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Grieving woman accused of lying by recruiter when she made job interview request

19 May 2023 , 14:49
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The woman was horrified with the recruiter
The woman was horrified with the recruiter's attitude (stock photo) (Image: SCU)

A woman has shared how she was left feeling "irritated and upset" after a prospective employer accused her of lying about her grandmother's death in order to reschedule a job interview.

The anonymous woman explained her grandma passed away recently and she was due to be interviewed for a job the next day, so she called the company to ask for the interview to be rescheduled as she knew she would "not have been great" in the wake of the devastating news.

And although the company agreed to let her move the interview to this week, she was appalled when she received a phone call ahead of the rescheduled meeting in which the recruiter appeared to accuse her of lying.

Grieving woman accused of lying by recruiter when she made job interview request eiqehiqdxideprwThe woman no longer wants to attend the interview (stock photo) (Getty Images/Westend61)

During the phone call, the recruiter gave her condolences for the passing of the woman's "mother-in-law", to which the woman corrected her and said it was her grandmother who passed away.

However, the recruiter was adamant the woman had told them it was her mother-in-law, and so assumed she had caught the woman in a lie - and threatened to cancel her interview.

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In a post on Mumsnet, the woman said: "I had a job interview booked recently, the day before my grandma passed away. I was really close to her and I would not have been great in the interview the next day.

"I emailed and called prior explaining what had happened and if possible, I would like to rearrange. They agreed and all was fine. Rearranged for this Wednesday, but I got a call today saying, sorry to hear about your mother-in-law. I said it wasn't my mother-in-law, it was my grandma.

"Five minutes later I get another call from the woman saying 'I'm sure you said it was your mother-in-law, you said you have to support your partner.' I said no, it's my grandmother, and I don't even have a partner. She replied and said 'No you said mother-in-law, we have recorded calls and if we listen back and you said mother-in-law the interview would be off the table'.

"At this point, I was quite irritated and I felt upset that she would imply I would lie about losing my grandma. She ended the call by asking if I will actually turn up to the interview if all is okay. I feel like it's not a good start, to begin with."

In later posts, the woman explained she had sent an email to the company to say she was appalled by their conduct over the phone, and said she got a reply from the same recruiter who claimed it was a "miscommunication" - but still insisted she had said mother-in-law instead of grandma.

She wrote: "I got an email back stating it was a miscommunication on her part and she is very sorry, and although calls are recorded, my initial phone call wasn't ... she still said she is sure I said it was my mother-in-law.

"The hiring manager is very impressed with my CV and is really keen to meet me, but it has left a bad taste in my mouth and it's not a job I am desperate for."

Commenters on the post urged the woman not to attend the interview, or if she does still want to go, to call the company out on their conduct in person.

One person said: "How rude of them!! I would 100% not go to the interview unless you're absolutely desperate for the job. Shameful of them."

While another wrote: "I would make them confirm they were wrong, and only then turn it down. If you pull out first it will just confirm their belief. I'd probably still interview, in the hope that I got the job and then could turn it down because I am petty and would enjoy wasting their time."

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However, the woman has revealed she won't be attending the interview, as she doesn't want to put herself through more misery.

In another update, she added: "She said 'I think there was some confusion between us.' No, I was not confused. I clearly stated my grandma passed away. Ugh, anyway, I've decided I won't be going. Knowing me I'd probably start blubbering during the interview."

Zahna Eklund

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