15+ Unpredictable Stories That Prove Job Seeking Can Be Full of Surprises

Many people know that changing jobs is a real challenge. In the beginning, you want to leave as smoothly as possible. But when it comes to finding a new place that will meet all your personal requirements, even simple interviews can turn into adventures with surprises.

• I was invited to work for one company. The conditions were excellent, the salary was good, even though things at my previous job were not that bad too. But I fell for beautiful stories. I quit and went to a new place.
  But I worked there only 3 days and quit. Among all those good moments lurked another truth, which the management hid from me. They had no holidays, sick leave, employees often had to work on weekends.
  As the manager said, “These are trifles! The main thing is that the rest of the working conditions cover all the disadvantages!” Yeah, sure thing. And here I am without a job, with a mortgage, but happy for some reason. © Work Stories / VK
• I decided to find a new job! I liked the conditions in one place, so I passed the first stage of the hiring process. Then I enter the office for an interview with the manager and... boom! My ex-husband!
  We didn’t part well. He looked at me and said, “Olga, I am ready to hire you if you promise me to treat your work with the same seriousness and zeal, as you were suing for my property during the divorce.” I said I’d think about it and left.
  But I realize that I won’t be able to work in peace next to him, because I really overdid it then. I’m still a little ashamed.
• I decided to earn some money and get a job as a sales assistant. After an interview, they offered me a salary of $500, and then asked me, “Will you leave if it turns out that the salary is even less?” Are you serious?! © Overheard / Ideer

• I was in a creative job that I was very good at (owners even asked my advice regularly, and I did a lot of the training and mentoring), but didn’t pay so well. I took a chance and went into a technical job dealing with some of the machinery that I used in the old career. Pay more than doubled, but it was a tough transition.
  At 47, I went from being the “old wise man” in a very small company to a complete amateur in a big multinational overnight. It took about 2 years to get out of the valley of despair. I finally got to feeling like I know what I’m doing and got a big raise and promotion.
  It helps that I’m working for a very “nice” company, but I think it was good to get out of my comfort zone and just do my best. So many times I just wanted to give up, go back to what I knew. Sometimes it takes just gritting your teeth and refusing to quit. It gets better. © bkfabrication / Reddit
• I worked in a company where I had to travel around the city and update the software for clients. There were no prospects, but I had to live somehow. I started to look for a new job. Went to one interview, but we didn’t fit each other.
  A couple of days later, my manager calls me and happily informs me, “Today is your last working day. You’re leaving tomorrow.” It turned out that she had somehow found out about my interview. © xumuk032 / Pikabu
• 6 months ago, I quit my job at the bank and started working on fulfilling my dream of being a photographer. I studied for 4 months, took various courses, and now I’ve been practicing my new profession for 2 months.
  Every time I read people’s positive reviews, I become so happy! And especially when people call me, make an appointment for a photo shoot and tell me that I was recommended by someone — it’s doubly pleasant.
  People around me told me that I was a fool because of changing such a prestigious job for a photographer. But I never regretted that I had put my university diploma on a distant shelf. © Work Stories / VK

• Went for a job interview. Find out the job wasn’t what I thought it was. I openly ranted about Terry, my friend/the employee that got me the interview, accusing him of setting this up to make fun of all of us. We all laughed and made fun of Terry.
  I told them I was in no way qualified for the job, and they shouldn’t hire me. It took all the pressure off so it went from an interview to just a bunch of techs talking work. As I was leaving the manager said, “If we offer you the job, would you take it?” “Sure,” I said, “Why not, you know full well my skill sets.”
  I remember that moment as I was very flippant about the offer, not taking it seriously. Insane hours trying to get stuff up and running, managing vendors, etc, lots of stress, it was more than I could handle at the time. With my skill set today I’d do the work in 20 hours a week and slack off. I fought the fight, and it turned into a career changing job. © _The_Room / Reddit
• 6 months ago, I started a new job. I liked the team. I don’t like conflicts, I’m polite, I can’t make a fuss. And my coworkers are the same. But, as practice has shown, they are more cunning than me.
  A couple of months ago, I began to notice that they try to blame me for the failures of the projects in which I was briefly involved. Now I’ve become that mean and boring person who refuses to help, answers dryly, writes complaints to the management when needed.
  I’ve stopped being asked for help, but that’s okay, I’ll get over it. I realized that it’s impossible to be good in this team, otherwise you’ll be held responsible for all mistakes, and why would I need this? I’d rather be bad. © Work Stories / VK
• I was looking for a job in a new city. I have an extensive experience, because I am a specialist in my field. I went to 6 interviews and all employers agreed to hire me. I promised to call them all back and let them know my decision.
  In the end, I chose the ideal conditions for myself and informed all the other employers that I had chosen another company. So, one of them cursed me and yelled all sorts of nasty things into the phone. A very strange man... very strange! © Overheard / Ideer

• I just accepted a new job after being laid off for just under 2 months. I start in 2 weeks. I am super grateful to have gotten a job as my anxiety convinced me I wouldn’t and, of course, went to worse case scenario. Now I cannot stop thinking about failing at this new job. I don’t feel like I deserve it.
  My last boss really destroyed my confidence. I just don’t know how to begin to believe in myself again. I have been doing a lot of positive affirmations and challenging my thoughts, but it is really hard. © kkgibbo / Reddit
• Almost a year ago, I started a new job. And I can’t get used to the current conditions — they’re perfect! We’re not allowed to stay overtime. It’s only 6 p.m. and we’re chased out of office. The boss personally checks the availability of coffee and tea in the canteen.
  They pay for our mobile connection, as we have to make occasional work-related calls. Salary is always on time, there has never been a delay. Now I’m really scared of losing my job. This is the first time I feel this way. © Work Stories / VK
• I worked in a large insurance company where there were more bosses than subordinates. These bosses were actively fighting common sense, so I had to change jobs. I posted my CV.
  A company called me and offered a position related to phone sales. I politely explained to the employee that I was not interested in sales, because I was a bit tired of people, and said goodbye. 2 days later, the employee called back and said, “Your CV caught interest of our manager, and we are ready to offer you a lot of other vacancies. Come for an interview.” I agreed and came.
  We entered a spacious office and began chatting with the manager. She immediately offered sales. I once again drew her attention to the fact that I was not interested in sales and that I had come for the promised “other” vacancies. The manager looked at me in surprise and told me that they had only one vacancy at the moment — sales.
  In the end, we talked a little more, and I was asked to wait outside the door for one minute while the head of the department decided something. But even after 15 minutes, no one came out of the manager’s office. I just left. They wasted both my time and theirs. © LizniRozetku / Pikabu

• I started a new job 6 months ago, but sometimes I feel like I’m in a TV series. Though I go to work with desire and interest every day.
  As soon as I got the job, I was immediately attracted to my coworker, who sits at the next table. But we didn’t get further than mutual sympathy — only giggled together. For the last 2 months, the head of the department shows signs of attention to me, and I accept them, but I’m still not sure about him.
  And for the last 2 weeks, I have been working on a project with the CEO, and he is now showing signs of attention to me. And now I don’t know who to choose. Santa Barbara, that’s for sure. © Work Stories / VK
• During a job interview, a man a few years older than me entered the office. Our eyes met for a moment and I thought how cool he was. But who knew that he would turn out to be my boss, because of whom I would leave everything and join another company.
  It’s been 2 years, but there’s nothing between us. He’s married. And my knees still tremble every time I see him. © Overheard / Ideer
• Having learnt from bitter experience at my previous jobs, I came up with a lifehack. When I quit my job once again, I bought a new phone with a new SIM card specifically for work. At job interviews, I only left this number.
  I got a job and gave this number to everyone. I turn the phone on in the morning when I leave home for work and turn it off in the evening when I got up from my desk. So, no calls at weekends asking to come to work, and no calls asking to come back when I’ve already reached home. © Overheard / Ideer

• I worked in a consulting firm, and I had been traveling 100% for 3 straight years. I was getting married, and before the wedding, I agreed with the management that I would like to take a leave of absence. They agreed, both verbally and in email.
  But right after the wedding, they started calling me asking me to start working as soon as possible. Although there were other people who were quite capable of replacing me.
  In the end, I finished the project and resigned. Of course, I didn’t forget to mention that I can’t work with a person who doesn’t respect their employees and agreements. The funny thing is, he never understood. © Unknown author / Quora
• I pathologically hate communication. I was getting used to the current team for 3 months. Now I want to change jobs, and they all need “sociable and communicative sales managers” or operators.
  I went for an interview, and they said, “You’re a bit quiet! How are you going to communicate with the client and the team in the office?” What do you mean? I’m not stupid, I know some things. But it’s frustrating to realize that “not being chatty” is a new stigma. © Overheard / Ideer
• I still get occasional calls from my boss at the first job I never got. He calls and yells, “Why aren’t you at work? I didn’t give you a day off!” And it’s been 23 years, and he still won’t stop. © AndrussKopatych / Pikabu
• I’m completely burnt out. I wake up in a good mood, but when I got to work, it’s gone. I decided to look for another job!
  They invited me to an interview. A friend advised, “Wear your panties inside out. Luck will come to you. I passed my exam this way.” Silly, but I decided to try it.
  In the end, my luck played out differently: I was not hired for a new job, and in the evening I was told that I was fired from my old one. Oh, those panties! © Work Stories / VK

And these people decided to change their careers after 30 and succeeded.