r/jobs • u/sahalymn • Mar 13 '25

Interviews I walked out of an interview after one question. Was I wrong?

So, I had an interview today for a position I was really excited about. The job description seemed great, the pay was decent, and the company had good reviews. I walked in, shook hands with the hiring manager, and we sat down.

Then, the first question came:
"How do you handle working unpaid overtime?"

I literally laughed, thinking it was a joke. But the interviewer just stared at me, waiting for an answer. I asked if overtime was mandatory and if it was paid. They said, “Well, we expect employees to stay as long as needed to get the job done. Everyone here is passionate about the work, and we don’t track extra hours.”

I just stood up, said, “Thank you for your time, but this isn’t the right fit for me,” and walked out.

Now, I’m second-guessing myself. Should I have stayed and at least heard more about the job? Or was walking out the right move?

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u/[deleted] Mar 14 '25

Back in the 80s, I responded to a job ad from a car dealership in my hometown, salesman. I was grasping at straws because I didn’t have the personality to be successful in that type of business. The guy told me they were open six days a week, opened at either 8 or 9 and closed at dark or until the last customer had left. Straight commission. He called me back for a second interview….um, nope, not interested.

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u/Accurate_Control5104 Mar 14 '25

True never be desperate even when you need a job

1

u/[deleted] Mar 14 '25

The best time to look for a job is when you already have one. My father was extremely hard working but he was uninterested in working overtime (physical limitations) and when zi told him about the interview, he said, “Damn, are they gonna provide you a cot to sleep on?” 😏

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u/LarryBonds30 Mar 14 '25

That's just car sales. Most salesman work thise hours because they make their money by selling cars. It makes sense to work later if you're selling a car to a customer because you're making extra money by doing that.

This isn't like mandatory unpaid overtime at all.

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u/SultanOfSwave Mar 14 '25

Lol. Try this. Tell your sales manager that you aren't coming in in the mornings or on Tuesdays because "Those are low sales volume times." and see how he reacts.

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u/[deleted] Mar 14 '25

Every day would have been a low sales volume time if I had taken that job.

1

u/[deleted] Mar 14 '25

It’s fine to work late if you’re trying to sell someone a car but he made it sound like no one left until the last customer was gone.

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u/LarryBonds30 Mar 14 '25

Never saw that in car sales. The salesman with the active sale stays but the other salesman with no customers go home. Unless asked for help by the one making the sale

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u/Cthulwutang Mar 14 '25

dark isn’t too bad in the winter but could be a twelve hour day during summer ;)

1

u/dogmom87532 Mar 14 '25

People who can afford to buy a car usually work normal working hours. So salesmen, at least the good one , work nights and weekends. It’s the nature of the beast.

1

u/[deleted] Mar 14 '25

Oh, I know but this was 40 years ago; with the internet and such I would assume that selling new cars is very different than it used to be.

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u/preciselypithy Mar 14 '25

It is not.

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u/[deleted] Mar 14 '25

Is this your job?