 | So you have sent in your CV and you get the invite for an interview, great. Time to go for it and get that job, or is it? We have compiled our own top five interviews of when things don't go quite to plan, there are some very unfortunate outcomes in our top five interview picks, that end with happiness. |
My interview was going too well. Far too well. I had sat there for 55 minutes with them firing questions at me‚ and me firing answers right back. Their nods confirmed it: I was doing really well. I was pretty certain I had the job.
They wrapped it up and stood to shake my hand. As I went to stand up myself, I realised that‚ for 55 minutes solid I had sat with my legs crossed, unmoved. Needless to say, I didn’t even make it into a standing position. I crashed head-first into a filing cabinet, my legs still locked in a crossed position.
I didn't get the job!
They wrapped it up and stood to shake my hand. As I went to stand up myself, I realised that‚ for 55 minutes solid I had sat with my legs crossed, unmoved. Needless to say, I didn’t even make it into a standing position. I crashed head-first into a filing cabinet, my legs still locked in a crossed position.
I didn't get the job!
I interviewed a very nervous chap who had a terrible interview. It was embarrassing for all concerned, really. He got up to leave the room and by accident opened the wrong door‚ he walked right in to the stationary cupboard.
The panel sat waiting for him to emerge, and when he didn’t, my colleague went to investigate. The poor man was so mortified by what had happened, he was trying to climb out the window rather than go back in.
The panel sat waiting for him to emerge, and when he didn’t, my colleague went to investigate. The poor man was so mortified by what had happened, he was trying to climb out the window rather than go back in.
One of my first jobs as a supervisor was to interview candidates for an administrative assistant, Leigh S. recalls. We scheduled a full day of screenings. Following a very wet and rainy night, some areas of our office roof were leaking and maintenance had a couple of buckets in the hallway. Not a great first impression, but hey, it was a quaint old office building. Each applicant had to complete a battery of written tests.
As one candidate dutifully sat at a desk outside my office, I heard a “crack,” a “swoosh” and then a huge splash. The ceiling tile just above the candidate had collapsed under the weight of the rain water and drenched her. Wet but unharmed, the experience clearly dampened her spirits and her prized interview suit. She immediately informed me that she was no longer interested in the job.
As one candidate dutifully sat at a desk outside my office, I heard a “crack,” a “swoosh” and then a huge splash. The ceiling tile just above the candidate had collapsed under the weight of the rain water and drenched her. Wet but unharmed, the experience clearly dampened her spirits and her prized interview suit. She immediately informed me that she was no longer interested in the job.
I was interviewing a woman for a clerical position. On her application, she checked "Yes" to a criminal conviction and wrote, "Will explain during interview."
She said she got mad at her now-ex-husband and hired someone to kill him. But at the last minute she called it off, and he is still alive. She stated she was now on medication and is "all right." She was a great interview up until that point.
She said she got mad at her now-ex-husband and hired someone to kill him. But at the last minute she called it off, and he is still alive. She stated she was now on medication and is "all right." She was a great interview up until that point.
We were conducting panel interviews for refinery operators. One young man came in and while he did well on the interview questions, appeared very nervous and kept glancing at his watch. At the end of the interview, we told him he needed to report to the medical department for a drug screen.
He seemed somewhat distressed at this news, glanced at his watch yet again and asked if it would take very long. Kind of annoyed at this point, I asked him if there was a problem.
We were all floored by his response. He said, "No, it's just that my wife is in labour. I dropped her off at the hospital on the way to the interview." When asked why he didn't call and reschedule, he said, "Because I really need this job." He was hired, of course.
When we asked him how his wife felt, he said this was their second child and she told him that she would be fine and it was more important that he go to the interview.
He seemed somewhat distressed at this news, glanced at his watch yet again and asked if it would take very long. Kind of annoyed at this point, I asked him if there was a problem.
We were all floored by his response. He said, "No, it's just that my wife is in labour. I dropped her off at the hospital on the way to the interview." When asked why he didn't call and reschedule, he said, "Because I really need this job." He was hired, of course.
When we asked him how his wife felt, he said this was their second child and she told him that she would be fine and it was more important that he go to the interview.
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