Applicant's 'Nightmare' Interview Story Divides Viewers: 'How Dare They'

Writer, Trends

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In a now-viral video on TikTok, a job applicant from Miami said she recently walked out of a job interview because the entire process was a "nightmare."

Posting to the social media platform last week, Natalya Haddix said that she has "never been so disrespected in my life." The post has garnered over 188,000 views and more than 1,700 comments from viewers who couldn't agree whether or not the interview process Haddix described really was "disrespectful." Haddix's story also illustrated a couple of red flags experts warn applicants to be mindful of during the job interview process.

In her video, Haddix said the company contacted her after reviewing her application and résumé she submitted via Indeed.

"They're like, 'Oh, we liked your application [and] we'd like to interview you. Can you come in for this interview?'" Haddix recalled. "I'm like, that's a little inconvenient for a first interview...maybe a phone call or Zoom call?"

Woman waiting for interview — In this stock photo, a woman is seen waiting for an interview. In a now-viral TikTok video, a job applicant said she recently walked out of a job interview because the entire process was a... Chris Ryan/istock

Still, Haddix scheduled the interview, but the process turned out to be much different than she'd anticipated. According to Haddix, the company's office "wasn't even an office—just a room with two glass fishbowls side-by-side." When she checked in, the receptionist asked Haddix to fill out a paper application as if she were "applying for a summer job."

"I have not slaved away in my professional career to be applying for a job like this," Haddix said.

To make matters worse, the company had scheduled 10 other interviews to take place that same day, and due to the office's layout, Haddix heard everything the other applicants said during their interviews.

"I suddenly know things about these people that I don't need to be knowing," she said.

After all this, the interviewer was late for their appointment with Haddix, so she got up and left.

"If you want to show people that you don't care about your employees...have an interview process like that," Haddix concluded.

Interview Red Flags

Career expert Dana Manciagli told Fast Company that an interview "should be an employer's best day...so candidates should pay close attention to anything that seems amiss," such as being late.

"Not respecting someone's time isn't just rude, it's bad for business," Manciagli said. "If they're this rude at the interview, imagine how they would be as a manager."

Executive coach and leadership strategist Caroline Stokes told Harvard Business Review that general "disorganization" is another red flag to be mindful of.

"If things are scattered, and they're all over the place or they're disorganized, it's absolutely a red flag," Stokes said.

And while not necessarily a red flag, the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) said paper applications are "outdated and inefficient," and might prevent great candidates from applying.

Sharon Rosenblatt, an IT accessibility services professional, told SHRM that paper applications might shut applicants with visual disabilities "out of a job."

"This hurts the individual and can prevent a company from potentially hiring an otherwise perfectly qualified person," she added.

Viewers React

Despite what the experts say, some viewers felt Haddix's experience didn't warrant complaining.

"Oh, no! You had to show up in PERSON? And write on PAPER?!? How DARE they?!?" Jim said.

"I don't really understand the big problem," Shannon wrote.

Socks added: "Uhhhh this would be the process of an actual interview, my dear."

Others, however, agreed that the process was riddled with red flags and told Haddix she was right to walk away.

"I'm glad you walked out. You know your worth. I would have done the same. Good for you!" JDawg commented.

"What they put you through is absolutely a red flag," Rebecca O said.

Allie or Whatever added: "Good for you! A messy interview process should always be a huge turnoff! If they don't respect your time during the [interview process], they won't respect you."

Newsweek has reached out to Haddix for comment.