Job Interviews Gone Wrong (NSR)

[Lane Meyer]

A very good friend of mine had a less than awesome (according to her) job interview yesterday, and is feeling kinda down about it. I know there are lots of threads on this topic, but I thought to brighten her spirits up a little I'd ask the maggot collective if they could share some stories of interviews gone wrong where they actually GOT the job....or got arrested or something along those lines. The interview is just part of the process, not the clincher, right?

[Viva]

When I was going on my grad school interviews, I visited the top 6 universities that really interested me, including the University of Washington. One of the faculty I met with was an MD who had a research lab. He was wearing his nice suit and tie and had me sitting while he stood or paced around and looked down. I think he wanted to intimidate me.

Anywho, the guy (I forget his name) asked a few nice standard questions at the start, but then he got weird and began asking these questions that he knew were over my head. I would give him my best answer or attempt at an answer and then he would act all disapointed and keep pressing me on some little point or come back with something like "you're really not giving me anything to evaluate you on".

I was getting tired of this shit and when he finally asked me "where do you see the field of molecular biology going in the next 10 years", I shot back "Somewhere southwest of Omaha". He let that go and I no further recollection of the encounter. All of my other interviews that day went very well, but I decided not to go Washington.

[Buster Highmen]

Long ago, I got an interview with X.

So the interviewer starts up asking me all these tech questions about operating systems, Mandarin, word processors, Korean and on.

I sat there sweating. I didn't know shit about Operating systems. I didn't know any languages other than Amurikan, a little French and some german and latin. I didn't know crap about word processors. I did know C and x86 assembler. As the interviewer went on, I felt like I was about to explode.

So I interrupted her and asked why she was asking all these questions about Asian languages, operating systems and word processors when my resume had no references to that stuff at all. I did tell her what I thought I knew.

I got a beady stare and then the interviewer sort of started fumbling around with a copy of my resume and asking questions about where I was from, what I had studied in college and what I was looking for. Floofy questions.

I had a sinking feeling I'd blown it, told myself I should have just shut up and toadied through the interview.

I was shown out shortly and knew that I'd wrecked since successful interviews are all day long deals.

Felt like shit for a while, but got on with things. Quit my old 45k/year job anyway and started at a teensy software place making $9/hour, but at least feeling better about stuff.

About a month into the new job, I get another call from X which lead to another interview that was tuned to my resume and eventually a job doing C compilers after a full day grueling interview in which I felt I had done poorly.

Years later, I saw the first interviewer in the hall and asked what was up with all the questions on Mandarin, word processors, etc. She confided that all they were doing was a visa justification and that all they really needed was to do a bunch of bogus interviews to justify the visa to the state department. But I had impressed enough people so that when they needed someone with my skills, they called me up and did a fluff interview even though they had already decided to hire me.

So don't jump to any conclusions about interviews.

[Big E]

I was shown out shortly and knew that I'd wrecked since successful interviews are all day long deals.

Really? When I was interviewing for engineering jobs out of college, I interviewed w/ 4 different companies, the longest interview lasted maybe 3 hours total (with several different people), and I got offers from all 4 companies.

Sorry, no interesting interview stories for me...

[BeanDip4All]

I've been asked some pretty ballsy math questions in interviews... "implement an algorithm to take an array and return one with only unique elements in it" "give me an algorithm to shuffle a desk of cards given that the cards are stored in an array of ints" etc. For the most part I'll just done my best, stay calm, and give the answer with a smile, even if I'm not sure if it's correct.

Sometimes they'll ask impossible questions like "solve the birch & swinnerton-dyer conjecture" just to see how you react. (Which is a millennium prize question, and if you solve it you get a million dollars and wouldn't need their crappy job anyways!)

I've heard of MDs at JP asking candidates to open glued shut windows or things along those lines to gauge reactions. Idiot power trippers. I've also had interviewers take out their blackberries and show me disparaging e-mails they've sent to their counterparts at other banks, a peacock display of who barks the loudest on a particular deal. :

[Grange]

I had a recent interview with a consulting firm. I met three groups of people that day and the last group asked a question that almost made me get up and walk out. The question was about how they could avoid having to do wetland mitigation. Considering they knew that that is a big part of my job and I feel strongly about that subject from the several previous questions I was none too pleased. I also did not hide my displeasure and proceeded to give a lecture about why we do mitigation and that they should feel lucky that it is even an option.

The interview ended shortly after my response and about a week later they were still interested. I told them no thanks, although with all the hot women in that office I sometimes wonder if I made the right decision.

I've also gotten into an argument with someone from the interview pannel. The look on his face as I made my point made it clear I was not going to get the job.

[atomicboy]

I had an interview once that was a disaster. It was for an HR position. The interview was going well but took a turn for the worst. The interviewer started asking all these non-pc / illegal questions. How old are you? You have an obscure last name are you from here? What is your ethnic background? Would you have a problem working with women? Are you married? Do you have children? etc etc.

I was thinking to myself is this a test or is this person just a dumbass. Well it turns out the person was a dumbass. I told the person the types of questions being asked were illegal and opening the firm up to potential lawsuits. The person argued with me saying he has been interviewing for years blah blah blah. I pissed him off. I also told the person other jobs offered were classified incorrectly as exempt when they were non-exempt and the financial implications if challenged could be daunting for the firm. It ended pretty quickly after that.

I left knowing the interview was short and I basically had no chance for the job. Well I got a call a couple of days later with a job offer. They said based on my knowledge and experiences I was the candidate they were looking for. I did not accept the position. You never know what is going to happen from an interview.

[P_McPoser]

Our company likes to take fresh out of school mining engineers and place them on a mining crew for a year to get "hands on" experience as to avoid coming up with impractical designs and plans. So early last year, we were interviewing a young lad for a position at the property where I work. Our interviews began with a 5:00 am pickup and hour long drive to the mine site, which is a perfect opportunity to start picking the candidates brain. Our interviews then continue with a half day site tour, then a half day of individual interviews by the other engineers.
So anyways, five minutes into the DRIVE OUT to the mine, we mention the "working on the mining crew" opportunity that we provide, and he instantly blows the entire interview in one sentence: "Work on a crew? I don't know about that, I mean, I got straight a's and pretty much know everything there is to know about underground mining."
Unfortunately with the remoteness of our mine site, we couldn't just cut the interview short and send him on his way.

[Viva]

Unfortunately with the remoteness of our mine site, we couldn't just cut the interview short and send him on his way.

Sounds like a little bitch. Y'alls should have ripped his pants off and gone Deliverance on his a$$.

[Snow Dog]

So anyways, five minutes into the DRIVE OUT to the mine, we mention the "working on the mining crew" opportunity that we provide, and he instantly blows the entire interview in one sentence: "Work on a crew? I don't know about that, I mean, I got straight a's and pretty much know everything there is to know about underground mining."
Unfortunately with the remoteness of our mine site, we couldn't just cut the interview short and send him on his way.

you should have pulled over and kicked him out: "sorry, interview's over."

[davey]

I haven't really had any bad interviews. I had an interview with a guy from amica insurance once who was kind of a dick, but thats about it.
I have an interview tomorrow, which is nice because I haven't heard from any companies in over a month now, and really need a job. The only shitty part is that its with a tobacco company, but the job is super easy, and the pay is good, so I really don't care what industry it is.

[KQ]

Sat through and two hour interview for a position I was well qualified for...things seemed to be going well when we came to a point when the interviewers (two woman) decided they needed to consult with each other so they stepped outside the room to discuss me.

As if that wasn't unprofessional enough that they stopped the interview to discuss me (they should have thanked me and told me they'd get back to me IMHO) they didn't bother to go further than outside the door to the room I was in - I could hear everything they said.

Their discussion wasn't of my education, qualifications or work history....all they said was:

Interviewer #1: Well....what do you think?
Interviewer #2: I dunno....she's awfully pretty
Interviewer #1: Yeah...I was thinking that too

I didn't get the job.

[PacRimRider1]

The only shitty part is that its with a tobacco company, but the job is super easy, and the pay is good, so I really don't care what industry it is.

Plus, you prolly get free smokes!

[Hutch]

The only shitty part is that its with a tobacco company, but the job is super easy, and the pay is good, so I really don't care what industry it is.

You should rent "Thank you for Smoking" tonight.

[grrrr]

I've had several interviews where I was flowin in, provided a hotel room, rental car and all expenses only to be told at some point or another that the in-house candidate was getting the job, but they needed to "go through the steps". Fortunately, the last few of these included Denver in February, Tahoe in March and Big Sky in November.

Now if I could just get them to pick up the lift tickets.

[Evmo]

My bro interviewed for a job in SF a while back. They thought he was a good candidate, however were worried that he might be a little "stiff" for the job. Then they googled him, and found a photo of him shithoused drinking beer out of a soccer trophy... he got the job.

[This End Up]

"Work on a crew? I don't know about that, I mean, I got straight a's and pretty much know everything there is to know about underground mining."

Sounds like a perfect mining consultant.

I knew I would never get the job after destroying three bathrooms in three different buildings while interviewing. Seems I caught a stomach bug on the flight out to the interview. I spent the night before on the toilet, and got no sleep. The morning interviews went fine, but around lunch time, things got bad. Lunch was with three managers tag teaming me with questions. I had to excuse myself before my colon exploded. After slaying the first bathroom and returning to the table they asked if I was "OK". A few hours later, in a different building, with a different interviewer, I had to excuse myself again as my stomach was about to reject lunch. An hour after that I'm in front of the HR guy for the final interview. Again had to get up and blow chunks in another bathroom. This time I recognized pieces of bacon from breakfast.

Got the job and have been working there for 11 years.

[boarddad]

Oh boy, Here's a doozy for you;
I graduated from CPSLO in '92. Aside from maybe the great depression I don't think there has ever been a worse time to be entering the workforce. A couple of years previous to this employers were climbing all over themselves to get on-campus interview slots, offering big signing bonuses...you name it. In '92...not so much. Everyone I knew either had gotten fed up and headed off to grad school or they were grovelling like me. I had sent +150 resumes and cover letters off to legitimate job leads (not cold calls but responses to ads, leads given to me by a friend of a friend, etc.) On top of that affirmative action was alive and well so, being that I am a white male, I was completely shut out from any job with a public agency. It was so bad that I was saving the few rejection letters I got. After all these companies were professional enough to at least acknowledge my effort. (Side note: I now work for one of those companies and love it!).

So there I was, graduation day long since passed, making a meager living waiting tables and praying I could keep my POS car running just one more day until I could land a decent job. In doing some follow-up phone calls A firm in Sacramento (a 5-hour drive away) said they wanted to interview me. I mentioned that it would take a couple of days to clear my work schedule and find a car that could make the trip (hint, hint - a decent company would at least offer to reimburse mileage), but otherwise I would love to and set a date for the interview.

I rented a car (no kidding, mine wasn't going to make it), dust off the suit and leave SLO at the ungodly hour of 4a to make it to Sacto with time to spare. I got there 20 minutes early and wait patienly in the lobby for my interview. Some 20 minutes AFTER the scheduled appointment the principal of the company (who's name escapes me now but he was the one I set the interview with) finally invites me into the conference room. He asks me a few questions but mostly won't even make eye contact with me. 15 minutes later, without so much as a "thank you" for making the trip...

he announces he's not really hiring and sends me on my way.

BASTARD!

Here's the Company's website in case you care. Believe me, I won't be doing business with them and I encourage everyone else I know to do the same.

[bio-smear]

I looked at myself in the mirror and said: "You're not a software developer, you're a pow hunter." I quickly solved a math problem and then slay3d my bathroom.

I got the job and have been self employed for 4 years.

[El Chupacabra]

I looked at myself in the mirror and said: "You're not a software developer, you're a pow hunter." I quickly solved a math problem and then slay3d my bathroom.

I got the job and have been self employed for 4 years.

So you're staying in Draino this winter?

[LegoSkier]

Oh boy, Here's a doozy for you;
I graduated from CPSLO in '92. Aside from maybe the great depression I don't think there has ever been a worse time to be entering the workforce. A couple of years previous to this employers were climbing all over themselves to get on-campus interview slots, offering big signing bonuses...you name it. In '92...not so much. Everyone I knew either had gotten fed up and headed off to grad school or they were grovelling like me. I had sent +150 resumes and cover letters off to legitimate job leads (not cold calls but responses to ads, leads given to me by a friend of a friend, etc.) On top of that affirmative action was alive and well so, being that I am a white male, I was completely shut out from any job with a public agency. It was so bad that I was saving the few rejection letters I got. After all these companies were professional enough to at least acknowledge my effort. (Side note: I now work for one of those companies and love it!).

So there I was, graduation day long since passed, making a meager living waiting tables and praying I could keep my POS car running just one more day until I could land a decent job. In doing some follow-up phone calls A firm in Sacramento (a 5-hour drive away) said they wanted to interview me. I mentioned that it would take a couple of days to clear my work schedule and find a car that could make the trip (hint, hint - a decent company would at least offer to reimburse mileage), but otherwise I would love to and set a date for the interview.

I rented a car (no kidding, mine wasn't going to make it), dust off the suit and leave SLO at the ungodly hour of 4a to make it to Sacto with time to spare. I got there 20 minutes early and wait patienly in the lobby for my interview. Some 20 minutes AFTER the scheduled appointment the principal of the company (who's name escapes me now but he was the one I set the interview with) finally invites me into the conference room. He asks me a few questions but mostly won't even make eye contact with me. 15 minutes later, without so much as a "thank you" for making the trip...

he announces he's not really hiring and sends me on my way.

BASTARD!

Here's the Company's website in case you care. Believe me, I won't be doing business with them and I encourage everyone else I know to do the same.

HA! Wait till divegirl sees this.

Every interview for a job I actually got offered has been really short (like no more than an hour). The interview for my current job lasted 15 minutes. I am a software engineer.
Back when I just graduated, my very first interview was with a company that makes high end mixing consoles for the recording industry. I showed up wearing green pants, a casual white crewneck shirt and sneakers. Needless to say I didn't get that job which is just as well because it was for a production engineer (sources parts from catalogs all day).
The job I actually got out of school was with a company in the defence industry that makes signal reconisance gear for the government. The guy who interviewed me had a super strong studder, like to the point where I thought maybe he was pretending to try and rattle me or something. He ended up being my supervisor for three years. Cool thing was he was an awsome bluegrass musician. Put a guitar in his hands and he would rip it up and sing with no trace of a studder.

[KQ]

The guy who interviewed me had a super strong studder, like to the point where I thought maybe he was pretending to try and rattle me or something. He ended up being my supervisor for three years. Cool thing was he was an awsome bluegrass musician. Put a guitar in his hands and he would rip it up and sing with no trace of a studder.

Just like Mel Tillis

[skiergirl]

Have a friend that recently got a prof job at a University in the south. The guy is Japanese, completed his degrees in the states, and worked with some of the most influential people in his field. During his interview for the university he was asked "So what are your feelings on Pearl Harbor".

[Ubersheist]

Alrighty... here's my uplifting story for your friend.

I had two interviews at two different companies located about 1 1/2 hour's drive away from each other. I was actually crashing on a friend's couch near the office of Big Mofo Company, and the other company, which I'll call Widgets Inc., was the one located the 1 1/2 hour's drive away. I had an interview at Widgets Inc. at 9:00 am, and another one at Big Mofo Co. at about 1:00 pm, or so I thought.

When I was pretty close after driving out to Widgets Inc., I realized I was going to arrive rather early, so I called the company to let them know I was running early if it worked better for anyone's schedule. I got a reply of "that's over 4 hours away, I have to see clients" or something like that.

Jesus! I had gotten the companies mixed up! I should have been at Mofo while I was out by Widgets. I called up Mofo and told them of my dilemma - it was 15 minutes or so before my interview, but I was over an hour's drive away from thier office.

They let me slide, and I showed up late. By then, I had to rush back to Widgets to get to that interview. I showed up late to that interview, too.

I thought I totally botched the Big Mofo Co. interview, and did pretty well with the Widgets. I was pretty sure I'd never hear from Big Mofo again, but maybe from Widgets.

They both called, both offered jobs. I'm still at Big Mofo Co. today.

[davey]

You should rent "Thank you for Smoking" tonight.

I actually just "acquired" that movie last week. I haven't had a chance to watch it yet.