I've Built My Business by Firing Arrogant Assholes Like You

I had the bright idea of working with a recruiter a few years back. She was fairly prominent in the industry and I felt I had a big score when she brought me in for an interview and had a lot of praise. I felt like a genius about to quickly climb the ladder.

Two days later she said she had an opportunity for me. It wasn't a good fit, and I told her so. I wanted to work for a big company, this company had 2 people. This company focused in governmental affairs and I didn't have any experience there, nor did I want to. I told her I wasn't interested, but she insisted. It could be good practice and once I heard the firm's story it might work out.

It sounded like a good idea, so I went. It was an awful idea.

I was seated in a cramped conference room and waited for 30 minutes. Luckily I had snagged an interesting magazine, but after 30 minutes I decided it might be time to leave.

Just then the owner came in.

"Who are you?"

I gave him my name. "I'm here for the account management position." I told him the recruiter had set up this meeting.

"She always sends me awful people. Tell me about yourself."

He had a point, I wasn't necessarily a perfect fit, but I gave him a quick overview. 20 seconds in I could tell he was frustrated. He cut me off and started telling me what he was looking for. He was barking out points of what he was looking for and it was clear that I wasn't it. It was also very clear that I didn't want to work for this guy.

So after about 10 minutes of conversation I said, "Look, it seems like we aren't a great fit and I know we are both busy, so let's call this a wash and end the interview."

End an interview sometime. It's very empowering. I felt I had saved us both time and I was feeling pretty proud, but I quickly tumbled to earth.

"I don't like you," he said. "And I've built my business by firing arrogant assholes like you."

I can't think of any other time I've been called arrogant so I was pretty surprised by this reaction. My hope was that at least the interview was over. It wasn't.

He then proceeded to lecture me for 10 minutes on how I should have respect for everything he's accomplished in life and how I would be lucky to join his two person firm. He even threw in a line that I should "respect those that had come before me" even though he was only five years my senior.

Eventually he finished. I said thanks and walked out.

I left the recruiter a message saying it hadn't gone well. I didn't receive any more opportunities from her. In a way I felt it was some kind of psychological test that I had failed. People aren't really like this, are they?