The most bizarre interview ever?

Mischa8

LadyMissA wrote: »

I had an interview three weeks ago in a coffee shop as the large US company (new opening in London) didn't have space in their pre opening office to see me.

It is far from professional to take someone to a coffee shop to discuss the job and all your details with other people sitting 2feet away.

Really there are other options (you can hire meeting rooms out etc on a temporary basis).

I don't think it is that unprofessional judging on time/where you go etc. Just thought of another interview I'd had in a boutique restaurant of a hotel in London (Bloomsbury). It was for a temp role but I was bought coffee/tea, breakfast croissant and whatever.

Having said that, it was somewhat un-nerving with the noise around us and other guests but in some cases employers may actually want to see how you cope in different surroundings, under pressure etc.

Like you say the new office didn't have space to see you - so either you go along for the interview in a coffee shop or you don't go at all, simple as that. They're not forcing you to meet in a coffee shop!

LadyMissA

Mischa8 wrote: »

Really there are other options (you can hire meeting rooms out etc on a temporary basis).

I don't think it is that unprofessional judging on time/where you go etc. Just thought of another interview I'd had in a boutique restaurant of a hotel in London (Bloomsbury). It was for a temp role but I was bought coffee/tea, breakfast croissant and whatever.

Having said that, it was somewhat un-nerving with the noise around us and other guests but in some cases employers may actually want to see how you cope in different surroundings, under pressure etc.

Like you say the new office didn't have space to see you - so either you go along for the interview in a coffee shop or you don't go at all, simple as that. They're not forcing you to meet in a coffee shop!

I attended their offices which was in a swanky 29 floor building in London with an executive lounge area. They never told me they were going to march me round the streets to find somewhere we could have coffee/tea in.

In this buliding they could have also hired a meeting room.

You make it sound like I knew I was going to a coffee shop! There is no pressure in sitting in a coffee shop but its not exactly confidential with others around like you wouldn't hold an interview in the middle of an office with others listening in, or would you?

I think it is unprofessional to meet the Finance Director for a role in the accounts team and be taken to M&S!!

planning303

I've had first stage interviews in all manner of places!

I get the impression quite a lot of firms don't even want you to see the premsies at the intial stage of the application

The funniest being in an AMF bowling center (just to clarify the interview was not for a career in the bowling industry)

The most awkward was a very quiet hotel bar / lobby.. it was made awkward because there was some werid bloke staring at me thoughout

Wyndham

I think interviews are a two way process - and something like this would tell me everythng I needed to know about the company.... even if they offered me a job, they'd be told a polite 'thanks, but no thanks'.

I had on the other week, which was all to do with process improvement. The two typos in the letter inviting me for interview told me all about the level of attention to detail they were looking for, and the fact that they kept me waiting told me all I needed to know about their time management. In this situation, little things matter, as if they do things like that at interview stage (when they are meant to be giving a good impression too) then what are they like to work for on a daily basis? Not to be big headed, but I'm worth more than that.

jameskye1983

1 job interview i attended was a bit strange.
As the job was out the way ( up small country roads ) and behind a farm. i left early to look for it but got there an hour early.
out pops a guy from behind one of the sheds and yells what do you think your doing get lost.
explained i was the 1pm interview and he said your early , great we will see you now go into that shed there and the other guys will introduce them selves to you while you all wait on me.
When i went into the porta cabin i was told to sit on the windowsill or the desk and grab a chair to rest my feet on.
eventually the other guy showed up and yelled at me for showing up early and asked me what do you think your doing here.
before i could answer he asked if i had any pets at home , umm yeah i have a dog , his reply was ok p!ss off we dont want you due to health and safety.
next day i got a phone call from the job centre telling me i had been sanctioned for 3 weeks money because i failed to show for an interview. the guy had called the job centre up and told them i never showed and he had come in on his day off to interview me.

it was to work in a chicken hatchery.

katerinasol

jameskye1983 wrote: »

1 job interview i attended was a bit strange.
As the job was out the way ( up small country roads ) and behind a farm. i left early to look for it but got there an hour early.
out pops a guy from behind one of the sheds and yells what do you think your doing get lost.
explained i was the 1pm interview and he said your early , great we will see you now go into that shed there and the other guys will introduce them selves to you while you all wait on me.
When i went into the porta cabin i was told to sit on the windowsill or the desk and grab a chair to rest my feet on.
eventually the other guy showed up and yelled at me for showing up early and asked me what do you think your doing here.
before i could answer he asked if i had any pets at home , umm yeah i have a dog , his reply was ok p!ss off we dont want you due to health and safety.
next day i got a phone call from the job centre telling me i had been sanctioned for 3 weeks money because i failed to show for an interview. the guy had called the job centre up and told them i never showed and he had come in on his day off to interview me.

it was to work in a chicken hatchery.

What the fudge is that all about?! What did they say when you told them that you did turn up and he was a rude weirdo?

TrickyWicky

Lol.

I've had a couple of odd ones..
I went to one where I was accused of having such bad handwriting I'd left blobs of ink all over the paper.. then they suggested maybe it was the fax machine I'd sent it through :mad:.. I got the job.

Another literally wanted to meet me to see if I could use a computer. They asked me to open a new word document. Now they only knew about going to start> programs> microsoft office>word... yet with that version it also had a 'New office document' shortcut that let you choose a word document. When I used that it was like watching WW2 break out.. the look of panic in their faces suggested I'd started a nuclear war against russia. They both jumped forward asking "What the hell are you doing to our computer?" :mad: I got that too.. and walked not long after.

Another where one manager was as sweet as pie.. the other seemed to absolutely hate me and loathe me. I almost asked if I'd offended him but muddled through it. Went home feeling like dirt.. next day that same bloke who seemed to hate me was on the phone saying how impressed they'd both been with my interview survival and I'd got the job :eek: I found out later that they always did role play with interviewees and hadn't bothered with me as my interview result was actually fixed to pass.

Next one was with a bloke literally in the town centre. I waited, he found me, he said "follow me". We ended up heading for the pub.. 'Great!' I was thinking.. :beer: until we went right through to the rear car park and got in his car :eek:. The interview literally consisted of driving around the town to a site where the council had some 'improvements' planned. "We're building X for this site Y and we're in the final stages of bidding for the contract. Thats the site over there and I'm pleased to tell you the jobs yours - I'll give you a lift back to town". I didn't get asked one question and the job was mine :cool: We got back into town and the blokes car stalled - coolant had all leaked out but no worries, he'd got spare water in the back (we're at the traffic lights keeping everyone waiting lol) so he tops up and away we go. Drops me off, "I'll be in touch" he says. I get a phone call the next day "We've got some other work for you I'll call you back later". Never heard another word :mad:

There are more.. you wouldn't believe them if I told you so I won't.. but there are some really weird companies out there.

jameskye1983

my PA at the time laughed and thought it was funny but then someone else at the next desk came over and asked if it was about the chicken job.
Yes why , oh just i have sent 4 lads to that job and they said the same thing they were confronted by a guy that looked homeless and told them there not allowed near the buildings.
and then had been phoned by the guy and was told no one showed for interviews.
i never got my 3 weeks money though nor an apology from the JC.

a few weeks later while attending the gateway to work course ( used to be called gateway to work ) it turned out 10 of us had went to the job for interviews and were all treated like muck in 1 way or an other.
and the job was removed from there system , dont know if they eventually took someone on for the job or if the job was removed for other reasons.

But the thing about the pets is due to supposedly all cats and dogs , horses etc etc carry diseases that could kill an entire chicken hatchery or make there entire stock sick. yet the farm next door to the site had sheep dogs lol.

LadyMissA

Wyndham wrote: »

I think interviews are a two way process - and something like this would tell me everythng I needed to know about the company.... even if they offered me a job, they'd be told a polite 'thanks, but no thanks'.

I had on the other week, which was all to do with process improvement. The two typos in the letter inviting me for interview told me all about the level of attention to detail they were looking for, and the fact that they kept me waiting told me all I needed to know about their time management. In this situation, little things matter, as if they do things like that at interview stage (when they are meant to be giving a good impression too) then what are they like to work for on a daily basis? Not to be big headed, but I'm worth more than that.

I totally agree with you there. Interviewers should realise it is a two way street in an interview and they need to set a good impression also.

I once went to a large designer fashion house many years ago where I could see the HR manager through a window and 5 mins before my interview she was brought tea in on a tray and some other people where there too in her office chatting away and laughing drinking tea and I was left to wait in reception a further 30 mins while they did so.