Dilemma of explaining to interviewer that he is the reason for declining second interview

manpreet Best Answer 2 years ago

During a recent interview for a job, I got a very bad feeling about the person who would be my team leader. The job itself would have suited me, but I disliked the person (his interview style was confrontational and he made unprofessional comments about people we mutually knew). So when I was invited to a second interview, I declined with a pro-forma statement ("... on reflection not a good fit...")

I received an email from them today expressing surprise and saying that I was their top candidate. As the person lives nearby, he suggested a meeting in person to hear my reasons why I declined.

I would like to avoid meeting this person again and let the company move onto the next candidate.

Several options occur to me, none of which seem without problems:

1. ignore the request (hence I will probably be blacklisted by the company for being totally unreliable)

2. explain again with a generalised statement via email that it wasn't a good fit etc. (risking that he still pursues the idea of a meeting)

3. be honest and say that I didn't find I could work with the person / personality clash (risking just looking like a jerk)

Which of these options would be the better approach, or are there alternatives that I haven't thought of?

manpreet 2 years ago

The second option would seem to be the most prudent - just expand on your points but gently explain politely that you have no intention of taking the application (or discussion) further.

You certainly have no obligation to meet him and the last option would seem to be lose-lose.

Reading between the lines, I suspect they are having problems recruiting (possibly for the reasons you've outlined). You were no doubt, an excellent candidate which is why he wanted to meet up to persuade you but it has to be a good fit on both sides.