Woman hailed as brave following powerful job rejection goes viral
![A woman rejected a job after a “brutal” interview with the company’s CEO. [Photo: Instagram]](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/peRF_t98Ibq9OJgsioMPhA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD02Nzc-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/homerun/feed_manager_auto_publish_494/aa209857dd7bdf354488961e57165222)
For many, receiving a job offer is a dream come true. But one woman has gone viral after sharing her reasons for rejecting a job on Twitter, and her reasons strike a chord with many.
Olivia Bland, 22, applied for a job at a company called Web Applications UK based in Oldham, and was granted an interview.
According to her account on Twitter, she was later offered the role but chose to reject it following her experience at the “brutal” interview with the company CEO.
Yesterday morning I had a job interview for a position at a company called Web Applications UK. After a brutal 2 hour interview, in which the CEO Craig Dean tore both me and my writing to shreds (and called me an underachiever), I was offered the job. This was my response today. pic.twitter.com/gijDpsEVHY
— olivia (@oliviaabland) January 29, 2019
The now-viral post has received tens of thousands of retweets and likes on the social sharing platform, with thousands commenting below.
Many applauded Olivia on her reaction to the company, which highlights the “two-way” nature of job offers.
Bravo. This is amazing. Your job, workplace, colleagues etc should never make you feel anything like you were made to feel. I absolutely applaud you xx
— Sally O’Shea (@sweetiesal) January 30, 2019
Good for you. A job is a two-way thing. A job offer isn’t a present from them to you. Your talent is a present to them and it’s clear they wouldn’t appreciate it at all.
— Darren McLean (@DarrenJMcLean) January 29, 2019
”This job is supposed to be the present. I don’t want it.” I don’t think that I have ever read something so powerful and brave. You didn’t just stand up for yourself but for so many others too. Thank you!
— Ivan Fahy (@IvanFahy) January 30, 2019
Well done you for kicking them to the kerb. If that’s how they treat you before you start just imagine what it’s like to work there!! And their Twitter profile says they ‘develop people’?? You are worth so much more – good luck with the job search!
— KayJay #FBPE (@skyhighshoes) January 30, 2019
Others shared their experiences of toxic employment situations.
Unlike you I took the job where I felt like this in the interview and it was the worst 3 months of my life, where my mental health took a massive hit. Over three years ago and I still get anxious thinking about it. Good on you for sticking up for yourself.
— Kelly (@Kelly_QPR) January 30, 2019
Literally the exact same thing happened to me about 10 years ago. I managed to prove myself by not crying (I was told other women cried) but was forced to go for a drink with the team and ended up crying in the bar toilets. I will never forget it
— Carrie (@smurff83) January 29, 2019
Olivia, if you did end up taking the job you’d regret it big time bc he would continue to do everything in his power to intimidate and belittle you. I’m in a situation now where I have a Male co worker who tries to assert power over me (a young woman myself) and it’s horrible 😔
— Lilly ✨ (@MimiImmLast) January 30, 2019
Web Applications UK have since responded to Olivia’s post with a statement on their website.
It reads: “The Board of Directors at Web Applications UK is deeply concerned by the serious allegations made on social media following a recent job interview led by Chief Executive, Craig Dean.
“The Board strongly condemns any form of bullying or intimidation. In response to the allegations, the Directors have carried out an internal investigation, independent from Craig Dean, including interviewing all employees who were directly involved in the recruitment process. […]
“In response to the allegations made, and following completion of our investigation, the Board is satisfied that no bullying or intimidation occurred. Nonetheless, the Directors are extremely saddened by this incident and the impact that this has had on the individual concerned, particularly as we are a company that takes great pride in nurturing the aspirations of young people. We will take this opportunity to reflect carefully on our recruitment process and HR policies.”
It is unknown whether they have responded to Olivia directly, however she has since claimed on Twitter to have heard nothing.
Excuse me @WebAppUK but this isn’t good enough. I haven’t even received a direct apology from your company. Fix up. pic.twitter.com/PRScP5k90N
— olivia (@oliviaabland) January 31, 2019
Web Applications UK did not immediately respond to Yahoo Style‘s request for comment.
Verbal bullying, as Olivia claims to have experienced, isn’t the only type of negative employment situation.
As the world continues to recoil in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal, the spotlight has been thrown onto the issue of sexual harassment in the workplace.
The legal definition, within the Equality Act 2010, states that sexual harassment is behaviour that is either meant to, or has the effect of violating your dignity or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment.
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What to do if you’re experiencing sexual harassment at work
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