/r/wewontcallyou
Welcome to r/wewontcallyou! This is a subreddit where you can share your stories about interviews that went really, really badly
Welcome to r/wewontcallyou! This is a subreddit where you can share your stories or images of applications or interviews that went really, really badly, to the the point where the candidate wasn't called back (oh my god it's in the title!) You can post some short stories, medium stories, essays, or even novellas, as well as images of applications or things that fit within the theme of the subreddit.
Rules:
Don't be a prick. Like if you call someone retarded you're obviously going to get banned. Slurs, insults, and derogatory terms are not allowed. This also goes for anti-employer stuff; this is not the sub to beat up on employers.
Flair posts correctly. A paragraph to three is a short story, around four to seven would be medium, around eight to fifteen would be long, and an epic has to be like an actual story and not just an anecdote. And obviously an image is, well, an image.
Your posts have to be relevant to what this subreddit is even about: stories, anecdotes, or images of bad interviews or applications (whether you were the interviewer or interviewee).
Do not plagiarize (which means to take credit for something you are not responsible for) stories from this subreddit, other subreddits, or other websites or media. Crossposting is allowed, stealing stories is not.
Images are only allowed if it's an image of an application or a short anecdote or story or otherwise related to the theme of the subreddit.
Don't just crap on someone and say 'that didn't happen.' Harassing posters with stuff like 'r/thathappened' is gonna get you banned.
This subreddit demands high quality submissions. This means text posts must be formatted correctly, have reasonably good grammar and spelling, and be original and entertaining. Images must not be reposts, memes, shitposts, or other low quality, circlejerking nonsense. The community's reaction to certain content will have an impact on whether or not certain posts are allowed to stay up. However, even if a submission gets a thousand upvotes that is not a guarantee it will not be removed.
Related subreddits:
/r/wewontcallyou
If you come here with some basically brand new little account and try to repost top posts of all time to farm karma so you can sell your little bot account, know that we will find out, we will remove your posts, and we will report you to reddit admins.
This is not the sub for you to pull your shenanigans in, it is actively moderated.
Thank you.
Foreign/trained early-career healthcare professional, seeking a job and sponsorship for a temp visa. All of our doctors are independent contractors, so we wouldn't sponsor her.
However, she had already been rejected by the time we got that far in: her email address was beyond unprofessional and bordering on offensive. We're all sex-positive, but that's just bad judgement.
So I'm in the Canadian federal public service. A few years ago, we had a military guy working with us, and he was pretty good at his job. We employ some deep subject matter experts on pretty uncommon subjects, and this guy was probably one of the top 20 in the country for a fairly niche subject matter.
The military was going to take him back and post him elsewhere, and he told us he wanted to stay with us, and we didn't want to lose his expertise. I was the manager, and my director told me to "make it happen."
Well, it was a royal pain in the ass but I got it done.
So finally buddy gets released from the military, his last day in uniform is a Friday, and then he starts with us on a Monday. No break in employment whatsoever. Awesome!
Within a couple of months, he took a lateral move to another department within the gov't. He didn't tell us beforehand. To facilitate an interdepartmental transfer like that it would have to have taken months, which meant he used us to get into the public service, and had immediately started shopping for a new position. We didn't get a military replacement for him because we closed off that position!
Anyways, that was years ago.
Flash forward to a few months ago. My former Director is still with our organization, though now he's one step higher up. I'm still a manager.
So at the start of the year we had a manager's position open up. We were in a rush to hire, since we wanted to beat a looming hiring freeze in the public service. And wouldn't you know it - buddy the ex military guy applied.
Now I'm normally not privy to hiring decisions for my potential peers, my fellow managers. But the former director knows how I busted my ass to get buddy in, and how he bailed on us almost immediately. The director pulls me aside...
"Hey there Original_Dankster, did you know buddy applied for that management job?"
Yeah, I say, gritting my teeth.
"Ok, well... I wanted you to know - I wouldn't hire him to be my caddy, I'd probably end up pulling my own cart by the 3rd fairway. I've also informed the other directors about buddy's... mercenary attitude."
So - it seems the prodigal son isn't always welcome back.
I have a small business where I time races - running, cycling, triathlon. Races can go sour really quickly: there's no pause or do-over button if you screw it up.
I was working a big event and it was going well. A spectator came up and said he owns another company in my area. They'd been having some issues and wanted to see if I could "help out".
I had heard of the company, and they had a pretty poor reputation. I'd been called two years earlier when their timing employee had walked out mid-event (because of his own incompetence) and I ended up being paid to clean up this guy's mess in at least three cities.
I called the owner, thinking I could provide some technical advice or show them my process.
I ended up chatting with him, and then he says his partner has some questions. Sure. He leaves and guy number two comes in, and I realize they think this is an interview?
The "partner" is the employee whose mess I have been cleaning up. He sits there and drills me on why I want to work for the company, talking about how "they produce the highest quality work" and "they have a reputation to uphold". His tone is totally off: he's trying to play hardball and be tough, without realizing I've been called in to fix his mistakes.
It took me a moment to compose myself, but eventually I explained that I wasn't really interested in working there, and frankly was only there as a consultant to help them because I'd heard (from my clients, who called me when he screwed up, as well as his boss) that things are not going great for them. I tried to be as professional as possible, but obviously touched a nerve.
I cut the "interview" short, went and talked to the owner. I explained that I was not interested in running their events for them since there are simply not enough days in the week.
I left, and the owner sent a couple of follow-ups, asking if I could "just work a few events until they got the hang", etc, etc. It eventually became clear we weren't on the same page as to what our relationship would be, so I wished them the best.
Not long after, an anonymous email came to my info@mywebsite inbox tattling that [my name] was "not being loyal and interviewing at other companies". Brother, this is my business and I own it...
This is my story.
I once interviewed for a position I really didn’t want but my buddy wanted me to work with him. It was a furniture and appliance rental place and I would be delivering and picking up stuff.
They had one of those personality quizzes you take. I guess I was feeling extra philosophical that day.
On the question, “have you ever stolen from work?” I rationalized that yes in my fast food days I had snuck eating chicken nuggets, etc. and that was stealing, so I answered yes.
Same for, “would you ever steal again.” And on and on.
The look on the manager’s face when he saw the results was priceless! “I’ve never had anyone fail the test…” So I stood there shooting the breeze with my buddy and his boss for 30 minutes before going home.
My buddy was pretty mad at me - he thought I sabotaged the test, but I was really just in a weird philosophical mood.
The end.
I recently attended a Teams meeting from HR where the presenter was in their ‘cartoon’ or avatar the whole time they had their camera on. I felt like Doc McStuffins with a nose ring was giving the talk. I asked in the chat ‘What would you do if a potential candidate wants to take their interview video in their avatar?’ I don’t think they got my point. What do you all think?
I'm posting for him, he doesn't use social media 😒
Years ago, when my husband and I first got married (today is actually our 17th anniversary!!), he got set up with a welding job through a temp agency. All was good, he'd already gone in for the welding test, which was done with a first shift supervisor, all he had to do was have a final interview with the 2nd shift supervisor, who he'dbe working with. We really needed him to get this job.
He went in, and the supervisor was my ex's father, my ex who my husband had to punch in the head because he was physically attacking me. This was literally only about 3 months before, and we lived in a really small, rural town where everyone knows everyone. My husband and I still lived in the same place I used to share with my ex.
My husband was sweating bullets and had pretty much resigned to the fact that he wasn't getting this job.
So my husband goes in, gets introduced to everyone, and then 2nd shift supervisor took him back into an office. He had a totally unreadable face the whole time.
They sit down, and this man says to my husband: "ah, so you're T, huh? I've heard a lot about you. Well, just relax, I can imagine what you must be thinking. But don't worry, my son is a dick and I'm sure he deserved whatever you gave him."
My husband said it was glorious and he did get the job and worked there until they went out of business 4 years later.
So I went on an interview not too long ago for a position that would be mobile. So they wanted me to meet another tech at a place that he was working on some units. Not your typical place. But anywho. I arrive early and meet said person and we chit chat for a few. I did not know this was a working interview. They wanted to see what I had. Well effit why not?. This person is struggling with these units (3 of them all same issues) so I fix the 1st one in a matter of minutes. Was a programming issue. The 2nd one was cut wiring and bad lens. The 3rd was a bit difficult but managed to figure it out to get the customer to get proper parts. So for 4 hrs of free labor THEY WERE MOVING ON WITH SOMEONE ELSE AND IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION. so shame on me for doing my best and getting results so they can make money. LESSON LEARNED Fool me once shame on you. There isn't going to be a 2nd time
This happened a few years ago and it still annoys me to think about to this day. This story is kind of the reverse of how most of the stories here go, so maybe it doesn't fit... but lmk
So, I used to work at a coffee shop, and we had this batty, loony-bird manager.
One day, one of our semi-regulars mentioned that she needed some part time work. We were hiring for part time, so I put in a good word for her, knowing she would have been an easy choice. She had a lot of experience and had a good rapport with everyone who worked there.
She gets an interview. Manager sits down with her, offers her a coffee. She says sure, just a mug of drip coffee. They have the interview, and she leaves.
I ask my manager: "Well? Isn't she great?" Manager says: "She was okay, but she accepted a cup of coffee which is just really tacky." I thought she was joking. I ask: "Are you serious?" Manager says: "Yes! You should never accept something offered to you at an interview, that's so inappropriate."
Her résumé was great, she's personable and already well-liked by all of her potential new co-workers, but she accepted a cup of coffee -- at an interview at a COFFEE SHOP -- so she's out.
The person who was hired instead was awful. She had never worked in the service industry before. She was rude to customers and got into arguments a lot with them. She also couldn't help dial in the coffee ever because -- hahaha -- she doesn't drink coffee due to her "impressive" caffeine allergy.
And just for the record: Yes, you should accept the offer of coffee at an interview, if for no other reason than to avoid having to work with managers like this.
Anyone else been finding that positions for lower skill are seeming to get initial messages from applicants that are perfect copy-pastes, from multiple names that really look suspicious?
As we've been going back into the season and started hiring more servers/setup staff I've had nearly 3 dozen applicants with different names send a message immediately upon applying that reads: "Hello, I feel like I'd be a great fit for this position and would love to talk more about my experience. I'm available for an interview on... I am available for an interview at any time please give an opportunity thank you"
Is there some sorta bot apply thing that people are using nowadays that spams this same exact message? Is it because people are using chatGPT? Is it some sort of scam going around? It's ridiculous to me that so many applicants send literally the exact same message instantly after applying, I've never before seen this behaviour.
EDIT:
Upon searching applicant postal codes on google maps, a number of them came back to places where you literally could not possibly live; IE the middle of an industrial complex with no housing for miles; or comercial-only areas. Now I'm really starting to think this is the work of some sort of bots, just amalgamating nonexistant people and applying to job postings in the area.
Six years ago, I was searching everywhere as much as possible for a job after getting laid off. I have a big background in clergy and administration in the medical field. One of these interviews was for a lawyer and it was not only with the lawyer himself but also what I think may have been, his secretary. Interview is going well, they're impressed with my resume, all up until the secretary pointed out my eyebrow piercing. She not only pointed it out but explained that it "must come out or replace it with a clear ring". I was very baffled. I had worked in a doctors office for many years with it and the last job I had never mentioned it either but it wasn't acceptable at that lawyer's office? You have got to be kidding me!
I never got the job but I did land myself a great position at very well-known hospital, in my state, where they gave no effs about that. No employer ever cared as it is.
I worked for a big retailer many years ago, back in the day when people really did pick up a paper employment application form from the counter -and fill it in with a pen.
Pinned to the notice board in the staff room (evidently for the amusement of the team), there was a photocopy (it was also the era of the photocopier, of course) of a genuine form that had been returned to one of the shops-the office manager of which had found it such a hoot that he had sent copies to a number of the other stores.
It began okay, with the usual personal information (name, address, age, qualifications-blacked out to spare the applicant’s blushes), then it all went terribly wrong.
There was a section that asked about previous experience (they only really expected to hear about the last two or three jobs over the past two or three years-it was just a lowly retail sales assistant job, after all). However, this was a candidate who really believed in being thorough.
He had put (in neat, perfectly legible handwriting) twelve previous jobs, each one precisely described with the job title and exact dates, spanning the previous 4 years. Of course , these didn’t all fit into the space provided, but this didn’t put this guy off. He actually attached his own blank piece of paper, on which he had apparently taken a ruler and created a continuation of the box provided on the actual form.
Twelve jobs in four years? Wouldn’t it have been better if he’d kept that to himself? That was nothing. He believed in full disclosure-and that’s exactly what he was going to do.
In the box marked “Reason for leaving”, the meticulous candidate had written the same thing, twelve times: “Difference of opinion with the manager”.
So at the time I(34f) was 27, and I went to interview for a VP position at Progressive! My interviewer was very stern. Like literally emotionless. The interview went ok, then he asked the last question -“Do you have any Questions about the role at hand?” I asked a few then the Last question I said “Also does Flo visit the office pretty often?” Just to break the ice-for context for those who are the who’s Flo- you know the lady from the infamous Progressive commercials!!! When I tell you he didn’t crack a smile and never followed up! So funny when I think about it- like why did I say that?!! lol Anyway one door closes a few more open up!! I Am Thankful for the Lessons and Blessings!!
Im not sure if its too early for me to be wondering if i got used for free labour but idk. So i had a trial shift last week it was unpaid and i thought it went well, i got along with the team and i had fun greeting and serving customers, i was told what to do at the beginning of the shift and i just got with it; helping the other waiter, greeting customers and taking them to their tables, cleaning tables... yk the regular waitress shebang. I emailed the restaurant a couple days after the shift showing gratitude for the opportunity and to to hopefully hear back from them, nothing too forward however still no response im pretty sure they just completely ghosted me and used me for free labour. Should i just move on or should i keep waiting because i really wanted this job. How long do people usually wait to hear back from a trial shift?
Edit: I live in the uk for anyone wondering
Update: they chose someone else, sucks but nothing i can do fr
I was a hiring manager for my department at a well known sports team. I look at this every so often when I need a good laugh.
7 years ago I moved to be closer to family. I was looking for a salaried position (I was on contract at the time so hourly and no benefits). I had an interview with a local utility. I knocked the interview out of the park. They even said they were very impressed, but they only were interviewing people because they had to, they already had someone to hire. So I lost an afternoon of pay for nothing.
It was the first time I applied for a role where a degree was needed, before I applied to roles like waitress and so. I was also a recent graduate but I was applying in a foreign country. In my country, in my line of field, interviewers will only check of the degree was valid or legal and your transcript. But this was not my country ... I went to the first interview, I had to explain what my degree was exactly and how it fitted what they were looking for. I'm a female and I was interviewed by 2 men. I went for the second round... The same two males and a female who was meant to be my line manager... The guys started questioning me... Have you ever done anything in html? Do you know what CSS stands for? And similar questions... Very easy... Then after no more than 3 minutes in this line of questioning the lady rudely interrupted them staying that she didn't like their questions. She asked me very hard questions about JavaScript and Java... Even if I was a recent graduate... I haven't touched Java in 5 years! More than 10 for JavaScript! Then she said that the only reason I was there was because I was not too ugly and the guys only wanted a not so ugly face to fuck, she also stated that she refused to waste any more of her precious time on a slut and she left abruptly. We didn't know if we should continue with the interview or not but we did. It was obvious that it was a rejection.
I used to work nights at Walmart, school on the weekend, taking care of kids after school, and sleeping during the day. I was finishing up school and was applying for jobs. All job interviews were when I would sleep.
One day I forgot I had a job interview and took NyQuil before going to sleep. I remembered the interview last minute and set an alarm to wake up for it. Needless to say, the NyQuil wasn't out of my system in time and I was VERY groggy during the interview. So groggy that even saying my name took me a bit to figure it out.
In hindsight I should have explained myself and tried to reschedule, but my groggy mind didn't think of that option.
I got a rejection email in 20 minutes. Fastest rejection I have ever gotten.
He has the traits of a solid cook. He doesn't waste time on nonsense, he's honest, and he can work well under the influence. That means when he stays up all night partying he'll be more likely to come in the next day. I bet he gets the food in the window fast AF too. Plus no culinary school means he'll be easier to train because he doesn't think he knows everything already.
I used to sell cars, when I sold cars I sometimes would help interview people. One guy in particular was a young kid like 22-23 and his resume said he had gone to Harvard and got an MBA and here he is applying to sell cars.
Selling cars is a very hard job, also the majority that tries fail. So why is a guy with an MBA trying to work for us?
Anyway I call him up I basically throw all my interview concerns out the window. I get into how horrible the job is, I talk about all the crap that makes people quit. Like can imagine to work 2 hours past closing just for a deal to fall apart cause the wife discovers her husband has a girlfriend as they are in F&I.
I explain our training, and how if you don't hit certain key milestones we will fire you, obviously, we'll be nice and give you the chance to resign with a positive reference.
Then I ask him "Why do you want this job?" he tells me he hears he can make a lot of money. This answer really ticks me off cause that's the type of answer that would make me want to hire you. But here's a problem if I can't understand why this guy with an MBA from Harvard wants to work for us, then he's lying and if he's lying I don't want him.
So I go "Look what struggling is why is someone from Harvard trying to sell cars?" he can't give me a good answer, honestly heres what I think the truth is.
He's some ambitious young kid, maybe he did go to college, but he didn't go to Harvard. But now he's trying to get a job, the problem is this
If he's lied about going to Harvard that's a big lie, that's a concern. While I understand people embellish on resumes outright lying about where you went to school is dumb.
If he really has an MBA from Harvard he shouldn't be selling cars he needs to be in some other position higher then me doing more important stuff
So I figure he's hungry, he's dumb, he needs to be taught a lesson.
So I explain "what would Harvard say when I call to verify your status?" he goes "You'd do that?" I said "No, cause their answer is irrelevant" I then explain that he's either lying about his Harvard MBA or he's over qualified either way I don't want us to invest the resources in moving forward with him.
He's a bit feisty and goes "I did get my MBA from Harvard!" I go "Ok, fair enough if I offered you the job would you take it?" confused he goes "Sure" I go "Great, I'll offer you the job if Harvard confirms that you graduated with an MBA from Harvard deal?"
Here's the deal
If he really did EVEN go to Harvard, but esp if he did get his MBA from Harvard he should be jumping to say yes cause I bet its pretty trivial to prove you went to Harvard.
If he didn't go to Harvard (which lets be real, he didn't) he knows I'll figure it out and he's fucked either way.
I hear him go "Um...." I go "So do we have a deal?"
And he hungs up
He didn't get the job
When I wrote up my other disgruntled post I never imagined there would be a part 2, let alone the magnitude of what I discovered this guy was doing with his position of admittedly limited power.
With word out that he's basically abandoned his position, pissed in the cereal of both bosses, and fear of reprisal dead; just about every female employee has come forward with allegations of gross sexual misconduct.
Seems he spent just about every minute I wasn't watching him flirting, hitting on or trying to extort female staff with shit like "I'll get you fired unless you gimme your number." or unwanted sexual advances.
It's basically now my displeasure to have to go through the resigned and/or fired staff to take statements about this dirtbag. While he's definitely fucked himself over big-time; this is basically a nightmare for a business owner that a guy with supervisorial duties used them to do this shit.
I am fucking livid with this guy, particularly the fucking hypocrisy of acting like his gay boss is 'into him' just for being the same level of nice I am to every employee; while being the worst sex pest I've seen in 15 years in my industry.
I don't lose my temper easily, but this lil shit is lucky I haven't seen him in over a week at this point. I'd probably end up doing something I'd regret, and something he'd not be alive or at least conscious enough to end up regretting.
I haven't felt this much seething hatred for someone before. The level of betrayal this douche has managed to enact makes me feel fucking stupid. Like 'how could I have not caught on to him being a little sex-pest bigot in all the time he worked for me?'
Also, for those who weren't reading the comments on the past one, homophobia wasn't the extent of his bigotry, as he was rather openly and casually racist towards Indians, Pakistani and South East Asians in industry.
I'm 100% going to have to implement some sort of policy that shit like that is not tolerated, and no one will be in any way looked down on for reporting it, regardless of if it's a supervisor doing it, or a bus boy.
I feel like a failure for letting him make anyone at all believe that he had even remotely enough power to do jack shit if they brought his misconduct to my attention.
So, today I think I might have come across the most laughable excuse for an employee I've seen in 15 years in my industry. I'll give a TL;DR for those who don't care for the whole story, but it starts out with a rather promising seeming individual.
Well, in spite of their experience and recommendations, it turns out that they aren't all they painted themselves as (shocker, I know), but it gets better. Over time their work, and actually bothering to show up for shifts or even maintain communications gets shittier and shittier.
I definitely cut this guy way more slack than I ever should have, because it really looked like he was trying, at least at first. What does this guy go and do? Turn around and bites the hand that feeds. The special treatment I gave this little punk was unreal, pay advances, organizing rides into work because me missed his bus, even giving him extra work outside of the business itself when things were slow.
What does this guy do to thank me? One day, out of the blue, he just texts in literal minutes before his shift "I'm not coming in" because he spent the day before on a drinking bender. When pressed on it, the smart ass thinks he can just resign on the spot, no notice (despite it being codified in employment standards here that there is a two-way reasonable notice of termination/resignation) on one of the busiest two weeks we have.
This basically comes out of nowhere, he's never spoken on issues, never voiced a single complaint other than bemoaning texts sending him his schedule, or asking 'are you able to make it in tomorrow?' At first, this behaviour was utterly baffling, but then after having to explain his absence to those called in to fill in, things started to fall into place.
It turns out this little shit is a massive homophobe, to the point he's been bemoaning me and my partner being in a gay relationship to other employees. He's apparently said things along the line of "I think the bos and his partner are trying to have sex with me, it's so gross, who would ever want to touch another man?" and "I can't believe those two faggots, can you believe actually sleeping with another man?" "I think those two faggots who run this place are trying to turn me gay."
Oh, but it gets better! when confronted about the literal employment laws, he starts pulling out threats, physical violence, trying to 'smear' our reputation, getting his buddies to spam bad reviews, etc etc. Seemingly all because he's a homophobic little shit that has it in his peabrain that I'd be the least bit interested in a tiny twig of a straight guy who smokes like a chimney and barely takes care of himself.
TL;DR: Employee starts a ton of bullshit because he can't handle his boss being gay, and has convinced himself that his gay boss is out to 'turn him gay.'
I wish I got rid of this homophobic little shit the first time he pulled a NCNS.
What’s your most embarrassing intern story?
I have an opportunity for a job that I only plan to work for in the Summer. Im a student and its in my field (construction) but Im still in school after Summer. The people hiring me are straight up asking me if classes will prevent me from working in the Fall and the answer is yes, but I'd really like the experience so I'd have to lie. They said they could work me with me on my schedule in the Summer if Id be available for full time in the Fall. I wanted to hear what people hiring on the other side think so I came here.
Thank you
Edit: Thanks everyone for your perspectives. I've given it thought and decided to pass on the job because I'd prefer not to lead them on like this. Thanks again for not judging and for giving me your honest opinions.
Back when I worked at a local law school, I had a coworker that referred me for a legal document assistant position (I had gone to school to be a paralegal) as she was coming to the school full time and had to quit the other job.
When I get to the interview, it was being done by an older lady that looked like she had a permanent scowl on her face. During the interview, she began talking poorly about my coworker and saying how coworker was screwing her because she was supposed to go on vacation soon and now had to find someone to come in asap. I want to note that my coworker had told this woman she was moving away as her reason for leaving because this woman scared her. She really just talked crap about coworker for a good majority of the time there and I really liked coworker.
After spending an hour in a cramped office that was barely workable for one person let alone the two that were expected to work in there, the nightmare finally ended. I emailed her within the hour that I was going to pass on the job and good luck. Surprise, no response.
A guy came in for an interview at my work. After introducing myself and the other interviewer, shaking hands and exchanging pleasantries, we sat down to begin.
As standard procedure, I started by asking how he heard about the position/opening. He proudly boasted that he was referred by "blatant mispronunciation of my name." The other interviewer snapped to see my reaction. I was stoic while deciding how to respond.
"I see. And when Mr. Mispronunciation referred you, I'm sure they qualified why you were such a good fit with great detail. Would you mind walking us through what was divulged, as well as your undoubtedly complex understanding of the role and responsibilities?"
Needless to say, he didn't receive a job offer and was dismissed. After tracking the name, we finally figured it out! My:
Wife's> Ex-employee's> New boss's>
Husband was looking for work and heard about the job through the grapevine. I had never met or spoken with "new boss" or their husband. The office had a good laugh while the decline email was sent. I'm betting he'll take a more honest approach in the future!