While they’re an inevitable part of the employment process, going through job interviews is often a very painful process. There can be so much back and forth between you and a potential employer before even finding out if you’ll be hired, and it can be exhausting trying to prove why you’re a good fit for a company that you simply want to receive a paycheck from.

So why do we suffer through interviews even when we realize that we won’t be a good fit? Well, one candidate decided that he didn’t want to waste anyone’s time and chose to end an interview abruptly. Below, you’ll find the full story that he shared on the Anti-work subreddit, as well as conversations with the interviewee himself and Senior Career Consultant from Career Prepare, Adam Bennett!  

Interviewing for a new job can be a painful process

Image credits: PerfectWave003 (not the actual image)

So when this man realized that he wouldn’t be a good fit, he decided not to waste any more of his time

Image credits: MART PRODUCTION (not the actual image)

Image credits: Xodarkcloud

“Modern employers want top talent while offering minimal pay, sometimes resorting to tactics like soliciting unpaid work or offering below-market salaries”

To find out more about this specific situation, we reached out to the Reddit user who shared this story, Xodarkcloud. He was kind enough to have a chat with Bored Panda and shared what inspired him to post this tale online.

“I was looking for a new job, and I encountered a disheartening trend: recruiters and employers seemed increasingly comfortable with ghosting, evasion, and deceit,” the OP said. “I feel like it has somehow only gotten worse. Despite prior successes, this time felt different. Inspired by similar posts, I felt compelled to share my experience, so people knew I too was going through something similar, that they weren’t alone. Reddit is supposed to be a community.”

We were also curious if this particular experience changed the way Xodarkcloud approached any future interviews. “While not the most dismal interview I’ve endured, it underscored the truth: modern employers want top talent while offering minimal pay, sometimes resorting to tactics like soliciting unpaid work or offering below-market salaries,” he shared.

“It appears profit maximization has infiltrated every aspect of most businesses and finding an honest employer who doesn’t nickel and dime everything has become challenging.” He also added that he misses “that personal feeling of the employer-employee dynamic, from benefits negotiations to client interactions.”

However, the OP does believe that each interview presents an opportunity for personal growth and adaptation. “Over time, I’ve come to realize that the landscape of job seeking continually evolves. What once guaranteed success may now fall short. Hence, I diligently review and refine my responses and resume after every interview, striving for clarity and relevance.”

“Just as in dating, there are warning signs during the interview process and within companies themselves”

“I take notes during interview to see where and when the recruiter asked further probing questions or seemed to have an ‘ick,'” the OP continued. “Unfortunately, the first few interviews, I feel rather convinced they are more often then not trial runs, where I test my responses. You don’t excel in anything unless you practice, and my first interviews in my mind, are practices.”

Xodarkcloud also shared some tips for others who realize that they don’t actually want a position during the process of interviewing for it. “Establishing firm boundaries is crucial, as employers may test the limits of what they can get away with,” he says. “Just as in dating, there are warning signs during the interview process and within companies themselves. While HR may obscure some red flags, it’s essential to remain vigilant.”

The OP went on to share that during his recent job transition, he requested time off while starting at the new job, providing a fallback plan if needed. “After all, it’s my time to do with how I please.” He also noted that for him personally, providing an employer with two weeks notice is starting to become out of question. “They fire without warning, they stiff us on raises,” he noted. “Why should the employees be the only ones following the gentlemen’s agreement?”

“The job market is in a perpetual state of flux, requiring constant adaptation,” Xodarkcloud added. “Just as one grasps the current landscape, it undergoes revision. Every time I start applying for new jobs, I need a fresh understanding of the prevailing ‘meta’ in job applications and interviews. Flexibility and adaptability are key to navigating this ever-changing terrain.”

“It is important for candidates to expect the unexpected in an interview”

To gain more insight on this topic, we also got in touch with Senior Career Consultant from Career Prepare, Adam Bennett. First, Adam noted that is is common to realize during an interview that there is a mismatch between the candidate and the organization or role. “I always recommend that a candidate does as much research as possible before spending time preparing for an interview for a role they might be mismatched with,” the expert noted. “Often, sites like Glassdoor give a good idea of what the company is like and how they interview.”

And if you realize in an interview that there is a mismatch, Adam says, “It’s best to be honest, explain and seek clarification from the hiring manager.” But he doesn’t recommend immediately cutting the call short. “There could be other opportunities within the organization,” the career expert added. “But there is also no point pretending you are interested in a role that doesn’t suit you.”

We were also curious if Adam would consider the approach that these interviewers took to be a red flag. “Whilst the approach is definitely unconventional, it is not necessarily a red flag for everyone,” he told Bored Panda. “Better transparency over salary would be better for everyone but it’s very rare to find an organization that is completely transparent. Some people wouldn’t mind the approach of testing the response to criticism, but others (as in the case of the post author) don’t respond well to it. In the latter case, clearly the organization is not the right one for them.”

“Overall, it is important for candidates to expect the unexpected in an interview,” the expert added. “Stay calm if things don’t go as planned. And be open and honest with the interviewers if you believe there is a mismatch.”

Readers shared their reactions to the story and applauded the applicant for picking up on the company’s red flags

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