I live in a small city in Europe. Since the university here is one of few that offers a certain course of study and it's a lovely place to live, there has always been an excess of people looking for a job in my profession. This has changed in the last months for several reasons. Suddenly there aren't enough applicants and employers are complaining that “no one wants to work”. Still, it's unbelievable with how much disrespect you get treated.
I applied for a job a few weeks ago. Didn't get any response at all, but after two weeks I decided to give it one last try and called them, asking if they got my applicationand there were any news. The employee on the phone told me she didn't know but would ask the boss as soon as he arrives.
In the next morning the boss sends me an email telling me that he would love to meet me and asking what would be the soonest possible time for me to start. I replied instantly and told him, with a one month's notice for quitting my current job, I could start at the 15th of the following month. I also asked when he would like to meet me.
He didn't reply for another one and a half weeks. Then, early in the morning, I get an email asking if I could come in for an interview today. I was already a bit mad but decided to still give it a try, so I agreed and asked when he would like to see me. It took him four hours to answer, still not giving me an exact time but asking how long it would take me to get there. I replied immediately, asking again when he would like me to come. After that he didn't reply at all, so I decided not to waste my day off and told him that I had other obligations for today and could not wait any longer.
About a week later he askes me again if I could come in for an interview. This time, after some back and forth, I finally get him to make an appointment. I was pretty sure that I didn't want the job at that point, but also a bit curious, so I met him. What can I say?
Extremely rude and disrespectful, didn't tell me anything about the job or potential benefits, didn't seem interested in me at all, just went through is checklist and then – I kid you not – told me I could begin at the 15th. I was so baffled that I didn't know what to say at first, but then told him that wasn't possible, even if I decided to take the job. It was the soonest possible start back then, but now due to him having me wait for weeks it would, as a matter of fact, take me much longer. Also, I had to think about his offer first and was not sure if I would accept it.
He looked at me in deep surprise and said “So you don't want to work here?” as if it was the most curious thing he ever heard and he couldn't really believe it.
Like, dude, you need to convince me to work for you as much as vice versa.