I recently went through an interview process for a position I was truly excited about. I had conducted extensive research on the company and the role, and I believed it aligned perfectly with my skills and career objectives. Looking back, I noticed a red flag early on; the position had been reposted shortly before I applied. It made me pause, but my excitement about the opportunity led me to move forward anyway.
On the day of the interview, I was rear-ended in a car accident on my way there. I immediately contacted the company and even offered to leave before the police report just to make it on time, that’s how committed I was. Thankfully, the operations manager was incredibly understanding, professional, and kind. She rescheduled without hesitation and seemed genuinely concerned about my well-being. Her warmth and encouragement left such a positive impression that I almost declined another job offer I had on the table, because she told me I’d be a great fit. I’m so glad I didn’t.
The other hiring manager presented a completely different experience. She was unprofessional, cold, and frankly disrespectful. Her tone was condescending, her attitude dismissive, and her appearance, including her dragging pants and a visible tongue piercing, didn’t match the level of professionalism I expected, especially for someone in a client-facing leadership role.
During the interview, she gave me a tour of the clinic, and it quickly became clear that she barely knew the layout herself. She couldn’t identify which rooms were which.
As she walked me out, she asked me to “talk to people,” but gave no context or direction. When I clarified if she meant clients or staff, and whether there was anything specific I should share, she shrugged and said, “Figure it out.”
Thankfully, I know how to handle myself. I confidently introduced myself to the staff, shared who I was and why I was there, and left a great impression. But when I asked her afterward if that was what she wanted, she responded (in a rude tone), “I just wanted to see if you could actually talk to people.”
After the interview, and before I had even heard back, she viewed my LinkedIn profile multiple times, which felt unnecessary and, honestly, a bit strange considering how little communication followed.
The role offered low pay and no flexibility, especially given the expectations. And while I was initially torn because of the operations manager’s positive energy, I ultimately chose to accept the other job offer, a hybrid role with better pay, a respectful culture, and leadership that treats people with dignity.
Looking back, that interview was a blessing in disguise. It reminded me that one good interaction can’t make up for a toxic dynamic and that no role is worth compromising your standards or gut instincts. They also said they would let me know last Friday if I got the position. Never heard back only said the hiring manager viewed my LinkedIn profile numerous times.