonnets_gabs9x
  • Before I even started, I knew my experience wasn't a 100% match for the role, and I had emphasized this to the recruiter.
    via bonnets_gabs9x

  • A good recruiter prepares their client with a resume and insists that the potential employer look over said resume to ensure this is a candidate they're interested in meeting. This recruiter… well. You'll see.

  • Unfortunately, it was weird from the start because the 'Director' was on the call but had his camera off the entire time.
    via bonnets_gabs9x
  • This is a huge red flag and frankly, just rude. I believe it's common courtesy to see the person you're talking to if they can see you.
    via bonnets_gabs9x
  • This Director seemed insecure, and the first thing he asked me was to talk about my experience.
    via bonnets_gabs9x
  • I clarified that my experience is in digital marketing, not direct enterprise sales, which I had already told the recruiter.
    via bonnets_gabs9x
  • But I also told him I was confident I could excel in this role. The Director simply told me he didn't see any connection between my experience and the job.
    via bonnets_gabs9x
  • Then, the other guy on the call said they have an open digital marketing position that might be a better fit for me and wanted to discuss it.
    via bonnets_gabs9x
  • But the Director shut him down, saying he wasn't ready to discuss that role right now.
    via bonnets_gabs9x
  • As if he had prepared for this interview, lol, it was clear he hadn't even glanced at my CV.
    via bonnets_gabs9x
  • Then these two started arguing with each other in front of me about whether to discuss the other job or not.
    via bonnets_gabs9x
  • All this time, I was just watching them, wondering if I was on a hidden camera show.
    via bonnets_gabs9x
  • It was very clear that none of the three people on the call had bothered to spend even 30 seconds looking at my CV.
    via bonnets_gabs9x
  • Finally, the Director reluctantly agreed to discuss my experience, but then he started grilling me with questions about very specific numbers and case studies.
    via bonnets_gabs9x
  • His tone was disgusting and condescending. I was shocked by this lack of professionalism. After I gave him a few examples, the Director scoffed at them and said I didn't have the right experience because the budgets I worked with were small and that I needed at least 18 years of experience.
    via bonnets_gabs9x
  • I was honestly stunned. Me, with over 12 years of experience with major global brands, being told I wasn't good enough for a job at a small company in Chicago.
    via bonnets_gabs9x
  • I clarified that in my second to last job, I worked with a huge global brand and managed a budget much larger than theirs.
    via bonnets_gabs9x
  • He went completely silent and asked the other guy if he had anything to add. And this is where his sidekick jumped in and started attacking me, saying if they ask for examples, I should have at least 150 case studies ready (his exact words), and he kept attacking me without asking a single proper question.
    via bonnets_gabs9x
  • man on phone with laptop yelling
    via Vitaly Gariev for Unsplash

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • At this point, I had enough. I interrupted him mid-sentence. I said, 'Look, this has been an...
    via bonnets_gabs9x
  • Interesting... Meeting, but I don't think we're a good fit for each other. So let's not waste any more of each other's time.
    via bonnets_gabs9x
  • Thanks, bye.' And I hit 'End Call'. This was a living example of how clowns hire other clowns, and the whole place turns into a circus.
    via bonnets_gabs9x
  • And I certainly wasn't going to join that show. And if any of you happen to be on Reddit and see this post, here's some free advice: Next time, take a minute of your time and read the CV of the person you're about to interview.
    via bonnets_gabs9x
  • And yes, turn on your camera if you expect the other person to turn on theirs.
    via bonnets_gabs9x
  • It's basic courtesy. And your try to aggressively bully candidates doesn't make you look strong at all.
    via bonnets_gabs9x
  • This move might work on a recent graduate, but for an experienced professional, it just makes you look weak, amateurish, and clueless about how to conduct a professional interview, my biggest worry was to do an interview with an ai like this dude but after this interview, an interview with Al seems much better.
    via bonnets_gabs9x
  • And for anyone else going through situations like this, remember that you have the right to walk away.
    via bonnets_gabs9x
  • An interview is a two- way street. It's already stressful enough without this nonsense. Don't let some idiot with a power trip treat you like garbage just to feel important for an hour.
    via bonnets_gabs9x
  • TL;DR: I had a very weird interview at a small company where the Director was hostile and unprofessional, and refused to turn on his camera.
    via bonnets_gabs9x
  • They hadn't read my CV and dismissed my extensive digital marketing experience because it wasn't
    via bonnets_gabs9x
  • The whole thing was r de and aggressive. I ended up hanging up on them because I have zero interest in joining a circus.
    via bonnets_gabs9x

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toxic-workplace upper management story job interview
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