Candidate walks out after interviewer boasts about working more than 24 hours for $100

Having priorities in life is crucial for a fulfilling life. An individual must understand what works for them, and what does not. During job hunting, priorities are an aspect one should never discount. People spend a lot of time at their respective workplaces and hence people must choose a place where they feel valued and comforted. If the saying "first impression is the last impression" holds any truth then interviews oftentimes give an individual the look-through they need to analyze the company. Reddit user u/StrangeJedi, went through something similar, as their first impression told them that this company prefers overworking, handing out inadequate pay and undervaluing their employees.

The candidate shared how their interview, did not begin with formal introductions, but with a story. The interviewer told them how he had been with the audio warehouse for a decade. Thereafter, he went on to talk about the way he operated during his early years, "I started my first day at 6 am and didn’t get home until 9 am the next day. I was paid $100 for the work and was happy to get it. A lot of people now don’t have the integrity to prove themselves like that, so we have to pay hourly.”

Unless the interviewer wanted to set the tone, the interviewee did not understand what this story had to do with the interview. In their opinion, the interviewer wanted to give off the impression, that people should work not for pay, but to prove themselves worthy. This is a capitalistic society, where it takes money to survive unless said interviewer could attest to surviving on uncompensated integrity. 

The interview then proceeded, and the interviewee was given a detailed explanation of their duties. They were also asked to buy an expensive suit that they were clearly not being paid enough to budget for. The pay was a mere $15.50 which would be nowhere close to enough for them in Southern California. The interviewer also slipped in that the "mandatory overtime" would increase the pay and make it "more than generous." It was "mandatory" to work extra hours, to have respectable pay there. This would leave the employee with no time for themselves or the opportunity to take on extra gigs elsewhere to make more money on the side should they choose to.

Moreover, the vibe of the interview was condescending. It was as if the interviewer, and by extension, the company, was doing a favor to the employee, by giving them a job. This implied, that there was a severe lack of respect, for the employees, and what they brought to the table. The environment felt manipulative and toxic, causing the employee to heavily consider accepting the position. Even, though they came into this interview, due to a recommendation, from an old coworker, they felt bad as they were about to let the coworker down by turning down that offer. The interviewee realized that devoting a huge chunk of their time to a place that would not respect them and treat them the way they wanted to, did not seem like a feasible option.

The comment section backed u/StrangeJedi's call. u/Karl0vich criticized the pay, "You said it yourself, $15.50 is the same as nothing in your area. Don't do work for nothing!" u/Difeent_408 believed this was the right call, "Wow, that sounds like a toxic work environment. You made the right choice by passing on that job opportunity." Even when the light at the end of the tunnel seems dim sometimes concerning job opportunities, it is important to know one's worth and have faith in oneself to be able to find the right opportunity.