Worst / Bizarre or Funniest Interview Experiences

Strumms

Maybe something to lighten the mood a bit...

An absolute jokeshop of a courier company anytime I’ve had anything to do with them.. which has been about 10 occasions since the interview as a recipient of their ‘services ‘ courtesy of doing business online with companies contracted with them...
I successfully interviewed there 15 years ago but remember being chastised by the little mong of a manager during the process...I was there for 9.15 or so for a 9.30 interview... not seen until 10.05. No apologies, no communication just an insincere smile from the PA then a spikey little peroxide arrogant fûckhead arrives... “ahh Mr Strumms, this way please “

A few general questions then...


Him : do you have a driving license?

Me : no, only a provisional but it’s a priority of mine to obtain a full license soon. (The truth)

Him : ok, that could count against you.

Me : *now getting a bit grumpy* ok, can you show me where in the published job advertisement that having a driving license is a prerequisite to be hired into this position please ?

Him : well it’s not, all I’m saying is that candidates with a license could be thought of as having an extra skill suitable for the job.

Me : if being able to drive is a skill pertaining or suitable to the position, why was it not published and included as a prerequisite ? Also it’s 100% office based, yes ? Will I ever need to drive ?

Him : good question erm..maybe it was to erm, ensure, erm, you could always be on time ? Yes, err office based, I think, I’m sure, sorry. No, no driving...

Me : are you telling or asking me ? I don’t know, I didn’t write the advertisement...

I showed him out the window the bus stop about 50 meters away and told him from my door that there was a bus stop even closer...

A week later, phone rings, to my absolute amazement I was offered the job, I’d already accepted another....however.

A 5ft nothing little poxbottle with the worst attempt at a peroxide combover and the Darby o’ Nil suit he was probably saving to marry his sister in...

So what’s yours ?

Diziet

A prospective employer who asked me for an interview when there was no role and proceeded to try and get an hour or two of free consultancy. I had to interrupt and ask very specific questions about the 'role' at which point they waffled about 'wanting a general chat to establish a way forward'. I managed to stay polite and suggested a short term consultancy contract (which did not materialise) before ending the interview.

Creamy Goodness

Paddy's day on a Saturday, company took the Friday off. me in the interview room on Thursday, outside people doing shots and being all OIrish to the video link to their US headquarters whilst I'm trying to do some bullsh1t whiteboard exercise.

SureYWouldntYa

The only feedback I got from an interview for a role I didn't get was about how I didn't use the STAR method for answers on a scenario

Except as well as using it, I literally said "using the STAR method, the situation I was in..."

I'm assuming it was either the wrong feedback or generic feedback, don't know which is worse

Misguided1

I was asked during an interview "if you were a car, what would you be and why?".........................

Long period of silence before I said " A Land Rover. Good in all conditions." Went bright red and then apologised for giving such a crap answer!!

afkasurfjunkie

Strumms wrote: »

Maybe something to lighten the mood a bit...

An absolute jokeshop of a courier company anytime I’ve had anything to do with them.. which has been about 10 occasions since the interview as a recipient of their ‘services ‘ courtesy of doing business online with companies contracted with them...
I successfully interviewed there 15 years ago but remember being chastised by the little mong of a manager during the process...I was there for 9.15 or so for a 9.30 interview... not seen until 10.05. No apologies, no communication just an insincere smile from the PA then a spikey little peroxide arrogant fûckhead arrives... “ahh Mr Strumms, this way please “

A few general questions then...


Him : do you have a driving license?

Me : no, only a provisional but it’s a priority of mine to obtain a full license soon. (The truth)

Him : ok, that could count against you.

Me : *now getting a bit grumpy* ok, can you show me where in the published job advertisement that having a driving license is a prerequisite to be hired into this position please ?

Him : well it’s not, all I’m saying is that candidates with a license could be thought of as having an extra skill suitable for the job.

Me : if being able to drive is a skill pertaining or suitable to the position, why was it not published and included as a prerequisite ? Also it’s 100% office based, yes ? Will I ever need to drive ?

Him : good question erm..maybe it was to erm, ensure, erm, you could always be on time ? Yes, err office based, I think, I’m sure, sorry. No, no driving...

Me : are you telling or asking me ? I don’t know, I didn’t write the advertisement...

I showed him out the window the bus stop about 50 meters away and told him from my door that there was a bus stop even closer...

A week later, phone rings, to my absolute amazement I was offered the job, I’d already accepted another....however.

A 5ft nothing little poxbottle with the worst attempt at a peroxide combover and the Darby o’ Nil suit he was probably saving to marry his sister in...

So what’s yours ?

Was the job advert for a driver?

simongurnick

Once did a phone interview in the toilet of a pub. They called me out of nowhere and given I was not working at the time, I was out for a few scoops during the day. Didn't get the gig.

Hold My Hand

Misguided1 wrote: »

I was asked during an interview "if you were a car, what would you be and why?".........................

Long period of silence before I said " A Land Rover. Good in all conditions." Went bright red and then apologised for giving such a crap answer!!

I’d have given you the job but then again my “joke” interview answer was way worse: Did you hear about the magic tractor ... it turned into a field. They looked stumped and I looked ... red.

thecretinhop

lol good thread.

3 in same interview selling plastic ducks out of a huge suitcase

really cool job got ratarsed on Saturday before fell on beercan big scar for a while..didn't get job..

Batgurl

Not as an interviewee but as an interviewer I’ve had some zingers.

Had someone bring their rabbit to an interview once because they wanted to find out if it was a pet-friendly office and figured this was the quickest/easiest way to do that.

Hold My Hand

Batgurl wrote: »

Not as an interviewee but as an interviewer I’ve had some zingers.

Had someone bring their rabbit to an interview once because they wanted to find out if it was a pet-friendly office and figured this was the quickest/easiest way to do that.

That gave me a good laugh

Strumms

Batgurl wrote: »

Not as an interviewee but as an interviewer I’ve had some zingers.

Had someone bring their rabbit to an interview once because they wanted to find out if it was a pet-friendly office and figured this was the quickest/easiest way to do that.

What did you say at the end of the interview ? Lettuce have a think and we’ll be in touch ?

simongurnick

Strumms wrote: »

What did you say at the end of the interview ? Lettuce have a think and we’ll be in touch ?

We better not hop to any conclusions

dreamers75

Oh man gonna have loads for this.

Some absolute crackers over the years, all of the below are from when i was a Warehouse/Transport Supervisor in a company that was once in the top 50 places to work for but paid .05 above min wage to what they percevied as the help (Drivers/Warehouse lads). **** to work for.

Job Warehouse Op, Candidiate mates brother

Me: Thanks for com.............
Him:<cuts me off> is there any chance I can get paid cash so I can keep my labour
Me: Thanks for your time today, if anything comes up I will give you a call.


As a rule I always call everyone back who attended an interview with good or bad news, they gave up their time to attend I can give up a few minutes to tell them why they didnt get the job or why someone else did ahead of them.

Me: Hi XXXXXX its XXXXX from XXXXXXX....
Him: MA I GOT THE JOB IN XXXXXXXX
Me: Sorry i am calling to say you were unsuccessful in your application
Him: So why the **** you ringing me
Me: Because I said I would regardless of how it went.
Him: **** off....hung up.

Warehouse Op, pretty sure someone I know sent this person in to wind me up. Noone ever owned up to it so was never sure.

Female candidiate.

Had gone tru the interview well enough to be considered ( it was via agency so next day start).

Me: Do you have your forklift licence with you?
Her: I dont have one.
Me: Sorry the job specifically states forklift licence required, the agency must have made a mistake.
Her: No, I told them I had one.
Me: But you dont, Why did you say that?
Her: Just because I am a woman you are discriminating against me.
Me: :eek: (WTF in my head) Sorry the job specifically states forklift licence, if you had one you would most likely be starting tomorrow.
Her: This is discrimination <insert rant here>
Me: No its not, its a job based application to which you dont meet the criteria. Which of the 9 grounds for discrimination do you think not meeting the basic criteria of having a forklift licence meets? You lied to the agency to get an interview then started scraming discrimination. Thanks for your time, clearly as you dont meet the criteria we cant offer you the position.
Her: You will be hearing from my lawyer.
Me: ok ........


It was the lawyer part that floored me, i was literally left speechless at that.

Warehouse Op

Me<Opening reception door to let him in>
Him: Here can ya sign this form to say I attended an interview.
Me: Sure, Bye.


Will be adding to this thread.

kathleen37

Batgurl wrote: »

Not as an interviewee but as an interviewer I’ve had some zingers.

Had someone bring their rabbit to an interview once because they wanted to find out if it was a pet-friendly office and figured this was the quickest/easiest way to do that.

I would have loved this. I hope you got a cuddle from the bunny!!!

Ficheall

Posted this elsewhere previously:

Ficheall wrote: »

I recall my first interview for a postdoc, which I was just doing for much-needed practice - 'twas via phone and there were three of them at the other end, which I hadn't expected. The only guy who spoke was Chinese and that, combined with the poor connection on my mobile, made what he was saying almost completely unintelligible.
I did manage to work out that I had neither any relevant experience or knowledge, and that the position didn't really sound like my cup of tea. I couldn't answer their questions about what I hoped to bring to the table, and the final straw was when I found myself unable to answer the question about what the software I'd used for my phd did, so I said
"Look guys, this isn't going very well, but thanks for your time..."
The interviewer insisted that we drag things out for a couple more minutes, but things didn't really improve, save for my relief at having the pressure off.

True story.


Then they offered me the job, and four months later I'm still here, and still clueless.

Hellokitty1212

Not me but overheard in Sinnott’s in Dublin - young girl must have just been for an interview in a restaurant.

“They wanted me to touch meat, and I’m vegan”
“It’s a steakhouse”
“I have my principles!”
“Then why go for the job?”
“I thought they could work round me”.

I actually had to get up and go the jacks for a laugh!!!

Interviewed for a marketing job back in the 90's.
Passed interview and told to report next morning. I was assigned to a guy a d went off on the bus.
He refused to tell me what the job actually entailed until we had lunch in Bewleys

Anyway after him refusing to expand in the job and me pushing him. I found out it was door to door sales

Thanked him for lunch and went home.
Total waste of my morning.

shreko

dreamers75 wrote: »

Warehouse Op

Me<Opening reception door to let him in>
Him: Here can ya sign this form to say I attended an interview.
Me: Sure, Bye.


Will be adding to this thread.

This is my favourite one 😂😂😂