Worst Interview Experiences/Questions?!

jazabelle

My weirdest question was 'if you were a part of a bus, which part would you be?'. I guess it wasn't that bad - but it just seemed so pointless!

My strangest experience was as the interviewer. It was for a gardening service, where we refer people on - so not a job exactly. One said 'I work my t*ts off' and then admitted he didn't claim any of his cash jobs for taxation purposes.

Hermia

saterkey wrote: »

perhaps the period question, would establish whether you were pregnant or not??

I did ask them why they asked that and they did give that as their reason. I can't imagine what would have happened if it had been someone with irregular periods - would they have believed her? By this point I was so unimpressed with the three people interviewing me that I did ask them whether they were asking male candidates the same question. I was past caring. If I had the acting skills I would have been tempted to burst into tears and pretend to be infertile.

sapphireeye

I had an awful interview where I just felt like they interviewer laid into me the whole time! I was sent there by an employment agency, it's a large and well known electronics company that make household electrical appliances.

I got there, my interview was with the HR director so we sat down and everything I said he completely put me down on it. It was clear he'd already made judgements about the type of person I was before the interview even started from the type of roles I'd previously worked in. He implied that because I was English and I'd worked in English companies I'd be unable to cope with talking on the phone with employees from Korea (the company was Korean). He also said that because I was English my work ethic wasn't anywhere near as good as the Korean employees and how because I'd worked 9-5 jobs in the past I wouldn't be willing to put as many hours in as everyone else. I didn't let him just put me down however, I pointed out that just because you work a lot of hours it doesn't mean that you're a better worker than someone that produces quality work in the time they are there, and the work-life balance makes for a happier work force. It was a while ago now so I can't remember all his questions but I was giving GOOD answers and he spent the whole time making me feel like because I was English I was rubbish and not suitable for the job. Funnily enough, he was English too, but a complete !!!!!!!. During the interview he mentioned they'd had trouble recruiting for the role, I wonder why?!

I came out and I burst into tears. The next day I rang the employment agency and told them that the reason they hadn't been able to fill the position was because the interviewer's attitude was so horrible and ignorant that I would be surprised if anyone wanted to work there if that was the attitude of the HR Manager. The interviewer is an interviewee's only impression of the company and what the people you will be working with will be like and he gave such an awful impression of his company that there was no way I wanted the job.

Funnily enough he did offer me a second interview!! :O I turned them down, the employment agency tried to talk me into it but I stuck to my guns because I wouldn't want to be treated like that in my everyday working life!

ClareEmily

My current Employers asked me what my family plans were at my interview, 3 years on I am now on maternity leave.

One asked me what made me laugh, well my mind went blank, and he looked at me in disbelief and said that the question itself had made the other interviewees laugh.....ok then.

I have had one asked me "how my friends describe me" !!!!head probably wouldn't have gone down well.

lynzpower

andy46 wrote: »

I was asked "What would you like to see written on your gravestone?" and of course drew a complete blank and didn't get the job.

In hindsight should have perhaps just said "Oh I am just going to be cremated with my ashes scattered at sea". Quite a depressing and unimaginative question for an HR person to ask in my opinion:(

"I told you I was ill" ( was this spike milligan?)

Mimi_Arc_en_ciel

in my current job i had "so why do you need this job" to which i replied "i dont NEED this job, i want it, there's a difference" the choice was between me and another lady and they took me

Mimi_Arc_en_ciel

lynzpower wrote: »

"I told you I was ill" ( was this spike milligan?)

my favorite one is

Remember man, as you walk by, As you are now, so once was I, As I am now, so shall you be, Remember this and follow me. HANDWRITTEN IN ADDITION: To follow you I’ll not consent, until I know which way you went!

WatlingA5

Not long after the start of the recession someone I know was being interviewed for a "replacement" job by a couple of bosses after announcement of redundancies. One of the questions (on an HR-prepared list) was "Where do you see (the company) in two years time?" Interviewee's reply was that with the way things there was no point in an employee speculating.

At the end, my acquaintance was invited to give them questions. As the boss who'd thrown the original question took a sip of water, he heard: "Where do YOU see the company in two years time?" After nearly choking on his drink he just grinned sheepishly and never gave an answer.

icehockey44

I had an interview (loose term) a couple of weeks ago, for a local regional utilities board.

I turned up 20 mins early for my interview the previous interview over ran by 15 mins. Whilst waiting the 2 people who were down to do the interview popped along to inform me that they wouldn't be doing the interview, just one guy would do it. Bearing in mind i was told by the agency that it would be a panel interview as they had 2 vacancies requiring the same skills so the interview would be for 2 jobs in 1 interview.
When I eventually got in for my "interview" they guy sat me down and proceeded to tell me about the company its values and culture, at this point I though I would really like this job. then he showed me all the reports that need to be produced, I thinking I could do that with my eyes closed. After about 15 mins they guy turned around and said " well that all there is about the job, I think that's it" , so tell me about yourself, so I started explaining my position and skills etc, as the agency said make sure they know you are available immediately, As I was explaining this, the guy butted in started rambling about the company I used to work for then showed me the door!!!
Now the guy being interviewed before me was a member of my family, and he was offered a 2nd interview in his interview and subsequently the following week was offered the job without the 2nd interview.
When I phoned the agency for some feedback the following week, they told me that I was highly recommended but the guy they offered the job too had a slight edge over me. So when I gave my feedback I told the agency exactly what happened, and that possibly the edge was the fact that he was interviewed and I wasn't.
To say I was p!ssed off was a total underestimate. But hey ho there loss not mine!!

So inmy case a question would have been impressive:rotfl:

Savvy_Sue

Bunter wrote: »

34. What would happen if you drilled through the Earth all the way to the other side and then jumped into the hole? (Engineering, Cambridge)

I recall reading something about this scenario. I think the answer is that gravity pulls you towards the centre of the earth. When you get to the centre, the pull of gravity stops but the acceleration you have acquired propels you onward past the centre. Eventually the acceleration peters out and gravity draws you back towards the centre of the earth again. The process continues ad infinitum.

So basically you would go up and down like a yo yo.

alunharford wrote: »

Well, this is an engineering question. Engineers have to build stuff in the real world! The earth is:

a) Not spherical,
b) Not uniform,
c) Not solid.

It also has an atmosphere. Changes in your body position will cause different airflow around your body and you'll get splattered all over the sides of your hole.

Even in a vacuum any change in rotation of the earth about any of its axes will get you splattered all over the sides of your hole. You'd probably be killed by changes in amplitude of the Chandler wobble.

Bunter wrote: »

Hmm...and what do you think the effect of the molten centre of the earth would have on the proceedings??

my sentiments exactly!

anyway, to be helpful: it's always worth knowing what equal ops covers, and to expect a question on it.

"What would you do if a colleague told a racist joke?" NB the correct answer is not "It depends whether it was funny or not."

As an interviewer, I once asked candidates who would be working for two people how they would cope with a slightly disorganised manager making last minute requests which were difficult to accommodate. Worst answer was "Well I hope he wouldn't do that to me." durr: why do you think I asked!?!?!?

btw, I think the period question is also age discrimination, AND asking for medical info, appalling - how recent was that?