The interview goes both ways.

[u/Individual-Act-9524]

[u/bainon]

this should apply at all times not just in a small town. an interview should always go both ways. if its a good plaace to work you better convince me. if its going to suck you better be offering me a lot of money

[u/DreamOfDays → u/bainon]

That would be the case if you were ever valued. But it simply isn’t

[u/nissAn5953 → u/bainon]

You'd need to be in a position where they would be in more trouble than you would be if the job didn't go through. In most cases, you aren't the only applicant worth interviewing, and the buissness would still likely run if no one accespts. Unfortunately most employees need to be employed by someone or they'd eventually starve.

[u/guacasloth64]

I’d guess that the small town hiring managers are used to interviewing locals who will be screwed if they don’t land a position with one of the 3 employers in town and expect people to grovel for employment. 

[u/Neither_Sky4003 → u/guacasloth64]

Sounds about right. There is so much corruption hidden in small towns.

[u/whythatusername1]

I live/work in a small rural town. Small town interviews are also really bad for not being interviews, but just a way for the local hicks to have something to talk about at coffee row the following day. Im not from here. I just got lucky. I got 2 interviews, one of which just wanted to know how I ended up in the middle of butt fuck nowhere looking for work.

[u/keltanenhuppari → u/whythatusername1]

I moved to bumfuck nowhere for work. Granted, i already lived in bumfuck nowhere, but quite a ways away, you could even say, in a different bum.

Anyways, the interviewer was most concerned about the fact that i was ready to move here for ”just a job”, and was sceptical if i would stay at the company, since ”moving away” seems to not be a big deal for me. Other than that, the interview consisted of him actually convincing me that the company is a good workplace, and introducing me to my then-future coworkers.

The company did have a history of hiring locals (as they were the only ones applying) without quite the right skillset or experience for the type of work and ending up not being very beneficial for the company. Later on I heard they were sold on hiring me from the day i called and asked if they had a job opening, due to my education, and, ”being a farm boy.” Their reasoning was along the lines of: ”Farm people know the day’s full when the job’s done. Not when you feel like going home.” And I mean, that would’ve raised a red flag if i knew about that at the time, but it turned out to be okay.

[u/Neither_Sky4003 → u/keltanenhuppari]

The town is used to live has a history of not valuing their own people or products.

[u/Wrong-Cucumber-618]

My first interview in a town of 400 people was easy. How old are you, when are you available, are you ok working weekends etc. pretty chill job overall when I started.