Left a job interview a year ago and walked out, and I don't regret it.
This happened about a year ago. I had just graduated with a degree in computer science and was looking for my first job after university. I already had a year of experience because I did a 'year in industry' in London. I had just received a job offer in London for £50,000, but honestly, I didn't want to work in London again. I applied for this job thinking it was remote, but it turned out it wasn't.
Anyway, I saw a job ad for a small company that had been up for a while, so I decided to apply. A few days later, I got a phone call and they asked me to come in. When I entered the small parking lot next to a few houses they had converted into offices, I parked next to a gold-colored BMW i8. Apparently, the company was doing very well.
We went through the usual interview talk for about fifteen minutes, and then I was asked the annoying question, "What are your salary expectations?" I kept beating around the bush to avoid giving a specific number. The CEO got very annoyed by this and brazenly told me to name a number. I told him 40,000. He laughed. I was a bit surprised because that was the same number written in the ad. He then gave me a lecture on how recruitment agencies exaggerate numbers and mess with new graduates' heads to make them ask for high salaries. He said that it was clear I didn't know my own value and that I would be lucky to find a job with that salary. Honestly, I was shocked and didn't know what to say in response. So I asked him what he could pay. After he bad-mouthed my GitHub portfolio and said I should only put working software on it, he told me 25,000. At that moment, I stood up, shook his hand, thanked him for his time, and ended the interview.
A few minutes after I left, I received an official offer in a text message on my phone. I replied that I had unfortunately received an offer for more than double what he had offered, so I wouldn't be considering their offer again. It was a great feeling.
Jobadvisor
Thanks for sharing that story — it’s an experience that hits on a lot of important points, especially for new grads navigating their early careers in tech.
Here’s what really stands out:
1. You Knew Your Worth
Despite being early in your career, you already had a year of industry experience and a strong enough portfolio to get a £50k offer in London — that's not just "graduate level," it's valuable. Knowing your worth and sticking to it takes confidence, and it’s exactly what saved you from wasting your time further with that company.
2. Red Flags Were Everywhere
From the misleading job ad (implying remote but not) to the CEO’s hostile attitude and dismissiveness of your GitHub (instead of offering constructive feedback), everything screamed "bad culture." It’s often said that interviews go both ways, and this one gave you all the insight you needed.
3. Walking Out Was 100% Justified
Some people think walking out of an interview is unprofessional, but there’s nothing unprofessional about leaving a situation that’s wasting your time or showing you disrespect. You did it politely and with self-respect. That’s not burning bridges — that’s choosing the right ones to cross.
4. The Instant Offer Text? Desperate.
It says a lot that they sent an offer right after lowballing you and criticizing your portfolio. It shows they knew they misstepped — or they just needed a warm body to fill a role and were hoping you’d take it anyway. Either way, it reinforced that walking away was the best choice.
If you're comfortable sharing, I’d be curious — how did things turn out with the £50k job? Did you take it or go a different route? Either way, stories like yours are helpful reminders that interviews are as much about finding the right fit as they are about impressing someone.