It's common to be nervous before attending an interview. I mean heck... sweaty palms, fumbling over words, lack of eye contact... it happens all the time. I see many signs of interview nervousness and tend to blow it off to just that. However, there are some instances where the manager just couldn't ignore the red flags. A survey of top personnel executives of 100 major American corporations turned up these stories of unusual behavior by job applicants. Here are some of the best of the collection of interview mishaps..." A balding candidate abruptly excused himself. Returned to office a few minutes later, wearing a hairpiece."
"Stated that, if he were hired, he would demonstrate his loyalty by having the corporate logo tattooed on his forearm."
"A telephone call came in for the job applicant. It was from his wife. His side of the conversation went like this: "Which company? When do I start? What's the salary?" I said, "I assume you're not interested in conducting the interview any further." He promptly responded, "I am as long as you'll pay me more. "I didn't hire him, but later found out there was no other job offer. It was a scam to get a higher offer."
"... asked who the lovely babe was, pointing to the picture on my desk. When I said it was my wife, he asked if she was home now and wanted my phone number. I called security."
Q. What five or six adjectives best describe you?
A. Really, really, really, really, really cool.
Q. How do you handle change?
A. I usually put it in a jar in my sock drawer.
Q. Are you willing to take a drug test as part of your employment?
A. Sure. What kind of drugs do I get to test?
Have you ever seen something you could not believe in an interview? Maybe asked a very random question during an interview... comment and let us know your story.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Craig says: (3:56PM on Jul 29th 2009) Vote Up Vote DownReport2/5
Heh, those are classic. :)
Probably the worst thing that's happened to me involves rain. Got caught on an interview once during a downpour, with me having to walk 5 blocks from the subway to the office building. By the time I got there, I was thoroughly soaked. I had to play nice with the receptionist to allow me to towel off in the restroom.
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Carolyn Melendez says: (2:17AM on Sep 7th 2009) Vote Up Vote DownReport2.5/3
I was interviewing for a job when I was twenty years old and on the interviewers desk was a picture of a woman. I don't know what came over me I guess I was nervous but I blurted out " is that your daughter ? he said, "No, (chuckled a bit ) it's my girlfriend. I instantly felt my ears get hot. I walked out of
there thinking "I blew it." Later that day i got a call to come in for orientation, I got the job and
worked there for 5 yrs.
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ted says: (8:46PM on Sep 19th 2009) Vote Up Vote DownReport1/3
Ask one time if I mined to go take a drug test,I said no if I can go study for it it might take a couple of days..didnt want the job after they offered it to me for 75% of my other job
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chefsheree60 says: (9:03PM on Sep 19th 2009) Vote Up Vote DownReport3/3
I was a manager in a hospital, the candidate told me that the reason she quit her previous job was because she had a co-worker with H.I.V. and there was no way she would work with anyone who had AIDS.
This womans job was as a dishwasher. She also told me that she would not be able to work anytime we had a patient with HIV or AIDS. Nedless to say I asked her to leave and she was not offered a job.
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Audrey says: (9:17PM on Sep 19th 2009) Vote Up Vote DownReport2.5/3
I went for an interview for an office position, the owner was doing the interviewing. He told me about the responsibilities of the job and one of the "perks". He liked to have his "girls" over to his house for lunch, alone! Needless to say I RAN from that interview!
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REASON says: (10:08PM on Sep 19th 2009) Vote Up Vote DownReport3/3
I was once asked what my ideal job was. I responded, "Rock Star." He smiled and said, "No, seriously." I said, "Seriously. What are the downsides to being a Rock Star?" Needless to say I didn't get the job.
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Rick says: (10:39PM on Sep 19th 2009) Vote Up Vote DownReport2.5/3
A few years ago, I had a candidate that after doing well on the interview & passing the required test, was told that all he had to do now was pass the drug test. When asked if he had any problem with that, his response was: Uh...no, I should be ok today.
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Julie says: (11:29PM on Sep 19th 2009) Vote Up Vote DownReport2/5
I am woman in my early thirties. I interviewed for a horticulture position and followed all the interview guidelines about scrubbing all the dirt off my hands and smoothing out the callouses. During the interview, the alpha male interviewer asked to see my hands. I was stunned, but extended my hands. He grunted and told me that I couldn't possibly be a good gardener since I didn't have dirt or callouses. I replied that my resume and references should highlight my qualifications more than the current state of my hands.
I called the next day and withdrew my application, I didn't want to work for anyone that raised my hackles in the first twenty minutes. Now when I am creating great gardens and my hands are filthy, I fantasize about asking if he'd hire me on the spot.
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Alice says: (11:44AM on Sep 21st 2009) Vote Up Vote DownReport3/3
I had picked up my daughter from high school and taken her to a department store so she could apply for a job there. I stood within earshot and overheard the manager ask my mature-looking offspring, "How long have you been out of school?" I was unable to keep from laughing when the kid looks at her watch and replied in a very grown up voice.."Oh about 43 minutes!"
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Gary says: (12:55AM on Sep 20th 2009) Vote Up Vote DownReport2/5
The best, or luckiest thing I ever said in an interview was my answer, when asked "Why do you really want to work here"? My answer was direct: "I've put in 8 applications at 8 companies in the last 2 days, and you're the first one who called!" I was hired on the spot!
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babiblue27 says: (1:09AM on Sep 20th 2009) Vote Up Vote DownReport2.5/3
When I was looking for an additional assistant manager for a retail clothing store one young man showed up for the interview wearing flip flops, torn jeans and a wrinkled flannel shirt. Definately a grung rock look going on. I don't know why I even started the interview, but when he told me I was lucky he had showered and shaved that day, I ended the interview.
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glenn says: (1:28AM on Sep 20th 2009) Vote Up Vote DownReport2/5
Deputy sheriff applicant was asked in an interview, "do you smoke Pot?" Reply: I just smoked prior to coming for my interview. True story.
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Kate says: (2:18AM on Sep 20th 2009) Vote Up Vote DownReport2/5
The question I always hate is "What are your weaknesses?" (yeah, sure, like I'm going to tell you what my flaws are - you want to find out, employ me and figure it out yourself!). Last time I got interviewed, when I was presented with that question, my response was "Um, does chocolate count?!" The interviewer laughed enough that she didn't notice I avoided answering the question.
(I'm about to go jobhunting again, but I've got that answer down..."What are your weaknesses?" "Chocolate, books, and sales at my favorite stores.")
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Chris says: (3:09AM on Sep 20th 2009) Vote Up Vote DownReport2/5
Kate, you're brilliant! I hate that question, too, and I love your answer. I'm going to use it myself!
Dana says: (3:21AM on Sep 20th 2009) Vote Up Vote DownReport2/5
This didn't happen to me but to a friend of mine. He was interviewing for a Audio tech position and when the interviewer asked him what he was looking for in a job, my friend relpied: "I want a hand job... I mean I want to work with my hands..." Two years later he is now the supervisor of the department he was interviewing for.
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Carly says: (3:27AM on Sep 20th 2009) Vote Up Vote DownReport2/5
I was applying for a job and was in the breakroom filling out my application when a guy walked in and said "Hi how are you doing? Are you applying for the job?" I answered him and told him I was applying for the job. He detected my accent and asked "are you from New York?" I answered "No New Jersey, we're not quite as rude".
I was hired and found out later that the receptionist heard my response to the question. Apparently when the manager walked in she handed him my appication and told him "you need to call this one she put Jack right in his place with 1 anwswer".
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Dana says: (3:27AM on Sep 20th 2009) Vote Up Vote DownReport2/5
This didn't happen to me but to a friend of mine. He said he was interviewing for an audio tech position at an amuesment park and and when the interviewer asked him what he was looking for in the job, my friend replied with: "I want a hand job..." then realizing what he said he goes, "You know, I want to be active and really work with my hands..." he was hired and now, two years later, he is now the Supervisor of Show Productions.
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jason says: (6:13AM on Sep 20th 2009) Vote Up Vote DownReport2/5
I was interviewing an officer-canditate in her mid 20's for a law enforcement position. I asked her what would you do if a prisoner in your custody refused a direct order, such as, pick up something off the floor, or clean the bathroom in the cell area?" She stated "i would take out my gun and shoot him dead!" She confirmed she was not joking and being serious. I then SERIOUSLY terminated the interview. Suffice to say, she was not hired. Shortly thereafter I retired early due to stress. A few years later I was having a beer with a friend who was also there during the interview and still on the job. I casually mentioned, while chuckling, "remember that bombshell that was going to shoot the prisoner that refused an order?" He then stated she was doing "great" on the job! Evidently she applied again after I retired. I then went home and renewed my passport.
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