Worst interview ever?
Discussion
Just had mine. Left at 9:15 for an 11:30 appointment. Arrived an hour before hand. Went to the local mcdonalds.
Left there in good time. Arrived 20 minutes before start time, explained to receptionist I was early.
Receptionist emailed the interviewer instead of calling. 40 minutes later I went and spoke to the receptionist and found out he was not in.
2 hour journey home.
Yours?
Left there in good time. Arrived 20 minutes before start time, explained to receptionist I was early.
Receptionist emailed the interviewer instead of calling. 40 minutes later I went and spoke to the receptionist and found out he was not in.
2 hour journey home.
Yours?
Some time back no for me,
But I was about 18, and had applied for a Jnr Office role (basically a project teams run around) 1st interview went great, out of 20 people, me along with another lad were asked to attend a 2nd at their Head Office a week later.
Went to the interview all was going great, after 45 minutes of questions by the original interviewer and her co-worker, all the right sounds were being made (how much, when to start, meeting the team and so on) when another guy simply walks in and claims he "want to me his new boy" and takes over promptly telling me that he expects me to give 110%, be in the office before he arrives (around 7:30 am) and that none of his team finish before he does (around 8pm), when I enquired about overtime rates he just looked at me and said and I quote
" I would have killed to have been given this opportunity at your age lad and I should be thankful were paying you at all"
The pay was going to be around 8k, when I pointed out that I did have other things to do then work, he simply replied that I should be "putting the company 1st before those things", those things being family and friends.
When the interview was over, they said they would be in touch, I said not to bother as this really wasn't the role for me. He was not happy and started claiming I would live to regret it, a few hours later on the drive on I got a call from the original interviewer asking me to reconsider, I didnt. 2 years later when the IT Bubble burst they want with it.
But I was about 18, and had applied for a Jnr Office role (basically a project teams run around) 1st interview went great, out of 20 people, me along with another lad were asked to attend a 2nd at their Head Office a week later.
Went to the interview all was going great, after 45 minutes of questions by the original interviewer and her co-worker, all the right sounds were being made (how much, when to start, meeting the team and so on) when another guy simply walks in and claims he "want to me his new boy" and takes over promptly telling me that he expects me to give 110%, be in the office before he arrives (around 7:30 am) and that none of his team finish before he does (around 8pm), when I enquired about overtime rates he just looked at me and said and I quote
" I would have killed to have been given this opportunity at your age lad and I should be thankful were paying you at all"
The pay was going to be around 8k, when I pointed out that I did have other things to do then work, he simply replied that I should be "putting the company 1st before those things", those things being family and friends.
When the interview was over, they said they would be in touch, I said not to bother as this really wasn't the role for me. He was not happy and started claiming I would live to regret it, a few hours later on the drive on I got a call from the original interviewer asking me to reconsider, I didnt. 2 years later when the IT Bubble burst they want with it.
I interviewed for a contract IT support role a few years ago, was already in a good contract but was "shopping around".
Had a brief techie test by the IT manager, who had some incorrect answers which I tactfully pointed out to him. He lost the plot and started accusing me of wasting his time, shouting at me, getting in my face and saying "You're wrong, you're wrong" over and over again.
Took all my self control to not lamp him, but I kindly thanked him for his time and went back to work. Emailed him some links confirming that what I was saying was in fact correct, and offered him some constructive criticism on his interview techniques (in as much of a condescending manor as possible).
Last bumped into him 3 years ago when I was holding interviews for a Project Manager role, he didn't recognise me or at least he pretended not to, and he didn't get the role either
Had a brief techie test by the IT manager, who had some incorrect answers which I tactfully pointed out to him. He lost the plot and started accusing me of wasting his time, shouting at me, getting in my face and saying "You're wrong, you're wrong" over and over again.
Took all my self control to not lamp him, but I kindly thanked him for his time and went back to work. Emailed him some links confirming that what I was saying was in fact correct, and offered him some constructive criticism on his interview techniques (in as much of a condescending manor as possible).
Last bumped into him 3 years ago when I was holding interviews for a Project Manager role, he didn't recognise me or at least he pretended not to, and he didn't get the role either
Edited by SlimRick on Monday 13th February 19:02
Interim Transport Managers position for a company who had some quite big people/man management issues, back for 2nd interview. arrived 15 mins early for 1pm interview.
The owner of the company was out for lunch when I arrived, so sat chatting with the Finance Director (whom I got on with really well at the 1st interview)
1pm, comes and goes, 1.15, 1.20, 1.30...finance director has called the owner twice with no response, 1.40, 1.50...by now I am thinking he is not going to show and I have wasted a couple of hours with travelling.
1.55 the owner finally arrives with a Macdonalds :/
I stand up as he enters the room I smile and make eye contact, and go to shake his hand which was now holding a cheese 1/4 pounder...
'sorry I am late' he says. I reply 'its ok, no problem'
'well you would f
king say that' he replies. :0Interview starts and inbetween bites of his burger, he starts asking questions about my experience
in resolving problem operations, I answer well, he comments on my answers with a 'hmmm' and has another bite of his burger or slurp on his coke, after about 15 mins, I stand up and tell him most problems with a company start at the top, and he is the biggest problem of his company. Thank the FD for his time and walk out.
5 mins later the recruitment company call me asking why the hell I had abused their client and walked out...I explain and 5 mins later I get a call back apologising and them telling me they will not work with that company again, followed by a call form the FD apologising for his bosses attitude and would I still be interested in the position...I politely said no, even though it meant another 3 weeks being unemployed
I once got an interview with a company who had a nice sales office in town. However the address I got was 20 miles away in a grim little village.
Drove up to the village to find a small industrial estate that might have been twinned with downtown Beruit and there actual factory was falling down.
Shown into see the MD, who was sat behind an ancient desk. Interview went OK, until it came to my salary expectations. Interview terminated VERY quickly after that.
As the MD stood up from behind his desk, his gut had worn a hole through his jumper where it rubbed on the desk!!
Drove up to the village to find a small industrial estate that might have been twinned with downtown Beruit and there actual factory was falling down.
Shown into see the MD, who was sat behind an ancient desk. Interview went OK, until it came to my salary expectations. Interview terminated VERY quickly after that.
As the MD stood up from behind his desk, his gut had worn a hole through his jumper where it rubbed on the desk!!
I went for a job at a well known German investmant bank a few years back. The first question the guy asked was "What do know about the opportunity"?
I replied I knew he was looking for a specialist in derivatives following the banks €2bn commitment to expand their operations and proceeded to say why I thought I'd excel in the role.
The guy replied.. "Actually, I'm looking for an IT Project Manager. I think there has been a mix up". HR had cocked up and I never did get to interview for the proper role...
I replied I knew he was looking for a specialist in derivatives following the banks €2bn commitment to expand their operations and proceeded to say why I thought I'd excel in the role.
The guy replied.. "Actually, I'm looking for an IT Project Manager. I think there has been a mix up". HR had cocked up and I never did get to interview for the proper role...
In the late 1970's I was desperate to get out of the dead end job I was in so went round the agencies. I was asked to interview at a defence contractor ( now gone) in Stanmore and as part of the interview taken to see my place of work
It was bonfire night that night - but clear and cold as we walked down the track to the portakabins hid in the woods where the Russian satellites couldn't see them. I was ushered into a room where a bloke was working at a drawing board wearing a greatcoat, gloves and a balaclava helmet! He whipped the helmet off and apologised that the heating had been broken for the last two years. Next I was taken to lunch in the management canteen and had it pointed out that it wasn't where I'd be eating if I joined ( I was working out how that might coincide with the date of hell freezing over sas it seemed to be in danger of doing in that Portakabin)
They offered me the job - at £50.00 PA more than I was currently earning. So I badgered Unilver into giving me a job and never looked back!
It was bonfire night that night - but clear and cold as we walked down the track to the portakabins hid in the woods where the Russian satellites couldn't see them. I was ushered into a room where a bloke was working at a drawing board wearing a greatcoat, gloves and a balaclava helmet! He whipped the helmet off and apologised that the heating had been broken for the last two years. Next I was taken to lunch in the management canteen and had it pointed out that it wasn't where I'd be eating if I joined ( I was working out how that might coincide with the date of hell freezing over sas it seemed to be in danger of doing in that Portakabin)
They offered me the job - at £50.00 PA more than I was currently earning. So I badgered Unilver into giving me a job and never looked back!
10 years back i went for a managerial job at a ladies clothing store
so it was going good till they started asking me about future trends of womens fashion. needless to say i had no idea.
but then things took a twist
she had the tv on and it broke for a newsflash that a plane had crashed into one of the twin towers... after that she was fixated on that.
so it was going good till they started asking me about future trends of womens fashion. needless to say i had no idea.
but then things took a twist
she had the tv on and it broke for a newsflash that a plane had crashed into one of the twin towers... after that she was fixated on that.
voicey said:
I went for a job at a well known German investmant bank a few years back. The first question the guy asked was "What do know about the opportunity"?
I replied I knew he was looking for a specialist in derivatives following the banks €2bn commitment to expand their operations and proceeded to say why I thought I'd excel in the role.
The guy replied.. "Actually, I'm looking for an IT Project Manager. I think there has been a mix up". HR had cocked up and I never did get to interview for the proper role...
I had a similar situation when an agency sent me for a role. They'd advised me that it was ABC and had tailored my CV to suit the role. The money was nice and I could have done ABC so went along. Got asked to explain what I thought the role required only for them to say that they were were looking for XYZ which is what I'd done in the first place but my CV had underplayed that part significantly. I was not happy with the agency on the follow up call. I replied I knew he was looking for a specialist in derivatives following the banks €2bn commitment to expand their operations and proceeded to say why I thought I'd excel in the role.
The guy replied.. "Actually, I'm looking for an IT Project Manager. I think there has been a mix up". HR had cocked up and I never did get to interview for the proper role...
Had another one when I first started working where the guy interviewing who cut me off mid sentance to order a bacon sandwich along with being slack and disorganised. I just thanked him for his time got up and left.
Many years ago I went for an interview in a large company as Chief Accountant. The interviewer, an Assistant Comptroller, asked me if i was ambitious, as ambition ruined people. He told me about the payroll clerk who only had ten years on the job and was angling for a promotion!. I assured him I had zero ambition, that accounting was my life, the very soul of my existence, and that I preferred to toil in obscurity.
Later on I became VP and Chief Accounting Officer and CIO, and those people went to the great ledger room in the sky.
Later on I became VP and Chief Accounting Officer and CIO, and those people went to the great ledger room in the sky.
Had an interview for a job "in Guildford" back in the days before mobile phones.
When I got the instructions it was really in Croydon!
Still, I stupidly went along instead of saying I wasn't interested.
Agent had missed out a critical direction on the route to get there, so I got horribly lost, had to find a phone box, get correct instructions and turned up an hour late.
I was fed up and rattled about being late and my mind blanked when I was asked simple technical questions I knew the answers to.
The potential employer complained to the agent that I wasn't qualified for the interview (I was) and I wasted a day (unpaid!) going to an interview for a job I wouldn't have taken anyway.
I got a lot pickier about interviews after that!
Looking back it's remarkable how much less stressful getting around is these days with sat nav and mobile phones.
M
When I got the instructions it was really in Croydon!
Still, I stupidly went along instead of saying I wasn't interested.
Agent had missed out a critical direction on the route to get there, so I got horribly lost, had to find a phone box, get correct instructions and turned up an hour late.
I was fed up and rattled about being late and my mind blanked when I was asked simple technical questions I knew the answers to.
The potential employer complained to the agent that I wasn't qualified for the interview (I was) and I wasted a day (unpaid!) going to an interview for a job I wouldn't have taken anyway.
I got a lot pickier about interviews after that!
Looking back it's remarkable how much less stressful getting around is these days with sat nav and mobile phones.
M
Edited by marcosgt on Tuesday 14th February 17:29
Had a similar experience to you OP.
Went for a interview and after sitting in reception for over 45 mins decided that I don't want to work somewhere which messes me about like that so walked out. I hate lateness. The girl at reception did not even have a reason or excuse. Just said that they were busy in other meetings.
Went for a interview and after sitting in reception for over 45 mins decided that I don't want to work somewhere which messes me about like that so walked out. I hate lateness. The girl at reception did not even have a reason or excuse. Just said that they were busy in other meetings.
1. I went for an interview for a course at Bath Uni. They kept me there until the very end (I think about 18:00), and the guy seeing me seemed very distracted. In the end I asked him if he was ok and he admitted that he was in the middle of a messy divorce and that he felt like his "life was falling apart". He then told me about this for about 20 minutes while I listened sympathetically then suddenly snapped out of it and said "Ok...ahem...if you want a place you can have it...goodbye". I didn't go.
2. I had a friend who did a degree, then a PHD (also coincidentally at Bath Uni) then saw a job that fitted his extremely narrow field of pharmacological research like a glove. He travelled all the way to an interview in East Anglia somewhere to find 9 other candidates that thought the same way as him about their suitability, then was informed in the interview that the salary was £14k (this was about 2000). To say he was a trifle disillusioned afterwards would be an understatement.
2. I had a friend who did a degree, then a PHD (also coincidentally at Bath Uni) then saw a job that fitted his extremely narrow field of pharmacological research like a glove. He travelled all the way to an interview in East Anglia somewhere to find 9 other candidates that thought the same way as him about their suitability, then was informed in the interview that the salary was £14k (this was about 2000). To say he was a trifle disillusioned afterwards would be an understatement.
The OH went to a local Nursing Home last month for a Registered Nurse role, she arrived smartly dressed and greeting with a grin 20 mins early as you should.
All the staff mooched about completely disinterested about the chaos unfolding around them - we're talking about the care of very old vulnerable people here, not a photocopier factory of course.
She was sent to HR, the lady there looked her up and down, and barked "who sent you to me, I can't see you now" and sent her back to reception. She waited and hour and a half, mostly not to give the recruitment people a bad impression. When the owner finally decided she could see her, she was ushered up to her 'ego office' basically a huge fancy desk with no work on it, and instead of asking her to sit opposite her, asked OH to sit in the corner.
The OH assumed the interview was a disaster, she asked some technical questions from a list, but the owner clearly didn't understand them, or indeed the answers, was pretty rude and couldn't answer almost anything about the role.
We were amazed when they offered her the Job!
The recruitment people had explained long before she went that OH didn't qualify until the end of this month, and couldn't start before March the 5th.
They wanted her Feb 20th latest. It was explained that she even though she's had her results she would be technically qualified to do the job, then, plus she needed to complete 2 weeks in Uni to tie up loose ends or she couldn't finish her degree.
"Oh, that's OK, she can work for a month as a carer and we'll 'review' her salary then"
Riiiiight, so potentially throw away 3 years work and a 2.1 Nursing degree, to start a crappy job 2-3 weeks earlier, on a lower pay scale and the vague promise of it being reviewed later...
They were surprised when the OH turned it down.
All the staff mooched about completely disinterested about the chaos unfolding around them - we're talking about the care of very old vulnerable people here, not a photocopier factory of course.
She was sent to HR, the lady there looked her up and down, and barked "who sent you to me, I can't see you now" and sent her back to reception. She waited and hour and a half, mostly not to give the recruitment people a bad impression. When the owner finally decided she could see her, she was ushered up to her 'ego office' basically a huge fancy desk with no work on it, and instead of asking her to sit opposite her, asked OH to sit in the corner.
The OH assumed the interview was a disaster, she asked some technical questions from a list, but the owner clearly didn't understand them, or indeed the answers, was pretty rude and couldn't answer almost anything about the role.
We were amazed when they offered her the Job!
The recruitment people had explained long before she went that OH didn't qualify until the end of this month, and couldn't start before March the 5th.
They wanted her Feb 20th latest. It was explained that she even though she's had her results she would be technically qualified to do the job, then, plus she needed to complete 2 weeks in Uni to tie up loose ends or she couldn't finish her degree.
"Oh, that's OK, she can work for a month as a carer and we'll 'review' her salary then"
Riiiiight, so potentially throw away 3 years work and a 2.1 Nursing degree, to start a crappy job 2-3 weeks earlier, on a lower pay scale and the vague promise of it being reviewed later...
They were surprised when the OH turned it down.
Many moons ago applied for a position as a Shift Manger with shall we say Coca Cola’s main competitor and after passing 1st interview was asked to attend an all day assessment centre.
Arrived at appointed time in my suit and tie and was sent through to a Portakabin, wherein others in non-business attire were undertaking a maths test on individual A4 clipboards. Collected mine, answered questions, handed it back and then undertook the verbal test, again with clipboard, handed it back. “Thanks, that’s it – we will be in touch”. 160mile round trip for less than hour?
Returned to reception and asked for the HR manager (again). There was a scene as she had to be called out of a “manager’s assessment centre” and could I wait. You can imagine the red faces when they realised what they had done because my ethnicity was out of the norm for their usual crop of shift managers whilst it fitted nicely with the temporary labour pool within the Portakabin.
Arrived at appointed time in my suit and tie and was sent through to a Portakabin, wherein others in non-business attire were undertaking a maths test on individual A4 clipboards. Collected mine, answered questions, handed it back and then undertook the verbal test, again with clipboard, handed it back. “Thanks, that’s it – we will be in touch”. 160mile round trip for less than hour?
Returned to reception and asked for the HR manager (again). There was a scene as she had to be called out of a “manager’s assessment centre” and could I wait. You can imagine the red faces when they realised what they had done because my ethnicity was out of the norm for their usual crop of shift managers whilst it fitted nicely with the temporary labour pool within the Portakabin.
P-Jay said:
"Oh, that's OK, she can work for a month as a carer and we'll 'review' her salary then"
Riiiiight, so potentially throw away 3 years work and a 2.1 Nursing degree, to start a crappy job 2-3 weeks earlier, on a lower pay scale and the vague promise of it being reviewed later...
This is quite common for newly qualified nurses however the necessary contract for change in job title and salary are generally watertight before the person starts with the agreement being that when they are qualified and registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council that they immediately take up duties as a staff nurse and earn accordingly. "Review her salary" doesn't sound very watertight though...Riiiiight, so potentially throw away 3 years work and a 2.1 Nursing degree, to start a crappy job 2-3 weeks earlier, on a lower pay scale and the vague promise of it being reviewed later...
Mine -
Few years ago when I was a hardware engineer, decided to look for new jobs in software support. Got offered an interview for a company who specialised in selling VoIP equipment and services. Had some prior background in supporting this so sounds good.
Got to the building (smallish company, about 50 odd people). Got greeted by the warehouse guy who showed me upstairs to the reception area, which was through the sales department (open plan office).
Whilst walking through the sales department, and seeing about 30 of the staff, I did happen to notice that they were all of Indian descent. Not a problem there, just odd to see in a building outside of the Slough area.
Manager came to meet me (also Indian - reason I keep bringing this up is forthcoming), took a quick look at me and refused to shake my hand. Showed me to the interview room which was downstairs through the customer service department of about 20 people (all Indian). Interview consisted of him asking me questions, me answering and him just grunting or going "hmmph". to each answer.
He gave me a technical test, consisting of 10 questions - gave him the sheet back and he marked it and then said "9 out of 10 correct - probably got lucky". He then went on to say that I obviously had no technical skill, and I had learned everything I knew off the leaflet in reception (that I had not read or didn't even know existed), and that I would not be suitable for the job in any respect.
When I conveyed my concerns to the agency, they basically admitted that they had to send me there as part of their equality target, and that they only employ Indian staff. Thanks a fking bunch for wasting my time then....
Few years ago when I was a hardware engineer, decided to look for new jobs in software support. Got offered an interview for a company who specialised in selling VoIP equipment and services. Had some prior background in supporting this so sounds good.
Got to the building (smallish company, about 50 odd people). Got greeted by the warehouse guy who showed me upstairs to the reception area, which was through the sales department (open plan office).
Whilst walking through the sales department, and seeing about 30 of the staff, I did happen to notice that they were all of Indian descent. Not a problem there, just odd to see in a building outside of the Slough area.
Manager came to meet me (also Indian - reason I keep bringing this up is forthcoming), took a quick look at me and refused to shake my hand. Showed me to the interview room which was downstairs through the customer service department of about 20 people (all Indian). Interview consisted of him asking me questions, me answering and him just grunting or going "hmmph". to each answer.
He gave me a technical test, consisting of 10 questions - gave him the sheet back and he marked it and then said "9 out of 10 correct - probably got lucky". He then went on to say that I obviously had no technical skill, and I had learned everything I knew off the leaflet in reception (that I had not read or didn't even know existed), and that I would not be suitable for the job in any respect.
When I conveyed my concerns to the agency, they basically admitted that they had to send me there as part of their equality target, and that they only employ Indian staff. Thanks a f
king bunch for wasting my time then....Carrot said:
Mine -
Few years ago when I was a hardware engineer, decided to look for new jobs in software support. Got offered an interview for a company who specialised in selling VoIP equipment and services. Had some prior background in supporting this so sounds good.
Got to the building (smallish company, about 50 odd people). Got greeted by the warehouse guy who showed me upstairs to the reception area, which was through the sales department (open plan office).
Whilst walking through the sales department, and seeing about 30 of the staff, I did happen to notice that they were all of Indian descent. Not a problem there, just odd to see in a building outside of the Slough area.
Manager came to meet me (also Indian - reason I keep bringing this up is forthcoming), took a quick look at me and refused to shake my hand. Showed me to the interview room which was downstairs through the customer service department of about 20 people (all Indian). Interview consisted of him asking me questions, me answering and him just grunting or going "hmmph". to each answer.
He gave me a technical test, consisting of 10 questions - gave him the sheet back and he marked it and then said "9 out of 10 correct - probably got lucky". He then went on to say that I obviously had no technical skill, and I had learned everything I knew off the leaflet in reception (that I had not read or didn't even know existed), and that I would not be suitable for the job in any respect.
When I conveyed my concerns to the agency, they basically admitted that they had to send me there as part of their equality target, and that they only employ Indian staff. Thanks a fking bunch for wasting my time then....
Few years ago when I was a hardware engineer, decided to look for new jobs in software support. Got offered an interview for a company who specialised in selling VoIP equipment and services. Had some prior background in supporting this so sounds good.
Got to the building (smallish company, about 50 odd people). Got greeted by the warehouse guy who showed me upstairs to the reception area, which was through the sales department (open plan office).
Whilst walking through the sales department, and seeing about 30 of the staff, I did happen to notice that they were all of Indian descent. Not a problem there, just odd to see in a building outside of the Slough area.
Manager came to meet me (also Indian - reason I keep bringing this up is forthcoming), took a quick look at me and refused to shake my hand. Showed me to the interview room which was downstairs through the customer service department of about 20 people (all Indian). Interview consisted of him asking me questions, me answering and him just grunting or going "hmmph". to each answer.
He gave me a technical test, consisting of 10 questions - gave him the sheet back and he marked it and then said "9 out of 10 correct - probably got lucky". He then went on to say that I obviously had no technical skill, and I had learned everything I knew off the leaflet in reception (that I had not read or didn't even know existed), and that I would not be suitable for the job in any respect.
When I conveyed my concerns to the agency, they basically admitted that they had to send me there as part of their equality target, and that they only employ Indian staff. Thanks a f
king bunch for wasting my time then....
Funny to see the boot on the other foot. I am of Indian ancestry - i regularly used to turn up at interviews and find I had been sent to make up the numbers and to show how multicultural and diverse their employee base was. I've had "Recruitment Consultants" pleading with me to attend interviews for roles i had absolutely no interest in. I was thinking of hiring myself out as a "Professional Ethnic" for overly PC Companies.
pppp
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