Ended Up Being A Bad Experience

(After a month of searching I finally snag an interview. It is a 40 minute drive to their offices, but hey, it is a potential job. I wait another 30 minutes before the interview, which lasts 10. It seemed to have gone well…)

Me: “Thank you again for the interview. I really appreciate it. When should I expect a follow-up call?”

Interviewer: “There won’t be one.”

Me: “Oh. Did… I say something wrong? I thought we had a good rapport. I mean, even if we didn’t, I figured there would be a follow-up call to let me know that I wouldn’t fit the job position.”

Interviewer: “No. No. You did just fine. But we filled the job two days ago.”

Me: “Oh… then why did you interview me? Is there another position available?”

Interviewer: “No, there isn’t. We felt that since you put in the time to apply that we should interview you.”

Me: “Even when there isn’t a job available?”

Interviewer: “It’s good experience to have interviews!”

Me: “I’m sorry, but just so I’m clear about all of this: I spent 40 minutes driving here, 30 minutes waiting in the lobby, roughly 10 minutes for the interview, and I anticipate another 40 minutes for a drive back home. Altogether I’ve had two hours of my time, that I could have spent applying for more jobs, and 80 miles worth of gas, wasted for a position that isn’t available?”

Interviewer: “But interviewing is a good experience and will help you with future job hunts.”

Me: “Yeah. Could you at least honor one request of mine and destroy my resume? I don’t want it in your files.”

(As I leave the room, there are three more people sitting in the lobby, obviously dressed up for interviews.)

Me: “Are you all here to interview for [Job] position?”

(They all nod or mumble yes.)

Me: “Don’t bother. They filled it two days ago and didn’t notify us.”

(When the interviewer acknowledged this, everyone seated got up to leave, one gentleman ranting about the hour long drive it took for him to get there. All the while the interviewer was shouting behind us ‘It’s a good experience!’)