As a 58-year-old retired Headteacher, studying for a PhD, I recently began looking for a part-time job to run alongside my studies. Finding an advertisement for a Customer Assistant post offering 12 hours per week at the Whitstable Marks and Spencer’s Foodhall, I spent a considerable amount of time completing an online application; including the pre interview screening activities and the uploading of both my CV and a covering letter. I received an email on the 10th of August 2022 at 17.44 that confirmed the time and date: 12/08/2022 at 15.30 with Donna Parrett. On arrival, I was kept waiting on the shop floor. Eventually Donna arrived and I was then taken to a windowless box room. Donna left me alone, while she went to get some paperwork. She seemed ill prepared; born out by the fact that she seemed to know nothing about me and to have not read any of the details from my CV or the covering letter. In fact, she addressed me as Elouise - this is not my name. My name is Cliff and she assumed that Cliff was a man, despite the fact that my CV, application form and covering letter clearly states the form of address as ‘Mrs’ and my CV includes an identifying photograph. During the 30 minutes I spent with Donna she seemed rather keener to provide me with details about her own private life, rather than find out about my skillset. I learnt: • Donna moved to Broadstairs with her husband to have a ‘different way of life’ from that in London . • Donna had worked at Price Waterhouse for many years – mentioned on numerous occasions. • Donna’s husband worked within the police force, investigating internal corruption and it was a highly stressful job. • Donna’s husband now had to commute into London, but felt it was worth it when he turned into their street at the end of the day. • Donna and her husband lived in a very nice, big house that looked out over the coastline. It was clear from the onset that Donna assumed that I was not suitable for the position. It seemed to be related to the fact that she thought I was too educated, too “posh.” A word she used several times, including within the statement “posh people were just people” too! She voiced her view that I would “be bored” and find things “boring." This was not an opinion shared or voiced by myself. It is now Monday 1st September 2022, 20 days since I had the 'interview' and I have still had no notification from Donna Parrett, or indeed anyone else. I have emailed this complaint multiple time to a variety of key HR people at M&S - still nothing! Frankly, I am appalled at the lack of professionalism demonstrated by Donna Parrett; her assumptions about me were entirely negative and judgemental and the fact that she couldn’t even be bothered to contact me [presumably to tell me I was unsuccessful] really does say it all. I would very much appreciate some response, from someone senior to this member of staff, as I believe I deserve at the very least some form of apology and explanation as to why recruitment protocols [I assume this is not how recruitment ordinarily happens at Marks and Spencer’s?] have not been followed.