A Redditor shared some Life Pro Tips in the forum when a man lost all his chances of landing a job minutes after entering the company building. How could things go south so quickly?
The Storyteller

OP (Original Poster) turned to Reddit with a story that’ll be helpful, not just to job hunters but also to everyone in a social setting.
In the thread, OP talks about a man trying to land a job at a new company but ends up failing miserably.
Blowing up All His Chances

OP shared that the applicant “blew his interview in the first five minutes after he entered the building.” When you enter a building you don’t work at, the reception desk is the first place you go for directions and assistance.
The applicant didn’t have time to do or go anywhere else. So, how could he fail his interview within minutes of arriving?
All the Things He Did Wrong

To give Redditors a better idea of what happened, OP shares all the things the candidate failed to do right.
OP said, “He was dismissive to the receptionist. She greeted him, and he barely made eye contact.” OP also added an edit saying, “It wasn’t just lack of eye contact. He was openly rude and treated her like she was beneath him.”
Trying to Start a Conversation

The receptionist didn’t give up and then started trying to start a conversation with the candidate. Per OP, the candidate still did not make eye contact, nor did he make an effort to show interest in speaking with her.
The Hiring Manager

However, the candidate failed to realize that the receptionist he was talking to was actually the company’s hiring manager!
In an edit, OP shared, “When he thought he was talking to the decision maker, personality totally changed. Suddenly he was friendly, open, relaxed.”
Having a Proper Conversation

After their interaction at the reception desk, the hiring manager called the candidate to the conference room to have a chat. During their conversation, the hiring manager told him that “Every single person on our team is valuable and worthy of respect.”
Breaking the News

Given what the hiring manager experienced with the candidate back at the reception desk, she didn’t feel he would be a good part of their team. So, she told him, “Thank you for your time, but the interview is over.”
What He Was Applying For

OP also added that the candidate was applying for a client-facing job. In this kind of position, being warm, approachable, and outgoing is essential.
Unfortunately, the candidate did everything that was the opposite of the traits mentioned above when talking to the receptionist. Thus, he ended up losing a chance at getting the job.
Be Nice; Be Kind

OP ended the post by reminding everyone to be nice to everyone in the building.
However, this reminder should be lived out in all aspects of life—not just job hunting!
The Community’s Insights

There’s a mix of reviews in the thread. Some completely agree with OP’s statement, some say the lesson should be for all aspects of life and not just work, and some say his advice goes both ways.
As an example of the latter, a top comment was, “Goes both ways; I once turned down a job because of the way the HR guy spoke to the receptionist.” Another replied, saying, “I turned a job down because of the way the receptionist treated me. And it wasn’t just me; she treated people who walked in after me like they weren’t worth her time, too.”
They’re All Assessing You!

A Redditor who said he’s been on all steps of the hiring process advised everyone to be mindful of how they treat everyone around them—not just the hiring manager and the receptionist.
He said, “Even if the receptionist weren’t the hiring manager, that receptionist would still get her two cents in at the water cooler while decisions are being made. In a few fields I’ve worked in, it wasn’t just the people in the conference room that were consulted before making an offer. Be on point at all times—every employee is a potential teammate, and they’re all assessing you.”
It’s a Common SOP Nowadays

Some people also said that it’s now common practice for companies to have their candidates sit in the lobby for a few minutes before the interview starts. One Redditor noted that this is why you should always “assume you’re being watched.”
Interview Lesson or Life Lesson?

For many Redditors, people must remember that being nice to everyone is not just a lesson on how to nail a job. More than that, it’s a life lesson we must always live by.
What Do You Think?

What would you do if you were the hiring manager in this scenario? If you were a job applicant, how would you treat the people you’ll encounter?
More From Quote Ambition

This Reddit user expressed her frustrations online when a grown man refused to move to the next piece of equipment so she could use the machine for her one-minute circuit workout!
She Refused to Give Her Mother-In-Law the Money Her Rich Husband Left for Their Children After He Died, Now People Consider Her a Selfish Woman

Family problems continued following this Redditor after she followed her dead husband’s wishes and saved the money he left for their kids.
He Told His Son-In-Law He Was Not His Grandson’s Biological Parent and Therefore Had No Right to Stop Him From Seeing His Mom

In this Reddit thread, a grandfather takes it upon himself to make decisions for his grandson’s life. But is his judgment something his grandson’s parents can trust?
She Banned Her Future Mother-In-Law From Attending Her Wedding, and Things Just Got Chaotic for the Soon-To-Be Wedded Couple

A Reddit user wants to know if she’s in the wrong for banning her fiancé’s mom from her big day after she spouts hurtful words at her and her daughter.
Was He Right For Telling His Bratty And Spoiled Sister-in-Law He Never Liked Her When She Suddenly Confessed Her Feelings for Him?

This Reddit user wants to know if he’s wrong for telling his sister-in-law he never liked her after she told him her feelings. He got brutally honest and told her he’d hated her ever since!
This post first appeared as He Blew His Job Interview “In the First 5 Minutes” After Botching up a Trick Test at the Reception Desk on Quote Ambition.