Walking out of an interview justified?

[madoka]

I was reading this Dear Liz article:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/lizryan...forbes/MPop+(Forbes.com:+Most+popular+stories)

It's about a guy who essentially walked out of an interview with a local high tech company because they promised to provide him lunch, but failed to do so. He considered it rude of them to ignore his needs and left without finishing the interview.

Of course, this reminded me of this hipster guy I know who would also walk out.

So if you were promised lunch at a long interview and did not get it, would you walk out?

I wouldn't. If I'm interviewing, that means probably I need the job. So I'd take the hit to my dignity, because a job would be more important.

 

[clamum]

Of course I wouldn't; I'm not a whiny pussy.

 

[DesiPower]

It's ridiculous, under no circumstances can you walk out of an interview, if nothing else, it can burn bridges. And given the reason for his walking out, it's unthinkable.

btw, OP, you missed the ATOT customary "I am a raging moron" poll option...

 

[ImpulsE69]

At first glance it seems unjustified or overreacting, however....

One could ask the question, would this be representative of how working for them would be?

 

[IndyColtsFan]

No, I'd overlook that and keep going with the interview.

I did tell off a couple of interviewers once in a not-so-subtle way, however.

 

[Anubis]

would I have walked out - no

would I have taken their offer if gotten - no

 

[jlee]

lol, wow.

 

[mmntech]

It's perfectly okay to walk out of an interview if you feel things are going bad or if the company doesn't seem like a good fit for you. However, to walk out over lack of a lunch is just asinine. Guy's going to have a tough time getting hired anywhere if that's his attitude.

 

[MongGrel]

It's perfectly okay to walk out of an interview if you feel things are going bad or if the company doesn't seem like a good fit for you. However, to walk out over lack of a lunch is just asinine. Guy's going to have a tough time getting hired anywhere if that's his attitude.

Probably won't look good on the local grapevine if there is one I imagine.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

It's perfectly okay to walk out of an interview if you feel things are going bad or if the company doesn't seem like a good fit for you. However, to walk out over lack of a lunch is just asinine. Guy's going to have a tough time getting hired anywhere if that's his attitude.

This.

If I sit down and the first question is, "So... what are your opinions on eating babies? We do a lot of that here. Do you have a sexy sister?" the interview is over.

If some low-level manager couldn't get approval for a $20 expense report at Jimmy John's, I'm assuming there was a bureaucratic fuck up, or a hangover-related memory lapse, or belt-tightening due to a slow quarter, etc. It happens.

 

[MixMasterTang]

After I read the article I sort of agree with the guy. Gives you a little bit of insight into the way they operate and their problem solving skills.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

I wouldn't just up and leave, because that's petty and rude, but I've had interviews that were clearly a bad fit where I've ended the interview prematurely by saying "I don't think this is the right fit." People are fine with that; no one wants their time wasted.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

After I read the article I sort of agree with the guy. Gives you a little bit of insight into the way they operate and their problem solving skills.

True. But... but the people in the interview were management. You have to understand; they don't solve problems, they provide leadership!

 

[K1052]

If three managers can't figure out how to feed one prospective employee then I doubt it's a company worth working for.

 

[maddogchen]

that company did not seem to have its act together....

 

[mmntech]

After I read the article I sort of agree with the guy. Gives you a little bit of insight into the way they operate and their problem solving skills.

I've followed Liz Ryan's advice a lot on my job search and I've found her advice has helped me. Not sure I agree 100% with her on this one but it does show the company is a bit disorganized.

 

[Gooberlx2]

under no circumstances can you walk out of an interview,

Bullshit. If the employer blatantly lies about the job posting, they can certainly go fuck themselves.

This guy's case, I dunno. It could seem whiny. Still, he clearly wasn't all that confident in their reputation as an employer to begin with, and they did nothing to dispel that impression. They fumbled the simplest thing. ...Fuck 'em.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

When are you PROMISED a fucking lunch prior to the interview?

Whenever I have an interview all I know is I have an interview. Any other plans are up to them (who does it, how many, etc...)

But to answer the question - NO. I wouldn't walk out on a $20 lunch when they are offering me six figures to have a lifetime career (potentially). That is just stupid.

It's ridiculous, under no circumstances can you walk out of an interview, if nothing else, it can burn bridges. And given the reason for his walking out, it's unthinkable.

btw, OP, you missed the ATOT customary "I am a raging moron" poll option...

TOTALLY agree with this part. You could be starring down at that person later in life sucking his balls for a different position and he will potentially remember you... All because your pussy self just wanted to talk over food.

 

[rudeguy]

If I don't eat, I get the nastiest farts ever known to man. I would stick and let the company reap what the sewed.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

If I don't eat, I get the nastiest farts ever known to man. I would stick and let the company reap what the sewed.

Sowed.

You reap what you sow. You wear what you sew.

edit: sorry, but typos are bugging me today for some reason.

 

[rudeguy]

Sowed.

You reap what you sow. You wear what you sew.

edit: sorry, but typos are bugging me today for some reason.

LOL

It didn't look write when I typed it.









:awe:

 

[dave_the_nerd]

*uncontrollable twitching*

 

[Belegost]

As I see it, this went beyond just "didn't provide lunch" but "took away the option for lunch."

It would be one thing if the managers had said "Hey, the lunch got goofed up, why don't you go get something for yourself." While it would be less than ideal, it would at least acknowledge that this guy needed to be able to eat.

But when 2 of them go off to get lunch (and bring some back for the third guy) and he's meant to be shuffled to the next interview with no consideration for his needs it shows a clear lack of care about him at all.

In perspective, I have been in a similar situation from the other side, I had a 1pm interview, and it turned out the previous interviewer (who was supposed to provide lunch) was out sick that day, the interviewee ended up at my office 30 minutes early when the admin assistant wasn't sure what to do with him. At which point I took him to the cafe and bought us both lunch, which we took to a conference room for a lunch interview. I later submitted the receipt for reimbursement, but even if it wasn't reimbursed it was simply the appropriate thing to do as a human and a representative of my company.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

If its abusive sure walk out. Somebody not providing a promised lunch is not abusive.

 

[Rubycon]

It depends...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQLIU9OiW7U