09 May 2024 , 10:15
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First impressions go a long way when it comes to job interviews.
When it comes to preparing for an interview, it's vital that you go through the basics in your head to make sure you're not caught off guard by anything that your potential employer might ask you. You also want to ensure you dress appropriately and treat the people in your interview with respect.
But one man made a huge mistake at an interview that saw him immediately rejected for the position before he even made it inside the interview room - all because of the way he spoke to other staff members that he believed would be below him if he secured the job.
It turns out the man made a bad impression before he even got the chance to prove his abilities, as he failed to treat the receptionist with kindness when he entered the building.
The woman who conducted his interview later took to the Life Pro Tips forum on Reddit to warn others not to make the same mistake, as she revealed the receptionist was actually the hiring manager who was trying to gauge how respectful her potential employees would be to those around them.
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She said: "Today, a candidate blew his interview in the first five minutes after he entered the building. He was dismissive to the receptionist. She greeted him and he barely made eye contact. She tried to engage him in conversation. Again, no eye contact, and no interest in speaking with her.
"What the candidate did not realise was that the 'receptionist' was actually the hiring manager. She called him back to the conference room and explained how every single person on our team is valuable and worthy of respect. Due to his interaction with the 'receptionist', the hiring manager did not feel he was a good fit. Thank you for your time but the interview is over. Be nice to everyone in the building."
Commenters on the Reddit post agreed that it was essential to ensure you were polite to everyone - which sounds like a no-brainer. One person wrote: "BINGO! After a candidate leaves one of the first things those involved in the interview will do is speak to the receptionist and ask them how the interviewee treated them.
"The person could be the best person for the position but if they treated the receptionist like c*** ... THEY ARE DONE! If they treated the receptionist like s*** when on their best behaviour imagine how awful they will treat them once they get the job. The same goes for any cleaning staff. They are consulted, too."
Another shared: "I got hired once because I held the door for the janitor coming in with his cart. The receptionist said, 'That's so nice of you'. I said it was just decency, but apparently, she was in the hiring manager's ear later that day. The choice was between me, and someone more knowledgeable, but he was a p**** ... so they went with me."
Others said that even if you struggle with anxiety and find it hard to make conversation, it's always a good idea to at least try and be polite to those around you.
Someone posted: "My only question about this is I have horrible anxiety and struggle to focus on stuff other than the actual process so I'm sure I've blanked on responding to a receptionist. Not because I'm a rude person but purely because I just struggle to pay attention to everything because of the other stuff I'm thinking of.
"So this is actually nice and reminds me I need to make sure to interact. Granted had I been not nice, I always make sure to apologise as soon as I am able to if I recognise it. Even if I don't get the job."
A version of this story was first published on May 8th 2023.