A laid-off person is often seen as a hard-pressed job seeker who is willing to accept anything and everything from some employers. However, the 43-year-old, who was released for eight months, chose “dignity over despair”.
In a video shared on Instagram, the man said he was invited to a “vice-presidential level interview.” He did not specify whether he was being interviewed for the vice president role or was hired by the vice president as part of senior recruiting.
Documenting his experience via an Instagram reel, the man revealed he was invited for an interview at 8pm but had to wait an hour – something he described as “a red flag in itself”.
“I should be desperate but this interview was supposed to start at 8pm, the red flag itself was starting that late but they kept me waiting past 9pm,” shared the user, who goes by the name @midlifereboot43.
He said if a company treats a potential employee this way before they even start, he’s not sure how it will turn out after they start.
“I don’t know how bad it would be when I got on. So we’ll see. We’ll move on to the next job, to the next role, to the next interview. This reboot will continue.”
The man, who has had a financial career of six to eight months without a job, captioned his post on Instagram: “Always choose dignity over despair.
The video has since gone viral and received numerous reactions online, with several users applauding him for his actions while some suggested he should have waited a little longer.
One user commented: “You did the right thing. It speaks to the culture.”
Another user wrote: “I disagree. Interview delays are common and can happen for a variety of reasons.”
“You did the absolutely right thing. Maybe they’ll treat the next candidate with dignity. Thanks!” another user commented.
A third user said: “More power to you! If they can’t respect your time, they don’t deserve your time. You will find something that is truly meant for you.”
A fourth user said: “I disagree. Interview delays are common and can happen for a variety of reasons. I would still attend the interview to gain experience; the outcome is secondary. This is just my perspective, no offense.”
A fifth user said: “Who schedules a meeting for 8pm?” Unless it’s in a different time zone via Teams.”
