Interview Disasters

CatStarESP4 · #1 07-06-2003, 04:33 PM

I thought about starting a thread about bad interviews or nightmarish interviewers. Let me start! Several years ago, I had a job interview that made me so nervous that my foot actually fell asleep. I think I had difficulty focusing on my sleeping foot than I was on the man giving me the interview. He probably didn't even notice what was happening and proceeded with the interview and I answered the question to the best of my abililty. I didn't get the job anyway. Has anything like this ever happened you? It could be funny or downright serious!

#2 07-07-2003, 11:57 AM

Not an interview, per se, but when I was looking for work a few years back, I decided to walk around the mall and pick up applications anywhere that was hiring.

People were treating me strangely, and it wasn't until I got home that I realized I'd forgotten to wear a belt, and at least 2" of bright red underwear were showing both in front and back.

CatStarESP4 · #3 08-02-2003, 07:06 PM

Here is another of my interviews disasters, but this has a moral at the end. However, it started before I arrived at the company that I was interviewing with. About an hour before I had my interview, I was very hungry. I went to a cafe and ate a sandwich with roasted portobello mushrooms, fresh mozzerella and sun dried tomato paste. It was either the mushrooms or the tomato paste that contained garlic or they both did. Unfortunately, I didn't have any breath mints on me. I had my interview, but the interviewer luckily didn't say anything about my garlic breath. It wasn't until after it was over that someone noticed -- my mom. She was mad at me for committing one of the worst job interview faux pas. I didn't get the job anyway either due to a lack of experience or the garlic.

Moral of the story: If you need to eat something, have something very bland. However, if you accidently have something with garlic or onions, brush your teeth, chew gum or invest in Altoids (take two at the same time).

AXO_MOM_3 · #4 08-03-2003, 11:58 PM

I met with two professors at a graduate school I applied to. When I wrote my thank you notes I accidently put the letters in the wrong envelopes - he got her note, she got his. I had a good friend in the program at the time and he told me about it. I ended up getting into the program of my choice and withdrew my application from the other school! Hopefully if I ever apply to the doctoral program, they will have forgotten me by then, or I'll interview with different people!

MeLikey · #5 08-04-2003, 12:33 AM

I was going in for an interview for an internship with a radio station. I had taken a test drive before Thanksgiving break with my now ex-boyfriend (since I'm horrible with directions and he's great with them), and it seemed easy to get to the station. Fast forward to after break, which was when the interview was. I ended up getting lost and didn't get to the station until an hour after the interview was scheduled for. I'm not used to looking irresponsible... I'm very punctual for interviews and appointments so I was very nervous to see how I would be perceived. Luckily, the guy didn't seem to care, and I got the internship!

Thrillhouse · #6 08-06-2003, 06:30 PM

Not really much of a story but I had an interview once where the lady asked me beforehand on the phone if I needed directions or if I could get them off the internet. I said I'd get them off the net and I did. The interview was at 7am the next morning and I ended up taking a wrong turn somewhere and was late. Three people were in the room to interview me and the hr person made a point to say to one of the other interviewers "You told me to be here at 7!" I got a rejection letter in the mail the next day.... I didn't know mail came that fast

MeLikey · #7 08-20-2003, 03:22 AM

What do people do if you're only asked one question??? I suppose that's a bad sign, I mean wouldn't they want to know more about you rather than basing it on one question? I went to an interview today (for a job I really wasn't interested in), and she just asked me to tell her about my previous experience in the field. I only got to tell her a little before I asked her a question about their editing system and she got off on this huge tangent and I couldn't get a word in. My parents said that she probably wanted someone with more experience and that she probably knew what she was already looking for (meaning not me), but then why waste my time having me come in for an interview in a different city?

CatStarESP4 · #8 09-28-2003, 04:04 PM

Four years ago, I had a doozy of disaster that happened before I set foot in the building. I took the subway from Queens to Manhattan that morning. What appeared to be a normal day turned disasterous. I was about to my connecting train, but there were delays with it. I didn't believe that it was happening and already I was late for my interview with a publishing firm (for a job). I called the person that I had the interview with and explained what happened. She told me not to worry about it and just come anyway. I went to that interview late, did my best, but still didn't get the job. GRRR!

honeychile · #9 10-05-2003, 05:14 PM

I have you all beat.

I had the flu, and simply could not get my interview rescheduled. This job was in the bag - I had every possible reference that I needed, I had worked for the man who would be my supervisor before, I had the right security clearance - it was mine for the asking.

Then I threw up during the interview.

MSKKG · #10 10-05-2003, 05:26 PM

On my way to an interview on a very rainy day, I was waiting to make a left turn. Someone rear-ended me and pushed me into oncoming traffic. My car was really messed up front and back, but drivable. Other than whiplash (yes, it is real!), I was not hurt. I called to tell the interviewer what had happened and went late to the interview. Surprise, surprise, I didn't get the job, but it had a happy ending: I got a job in the same building where Mr. MSKKG worked (same company, different department)!

domectic cat · #11 01-26-2007, 09:23 PM

Cat star I just want to say thank you so much for starting up this thread, I laughed out loud when I read your post. I had an interview today and when I asked by the interviewer what I knew about the company I waffled on about the the company being funded in the 1800's and their first office being in Rose Street, Edinburgh. What the Feck was I thinking!!!! Needless to say the interviewers eyes glazed over and he looked very confused, much like this smiley

. A simple yes you deal with pensions and investments would have sufficed. ARRRGGGHHH!!!!

Cardinal026 · #12 02-01-2007, 08:22 PM

I had an interview last summer as an Administrative Assistant for a Marketing Firm. From their website, I could tell they were mostly in the beauty industry (Cosmetics, Salons, Day Spas, etc) so I made the extra effort to still dress conservative, but in an Express suit, modern jewelry, well done make-up, etc. One of the first questions the president asked me was "I notice you're not wearing lipstick - do you always not wear lipstick?" I told him I don't (meanwhile, I am wearing eyeliner, eyeshadow, mascara, blush and lip gloss) and that I normally don't. He told me he prefers his females constantly made up, and asked me if I would start to wear lipstick to work. I said I'd try (I constantly bite it off the few times I have worn it) and in spite of my great portfolio and references I didn't get the job. Looking back, I'm glad, I'd hate to work for a company like that, and plus I love the job I ended up getting the next week

Still BLUTANG · #13 02-02-2007, 10:39 AM

I interviewed with a guy who had a weird office setup. When i sat down diagonally across the desk from him, i could see his computer screen. He was holding a conversation with me when all of a sudden he had the "pop up problem." live nude girls, click here. hot and horny sex kittens want you now. barely legal teens crave you!!!!

This happened during the ENTIRE interview. I do a very good blank face so i pretended i didn't even notice this. I got the job, and i have avoided that man like the plague ever since.

BlessedOne04 · #14 05-23-2007, 10:54 PM

I'll bring this one up to the top with a hellous interview story.

I had a phone interview for a position outside of my city so it had to be a phone interview. I really, really, really wanted this job. The first phone interview went well and I was asked for a second interview to happen about 20 minutes after the first one. Well I was on lunch from my job and had to go back within that twenty minutes. My plan was simple when they called I would go to another place and do the second interview. They called and I rushed up stairs and tried to get in my car and do the second interview. On my way to my car the wind was in my phone, and a train just happen to come by and the interviewer could not hear me. I got rattled and started answering the questions all wrong! Last and yes it could get worse! The human resource manager from my current position saw me and came and sat in my car and I had to finish the interview in "code" so as not to tip her off that I was interviewing with another company. I was so disgusted after that interview and I knew that I didn't get the job. I'm still not over it!