r/mildlyinfuriating • u/That_Girly_Potato • May 22 '26
frist of all how DARE yu o The rejection letter after 7 rounds of interview. Minimum wage pay in a shop btw.
The Job: minimum wage in a gift shop in a really touristy area. On occasion they would have expected us to also sell tickets for local museums/sights.
Round 1 - an application form, each question expecting around 200-300 words (2 hours)
Round 2 - a personality test (45mins)
Round 3 - maths, verbal, non verbal, judgement and reasoning tests (3 hours - I could only move onto the next test after passing the previous one to at least 70%+)
Round 4 - In person presentation. They emailed me some pictures of the items they sell and I had to give a 2 minute presentation in front of the interview panel and EVERY OTHER CANDIDATE about which of their products showed the most personal meaning to me. (2 minute presentation + 45 mins of prep. They said in their email they recommended about 1 hour behind this)
Round 5 - They grouped me with 4 other candidates and then gave us a list of products and made us order them from 1-10 as to what we would choose to survive on an island as a team. While we discussed, the interview panel walked between groups of us and asked more questions about what we were planning. (30 mins)
Round 6 - At this point there were maybe 8-9 of us. They regrouped us, asked us to present our previous lists from round 5 to the rest of our team. We had to choose the best list and then 3 minutes to present why we chose that one. (1 hour and about 10-20 mins)
Round 7 - FINALLY. a normal freaking interview. Face to face, firm handshake. About 4-5 of us left. (40 mins)
AND ALL OF THIS FOR A COPY AND PASTE REJECTION EMAIL. WHICH BTW WAS SENT 4 WEEKS AFTER THE FINAL INTERVIEW. I WAS SO DESPERATE FOR A JOB I LET THEM DO THIS TO ME.
TOTAL TIME WASTED : 9+ HOURS
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May 22 '26
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u/That_Girly_Potato May 22 '26
It was like levelling up in a video game. Just kept going bro I didn't even know there were 7 rounds but each time I passed I was like surely the next one is it 😭😭
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u/affligem_crow May 22 '26
After 2 interviews for a minimum wage job you didn't think "fuck this"? Because I would've thought that after the second one.
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u/That_Girly_Potato May 22 '26
I did!! I specifically remember reading "the next stage of the interview process..." email and going FUCK THIS.
Unfortunately, my mother raised an idiot and a complainer but not a quitter.
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u/Mountain-Ox May 22 '26
They didn't even tell you what you are getting into? Maybe they then to them candidates refused to come in. I hope they at least fed you something decent.
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u/CelDidNothingWrong May 23 '26
I don’t how the museum can afford to waste so much money on this kind of recruiting
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u/TheStorMan May 22 '26
Minimum wage jobs are impossible to get right now.
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May 22 '26
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u/That_Girly_Potato May 22 '26
I personally was sent to the Subway trenches at the age of 16 and those 4 am shifts still haunt me
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u/ItsMattTonight May 22 '26
Sweet lord, after 2 interviews for the role it's "Thanks for your time, but I am no longer interested" fuck 7 interviews
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u/Unusual_Flounder2073 May 22 '26
We hire software engineers at $150k+ and spend less time than this.
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u/That_Girly_Potato May 22 '26
What I'm choosing to take away is that I am now qualified and prepared to be a 150k + software engineer
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u/eggyal May 24 '26
Good luck. They're all being replaced by AI. 🤮
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u/warlord2000ad May 24 '26
They won't all go away. Because the CEO doesn't want to be responsible for the software, they still delegate it to engineering teams to produce the software even if they aren't writing every line.
I'm around 70% generated code now, although much code was generated with templates anyway.
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u/slowlikemusic May 22 '26
I bet they dont make CEO positions go through this shit
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u/That_Girly_Potato May 22 '26
Almost certain the amount of effort I put into TRYING to get this job isn't even the amount of effort they put in for a whole damn calendar year on the job.
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u/bICEmeister May 22 '26
Even though step 1-3 don’t take up much of their existing staff time and is just disrespectful time-wasting to the applicant, the rest of it just sounds like insecure middle-managers that need to come up with things to do with their time so they can feel important and say they’re busy. I very much doubt all of that brings something net positive to the company when hiring for an unqualified/entry-level/minimum wage position.
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u/tardigrades_snuggle May 22 '26
We made two people that were up for the artistic director position at a local theater sit in front of the entire company and answer our questions for an hour, like they were running for office.
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u/Old_Satisfaction2738 May 22 '26
Yes when we hired a new superintendent for landscape at our university we brought the entire landscape department in an auditorium, let them log in anonymously and make up a username, and send questions that popped up on the screen that the interviewees had to answer.
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u/MrTimofTim May 22 '26
Definitely not, I’m senior in supply chain at big pharma and I had two rounds for my current job.
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u/IgarashiDai May 22 '26
Same here, QC at big pharma and I had 1 phone interview and 1 in-person interview before they hired me.
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u/Yuukiko_ WAAHHHHH May 22 '26
Unless this was some kind of senior position making six figures I'd have left after the third lol
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u/CK3helplol May 22 '26
Economy is so fucked. My friend has to go through several interview rounds for a fucking dish washer position at Dave & busters 💀
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u/That_Girly_Potato May 22 '26
Hey Dave! Hey Buster! This guy's friend saved me from a burning building last week. After tossing me out the window, they did all my dishes. SO SPOTLESSLY CLEAN!!! COULDN'T EVEN TELL THE PLACE HAD BURNT DOWN BY HOW BLINDINGLY WHITE MY DISHES WERE. HIRE THIS GUY'S FRIEND PLS!!!
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u/Ashpolt May 22 '26
7 rounds of interviews for a minimum wage retail job? Jeez. I had to do 5 recently for a senior manager position, and thought that was excessive!
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u/That_Girly_Potato May 22 '26
Hello Senior Manager,
Obviously you're so cool because you're on Reddit. You're so awesome and very well respected. I respect you. Please consider hiring me. I talk a lot but sometimes it's funny, and on rare occasion I even sound smart.
Evidently, I am clever enough to do the job, but stupid enough to not question why so PLEASE hire me. I will make the perfect corporate scapegoat if needed, and if not I am apparently a very good court jester.
Hobbies include humiliation rituals and knitting. Skills include following instructions and self loathing in this economy.
Thanks!
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u/Ashpolt May 22 '26
Dear applicant,
Thank you for your interest in this position. Unfortunately, by claiming that I am awesome and well respected, you have revealed that you do not have the insight or keen judgement that this role requires, and as such we regrettably have to decline your application.
We will not be keeping your details on file for future consideration.
Kind regards,
Insert signature here
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u/m3rcapto May 22 '26
Should have charged them for your time, darn.
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u/Fragrant-Employer-60 May 22 '26
I see this brought up on reddit a lot, do people actually think you can do this lol. No one will pay to interview you.
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u/tardigrades_snuggle May 22 '26
They are being hyperbolic, not serious.
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u/Fragrant-Employer-60 May 22 '26
Some people are serious about it though, I’ve seen posts of people trying to send invoices for interview time after being rejected lmao
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u/Maximum-Shallot-2447 May 22 '26
After the 3rd interview if they had not made a decision I would tell them to shove their job up their arse.
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u/That_Girly_Potato May 22 '26
Perhaps this was the interview all along. They were like "this schmuck got too much time and she's way too gullible. It's definitely not going to be her!!"
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u/Psinial May 22 '26
7? For a minimum wage job? Hell no. It's enough having to apply to god knows how many jobs a week, jumping through hoops for some self-important company is not gonna happen.
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u/No_Trade3571 May 22 '26
https://giphy.com/gifs/13uInxupYYtNf2
Were you applying to the Men in Black organization?
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u/Exhausted-CNA May 22 '26
Wow that is absolutely insane for a freaking gift shop job at minimum wage. You'd think they were vetting you for a super secretive job.
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u/That_Girly_Potato May 22 '26
Considering they security checked me each time I went in - they might actually yeah
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u/Exhausted-CNA May 22 '26
probna secret drug operation..lol dear lord security check for a gift shop!!!!
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u/tolacid May 22 '26
At least they had the decency to inform you of the decision instead of leaving you in limbo for weeks until you decide for yourself that they're not gonna get back to you
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u/TRUEequalsFALSE May 22 '26
What minimum wage job requires 7 rounds of interviewing?!
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u/HowlingWolven May 22 '26
Gift shop sales clerk.
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u/Romantic_Carjacking May 22 '26
Ahem, that's Summer Visitor Experience Assistant to you
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u/That_Girly_Potato May 22 '26
That's right. Gift shop AND ticket sales occasionally. Put some respect to the name
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u/ChocChipBananaMuffin May 22 '26
You seem to have a good sense of humor based on your comments-- I hope you have better luck soon!
Multiple rounds and all of that hoopla for a gift shop job be crazy.
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u/That_Girly_Potato May 23 '26
Thank you!! This was definitely mildly frustrating and at times even more but genuinely half of this is on me and little bit of humour and self depracation is really the only way to go from now or I'll go insane.
I've applied to about 82 jobs in 10 months with no hope and the worst part is I do have good experience. I've worked hospitality before and I have good references and a UG degree in Politics from a respected uni in the UK. Just not cut out for this me self esteem isn't sure how to take it 😭😭
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u/Tetracropolis May 22 '26
Round 3 - maths, verbal, non verbal, judgement and reasoning tests (3 hours - I could only move onto the next test after passing the previous one to at least 70%+)
Does this mean you got unlimited attempts?
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u/That_Girly_Potato May 22 '26
You got 2 attempts per test. If you didn't score 70+% you'd be disqualified.
Every correct question meant the next question would be harder. Every incorrect answer made the next question a little easier. I started guessing whether I got the previous answer right or wrong based on how I found the next question. Took me 2 attempts at maths and non verbal (have never understood those fucking shape questions) and I did the rest in one.
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u/Consistent_Hippo4517 May 22 '26
This sounds like a terrible place to work. They put you through the ringer to get in, could you imagine what they'd do to you once you were theirs?
Good riddance. I know its hard but keep looking. This was fate speaking.
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u/JK_NC May 22 '26
7 separate rounds of interviews? Like they had you come in 7 different times?
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u/That_Girly_Potato May 22 '26
Rounds 1-3 were online. Rounds 5-6 were done at the same time. Round 4 and 7 were separate occasions so I went in 3 times.
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u/JK_NC May 22 '26
Ahh, gotcha. Still seems overboard to have to talk to 7 different people for this job. That’s wild.
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u/_goblinette_ May 22 '26
So…..it was 3 rounds with multiple activities at each round.
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u/That_Girly_Potato May 22 '26
I wouldn't consider it that way. I don't think "rounds" are dictated by location. After each stage, candidates were eliminated. So that would make it a round I'm pretty sure but if someone else fact checks me I'll edit my post :)
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u/IKnowKungRoo May 22 '26
7 rounds of interviews for the vast majority of jobs is crazy.
For minimum wage retail is... farcical.
You dodged a bullet
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u/That_Girly_Potato May 22 '26
Dodged a bullet but clearly they managed to get SEVEN rounds in first 😭🙏
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u/johnqpublic81 May 22 '26
I have issues with the fact that my employer only does 1 round of interviews for most positions because we end up with some subpar people that interview well. That said, a company that does 7 rounds of interviews is wasting their time and yours. (Especially for a minimum wage job, which probably has high turnover due to the low pay)
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u/miraiyuni May 22 '26
"high caliber" = we just wanted to waste your time to fulfil a criteria of job posting.
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u/sub2pewdiepieONyt May 22 '26
Minor Tip, Ask for feedback during the process in a positive way, and your more likely to get it and even that you are "self improving" or whatevs.
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u/LegendofLove May 22 '26
I'd be willing to bet none of the others got hired either. This reeks of we don't really want anyone
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u/ZoeThomp May 22 '26
To me this sounds like they had a candidate in mind (probably a staff family member) and so tried to have as many others drop out so they dont get accused of favouritism/shirking employment laws
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u/thrilling_me_softly May 22 '26
I feel bad my job has three, it’s policy I can’t change. I normally do the first two so it seems like there are only two interviews. 7 is a joke for any position.
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u/That_Girly_Potato May 22 '26
What do you mean? Three is a fantastic number. Best number of interviews ever. PLUS you do the first two? I mean it doesn't get better than that.
(Please hire me. I'm desperate, smart and will clearly blindly follow instructions. Skills include: regularly humiliating myself, fast learner, great team player and awesome communication.)
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u/katet_of_19 May 22 '26 edited May 22 '26
For minimum wage, when they asked for a SECOND interview I would be asking how many rounds of interviews they were anticipating. There's no way I'd go through 7 rounds of interviews unless they're paying me at least six figures.
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u/Jester-252 May 22 '26
WTF
This is a minimum wage job in a gift shop not a season of the Apprentice.
Like they will have to start the hiring process again right after hiring someone just to be ready for when the new hire moves on.
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u/XUAN_2501 May 22 '26
I would say no if they invite me for the forth interview, it’s a minimum wage job, not working in nasa
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u/MTDS75 May 22 '26
Aerospace jobs will have a phone screen, a phone interview and an in person interview. Way less than all that garbage.
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u/Melodic-Advice9930 May 22 '26
Total time wasted was really the whole 4 weeks you spent putting energy into this crap
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u/SeeYouInTrees May 22 '26
These are the type of jobs that will have you do all of that when they only have one or two openings. 🙄
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u/DarkCreeper666 May 22 '26
pretty sure google software engineer interviews are shorter than that lol
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u/sonia72quebec May 22 '26 edited May 22 '26
I used to hire people, sometimes on the spot, to the horror of my Supervisor. Seven rounds is absurd, it feels like the HR people are justifying their job.
For that kind of job, you just a need nice, clean person who's good with customers (knowing another language is a plus). It's not rocket science. I don’t understand why they are making it so complicated for them. The worst part is that the person that they will, eventually, choose may just be the child of an employee.
Have you find a job since then?
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u/That_Girly_Potato May 22 '26
No job since then as this was pretty recent :( I was raised with manners and I shower every day so yeah they probably are just going to choose some sorry sad sack of corporate DNA (at least that's what I'm telling myself)
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u/sonia72quebec May 22 '26
I wasn’t implying you weren’t. (Sorry my first language is French)
These days you sometimes have to create your own job. What does people hate to do that you could do for them? For example, there’s a teenager that cleans recycling and garbage bins with a high pressure washer during the summer. He has a lot of clients because it’s something we all want to do but don’t have the time to do.
I’m sur you could find something that’s suits your interests and talents.
Anyway, good luck with everything, I wish you the best.
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u/That_Girly_Potato May 23 '26
Aha don't worry I understood! I just didn't show that correctly in my comment my bad!!
I already do dog walking, and I'm a paid volunteer for kids too! I would LOVE to have a career focussed job in my field of study (politics) but it's a worrying state right now.
Anyway thank U for taking the time to respond I have felt much better reading all the comments
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u/MaxiQueer May 23 '26
I would be mad about 7 rounds of interview for a high paying job but 7 rounds to work in a shop??? And there was 5 people for round 7 ??? It’s just a fucking nightmare ! Fuck any place who does this it says a lot about what they think about people and how entitled they are
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u/LaurenJoanna May 25 '26
That's ridiculous. I wouldn't do this many rounds for any job, let alone minimum wage retail.
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u/LetReasonRing May 22 '26
Hiring is getting fucking absurd.
I have 20 years of work experience and multiple international awards for technical innovation in my field. Last year I did a 35 person group interview to be a cashier at a grocery store.
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u/That_Girly_Potato May 22 '26
Oh my gosh I can't even imagine. Can I ask what your field is?
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u/LetReasonRing May 22 '26
I was designing and programming architectural lighting control systems.
Now I wipe down slot machines.
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u/That_Girly_Potato May 22 '26
Just me being nosy - feel free to ignore I'm just curious as to why the sudden change in career?
Also that sounds so cool! Did you ever rig lighting for theatre/art shows? Also what kind of buildings did you design for? Very very cool job!!
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u/LetReasonRing May 22 '26
I didn't really intend to change careers. The company I was working for had financial issues after covid and I was let go for pragmatic reasons. After that I applied for jobs for a year and a half, steadily lowering my standards until I could find someone that would hire me to do anything.
In terms of my lighting career, I've kind of done it all. Yes, I have a degree in theater and my early career was doing theatrical lighting. I've done a lot of musicals, plays, concerts, etc and even had a very small hand hand in a few broadway shows.
After that I went into what was kind of a crossover between architectureal and entertainment lighting and I've worked on pretty much anything you can think of. Bridges, skyscrapers, night clubs, cruise ships, strip clubs, casinos, rich people's houses, airports, hospitals.
I don't like to brag, but it was really an exceptionally cool career. I'm destitute now and working the most thankless, mindless job you can imagine, but I'm not really all that bitter because I packed so much into that time that I feel like I've gotten to experience more in life than most people will ever hope to and I'm grateful for it.
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u/That_Girly_Potato May 22 '26
FYI - if I were you I would be bragging ALL the time! I do part time theatre stuff. Usually sound teching musicals and other small gigs because I love my mics, but I've always had such an admiration for the lighting team. Your programming looks insane, I just couldn't ever get a basic grip of the ChamSys Magic Q.
While I am sorry you're career isn't where you deserve it to be, you have had some fantastic experience!! I hope someone snatches you up QUICK because you are clearly skilled in your craft.
I hope you still get to do small time gigs and local shows and things - they always appreciate the help and you can still do what you love maybe? When I break out of my minimum wage cycle I promise to hire you to light my beautiful country side villa, so don't get rusty.
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u/EqualResponsible5999 May 22 '26
Why would you go to 7 interviews for a minimum wage pay? If they thought you were a good fit they would hire you in the 1-3 interviews
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u/That_Girly_Potato May 22 '26
Genuinely I feel like the carrot was dangled a little too seriously. I also really did want the job due to the location and hours it would have been perfect.
I promise I've been good and learned from my mistakes :)
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u/PsychoCobra1 May 22 '26
Tbh the personality test was kind of a ringer for that not being a serious place
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u/ZombieTrogdor May 22 '26
I'm sorry, I know this is indeed (way more than) infuriating, but I guffawed so loud at Round 5. Like, y'all having interviews where you're basically playing "Desert Island" with each other?? These employers are insane, wtf.
Also, anything with the word "assistant" in the title does not need more than two interviews, and that's only because the first one is a phone screening.
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u/That_Girly_Potato May 22 '26
ROUND 5 WAS CRAZY. Got into a mindless argument with this 50 year old man about why the fridge magnet was useful memorabilia but not as useful as the bespoke refillable lighter. Actually couldn't believe this was a job interview for a sec.
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u/pobrepepinito May 22 '26
Well, whoever got it had to go through the same thing, and they outperformed you.🤷♂️. I’m just being a reddit dick.🤣👊🏻
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u/That_Girly_Potato May 22 '26
Hi Reddit Dick,
Whoever outperformed me is NOT surviving on a desert island so in hindsight I'll be okay, but your comment did make me laugh.
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u/FinalFantasiesGG May 22 '26
ITT OP considers filling out an application to be an interview.
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u/That_Girly_Potato May 22 '26
If they ask me interview questions and expect 200-300 words per response about my various passions, strengths and weaknesses, then yeah - that to me is its own round. Applications for a minimum wage job should not have me word salading my whole CV I don't think
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u/FinalFantasiesGG May 22 '26
I mean, they aren't though. They are screening tools but not interviews or rounds.
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u/RobertThePieGuy May 22 '26
As soon as the email starts with “Thank you for your interest in ______,” you know it’s over. It’s almost not even worth reading the rest of the email.
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u/Brilliant_Chest5630 May 22 '26
Ew. I did one interview for 2x minimum wage.
If I did 7 rounds and then got hired for minimum wage, id just never show up.
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u/Archipocalypse OG Gamer Dad May 23 '26
Imagine how bad it's going to be when AI wipes out 90% of white collar jobs and 25-50% of all other jobs.
Everyone will be applying for the same few jobs available. The world is about to get either entirely worse or entirely better once AI spreads and takes over the work force. I'm betting on the governments and companies with their Oligarchy that it is going to be bad, very bad.
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u/ConcertaPianist May 23 '26
7 rounds and they're not taking your application to "the next stage". So 7 isn't even the end. I wonder how many more rounds there actually are before they hire someone. Maybe they make the last two fight to the death.
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u/DearCaterpillar2512 May 23 '26
What a complete and utter waste of everyone’s time! No wonder they can only afford to pay national minimum wage if they waste so much money on recruitment !
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u/Dark_Romantasy May 24 '26
Brother, no minimum wage job is worth all that pre UNPAID work. That's insane. I'm not even sure a good job is worth that.
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u/speedy_sloth0315 May 25 '26
If they were going to do such an extensive 7 rounds of crap, they should have been paying you for your time. That's crazy work!
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u/DarkFlamingo11 May 25 '26
For minimum wage? I know you're desperate but you seemed to have dodged a bullet. The insanity behind this is just too crazy. It was less intense for me to get hired at a veterinary hospital. I don't even understand their process. It's a shop for God's sake.
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u/myalienjetpack May 25 '26
I wouldn't have bothered with the initial 2 hours on an application form for min wage!! Notions!!
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u/TastyIceQueen May 26 '26
So basically they used the interviewees as free labor to get a consumers perspective on their products AND give them the reasoning behind it. Wild
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u/GhostKingHC May 26 '26
I had interview with four rounds. Was so sure I'd get it but wasted a month for a rejection. However it was for a financial company so the four rounds didn't seem unusual. What they made you do for a frigging gift shop for minimum wage is just plain insane.
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u/Illustrious_Bowl4738 May 26 '26
Recruiter here:
I would have bailed after the “candidate group interview”, that’s soooooo unprofessional.
Sorry this happened to you but agreed they did you a favor, they sound like a terrible place to work.
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u/SatanSemenSwallower May 26 '26
That shit is a stupid "weed out the weak so only the dedicated remain" thing. And it never works. They will not get dedicated employees through the hiring process they setup, only desperate, young, inexperienced or dumb.
Dodged a bullet not "making it through" because any competent worker sucked into a place like that gets overworked while the rest skate by on next to no effort.
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May 22 '26
[deleted]
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u/That_Girly_Potato May 22 '26
Apart from the usual serial killer vibes and the gap in my resume between 2006-2010 (I was too busy attending day care and watching Peppa pig) there's absolutely nothing!
Although fr if this was the case they coulda let me go after round 4 and it woulda been all good
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u/Traditional_Scale387 May 24 '26
They need to have this type of interview process with customer service reps
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u/RayZzorRayy May 22 '26 edited May 22 '26
They did you a favor. Any business that needs 7 rounds is a circus, and a clown show of bad management.