I (17F) applied for the busser and host position at a local Olive Garden.
I did some research beforehand and found out that the minimum age requirement to work at Olive Garden is 16 years old, which was perfect. Within a day of my applying, I got an e-mail saying that I got an interview (for both positions) so naturally I was very excited. My first interview went very well. I feel like I answered the hiring manager's questions very well and professionally. I made a point to say that I am in fact 17 years old, but that I would be turning 18 years old in November of this year. The hiring manager didn't seem to mind this, there was no indication that my age was a problem. I shook hands with her at the end of my interview and she told me she wanted me to come back for a follow-up interview the very next day. I of course agreed. I was very excited and it looked like I might get the job.
I go to the second interview, and this time it is a different manager interviewing me. The second interview was very similar to the first. I got asked basically all the same questions. I was even told that I would be able to possibly work both positions at the same time (busser and host). I gave the manager my availability which he said was perfect (I said I was available any day of the week except Mondays, which was fine because Olive Garden's busiest days are Fri-Sun). I told him that I was available to start working 8/22/23 which he also said was perfect. He was about to tell me that I got the job and then he paused. He looked at me for a second and asked how old I was, which I found odd because I made my age very clear on my application and during my first interview. I told him I was 17. He just looked at me and said, “Oh…” He recollected himself quickly and told me that he would have to ask his boss before hiring me. He shook my hand and then I left.
I tried really hard to not let this bother me, but of course, it did. Anyway, I just got an e-mail last night saying I was no longer being considered for the position.
This made me very angry, because I made it clear from the beginning that I was 17, and I was led to believe my age wasn't a problem. If they weren't going to hire me because of my age they should have never reached out to me for an interview. They wasted my time. So yea, fuck Olive Garden.