Ever been to an interview and been less than impressed with the company?

Sinhanada

The worst I'd gone for was a role with a technology company in Leeds. The recruitment agent told me that we the interview would take place at the Hilton Hotel. I arrived more than an hour early and asked at the Reception where the interview was taking place, only to be told that they'd never heard of them.

So I rang the agency and asked where they were - I was again told they were there. Eventually, halfway through my interview time I managed to see them sitting in an open part of the restaurant and I went over and politely informed them that if their interview process was this poorly managed then I couldn't see myself working for them, but thanked them for their invite.

The look on their face was priceless!

marlot

I travelled 3 hours each way to an interview. Very senior job, reporting to the CFO. Wasn't even offered a coffee.

During the interview it became obvious that candidates who came through an agency they used were very well briefed. I'd applied direct, as I really wanted to work for them, and had been monitoring them - and had specifically asked HR for further information, and been told there was nothing more.

Complete waste of my time and theirs.

Best interview: Construction company. Final salary negotiation was held down at the local pub - they gave me an extra 10%.

BigAunty

I've just remembered another classic bad interview. I applied for an admin support role with a charity in south london. I thought it was a bit heavy for an admin role to have to give a presentation (they gave me the subject matter and 15 mins with access to the internet to give it).

But pretty much it transpired what they wanted was an Office Manager, IT Manager, Facilities Manager, Fund Raising Manager and Project Manager. They required someone not just to update their website content but to actually rebuild the site and also have IT networking skills, plus implement a disaster recovery project.

I am actually a good allrounder with strong IT skills but I'm not a PC technician, web designer, network manager and when I apply for a business support role, I don't expect to fix computers...

BigAunty

Also, another classic interview. I went to an engineering company for a relatively low paid Project Support role which generally involves undertaking the administration for project and programme managers as they deliver IT projects.

It transpired that what they actually expected was a Project Manager to implement a Sarbanes-Oxley compliance project relating to accountancy regulation!

The person would be reporting directly to the Chief Information Officer who was apparently 'taking a great personal interest' in its delivery.

I couldn't believe that this company was so cheap they were disguising a true Project Management role on a complex project designed to protect the company's reputation as a project support role.

Rule number 1 of good project management practice is that the project support person has no decision making/influencing role. Rule number 1 of recruitment is that you get what you pay for - don't pay admin wages for a leadership role.

Since that date, I'd come across a few job postings for project support roles where enquiries led me to believe that yet again, the company was too tight to pay management salaries and I never submitted my CV or attended an interview when the job description and job title was that badly out of synch.

But seriously - delivering a Sarbanes Oxley project on my own for an admin wage!? The company had revenues of £10 billion!!

PS - I left the interview resolving not to accept any offer but to be honest, I must have came across as so gob-smacked by their cheek, no offer was made.