Some people are born to run marathons. Others are born to drop out of them at the 26-mile mark, just when the finish line is within sight.
We’ve all heard tales of heroic candidates who conquered every hurdle in the recruitment process, only to combust in a blaze of glory right at the eleventh hour.
These are the stories of the brave souls who made it through the CV screening, the phone interviews, the aptitude tests, the personality quizzes, the psychometric evaluations, the 47 Zoom calls, and the face-to-face grillings, only to decide, halfway through the final interview, that they’d rather be anywhere else.
Let’s dive into these moments of spontaneous combustion and explore why some candidates choose to channel their inner Usain Bolt and sprint for the door.
The Sudden Realisation of a Mismatch
Ah, the magical moment when a candidate realises they’re sitting in a room full of people who speak an alien language known only as Corporate Jargonese.
One such candidate paused for a brief reflection before saying, “I’m sorry, but I have no idea what any of you are talking about,” and walked out with the dignity of someone who just escaped a cult.
It’s the equivalent of realising you’ve turned up to a fancy dress party in full costume, only to discover everyone else is wearing business attire. You could try to blend in, but it’s much easier to leave before anyone takes a photo.
The Overzealous Interview Panel
There’s nothing quite like being greeted by an interview panel with more members than a football team. Especially when each one is determined to ask a question more bizarre than the last.
Remember the candidate who, halfway through explaining their biggest weakness, decided they'd had enough of this surreal interrogation? They stood up, declared, “This is like being judged by the United Nations of Nonsense,” and exited to stunned silence.
Sometimes it’s better to leave than to be subjected to another round of “If you were an animal, what animal would you be?”
The Job Description Surprise
We’ve all seen job adverts that promise rainbows and sunshine but deliver a monsoon of misery. One candidate went through the process only to discover, during the final interview, that “flexible hours” actually meant “24/7 availability, including weekends and holidays.”
They calmly asked, “So when do I sleep?” and when met with blank stares, simply said, “I’ll pass, thanks,” and made a graceful exit.
It’s the job equivalent of ordering a gourmet meal and receiving a cold bowl of gruel. Sometimes, walking out is just good sense.
The Gut Feeling
Occasionally, candidates are hit with a wave of intuition during an interview, a sudden inner voice whispering, “Run away and don’t look back!”
One individual, after a lengthy discussion on company culture, suddenly stood up and said, “This place feels like it’s haunted by broken dreams. I’m out.”
Sometimes, the spidey senses tingle for a reason. And while it may seem impulsive, following that gut instinct can save a lot of heartache down the road.
The Unexpected Offer
Then there’s the candidate who, halfway through the interview, received a call about a job offer from another company. A better job, a dream job, the kind of role that makes angels sing and champagne corks pop.
Excusing themselves to take the call, they returned only to cheerfully announce, “I’ve just been offered my dream job, so I’ll be leaving now. Good luck with your search!”
Sometimes, life hands you an unexpected gift, and you’d be mad not to accept it.
Need to Recruit Candidates Who Won’t Bolt?
If these tales of mid-interview exits have you questioning the stability of your hiring process, fear not. At Coburg Banks, we specialise in finding candidates who actually want to be there and have the staying power to prove it.
So, if you’re tired of interviewing escape artists and want to recruit professionals who are committed to crossing that finish line, get in touch. We’ll make sure your candidates are in it for the long run - not just the first five minutes.
