Declined for a job, During job interview

TheEffects

Hi
I wanted to know if it is normal to be declined for a job, mid way through a job interview?
With the terms that there are currently other candidates that are more experienced than you, that we are considering and that you don't seem right for the role?

What are your views on this & how would you have handled this situation?

Dox

If it was done with courtesy, I think it sounds eminently sensible. Pity more potential employers aren't as up front and honest. Why waste your time, or keep you hanging around and hoping for a positive outcome, when the interviewer had already spotted the fit wasn't right?

donnajunkie

Dox said:

If it was done with courtesy, I think it sounds eminently sensible. Pity more potential employers aren't as up front and honest. Why waste your time, or keep you hanging around and hoping for a positive outcome, when the interviewer had already spotted the fit wasn't right?

I agree so long as they arent horrible and give good reason. It is better than being left wondering and hoping.

Emmia

I've interviewed many people where it was apparent within the first 5 minutes of the interview that they weren't suitable for the job - its actually massively frustrating. However I've never cut an interview short in the way you've described - but I can see there is an honesty in that. 

From a personal perspective as a candidate I've cut interviews short, as it was clear the job wasn't really what I wanted... In my younger days (for jobs in retail or coffee shops) I've just told the interviewer directly in the interview "thank you, but no thank you", or I did something in the interview which would put them off (nothing dodgy, just looking a bit disinterested etc.,).

More recently, I've let the interview process conclude so I could obtain the feedback, which is only offered following interview - this has happened twice in the last 3-4 years, and on both occasions I was offered the job, but then declined it (which is frustrating if you're doing the hiring!). On one of those occasions the decision not to take the job was made whilst I was walking to the interview with the hiring manager... that person gave me the heebie jeebies, and I'm afraid almost nothing would have made me take it. The other time, it was clear that the job being offered, was not the one described on the advert. 

Thrugelmir

 While not pleasant to experience. Time is valuable. An indication too of the style of management. 

donnajunkie

Thrugelmir said:

 While not pleasant to experience. Time is valuable. An indication too of the style of management. 

It has occurred to me that even if they did it in a horrible way you can take a positive out of it by thinking you had a lucky escape.

peterm41

I was declined during an interview and went on to a better paying and more enjoyable job... at least I didn't wait for days in some sort of false hope.

John_

TheEffects said:

Hi
I wanted to know if it is normal to be declined for a job, mid way through a job interview?
With the terms that there are currently other candidates that are more experienced than you, that we are considering and that you don't seem right for the role?

What are your views on this & how would you have handled this situation?

I’ve made the decision to reject people within about five minutes of them walking in the door in the past. I’ve generally done them the courtesy of giving them another twenty minutes or so to avoid humiliating them, and because all decisions were joint on hiring, but I can see that other organisations would choose to do things differently.

I’d have thanked them for their time, and politely asked if they could let me know where I fell short, and then whether they told me or not I’d have left.

How did you think that it was going up to that point?

[Deleted User]

I've experienced this a couple of times, first was once in a bingo hall (years ago) when I was doing the zero-hours care work and was attempting to fit a, (any!) 2nd job around it, half-way through the interviewer just said nope this won't work I get the demands of the care industry, we've other applicants to see and lead me out, pretty reasonable decision.  I wasn't that bothered and didn't think anything of it although I was inexperienced at interviews back then.

The other time that stands out is 4 days after losing a pet and out of work, it just hit me hard so suddenly, one day out of all the interviews that week I really got choked up unexpectedly and the ladies interviewing kindly I suspected greatly shortened it, I got a very nice unsuccessful letter. (getting that interview ironically in the first place was the deciding factor I should refrain from holiday being unemployed to attend the interview and it was good that I didn't go else I probably would never have said goodbye to my cat, I remember as I walked in I kind of thought I don't think this is my place, what am I doing!?! even if getting the interview in the first place was a saving point only the week before, and later that day the call came I'd got a trial elsewhere.
 
The Interview series from c4 that used to be on a few years ago, showed interviews being ended early so don't sweat the small stuff.  You only have to think of those who think they have found the most suitable position and it turns out not to be. 
...I've also had to be the candidate before now after signing in with the receptionist and then being told who is the interviewer, then decides they've suddenly got a job offer appear on the phone and have to go, sorry to waste your time and where's my hat!! before said interviewer appears because we've met before somewhere else.... (yes HR decided not to announce interviewers name before I got to the building whether deliberate or not)

Steve_L

My viewpoint on not getting any job was that I probably wouldn't have liked working there anyway. Their recruitment policy was clearly [CENSORED], God knows how bad the others were.

TELLIT01

I've actually done the same, but from the interviewee side.  I applied for a job and stressed in the CV, the fact that I was in a purely managerial role, overseeing a team of IT techs.  I repeated that when I received a phone call inviting me for interview.  When the interview started it became clear from the outset that they were looking for somebody with in-depth technical knowledge to be a hands-on tech manager.  I stopped the interview at that point and said I was disappointed that despite what was in my CV, and my comments on the phone to their HR department, everybody's time was being wasted.  Those involved in the interview thanked me for my honesty, but I never did receive the expenses for travel!