Weirdest or worst job interview?

[Anonymous]

My weirdest - a couple of years ago, just after I turned 40, I was considering a second career in teaching. At that time (no idea if it's done now), EL Haynes had some sort of fellowship for teaching. I applied via online application and had a screening interview with someone. I was clear this was a track I was considering, but I wasn't sure it was something I wanted to pursue. She invite dmd to come for the in person interview, but I had little idea of what to expect.

Well, it was an evening at Haynes, and the place was packed - mostly with fresh faced soon to graduate college students, many from prestigious universities, who were clutching their resumes and eager to become teachers and SO INTERESTED in the fellowship. There were a ton of us, and we were divided into groups and had to do a bunch of different activities - observe a lesson online and comment on it, devise some sort of project, interview in a group setting, interview one on one with at least 2 people, etc etc. I was still very much in "I'm exploring this as an option" and as compared to kids who were EAGER and ready and willing to JUMP IN and DO IMPORTANT THINGS and CHANGE THE LIFE OF A CHILD - well, let's just say I stuck out. And didn't get a call back.

[Anonymous]

My worst was when I was youngish, and was first interviewed by a potential peer and then the hiring manager. The peer asked me salary question which I artfully dodged based on the tactics *everyone* advises. When the hiring manager interviewed me, she chastised me for not answering the question to the peer. I think I made a pretty good case for myself that I would discuss that when they were making me an offer and had the peer indeed made me an offer? Didn't get hired, didn't want to work there after that.

[Anonymous]

48 hour fly-in interview. I realized at dinner the first night that as a block the young faculty would not vote for me, and without them I would have no chance. I still had to go through a full day of interviewing the next day.

And the one where my potential boss kept commenting on my small feet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My weirdest interview was a panel interview via phone. I was given 30 minutes. I always like to show up early for interviews- so I called in 5 minutes early (it was a conference call#). Apparently they were using the same conference call # for all of the interviews and I came on the tail end of the interview before me. Awkward! I interviewed horribly - but they called me back for a second interview the next day and I ended up getting the job.

Oh my! That is uncomfortable. And I get all antsy on normal conference calls when you hear that someone new has jumped on and they don't say anything. I can't imagine hearing that on an interview. And being on speakerphone. Yuck.

[Anonymous]

"I have stopped taking calls or interviews from corporate recruiters."

I did as well. Now I am out of work, and wish I hadn't, because it's hard to get them to return calls now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OK, this is for a job that I actually got.

I walked in thinking it was an informational interview owing to a possible career switch. I was immediately handed a thick packet of worksheets with word associations, essay questions, etc. I filled it out, and met with the person I contacted about the job who asked me some questions based on my answers. Then I met with another guy who ushered me into his office without introducing himself, and we talked. Since I was still under the impression I was at an informational interview, I was BRUTALLY, brutally honest. He never told me he was the guy in charge until he offered me a job.

This wasn't by any chance with a health care think tank on M Street, was it?

Nope.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My worst isn't so bad, really, but it was a pain. federal job interview, and within minutes is became clear I was part of the panel of candidates they had to interview, but someone else (probably someone internal, though I can't remember how that was apparent) was going to get the job and this was just a charade. To their credit, they asked me all the questions and one of them nodded every once in a while, but it was just so clear this was mostly a waste of my time and their time.

I suppose every interview is good experience, but this one just felt like a waste of time.

Oh and I've had this experience too. HUGE waste of time. Interviewers were completely un-interested.

I have been there on this three times. Not for Gov't, but because corp requirements required more than one interview. Twice I did this for friends. The third time involved a trip to Hawaii. friend in the organization told me they had an internal candidate. I turned it into a Hawaiian vacation.

[Anonymous]

I had a panel interview just last week in which I was asked, "if you were a food at a picnic, what would you be"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My worst isn't so bad, really, but it was a pain. federal job interview, and within minutes is became clear I was part of the panel of candidates they had to interview, but someone else (probably someone internal, though I can't remember how that was apparent) was going to get the job and this was just a charade. To their credit, they asked me all the questions and one of them nodded every once in a while, but it was just so clear this was mostly a waste of my time and their time.

I suppose every interview is good experience, but this one just felt like a waste of time.

Oh and I've had this experience too. HUGE waste of time. Interviewers were completely un-interested.

I used to be on the hiring committee at my old job. My boss would make snap decisions about candidates within five minutes. If he didn't like someone he completely disengaged as was visibly obvious by his body language. I always felt badly for those candidates (who were often really good) and tried to go the extra mile to demonstrate interest to make up for his rudeness, even though I knew he would never hire them.

My boss does that too. Actually, he has ended several interviews short (like after 15 minutes instead of 1.5+ hours scheduled) because he felt that the candidate did not have the right skills/knowledge. HR got wind of that and told us that it's a requirement to complete the entire interview (we have scripted interviews where everyone is asked the same behavioral questions, etc). So now my boss is forced to sit through the interview but if he loses interest, he obviously disengages, starts playing on his iphone etc. I feel bad for the candidates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had a panel interview just last week in which I was asked, "if you were a food at a picnic, what would you be"

LMAO....Hot Dog?

[Anonymous]

I was called for an interview at a national tutoring chain. I was told it would be a group interview, and that I should prepare an "icebreaker game" for 6-12 people. When I arrived, the interviewer seemed dismissive and rude. She also seemed very young for a manager (I was about 30). It was like being interviewed by an angry teen.

We sat in a big classroom. She told me that no other candidates were coming, and asked me to present my game. I explained that it wasn't designed for 2 people, but that we'd give it a good try. I explained the game and tried to start it, while she sat there and stared at me. She said something about bad my game was! I said (politely) that it had proven quite fun on many occasions-- when there were, say, 6-12 people to play it.

She gave me an eyeroll and told me they'd be in touch. I never heard from them after that (thank goodness!).

FWIW, I already was an experienced, well-reviewed tutor and classroom teacher at that point. I'm pretty sure her contempt was unearned.

[Anonymous]

I am a teacher. I was "interviewed" at a local progressive school. They asked me to just sit in a kindergarten class....and after 2 hours, I asked the K teacher what I should do...she said," why are you here?" After I explained, her response is she did not have a clue. I found my way to the main office (after I had slid down a flight of stairs) and they said the director was absent and would not be interviewing me, and that I could just leave. Strange!! Unprofessional!! I did not get the job, but everything worked out for the best for me, anyway. Thankfully!

[Anonymous]

I got an interview for a high school teaching position at a private PK-12. As we sat down, the interviewer said, "I noticed from your resume you have taught at multiple grade levels. Would you be interested in interviewing for other positions we have open?" I said yes, thinking there would be separate interviews, and maybe a little prep time! But no, the interviewer asked me questions about high school, elementary, and preschool, all mixed together. Believe me, it's hard to answer a question like "What's your approach to classroom discipline?" when you have to cover 3, 10, and 17 year olds in your answer!

I did get hired, but not for the position I originally applied for. Ironically, the teacher who did get that job was HORRIBLE, and was fired mid-year.

[Anonymous]

A long time ago I was in invited to a group interview in New York for a position at a children's magazine. The magazine's offices are located in Pennsylvania. The first surprise was the HR woman had a laryngectomy and had to talk and breathe through a hole in her neck. A little disconcerting.

But the bigger surprise was that all the applicants were prepared to stay overnight and travel to the Pennsylvania office the next day. All but me. I had not been apprised of this at all and had called into work sick to go to New York for the day. I did not get the job. No surprise there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had a panel interview just last week in which I was asked, "if you were a food at a picnic, what would you be"

LMAO....Hot Dog?

Best story ever.

Wtf can you say that is professional? A liter of lemonade because I am a leader? Yuk yuk.