David's Bridal review: Interview gone wrong

When I walked into David's Bridal on December 26th, 2023 for an interview I did not expect to witness and experience what I did. I went straight to the girl at the podium as no one was manning the customer service desk and she was the only one in clear view. she asked how she could help and I informed her that I had an interview at 3pm. I was 10 minutes early. she seemed to be lacking confidence due to a lack of eye contact. However, she did not seem to have issues making eye contact with others. She told me that the manager should be right out after explaining that she would let the manager know I had arrived. She then gestured to two chairs set at the front of the salon and suggested I have a seat if I wanted. I thanked her and sat down. I was seated next to a beautiful display of a lace wedding gown and two floor length bridesmaids dresses. I waited until near 4pm when the same girl finally approached me and weakly minded my hand as if she didn't want to touch me. Her name was lacey. She apologized for having me wait so long and she figured the least she could do was get the interview started as if there was going to be a secondary manager that came in after her. On the way to the back room she explained that she had just walked another girl out of an interview that she wasn't sure why they were interviewing for so long. I Had been there for an hour and saw no one walk out alone. We sat in the employee room. She told me that people may come in at any time as if she was expecting someone to do so. She Had a clipboard with a multi-page interview packet on it. She truncated the interview after filling out one page at which point she made one second of eye contact, right after asking me why I was interested in David's Bridal and then told me thinks she had everything she needed. She told me as we rose from our seats that they had a couple more days of interviews to do but they would email me if they were going to move forward with the hiring process. Again, she weakly shook my hand and we exchanged niceties. On the way out I saw another girl at the podium, who was looking back at lacey as if to confirm a thumbs down, like we were still in ancient Rome. 15 minutes after I left I noticed I had already received an email stating that they would not be moving forward with the process for varied reasons. I received the email at 3:50pm. I was called back for the interview at 3:44pm.

While I was sitting at the front, I noticed a few other things that felt out of place for bridal salon with a reputation like David's.

One of the stylists seem to take little care with the bridal gown that I was seated next to. She was yanking on the spaghetti straps and standing on the dress' train. This improper procedure could have torn the dress, costing the company time and money. She should have had help handling the merchandise. There seemed to be an absence of a dress code for some of the staff. A couple of the girls working the podium, including Lacey, who's hem was above the knee and no tights/leggings, looked like they were getting ready for the club.

The code of conduct is in question as well, as my existence was ignored for an hour as I listened to Lacey and the other girls at the podium chat about unseemly topics; boys not paying enough attention to them, going out to social events together, which suggested a clique, and demeaning others' station in life. I wasn't even offered water. Not to mention the truncated interview; I was interviewed for less tha'n 6 minutes!

I noticed a few brides and their bridesmaids walk out without anything and with looks of dismay. Each of the brides, except one, made eye contact with me on their way out.

I'm 95% sure that lacey is the hiring manager. I would also like to note that David's Bridal is an equal opportunity employer. I was discriminated against. This behavior is immature and illegal. I am living in a women's shelter trying to find a job where I can make a positive impact while I am in school and very possibly make a career.

My sister got her dress at David's Bridal and had a wonderful experience. I was witness to her picking her dress. I once thought i would get my dress at David's. That is now in question. I wish I had gotten photos.