Idle time

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In 2021 I had applied for a job at a reputed company for a managerial position. It was still the post pandemic period where the interviews happened virtually. The HR representative had called me multiple times to confirm the date and time for the interview. I did confirm multiple times.

It was the day of interview. It was a working day where I taken little time out to attend the interview. I joined the interview before the scheduled time. It was the time for the interview and I was the only one on the bridge.
5 minutes in and nobody showed up.
10 minutes in and I was still the only attendee. I called up the HR but it went unanswered.
15 minutes in and still nobody joined. I decided to drop off. After disconnecting, I emailed the HR representative informing the whole disaster. I got back to my work.

Almost 45 minutes later, I got a call from the HR, "the project manager was not available at that time, so they could not join. They are available now, join the same bridge". No apology for wasting my time, no request to join, just straight up order. As a professional with 14 years of experience, that did not sit well with me.
"I am not joining. Tell whoever was supposed to take the interview", I responded coldly.
"What? No, they are waiting in the bridge. We will be done in 15 minutes," the HR was being pushy.
I was not ready to back down, "as I said, I am not joining. Your company has already wasted my time. I no longer intend to give any more time".
"The project manager was busy. Can't you understand?" By this time HR representative was screaming.
"First, keep your voice down. They were busy one hour ago. I am busy now. Their time has value, so does mine," I was cool as cucumber.
"No, but we fixed the interview. You need to get on the bridge," HR representative kept insisting, their voice had gone from anger to panic.
"Like I said twice before, I am not joining. You called me several times to confirm the time and yet nobody from your company shows up for 15 minutes. Is this how interviews work?" I kept my frustration at bay.
"If you don't join, I will need to withdraw your application," she warned.
"Sure, go ahead," I replied.
"What should I tell the project manager? They are waiting for you. They will be upset if you don't join," she cried.
"That is not my crisis," I said and hung up the call.

In my entire professional career, this was the first time ever that 'no show by interviewers' happened. It never happened with me not with any people I knew. I had interviewed several candidates, but it never happened with any side. Interviewers and interviewees always show up on time.

When I discussed with a colleague, he had advised me to back down. Here is what I think: The company had no respect for my time or the appointment that they fixed themselves. I was not willing to trust such company with my career who could not follow the most basic professional etiquette of being punctual.

In corporate one must understand that we are collaborators and we need to treated with professionalism. If the professionalism lacked during the interview from either sides, it may create bigger problems later.

Hence, be vigilant and notice the early signs.