Job candidate arrives 10 minutes early for interview, leaves when they make them wait for 50 minutes: 'No one had come to apologize'

Author image for Ally Perry
Ally Perry • Writer and Editor
Aug 22, 2026 5:15 PM EDT

Making a good impression during a job interview goes both ways.

While the main focus is almost always the candidate and whether they would be suitable for the role, this is also an opportunity for them to assess the company and whether they would feel comfortable working there. Many employers automatically assume that receiving a job offer from them will be seen as the ultimate honor, when in reality, that sometimes couldn't be further from the truth. Worst case scenario, the opportunity to work for some companies comes across as an insult.

Those who are savvy enough to read the signs can usually tell when a potential employer may end up being a place that they regret working at. A lot of the time, it isn't even all that difficult—you just have to be willing to accept what you are actually seeing. Those subtle signs of disrespect that will only grow with time in a bad job are often present in at least one of the stages of applying for it. It is up to you to notice them and choose whether or not you will react to that information. It is yet another skill that is necessary to cultivate during a job search.

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  • A woman sits outside a glass-walled office with two people in it, reading a piece of paper in her hand.
    via Vitaly Gariev

    A woman sits outside a glass-walled office with two people in it, reading a piece of paper in her hand. Image for illustrative purposes.


     

  • An interviewee was keen to make a good impression when they were invited to interview at a company, and so they decided it would be a good idea to arrive ten minutes early. This didn't prove necessary, as the time of their interview was continually pushed back until it became 50 minutes later than scheduled.

    Taking this as a sign of disrespect, the job candidate decided that they were no longer interested in this role. The employer was baffled that they would reject them, but they knew that they were doing the right thing.

  • Walking out after waiting 50 minutes for an interviewer was the best boundary I've ever set

    Had an experience today that serves as a valuable lesson for job seekers that illustrates the fact that interviews are a two-way street
    via cherrycolouredpunk20
  • I arrived 10 minutes early for an 11:15 interview. The receptionist ushered me into a conference room and assured me the interviewer would be with me shortly. It was 11:30, then 11:45, and then 12:05 (almost an hour later) when I sent the interviewer an email explaining that I would be leaving due
    via cherrycolouredpunk20
  • to their lack of communication and respect for my time. By this point, no one had come to the room to update me or apologize, as you might have expected if they were running late. If you need more time, you could have at least sent someone to inform me or asked me if I wanted to reschedule. They didn't, and I left.
    via cherrycolouredpunk20

  • They had left things too late.

    They called me as I was on the road at 12:25 saying they were "ready now." No apology, no mention of what took so long. I informed them politely that I had already left and was no longer interested in the position (had I wanted to come back, I would've said so). They were surprised to hear that I'd left and asked if I wanted to come back to the office. I said no
    via cherrycolouredpunk20
  • When you are in the job searching process, it's easy to feel like you need to bend over backwards to get a position, but you should always remember that how they treat you during the hiring process is how they will treat you as an employee.
    via cherrycolouredpunk20
  • Things do come up, and emergencies do occur, and no one is perfect. However, common courtesy dictates that if you're going to be late or cancel, you give the person 2 minutes notice: "Hey, we had an emergency come up, do you mind waiting about 15 minutes, or would you rather we reschedule?" Not even showing up to the room you were told to wait in, after waiting almost an hour, is a basic lack of courtesy and respect.
    via cherrycolouredpunk20

  • The interviewee stood tall in their decision.

    Remember that they would've done the same to me if I were an hourly employee already working there. If they can be this rode and disrespectful to a guest, imagine how they'll be to their employees who actually work for them and depend on them to pay a bill. Respect goes both ways, so never apologize for cutting your losses and walking out.
    via cherrycolouredpunk20
  • A woman and a man sit next to each other outside a glass-walled office with two people in it while she reads a piece of paper in her hand and he looks at his phone.
    via Vitaly Gariev

    A woman and a man sit next to each other outside a glass-walled office with two people in it while she reads a piece of paper in her hand and he looks at his phone. Picture does not depict real parties.

  • subpar_Lover I finally feel like I'm in the drivers seat with my interviews and job hunting prospects, it's such an empowering feeling to decide that you don't NEED this company to hire you, and that you can actually act on red flags you notice. They need you just as much or more than you need them
    via subpar_Lover

  • People agreed that this lack of timekeeping could be the start of a pattern.

    MiEstrellaMeSigue Bravo! I am glad you stood your ground. You are right. It's common courtesy to update your guest. I totally agree that the way you are treated at the beginning, is how you will be treated forever.
    via MiEstrellaMeSigue
  • GearAcademic2897 50 minutes is a lot
    via GearAcademic2897

  • It isn't an uncommon experience.

    melted emeralds Oh my god I had the EXACT same experience including the timings?? I arrived 15 minutes early. I realised I was the only candidate they were interviewing that day. I finished my first round. I was then told the director was in an urgent meeting and would be with me shortly for the final round. They asked me to wait in
    via melted_emeralds
  • the lobby. Mind you the process started at 10. I had plans at 12:30. By 11 I finished the first round and they told me the director would join me in 15 mins. I kept waiting without end until 12. Which is when I called the recruiter and told her I had to leave. She then came out to the lobby, zero apologies or explanation. She tells
    via melted_emeralds
  • me "hey, so the director is still on the way but he'll be here in another 20 minutes or so. If he's not here, we'll see what can be done" excuse me? She didn't even ask me if I was okay with it she just assumed I'd wait. The guy wasn't even in office and he was driving from halfway across the city. I said I had to leave and left
    via melted_emeralds
  • at 12 after being made to wait for a whole hour. Later that evening the recruiter literally had the gall to text me "it would've been nice if you could've waited. Because you said you had to go, I had to give you the preference" WHAT????
    via melted_emeralds

  • However, it wasn't always a bad sign.

    ThunorBolt My interviewer was 30 minutes late for my current job. But that was because the hiring agency only told HR and HR failed to tell the interviewer, and that specific HR person was out of office that day.
    via ThunorBolt
  • The hiring agency bent over backwards trying to get a hold of someone. My now boss came and got me as soon as he heard I was there. We had to do a second interview because people he needed to interview me weren't there.
    via ThunorBolt
  • He apologized profusely and I agreed. I almost walked out. But this job has been wonderful. Been going on five years now.
    via ThunorBolt

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