Hostile job interview

[Anonymous]

Hi, everyone!
I have a question for everyone. I work retail, and I’m interested in advancing to full-time management and transfer out of sales associate that I’ve been doing for 6 years. I recently applied to a job, and I thought I had the qualifications down because I worked at handbag store for 4 years before it closed down, so I applied at this other handbag company that had a position opened. However, I didn't apply for a sales associate position, I applied for a title called supervisor I. The job ad said they’re interested in people with two-three year’s sales experience but the job ad didn't list if any management experience was required. I got a call from the store manager to come in that day for an interview, and I said yes. I come to the interview, and when the store manager leads me outside on the bench to talk, she says that corporate changed the qualifications for all the management positions. This position now requires 2-3 years’ management experience.
I understand that when one is interested in transferring out of sales to a key holder position, management will most likely want management experience. Also, I do realize job ads don’t always specify the requirements.
Anyway, let me talk more about this strange interview experience. I give the SM a confused look and ask why she wanted to interview me for this position when I don’t have the experience. I add that she wasn’t obligated to interview me, and I would rather have a rejection e-mail stating I didn’t meet the job requirements.
The SM said she wanted to get to know me. Then the SM proceeds to pick apart my resume that she has in her hands and asks me questions regarding my past retail experience. The SM doesn’t ask me questions related to the job or how I handle customer service.
Then the strangest words come out of her mouth. The SM says to me that she’s not only rejecting me for not having management experience, but the store is too small for me to operate in, I can’t manage a store this size unlike her, I shouldn’t apply for this position again until I have 2-3 years management experience, I’m not pretty enough to be a manager, I would never be a successful manager unlike her, and she doesn’t hire people to be managers under 30 years (I’m 24).
Can anyone explain what does it mean when someone says a store is too small for you to operate? I asked my current employers (they know I’m looking to leave because the company is doing poorly) this question and they said they never heard that. They only heard about being told when a store is too big for someone, not too small.

[Anonymous]

I would not spend one more minute thinking about this strange and rude woman. Count your blessings that you don't have to work for her. GL in your search and hope you land a management role!

[Anonymous]

I’d report her to corporate then forget about it.

[Anonymous]

Well that’s on you. Next time you get an interview operate under the assumption that either A. Nobody else applied and you are the most qualified applicant
B. They are intending to train somebody they LIKE
Or C. They have other opportunities in mind for you

Your line of questioning was hostile and I wouldn’t have hired you either

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well that’s on you. Next time you get an interview operate under the assumption that either A. Nobody else applied and you are the most qualified applicant
B. They are intending to train somebody they LIKE
Or C. They have other opportunities in mind for you

Your line of questioning was hostile and I wouldn’t have hired you either

You must be a troll because the job requirements on the job posting listed 2-3 years retail experience which I have. It's complete BS that oh-so-suddenly the rules are changed. I just e-mailed a store manager within the same company and asked if I needed any management experience through Linkedin, and the store manager said no (nice to have, but not mandatory).

[Anonymous]

No idea, but what a weirdo.

Your post is well-written and you sound like you have some ambition. Just keep at it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well that’s on you. Next time you get an interview operate under the assumption that either A. Nobody else applied and you are the most qualified applicant
B. They are intending to train somebody they LIKE
Or C. They have other opportunities in mind for you

Your line of questioning was hostile and I wouldn’t have hired you either

You must be a troll because the job requirements on the job posting listed 2-3 years retail experience which I have. It's complete BS that oh-so-suddenly the rules are changed. I just e-mailed a store manager within the same company and asked if I needed any management experience through Linkedin, and the store manager said no (nice to have, but not mandatory).

I am. And the jobs under the bridge keep all their promises. 🌈🦄😊

[Anonymous]

I’m pretty sure the “store is too small” was an insinuation you were too fat. What a monster.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m pretty sure the “store is too small” was an insinuation you were too fat. What a monster.

Actually, I'm quite fit. I work out four days a week on the treadmill doing sprints, lift weights, play tennis, do hip thrusts, and I'm a size 4. Maybe the fashion industry would consider that plus-size, but I'm not tall, and this is a retail store. The SM is plus-size and short like me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m pretty sure the “store is too small” was an insinuation you were too fat. What a monster.

Actually, I'm quite fit. I work out four days a week on the treadmill doing sprints, lift weights, play tennis, do hip thrusts, and I'm a size 4. Maybe the fashion industry would consider that plus-size, but I'm not tall, and this is a retail store. The SM is plus-size and short like me.

I feel like something else was going on here....did you know/cross paths with this woman previously? Is there bad blood between the company you worked for and her company?

You might never figure this one out, but assume that she is the one with the problem, not you. Don't be deterred by this. Persist!

[Anonymous]

Yes, I think you should report her to corporate. What a strange, nasty, person. Was she drinking? Did her husband just tell her he wanted a divorce?

Anyway, just keep looking, OP. Best of luck. I'm sure you'll get something interesting!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m pretty sure the “store is too small” was an insinuation you were too fat. What a monster.

Actually, I'm quite fit. I work out four days a week on the treadmill doing sprints, lift weights, play tennis, do hip thrusts, and I'm a size 4. Maybe the fashion industry would consider that plus-size, but I'm not tall, and this is a retail store. The SM is plus-size and short like me.

I feel like something else was going on here....did you know/cross paths with this woman previously? Is there bad blood between the company you worked for and her company?

You might never figure this one out, but assume that she is the one with the problem, not you. Don't be deterred by this. Persist!

Never seen or heard of her name ever. She mentioned in the interview that she was very pleased that my handbag store closed (the lease went up and the outlet mall company wanted too much money per month) while rubbing it in that her handbag company is doing absolutely fabulous and will remain at the outlet mall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well that’s on you. Next time you get an interview operate under the assumption that either A. Nobody else applied and you are the most qualified applicant
B. They are intending to train somebody they LIKE
Or C. They have other opportunities in mind for you

Your line of questioning was hostile and I wouldn’t have hired you either

Yes, some of this. It happens. Interviewers are people and it seems you hit it off from the start, and your questioning her on why they’re interviewing you out her on defensive. In any case, don’t think about it, you probably dodged a bullet with this manager.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well that’s on you. Next time you get an interview operate under the assumption that either A. Nobody else applied and you are the most qualified applicant
B. They are intending to train somebody they LIKE
Or C. They have other opportunities in mind for you

Your line of questioning was hostile and I wouldn’t have hired you either

Yes, some of this. It happens. Interviewers are people and it seems you hit it off from the start, and your questioning her on why they’re interviewing you out her on defensive. In any case, don’t think about it, you probably dodged a bullet with this manager.

Well, it doesn't make any sense to interview someone just to say that corporate just happened to call her store and tell her the job qualifications changed. When I went home, I looked up that position on their website and I went through every job posting. The only job position that wanted 3 years' management experience was the assistant store leader position, not the supervisor 1 position.

[Anonymous]

Listen, some people are just odd. But if you want a potential idea of what happened, it seems like she was offended by you quickly telling her you would have rather had a rejection email than come to meet her.

I'm not saying you're wrong, but I suspect that was more blunt than she liked and then she went into "You're not rejecting me, I'm rejecting you!" mode.