A Bad Interview is the stuff of nightmares!
The spectrum ranges from having to sit on an exercise ball in a full suit to the interviewer falling asleep. If you are sitting in that room and begin to realize this is not the place for you, you are allowed to LEAVE. It is a big step in your personal career development to be able to walk away from things that are not a fit for you. You wouldn’t stay in a restaurant where you didn’t want to eat, and you don’t need to stay in a place you don’t want to work.
How do I know it’s time to go?
As a rule of thumb not only for interviews, but in life, if you feel uncomfortable or unsafe GET OUT. If the space is not as described, you’re left waiting for long periods, or you just get that feeling, find the door and head out. Nothing is worth feeling unsafe.
If you show up to an interview and they explain a job and salary that is different than advertised… feel free to exit. This tactic is often used to get people in the door and then offer them something different (and less desirable). If they begin down ANY rabbit hole of “buy your own pens, rent your own desk, or unpaid training” you know you’re in for way more than you bargained for.
At any time if the words “unpaid day to assess your skills” or “contact your friends and family to see if they’re interested in our product” or “no benefits with full time” come up, you may want to head home early and spend that extra time hitting the search again.
How to make a professional exit
When you decide to leave, do it gracefully. Don’t get up, storm out, and slam the door so hard the pictures fall. You want to be respectful of the situation and everyone’s time. Simply thank the interviewer for their time and tell them you are not a fit for the company/position/pyramid scheme. Then make your exit and resume your day.
