Job interview weirdness - tell your stories

[HoneyBBQ]

The post about "Would you get the job" made me think about a job interview I went to when I was in undergrad (10+ years ago).

I was looking to make a little extra money during the semester and found an ad for a professor looking for someone to do a few hours a week of typing/secretarial work. I thought that was perfect for me since I could type > 80 wpm (pretty good for a "student", not good for a secretary of course).

I showed up at the interview and this crazy old female professor with HUGE glasses led me into a room with a desktop computer in it. She said - here you go - and had me sit down. She smiled and walked away. The computer had some sort of virus and was all locked up - I couldn't open any programs or anything. I couldn't get the screen to update - it was a total mess. I guess my "interview" was to see if I could figure out how to make the computer work again. Now, this was before google, and all that, so I literally just sat there and stared at the screen because rebooting the computer didn't help. This was also before cell phones, so I couldn't phone a friend.

After an hour she came back in, looked at the screen, and said "Ok, thanks!" I left and never heard from her again. I guess to her, "typing" had to do with more computer science skills than I imagined. I left the "interview" thinking WTF?!?

What are some of your worst job interview experiences??

[Savoir Faire-Demogague in NJ]

While not a "worst" interview experience but it was a learning experience. During the late summer I had an interview with a big international bank located near Madison Square Park on 5th avenue in NYC.
It was for a Business Intelligence Developer. I got my posterior handed to me.

[alabamagal]

I interviewed with a large candy company. The told me before the interview that I would be given a problem to solve and would have to give a presentation. OK this was odd enough, but when I show up, the put me in a conference room, gave me a written "problem" to solve. I had about 30 minutes. They also provided some bottled water and a big bowl of their candies, like the bite size versions. I worked on the problem, but should I have eaten some of the candy? I didn't, I was too nervous about talking just after eating. When the group of interviewers came in, they all just grabbed a few pieces and again asked if I wanted any. I said no and proceeded with the presentation. I didn't get the job. I'm not sure that I could have handled that much candy around the office anyway!

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

Honey you forgot to open up the disk drive and blow in it. That works for Super Nintendo games.

Weirdest interview I had was one where the moment I went in I was warned to turn around and not take this job!

Should have listened that was the most bizarre interview process ever. I was interviewed by 10 different people who left me sitting between people for anywhere from 10-25 minutes.

Then most of them didn't even introduce themselves! I started to wonder if maybe random people were using me for practice!

[telephus44]

I work in the printing industry. I interviewed once at a small (very small) company. The owner led me in around back through the loading dock. My interview consisted of pricing estimates (with no information; I think since I was coming from the competition they were trying to judge insider information from the company I was coming from) and a series of bizarre questions, the weirdest one being asked to identify the PMS color of the ink leaking through on the ceiling tiles above my head.

[Urban Chicago]

One of my bosses "interviewed" me by saying hello, then not asking a single question, just going into a long-winded rant about his boss.

I got the job, but should not have taken it!

[shanendoah]

I'm not certain if weird is the right word, but I did have an interview that ended with "advice" that boggled my mind.
I was interviewing for a position at the company I worked for (and still work for). I was an administrative analyst, mostly doing financial analysis. I was interviewing for a position doing more statistical analysis. The person I interviewed with said from the beginning she wasn't going to hire me, but I was an internal candidate who met the qualifications so she had to do the interview. In a normal year, I probably would have been on the top of the list, but in the current economy, she had a number of outside candidates who had exactly the experience she wanted. This was not the first (nor the last) time I heard that spiel, so I wasn't too surprised. I was annoyed because the interview was at our downtown headquarters and I work at our south of town administration offices, so I'd taken the afternoon off to be there.
Then she proceeded to tell me what she thought I needed to do to get this job in the future. She suggested I get my current boss to order me the specific software her department used so that I could gain experience with it. Sounds great, except that I had no business need for that software in the position I was in, and it was at a time when our company had decided we couldn't print in color because it was too expensive. Exactly how did she think I was going to present that request to my boss, and then how were we going to get it past the IT gargoyles? (Because amazingly enough, they do not take the statement because I am an executive director and I say so, as a reason to give anyone any non-standard programs.)
In the end, while I was annoyed at having to take half a day off for the interview, I was glad I didn't get the job. I don't want to work for someone who either doesn't know enough about what's going on in the company to know her suggestion is ridiculous, or only wants to appear to be helpful without actually being so (which is a bad kind of boss to have).

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

I went for a job interview at a biological supplier company. After the interview, I was handed a page with test questions on it. OK, I can kind of understand where they were coming from. Only problem is that the test had errors in it! I think of the 25 questions, about 5 had some sort of mistake in it such that. I answered all but those questions with mistakes in them, needing to clarify with the interviewer what he meant.

Apparently the interviewer made up the test and didn't like his errors pointed out to him. I was told that the position was too basic for my skills. I think that the interviewer didn't want the competition!

What was befuddling was that he gave this test to all his interviewees and I was the only one that found the errors.

[quotequeen]

I heard about a legal interview where the interviewer didn't ask any questions, and instead just gave the candidate a piece of paper and instructed him to write an essay. Apparently he was annoyed that all the writing samples people provided were edited by others, and wanted to see what their writing looked like without anybody else editing it.

[Cookies Galore]

In high school I interview for a job at an Italian restaurant. I went in for work as a trial run to see how I could handle it and it seemed like i did a good job. Then the owner's mother came over at the end of the night to talk to me. In Italian. I just nodded my head a lot. A week later I called to ask when my first shift would be, and after being put on hold and then hearing mumbling in the background, someone came back on the line and told me I never showed up for my first shift and mama didn't want me to come in again. The old bat gave me my work schedule in Italian!
At my old university job, my boss would hire student workers from time to time. She interviewed them while I stayed in my office working and eavesdropped. Her interviews, without fail, were just her talking about herself, her accomplisments, and what the center has done, and then she'd ask if they had any questions. No asking them about their work history, no telling them what exactly she was looking for, nothing.

[Clifford]

After taking all of the psychological tests during my first interview at a food manufacturing company, I was invited back for a second. I was led to the conference room where a few other people were seated. My interviewer began the introductions by informing us that the others in the room were the other top candidates. They dropped a problem on us and 4 company employees watched for an hour while 6 candidates "worked together" to figure it out. It was easy for me to decide when they called me back - not to offer the job - but to come in for a 3rd round.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

I had a company interview me and then two months later called me back for a second interview. I had already accepted another job in that time frame. The woman on the phone was SURPRISED when I told her that I already had a job!

What do you think people are doing lady, salivating by the phone waiting for your call? You want people don't drag it out several months!

[sesfw]

I was wanting to change departments with the company I was working for and had an interview with a known dork. The most important question he asked me was 'do you get cranky during your time of month'? I had a hysterectomy about 15 years prior.

I didn't answer his question but told him the interview was over, and walked out.

[thyme4change]

I had an interviewer tell me "He doesn't like working with ladies." I told him that I wasn't very lady like, so it would probably be okay.

They offered me the job. I opted not to accept.

[moneymaven]

I had a potential employee apologize for being so nervous. I told her not to worry, just relax. She said, "No, really. I didn't take any of my meds and I get really crazy and nervous when I don't take them". I was at a loss for words.

[Epiphany]

A couple months from graduating college in a big city, I began looking for a job in my home town about 3 hours away. Through a contact I got an interview with the president of a company in my industry. Brought in my portfolio, he looked over it, asked a few questions and said he'd call me back. Went back for a second interview, he showed me around the building, showed me the desk I'd have, etc. but no offer. I was very young and naive so I didn't ask the right questions to close the deal. Said he'd call back with an offer and no call... so I call and call and call and finally someone tells me the president is no longer working for the company! And he'd told no one about my interviews so I was SOL. Ends up I didn't want to work there anyway...

Current boss did ask all kinds of inappropriate / illegal questions about me being a woman, when am I having kids, am I planning on relocating to be with a man, etc. blah. Again I'm glad I was young and naive because now I'd be really offended at that!

[dancinmama]

I had an interview in the late 70s where the interviewer asked me when I planned to start a family. My response, "As soon as my husband is ready to stay home with a baby." I was shocked, even back then, that someone would ask that question. We relocated and I left the company before we started our family.

[kinetickid]

Jan 6, 2011 11:59:55 GMT -5 HoneyBBQ said:

The post about "Would you get the job" made me think about a job interview I went to when I was in undergrad (10+ years ago).

I was looking to make a little extra money during the semester and found an ad for a professor looking for someone to do a few hours a week of typing/secretarial work. I thought that was perfect for me since I could type > 80 wpm (pretty good for a "student", not good for a secretary of course).

I showed up at the interview and this crazy old female professor with HUGE glasses led me into a room with a desktop computer in it. She said - here you go - and had me sit down. She smiled and walked away. The computer had some sort of virus and was all locked up - I couldn't open any programs or anything. I couldn't get the screen to update - it was a total mess. I guess my "interview" was to see if I could figure out how to make the computer work again. Now, this was before google, and all that, so I literally just sat there and stared at the screen because rebooting the computer didn't help. This was also before cell phones, so I couldn't phone a friend.

After an hour she came back in, looked at the screen, and said "Ok, thanks!" I left and never heard from her again. I guess to her, "typing" had to do with more computer science skills than I imagined. I left the "interview" thinking WTF?!?

What are some of your worst job interview experiences??

This one is completely my fault...

I locked my keys in my car, during the interview. And then, to try and seem funny while waiting for AAA to get there, I joked--well, it wasn't a joke, it was completely true--that I often locked my keys in my car.

Oh, and it was 5pm and everyone really wanted to go home but a few of them couldn't because there was this ditzy chick in the lobby waiting on AAA.

I didn't get the job.

[Politically_Incorrect12]

I had an interview right out of college where the interviewer asked me "If you were offered a better position somewhere else, would you take it?" I told her that if anybody told her no, they were probably lying to her.

[alphayankee]

I interviewed for a bookkeeping position on a college campus when I was in my early twenties. Before meeting with the interviewer, I was asked to complete a questionnaire. All of the questions were off the wall and had nothing to do with the job. The first question was "Why are manhole covers round?" Then, "Calculate how many gas stations are in the United States. Show your work."

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

Manhole covers are round because they are not square.

I would so not have recieved the job.

[swamp]

Manhole covers are round because any other shape an be manipulated to fit through the hole and they can fall through.

I have no idea how many gas stations are in the US.

I'd be offered a part time job.

[KaraBoo]

One of the very first jobs I interviewed for at 16 was for Subway in our smallish-sized town (I hardly consider 40,000+ small, but apparently others do). On the application form the back of the paper had a list of simple mathmatical problems (plus and minus, no more than 3 columns either way).

The very last problem was a negative number - what is 6-10? -4

I remember the problem still - 20 years later because the owner of the Subway hired me on the spot. He said I was the first person to ever get that problem correct. I held off on accepting the offer because I had another interview right after that one and I told the owner it wouldn't be professional of me to leave the other company (Wendy's) hanging like that. I ended up taking the offer with Wendy's when I realized I would be working by myself at closing at Subway. I was smart enough to know at 16 I wasn't ready for that type of responsibility!

[kinetickid]

Jan 7, 2011 12:20:46 GMT -5 KaraBoo said:

One of the very first jobs I interviewed for at 16 was for Subway in our smallish-sized town (I hardly consider 40,000+ small, but apparently others do). On the application form the back of the paper had a list of simple mathmatical problems (plus and minus, no more than 3 columns either way).

The very last problem was a negative number - what is 6-10? -4

I remember the problem still - 20 years later because the owner of the Subway hired me on the spot. He said I was the first person to ever get that problem correct. I held off on accepting the offer because I had another interview right after that one and I told the owner it wouldn't be professional of me to leave the other company (Wendy's) hanging like that. I ended up taking the offer with Wendy's when I realized I would be working by myself at closing at Subway. I was smart enough to know at 16 I wasn't ready for that type of responsibility!

I worked at Subway, too! And, yes, I remember that math test.

There was also a question on the application that asked, "What's more important? Good food or good service? Choose just one and explain your answer."

I answered "good food," of course, with the explanation that a customer might be willing to put up with poor service if it means getting some yummy food, but few people will patronize a restaurant that serves lousy food, even if service was good.

I, too, was hired on the spot. The manager said I was the only person who didn't say, "Both." (I guess that means I can follow directions?). He also said I gave the correct answer.

[JustLurkin]

Jan 7, 2011 12:20:46 GMT -5 KaraBoo said:

On the application form the back of the paper had a list of simple mathmatical problems

I took a written test that was a list of long involved math questions.

The instructions were like "Write your name in the upper right corner of this document. Answer the simple equation in question #20. Put the date in the lower left corner. Turn the page over when you are finished."

I was told I was the only person to ever follow the instructions and some people worked the problems for hours.

(Turned down the offer to work 3rd shift.)

[dragonfly7]

Worst experiences:
Interview at Nordstrum Rack - first words to me were to insult my shoes.
Interview a month ago at a local community college - berated for attending a private college. After discovering I finished my Bachelor's degree at a local public university, he said, "That's unfortunate." Huh?

Weirdest:
Family Video - spent over an hour taking a series of alphabetizing and mathematical tests for an entry-level CSR position. The on duty CSR was supposed to be timing me but couldn't because he was the only employee in the store that afternoon and had to attend to the customers. I was told after starting the job that I scored higher than the District Manager.

[mudflap81]

I took a written test that was a list of long involved math questions.

The instructions were like "Write your name in the upper right corner of this document. Answer the simple equation in question #20. Put the date in the lower left corner. Turn the page over when you are finished."

I was told I was the only person to ever follow the instructions and some people worked the problems for hours.

I took basically that same test! I was also the only to do it right.

My worst ever was an interviewer who I'm sure was like the residents of San Fransisco in South Park. He was so in love with himself I'm sure he smelled his own farts. He had to be the most self-absorbed, egotistical jerk I've ever seen. The worst part was that he played all the "interviewer games" with people. I got the interview through a headhunter so she briefed me. He wouldn't put people through to the second interview unless they asked about his history, brought up that a ride along would be beneficial to learning about the position (the second interview was a ride along), and ended the interview with "is there anything else you would like to know about me to ensure I get a second interview?" He would then tell you when he would call you to say if you were moving on and give you that information and then intentionally not call because he wanted to see if you would call back and only then would he give you the answer.

I took the second interview just to see how he treated the employees. It was bad. He clearly got a lot of his over-inflated self esteem from beating down his salespeople. The problem was that a lot of them were great salespeople and made a lot of money, but he treated them like crap. The money I could make was surprising close to the amount I would have to make to deal with him.

After that I told the headhunter exactly what I thought of him. She first asked what I thought of the position, which I said wasn't bad and had some great opportunities for making big money. She then asked what I thought about the manager and I actually laughed and said "I could never work for that jerk!" The firm has not called me with any more opportunities.

Also funny is that an ad for the company he works for has a banner ad right now at the bottom of my screen.

[shanendoah]

I remembered this one while watching my alma mater play in a bowl game last night. This year, we had a great team and played well, winning our bowl game. Last year, I'm not even certain how we got invited to a bowl game. It was so embarrassing that I managed to watch less than a quarter of it.
A month or two after last year's awful bowl game, I interviewed for a position at my local state school (which is in a diffent athletic conference than my alma mater). I completed the interview, but on the way out, the interviewer, who did most of her work with affiliate programs in smaller universities, and graduated from a school in the same conference as my alma mater, asked about the bowl game, mentioning that we'd embarrassed the entire conference. All I could say was that, in my expereince, our football coach/athletic director, like so many college coaches, seemed more interested in increasing his personal profile than doing what was right for the school and the team.
Luckily, I'm a football fan, so I knew what she was talking about, but I know a ton of people who aren't, and thought that might have been a really difficult piece of "small talk" for one of them.

[so1970]

man hole covers are also round so that its impossible for them to fall through the hole .