Weird job interview

Faith

I had a job interview this morning for a part-time job in a stationers. The guy who interviewed me was middle-eastern and asked some really weird questions. I'm not sure if it's his culture to ask these or what, but I was freaked out and I'm looking for advice about whether this was normal/ acceptable.

He asked me all about my family, then asked do I love them. I said yes, obviously, and he replied "Do they love you?". I looked at him incredulously and said "I hope so...". He asked me do I have any criminal convictions (No) and do I enjoy watching violence (NO!). The rest of the interview was unlike any I've ever had before, and throughout the whole thing, he kept staring at the video surveillance of the shop downstairs. He didn't ask any normal questions like "Why do you think you're right for this job" or "What are your weaknesses". I'm freaked out after it, but am I just overreacting? Was this actually a normal interview?

aidan_walsh

Was this actually a normal interview?

I'd be wondering when are they planning on broadcasting it? Sounds way too much like a piss take.

Tom Dunne

Faith wrote:

I'm freaked out after it, but am I just overreacting? Was this actually a normal interview?

No, you are not over reacting. Culture or not, they don't sound like appropriate questions.

Run, run a mile.

Motley Crue

Faith wrote:

He asked me all about my family, then asked do I love them. I said yes, obviously, and he replied "Do they love you?". I looked at him incredulously and said "I hope so..."?

He sounds like a bit of a weirdo. As a matter of interest, was this in Edinburgh (and if so, what part?) It might be someone Ive heard of before, as this complaint sounds similar to experience a friend of mine had when we were looking for work there beforehand.

faceman

If you dont get the job you need to ask why. The fact that he asked about your family could be in breach of the equality act.

Kingsize

what type of violence could happen in a stationers store??
Papercuts??
seriously run a mile & dont look back
look into what kinda further action you wanna take (if any).
You may think of it as a lucky escape but its also a serious waste of yr fookin time as well as a breach of probably loads of laws!!

h2s

tom dunne wrote:

No, you are not over reacting. Culture or not, they don't sound like appropriate questions.

Run, run a mile.

Tom is right - run a mile.

I had an interview some years ago that started to go into personal question about my family. I got the job, but it was a nightmare place and it was a year before I got out to another decent job.

Incidently any question relating to you personal/family life and that are not absolutely necessary for the job are illegal.

Employers needs to be very careful about what they ask at interview otherwise they could be sued.

faceman

h2s wrote:

Employers needs to be very careful about what they ask at interview otherwise they could be sued.

exactly. even an innocent question like "how do you find working with older people on your team?" can be interpreted as in breach of equality act.

scop

Sounds like you walked into an Al-Quada recruiting station

LundiMardi

even if you don't have any contact with them again, i'd sent a letter to their HR Manager (providing he wasn't the HR Manager:rolleyes:)

As someone else said, not only is this kinda weird, but it's a serious waste of your time, especially if you already have a job and took time off for this interview.

Explain your dismay with the questions asked and then leave it be, i'm sure their HR Team would be interested in what this guy is doing!!

faceman

You should tell us who the employer is and all us boardsies should apply for the buzz!

Faith

Sorry, I completely forgot to come back to this thread!

I've been thinking about it, and there was something very suspicious about the type of questions. There were a lot about how many friends I have, how often I see them, how often I talk to my family, how close are we, etc. Maybe I'm being paranoid, but I think there's something very dodgy there. Are they preying on vulnerable young girls or something?!

It's a small stationary shop, so I'd imagine I was interviewed by the head guy.

I did run a mile! I couldn't find their phone number in the phone book (hmm...), so I emailed to say that I wouldn't be coming in for the trial period.

Motley Crue, yeah, this was in Edinburgh, in a stationers on Nicolson Street.

the_syco

Faith wrote:

There were a lot about how many friends I have, how often I see them, how often I talk to my family, how close are we, etc. Maybe I'm being paranoid, but I think there's something very dodgy there. Are they preying on vulnerable young girls or something?!

TBH, I just read "I wanna date your ass". I'd almost report his ass to someone, esp as his questions are very suspicous.

BeansMeansHynes

I am thinking more along the lines of a cult or something.Maybe I am a bit over paranoid here but its seems that way. Especially all the ones about your family, how close you are, how many times you see them.

Flat

was his name borat?

odarallo

Very interesting indeed....

If I was in that position I would have asked "Of what releivnce are these questions to the positon you are offering".

It all seems to dodgy did you sign any papers when you went for interview like a non disclosure form or anything? If so it might be a T.V show.

If not I think you should report to the police immediatly. Because I presume they will get more people in for interviews and next thing we know someone is missing.

Glad you ran, But be very carefull about stuff like that. I do backround checks on all companys I go for interviews with.

Regards

Mo-Mo

I was asked once in an interview what my parents do for a living! I was in college and it was a summer job making sandwiches. It was the first job interview I'd ever done, and while I knew it was a rediculous question, it was only when I told people after that I realised how inappropriate it was.

Anyway I told him, and while he didn't know my dad he knew of the position, if that makes sense. He asked me what my dad's name was and when I answered he said "Are you sure?"

BossArky

Faith wrote:

He asked me all about my family, then asked do I love them. I said yes, obviously, and he replied "Do they love you?".

I miss-read the end bit and thought you had typed ....""and he replied "Do you love me?""....

lol.. talk about coming on strong..

Seriously... its sounds very dodgy.

Motley Crue

Faith wrote: »

Motley Crue, yeah, this was in Edinburgh, in a stationers on Nicolson Street.

I know this is an extremely long time to come back to this thread but thats actually something that happened to a friend of mine around the time I read this. My girlfriends flatmate had gone for an interview and a similar situation arose and I remember thinking at the time that it was so similar. Did you ever take further action with this?

neil_hosey

****EDIT:awww old thread.. i had a great reply and all..