No one wants to mess up at an interview.
But usually I tell my candidates "the worst that's going to happen is they won't hire you..." which isn't entirely true.
This week's stories prove that.
Next time you worry about your interview performance, just be grateful you're not one of these poor candidates...
1. Speechless...
"During an interview, my interviewer's phone rang. When he saw the caller ID on his phone he yelled "Oh for f#%$ sake!" and picked up.
He then yelled at the person he was talking to on the phone in fluent Japanese. Keep in mind he was a tall skinny pale guy with blonde hair, so this caught me off guard.
He then hung up, smashed a vase on his table in his rage, and ran out blazing fast. Leaving me bewildered.
Needless to say I didn't go back. To this day I still don't know what happened."
2. Would you like a side of McAwkward with that?
"I had a job interview for McDonald's and got there early. I had a look around because I was restless.
So, I opened a door and ended up in the kitchen, which was empty. I walked around and passed some nuggets and thought I'd help myself to a couple.
I left the kitchen and suddenly the manager appeared. He reached for the hand which was holding a nugget.
There was an awkward moment as I slid the nugget into my suit jacket pocket then shook his hand. He then led me in to the office.
There was a long pause before he said, 'did you just steal a chicken nugget from the kitchen?' I looked uncomfortable and didn't respond.
He then said, 'I think you should go'."
3. The best way to hire someone?
"The craziest interview I have ever experienced was for Subway.
I got hired through frantic text messages saying, “Come up here ASAP we’re in a nonstop rush, Oh and bring a green shirt, Congrats”."
4. A little unfair?
"I got asked to leave after I tripped on the way into an interview at a grocery store."
5. The inexperienced...
"I was just about to graduate. An excerpt from one of my first interviews (I was really nervous and had no idea what to expect):
Interviewer: Why should we hire you?
Me: Uh ... I live, like, five minutes away."
6. Believe in yourself!
"I was at the end of an hour long interview in which I had to do a 15-minute "micro teach" for a training position.
I nailed it, and then this one guy asks, "Do you know what job you're here for?" This totally derailed me.
I thought, "Why is he asking me? Does he not know? Did someone screw up?" And then I thought, "Well, I thought I did, but he's asking me, so maybe I'm wrong?" (This was all split-second thinking.)
I blurted out, "No." Yeah, I didn't get the job. I tried to recover, but it was too late."
7. "Excuse me one moment"...
"I was interviewing last year in Philadelphia for an investment management summer analyst gig.
There were two other students from my school and two others from Stanford in the waiting room.
One of the Stanford candidates was called in and she stood up and walked over to the interviewer to shake his hand. She said, "excuse me one moment" and walks over to the corner and throws up.
She was just really nervous and they eventually had to call an ambulance (office policy?)."
8. Wrong signals...
"The interviewer reached over the table and went to shake my hand. Nerves got the better of me and I inadvertently winked at him."
9. Written in the stars?
“I was a fresh design graduate and had had two interviews already at a leading fashion designer.
Their business partner loved my portfolio, so I thought I had the job. Third interview was with the designer’s husband, who came in the room and asked one question: “What’s your star sign?”
After hearing my reply he turned around and walked straight out.
I was stunned, turned to the business partner and asked what went wrong.
He shook his head and said: ‘Same as his wife. He won’t have anyone who shares her star sign.’ And that was that.”
Summary
Are you laughing, or just shocked? (I think I was a little of both the first time I read these!)
Employers, if you're ever interviewing, here are some examples of the wrong ways to go about the situation. There really is such thing as interview etiquette.
Interviewees, that goes for you too! Whilst this is mainly supporting your cause, we've had our fair share of strange candidates too...
Fancy reading more of our light-hearted Friday Funnies? Check these out:
- 10 Gifs That Sum Up An Awful Week At Work
- 7 Office Romance Horror Stories
- 12 Strange Reasons People Were Fired From Their Jobs
And don’t forget, you can subscribe to our blog here to receive a weekly update with our Friday Funnies!
Happy Friday!
