Comments on: 13 dumb job-interview moves

By: Annie

Annie — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 11:25:28 +0000

So much for the rule that one should never badmouth a former employer! But then, every rule has exceptions, and clearly this was one!

By: Be, Germantown Maryland

Be, Germantown Maryland — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 22:27:01 +0000

I was asked why I wanted to leave my then current job and I truthfully replied “My bosses wife is nut’s, she’s bi-polar and his entire family is crazy. She would walk past my desk and change things and say now I like that better and later that day 10 minutes or and hour she’s back again and changes whatever she just rearranged back to where it was and say now don’t you think that’s better like that? “I think so” and walk away.
She called me everyday and asked what’s my husbands ext#? The children stole money from the company and this entire office was on pins and needles. I was so freaked out when they asked the question in this laid back,very down down to earth setting of people I just spilled my guts and I “GOT THE JOB”! My backup plan was begging and falling to my knees!

By: Maria, Trinity, FL

Maria, Trinity, FL — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 00:32:10 +0000

Upon the question most large companies ask, “where do you see yourself in 5 to ten years”, I blurted out…”In your job”. Nevertheless, I did not get that job!

By: Pat, Hudson, FL

Pat, Hudson, FL — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 19:31:57 +0000

While working as a manager for a small restaurant chain, I set up an interview with a young lady whose application seemed fairly promising. However, she arrived for the interview wearing pj pants and fuzzy slippers. Unfortunately I wasn’t there to witness this, but for some unknown reason the manager who interviewed her hired her. Needless to say, she didn’t work out.

By: Ron, Virginia

Ron, Virginia — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 20:53:51 +0000

During an interview as a college student (which I was two minutes late for by the way), I heard relatively loud music throughout the interview. I asked the interviewer if she knew where the music was coming from, and she said “no”. As I exited the interview room, I realized that I was still hearing the music. I looked in my book bag, and it was my cd player playing the music through LARGE headphones. What was worse about the experience is that I was playing music with profanity-laced lyrics. Needless to say I didn’t get the job.

By: Chris, Maine

Chris, Maine — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 19:37:10 +0000

I am in Sales and I have worked for two companies over 13 years. The first company was a major manufacturer and I was there for a little over eleven years. I was very succesful there and was rewarded for my efforts. I had a great track record and sort of burnt out and felt it time for a change. I took a position with a midsized manufacturer almost two years ago. They are great people and great to work for problem is I do not like my job it is very entry level and I am not challenged. For the last three months I have been interviewing with other companies and have done great throughout the interview process. As soon as I get to the part when they do background checks I get shot down. I was divorced a few years back and it got messy and really screwed my credit up. I honestly believe that I am being denied as a result of poor credit. I have no criminal record and my driving record is clean except for two tickets in 2002 and 2004 which I do not even have points from. I realize that I am not gods gift to the universe but I cant understand what is going on. I flat out asked the last two denials what their decision was based on and their reply was, “Well, we really, really like you but after further consideration we feel maybe another candidate would be better suited.” Both these responses came right after they did a credit background.. What Gives…

By: Ernie- Cincinnati, Ohio

Ernie- Cincinnati, Ohio — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 15:39:23 +0000

Working as a recruiter my team and I would hear some of the craziest things during interviews. We kept track for a whole year and these are a few of our favorites…

-During an interview session an applicant stated: “I was able to check “YES” to four felonies on the back of this application. Is that a problem?”

-During an interview session an applicant stated: “Do criminal charges show up on my record? I was charged with assault of a police officer. But the charges were dropped because I was found not fit to stand trial.”

-After EVERY answer given by the applicant he added: “And that’s for Real”- with a Spanish accent… Best part is he was not spanish.

-Recruiter: “Congratulations, you have been accepted into our Airline Pilot Training Program. I see you live in California… will you be driving in or do we need to make flight arrangements for you?”
Applicant: “Wow 3 months is along time to be there for training. I will have to ask my mom if I can borrow the car for that long.”
Recruiter: “OK… well call us back and let us know what your mommy says.”

-Upon enterning the interview room the applicant stated: “I am glad you have garbage can in here, I need to throw-up.”

- Applicant stated-“My name is Tae Yung Wie Vu, but you can call me John.”

By: Brad, Colorado Springs, CO

Brad, Colorado Springs, CO — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 03:40:42 +0000

When I was looking for my first professional job, I interviewed with this gentleman who owned a small company. His wife also ran the company mostly as an office manager. When I showed up, at the time I had a new Mustang GT (1990 model) and there was no place to park except right at the front door. I was warned that employers might show some prejudice towards those who drive hot rod type of cars and I should park away from where I can be seen what I am driving.

When I parked, the gentleman and his wife saw the car. They owned a Volvo Station Wagon. We had the interview and it included lunch at Chi Chi’s. I of course didn’t get the job but the wife basically told me the car didn’t fit into their culture. My impression was the wife made the hiring decisions. She did offer some insight, lunch is a part of the interview process and I should get familiar with it as well.

By: Hannah San Diego, CA

Hannah San Diego, CA — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 10:30:21 +0000

The GOOD:
Panel of 8 men interviewed me. Got the second interview, couldn’t remember anyone’s name as I entered and shook their hands except one of them who was named David, who was acutally my future boss. He liked that I remembered, got hired.

The BAD: Interviewed at Sears, but had another interview lined up the following day at another retail store. Sears wanted to hire me on the spot, told them I had another interview and I wanted to see if they liked me also so I could pick between them. Hiring manager said I should go.

By: Alan, Sta. Ana, CA

Alan, Sta. Ana, CA — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 19:28:33 +0000

I once had an interview with a Fortune 100 company; everything was okay up to the point when the hiring manager started the actual interview. First, we looked for a vacant room where the interview can be conducted; next, he told me that his resume was 6 pages long; third, he told me that he drives from San Diego to Sta. Ana daily. And all throughout the interview, he talked about his plans for the company. I never got the opportunity to say a word because the hiring manager did all the talking; didn’t even ask me one question, except when the “interview” ended: “do you have any questions?”. Some kind of interview.

By: Jack, Toronto, ON

Jack, Toronto, ON — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 05:22:53 +0000

I once did a phone interview for a student internship position with this kid on the west coast. Our company was the market leader in our industry at the time. When I asked him “tell us what you know about the company” he said “well I think you’ve got your competition by the balls”.

We had to put him on mute and have a good laugh for about 10-15 seconds.

He didn’t get the job.

By: Teri, ATL GA

Teri, ATL GA — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 16:18:20 +0000

dumb job interview moves. heres two for you. Newly discgarged from the military without a clue on how to dress for an interview. i dressed in my sunday best – flaring pink 2pc dress suit w/matching pink shoes. and when asked the question “tell me something about yourself” I made it personal i.e., married, kids, etc. years later i look back and wonder how much that company must have laughed and talked about me when i left. another bad move was to not know how to operate a new cell phone i just bought. instead of turning it off before the interview i had it on and it rang. when trying to mute, or turn it off during the interview it stayed on anyway and rang a 2nd time. I was flushed with embarrasement but that expereince helped me to leave my dang phone in the car or at home if I don’t drive.

By: Dave Providence RI

Dave Providence RI — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 20:28:41 +0000

Once while shaking hands with the interviewer I knocked the tape off of his adding machine and it unrolled across the floor of his office and out the door into the hallway. He spent the rest of the interview trying to roll it back up and put it back together while we spoke. Didn’t get that internship.

By: Bob, Cleveland, TN

Bob, Cleveland, TN — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 14:08:15 +0000

I received resumes from two people last week that did not have phone numbers. I got one once where the applicant said she was a “fast leaner.”

Once, I interviewed a woman who arrived wearing a long wool coat. It was cool, but not that cool. I asked her if I could take it, but she declined. Despite that, the interview went well. Afterwards, I called one of her references, whose first question was, “Did she have that baby yet?”

By: Phillip, San Diego, Cal

Phillip, San Diego, Cal — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 18:47:13 +0000

For my first job interview, I could not find the office and walked up and down the street. After a while I decided to have a coffee, then decided to catch a bus home. On the way to the stop, I came across the Building. At this stage I was an hour late. I thought, OK, they can only throw me out, so I went in, saw reception, gave my name and she said take a seat with the other candidates. After 5 minutes the Manager came out and called my name. When we got in to the office, he apologized for the 1 hour delay, quickly looked through my application, then said, I guess I should hire you to make it up. I said yes and despite the poor start really enjoyed working at that bank.

By: Sandy, Boise, ID

Sandy, Boise, ID — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 17:38:03 +0000

OK. What about interviews with companies who don’t know how to conduct an interview? Here is a sample of what I have experienced: company reschedules interview FOUR times only hours before hand, ‘professional’ org is wearing ratty jeans at the interview, offering $7.50 an hour for a “Director” position, requiring a college degree for a job that pays $7.50 an hour and a masters degree for a job that pays $12 an hour, expecting a salaried employee to work 50-60 hours a week (slave labor), keeping the applicant waiting an HOUR for the interview, and, my personal favorite, the bait and switch: I apply for one job and end up getting offered a totally different job for much less pay.

By: Teresa - Mt View, CA 94043

Teresa - Mt View, CA 94043 — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 20:19:41 +0000

a sr. director for a high-tech company interviewed a sr. engineer while she was breast-feeding. i knew it after 8 months of being my boss. uggghhhh . . .

By: Denise, Tampa FL

Denise, Tampa FL — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 19:56:47 +0000

I actually had a friend that was running late for a job interview. He got cut off by another car so he gave them the finger and said few things to them. When they got to interview the person was running late also due to an irate driver on way to work. Guess who! He still could nto figure out why he didn’t get the job. he honestly felt he had showed how bad he wanted it.

By: Ashish Puri,Mumbai,India

Ashish Puri,Mumbai,India — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 09:58:01 +0000

When i told a job seeker engineer after his interview that he got selected …he hugged me and kissed my hand!!!!!!!!

By: Bonn, Philippines

Bonn, Philippines — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 15:32:54 +0000

I hadn’t updated my resume i had posted in an online HR, a friend had recommended me a few years back. I have a job but i figured out i have to move on and find another, so i had kept myself busy updating my online resume and sending it with job applications to companies listed as looking for someone in my profession. i finally got a call for an interview. i was so exited that i told my friend to come also since they told me they are looking for other positions too. The interview was going to be conducted inside a college campus. when it came for my turn, the interviewer kept me speaking for about 30 minutes regarding my family background, what i just did before i came in, and other questions that i really hate. i was surprised when after the interview they gave me an exam which similar to a quiz given by a college speech class. it was ok for me but my friend was interviewed for about 10 minutes only, and was not given the exam. i got a text message an hour later telling me to come for a second interview. later my friend told me that a friend of his inside the campus had told him that the company who just interviewed us is a call center looking for call center agents and representatives. I’m a CPA looking for a job related to my field!

i found out later that i had not sent them my resume. I don’t know how they got it. Needless to say, i did not go back for a second interview. About the online HR, well, i never accessed their website again.