Worst Interview Experiences/Questions?!

adg1 wrote: »

Interviewer picking up his BIC biro and handing it to me:

'Sell me this pen'

Answers -

It writes and means you can write things.

It can also double as a straw were your to be stuck on a desert island and need to stick it in a coconut.

A life-saving pen AND you can write a letter to get attention too.

Might struggle for a stamp though.

A-HA! You can stick you note in it, secure both ends with the nib and the cap and float it away. Like a small message in a bottle.

What a pen.

I've been asked that question as well, it was years ago for a position in an employment agency, I mean the person behind the desk not me going for an interview for one of their vacancies.

It was something to do with being able to sell. I'd no idea what to say, needless to say, I've never had a sales position :rotfl: it was around the time that the tops started to have holes in them to prevent choking, I think I was meant to sell that bit.

More recently, I'd already decided that I didn't want a particular job, the job itself sounded fine, but the environment awful. The interviewer said "well, I won't say I don't like you, but I'll let you know", I ran as quickly as my legs would carry me. Turned out that he'ed already been on the 'phone to the agency who sent me saying the job was mine :eek: I said, no thanks.

One that was asked of me that I wasn't prepared for was "Tell me the last time you were out of your comfort zone" I really had to think quickly for that one and waffled. I always try to have an answer that is something related to my work experience and how I turned it into a positive.

I'm glad I wasn't asked some of those above though.

The answer to the age question is this, say: 'I'm happy to tell you...' lean forward slightly 'is it important to you?'

Implication : We both know you can't ask me this.

Hermia wrote: »

My two worst questions were:

1) What was the date of your last period?

What the hell, why would someone ask you that?!

shikoku wrote: »

The worst interview technique is when they lean back in their chair and say 'tell me about yourself'

Answer as far as I am concerned is 'well what would you like to know?'

Lets face it we already know we have a tosspot for an interviewer when they do this.

I take it you were never successful at an interview when asked this question?

I'd wholeheartedly disagree with your reply and your assertion that your interviewer is a "tosspot".

This question (especially for sales and customer service roles) allows the interviewer to see whether you can "sell" yourself - after all if you cant sell yourself (who you know better than anything) you are going to struggle selling the firms products/services.

Its also an opportunity to see how you have prepared - you should from your research have an idea of what the company needs from someone in the role you have applied for and you have the opportunity here to demonstrate your qualities to fulfil the role.