We all have had that job interview that almost pushed us off the edge. Or thought a hiring manager must be part of the candid camera show. So add your story in the comments section below with your best or worst (LOL) job interview story. If you are chosen as the "Worst Interview Story" we will send you a full set of "The best music of the 70's and 80's". Give us your best shot. Yes we already heard the story about the hiring manager that interview your dog. So be sure to make sure your post is not anonymous. thanks.
My Worst Entire Hiring Experience!!
ReplyDeleteI was being considered for a partnership in a start-up firm. I had already had several phone interviews and it was time to meet the CEO.
Naturally, I wore my best interview suit, shined my shoes, made sure my portfolio was in good condition, and that I had extra resumes in it. It was a good hair day, too.
I was to meet this gentleman in the lobby of an elite hotel in my city on one very hot summer afternoon. I spent my own money on a cab rather than walking in the humid heat, and arrived early at the lobby. It was, fortunately, comfortable...you'll see why this is important very soon.
There was a small group seated in the lounge, which I assumed might be the CEO and colleagues meeting before he was to see me.
I politely waited...15 minutes before the interview was to start. Should I walk over and let him know I had arrived and was looking forward to our discussion? I didn't want to interrupt.
So, I waited and drank the cold fruit-flavored water from lovely water coolers. I waited and drank more water....more waiting and more water.
Finally, after 40 minutes past the interview start time, the small group stood up and left the lobby. That had not been the CEO, I reasoned.
Being very interested in the partnership, I thought that something must have happened to the gentleman I was to meet...a train or plane accident, traffic, heart attack? So I called the HR manager.
"Oh, yes, the interview." Oh, oh. "Mr. Smith has been very busy and is not coming to meet." Not coming? No advance notice? "He got busy and couldn't get away." Thanks very much....so I should leave? "Yes."
The next day, I received a very apologetic call from Mr. CEO's assistant. So sorry...so busy...very embarrassed. "Let's reschedule and have you come to our city for lunch and the interview."
How nice, I thought.
They made travel arrangements for me and I dutifully got up early to make the early trip. I was picked up at the terminal right on time by the assistant and we went to the restaurant.
Restaurant? We were supposed to meet Mr. CEO first in his office and then go to lunch.
Again, Mr. CEO wasn't in sight. There was no meeting and he did not join us for lunch. So his assistant and I had a nice lunch and chat. Then I was whisked back to the terminal with apologies.
As much as this had sounded exciting, I realized that if Mr. CEO treated a potential partner like this during the hiring process, what would he be like if I actually went to work for him?
After a slight bit of deliberation, I called the assistant the next day and bowed out. "But he really wants to meet you!" Oh, yeah? When? Does he actually exist?
I decided that the moral of the story is that there comes a time when, despite what seems like a wonderful opportunity, one must cut the losses and move on.
Mr. CEO never did call or apologize. I felt free and moved on.
By the way, after the lobby saga, I noticed a wonderful restaurant just off the lobby ready to open for dinner. I ventured in, was one of the first diners, told the host that I had had a rough day, and could he seat me in a nice quiet booth?
He was extremely accommodating, as was my waiter. I had my favorite dinner, with a martini! This was a lovely way to end a frustrating experience.
I moved on and have vowed that I deserve to be treated well by those with whom I interview, and vice versa. I wonder if Mr. CEO is still...busy, busy, busy?!
With no regrets,
A happy VP!
This one is in the Campus Recruiting context. The queer ways of Campus recruiting in India, I found myself shortlisted for a Partner round of interview by Deutsche Bank. As background information, I had no interest, qualifications, or skill-sets to be in a trading job. Nevertheless, after about 10 minutes of pleasantries and conversations about the sun and the sand and weather, he realized that one of my biggest interests is "Cricket", the game, not the bug.
ReplyDeleteSo he asked me if I knew the odds for a recent game between India and Kenya (for the record, Kenya were the minnows of cricket back then). This was one I knew! I told him promptly - 37:1. He asked me then, "If you have 100 dollars, how would place the bet, given the information you have?". I promptly said "On India".
"Why?"
"Better team, better odds, higher chances of a return, and lastly, my emotions are vested with India. Its a team I connect with and believe in."
"Wouldn't you be better off investing most of it in Kenya?"
"How so?"
"If you bet on India and win, you make little profit. If you bet on Kenya and win, you make big profit. If you bet on Kenya and lose, at least you have the emotional satisfaction that India has won. If you bet on India and lose, you've lost the money as well as suffered an emotional setback."
"....."
"and moreover, you can balance the investment, right?"
"...."
At that moment I realized I am not meant for this job! I said my thanks, and thanked him for the enlightenment! There was a halo around our mutual heads as we said goodbye!
A buddy of mine was interviewing with the head of a regional investment firm and was asked the banal, useless, ridiculous question, "Why should I hire you?"
ReplyDelete"I don't know, you probably shouldn't," was his reply. "I don't particularly like the work, I don't go in to work much, only as much as I need to so I can pay my bills. I love to fish and hang with my wife and kids, and I only work to feed my family and have cash for bait and gas for my boat."
"You're hired," were the next words he heard.
This last posting (Why should I hire you?) IS AN URBAN LEGEND. It never happened as reported. And if you want to prove me wrong, find the guy AND the Hiring authority that had the meeting and made the hire.
ReplyDeleteThis kind of fairy tale doesn't belong on a site devoted to helping unemployed people find jobs. And the webmaster should take this kind of garbage off the content pages.
It is NOT entertaining and is counter productive to those of us who really need a job and are interviewing as often as we can get an appointment.
The story about the rude absent CEO probably is true, but this one on "I am Mister Bad Attitude, don't give me a job." "Great, You're Hired." is NOT NOT NOT true.
My worst interview story is when I was studying in Sweden, I applied for a job in Ireland. I was invited to the interview and accepted it. I traveled thousands of kilometers (miles)from Sweden to Ireland, than from Dublin to the small town located in the middle of Ireland. It was a very long journey. When I have applied for a job, I obviously sent my CV/resume with all details about my previous life and work experience and where it was. After traveling from one corner of Europe to another, at the interview I was very shocked to hear the question: "How well do you know the local context and what experience do you have in the local area?" This was one weird question, as the hiring committee had all my details outlining my professional past. Why they invited me anyway, if they knew I am not a local?
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