This isn't really a case of the guy being a twat
they do it on purpose.

Environments like that are super competitive, the 'consultants' they employ are put on the phones and made to hustle for business. They encourage competition and backstabbing among the employees.

They need a certain type of person. If you don't have the right personality for it, you wouldn't last a day.

So they put someone in the interview to give you a hard time, to see how thick your skin is.

They were as happy to see you tell them to get stuffed and walk out as you were doing it. It meant niehter of you wasted your time.

That's not to say he wasn't a twat of course, but even if he wasn't, his job was to act like one.
( Not Pineapple anymore, Fri 18 Jun 2010, 13:10, 1 reply)

Yes, but he chose that job.
Every workplace bully I've ever heard of was 'passionate' about their 'high pressure' job which 'requires a thick skin.'

(edit) Although the free market does seem to encourage or reward the bad aspects of people's personality, and punish the good parts.
(apeloverage committed the vile act of onanism on, Fri 18 Jun 2010, 14:08, closed)

well, if I get what you're saying . . .
It's actually not such a bad idea. The employee is in an even worse position if he has just left one job, and started a new one that he has no hope of sticking with.

It's a practical tactic for both sides. The potential employee won't gain anything by having a nice comfortable interview for a job in a shark pond that he can't handle.

It makes sense.
( Not Pineapple anymore, Fri 18 Jun 2010, 14:17, closed)