What was your worst interview ever?

http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=4274&edition=1&ttl=20080212142758


Added: Tuesday, 12 February, 2008, 20:46 GMT 20:46 UK
I interviewed a graduate last week who chewed gum throughout the entire interview. This was for a professional position in an internationally recognized company, and not just any old McJob. Good grief.[DeeKaye]Maybe he just didnt want you to notice his bad breath?
Daniel Ardron, Uttoxeter, United Kingdom

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Added: Tuesday, 12 February, 2008, 20:43 GMT 20:43 UK
I had no fewer than 20 different jobs in an unbroken career lasting 52 years - mostly in selling and publicity. Sure there were many lousy interviews during all that time but the secret is to tell yourself that the employers were the losers and don't get disheartened. I learnt to stay cool, to listen to questions and to maintain strong eye contact throughout the interview. Nervous body language is a big give-away on both sides and remember that some jobs are not worth having anyway.
Alfred Penderel Bright, Harrogate, United Kingdom

Once I was woken up on a Saturday morning by a lady who was conducting a preliminary telephone interview. I neither knew where I was or what I was saying, standing there in my boxer shorts with my eyes only half open.Surprisingly I was not only invited for the formal interview but I was offered the job. I turned them down but they continued to ring me weekly for a few months to re-offer me it (on the same terms). They must have been desperate.
Killer Boots Man

Added: Tuesday, 12 February, 2008, 23:15 GMT 23:15 UK
I had one interview years ago where nobody seemed to know I was coming. I was given a technical test and told someone would stop by in 45 minutes to collect my paper and show me out. 60 minutes later (at 7pm) I was wandering around a deserted HR department looking for someone to take my paper, it turned out they had forgotten and gone home.I declined the job, which was just as well. The company was Enron.
Helen Highwater, 66% unpublished, why do I bother?
Added: Wednesday, 13 February, 2008, 10:10 GMT 10:10 UK
When I left university I went for an interview at the BBC. The interviewer was very keen on two issues: my father's job, and why I didn't go to Oxbridge. My father was a dustman, but since I neither wanted to trade on my working class background nor have it used as a demerit I said he was a clerk. Then I sat for 20 minutes while the interviewer went into a monologue about how his dad was a porter at an Oxford college and how he didn't want to go there etc. I didn't get the job.
John Gammon, Brighton, United Kingdom

Added: Wednesday, 13 February, 2008, 11:40 GMT 11:40 UK
A friend recommended me for a job at one for the big four banks in the 80's. I went to head office for the interview and I thought it went well and got my hopes up. A few days later I go the standard no letter.My friend who worked in HR checked the interview record for me and sent me a photocopy of the notes so I could improve my interview technique. In the box "Reason for not offering a position" it only said "Ginger with ginger beard"
[AldershotWhinger]

Added: Wednesday, 13 February, 2008, 11:58 GMT 11:58 UK
Being a fairly attractive female when I was in my twenties and thirties, with only a few years experience, if I was interviewed by a male I cake-walked it and was always offered the job, obviously giving me loads of confidence to apply for other positions. Since getting into my fifties I struggled to get a job even though I have 30 odd years experience and am good at what I do with excellent references, confidence gone.Doesn't that tell you something about the decisions made at interviews!
Janet White, United Kingdom

Added: Tuesday, 12 February, 2008, 13:56 GMT 13:56 UK
My worst experience was with a well-known high end estate agency in central London. I'd worked in London for 20 years and the young lady interviewing me told me that everybody in London works 8am to 6.30pm Monday to Friday and half day Saturdays (not just in estate agencies!).No objection to working to employer's customary hours but I do object to someone telling me lies in an interview. I terminated the interview and walked out.
Na Breithne, London

Added: Tuesday, 12 February, 2008, 13:53 GMT 13:53 UK
I have a friend who went for a job in a bank. She arrived on time but they had no record of her interview, after some discussion they decided to interview her anyway. Half way through the interview she realised that she was in the wrong bank, she should have been in a rival bank down the road. She didn’t say anything and the bank who were interviewing her gave her the job.
Ms B

Added: Tuesday, 12 February, 2008, 13:50 GMT 13:50 UK
My worst interview was in Oxford at 10am. I had to travel down from Newcastle via London leaving at 3am. When I got there they might as well have talked about the weather because it was clear that the other candidate (internal) was going to get the job. Interviewing me was just meant to make the pre-chosen candidates selection 'transparent'. Most interviews are no different- the interview panel WILL have a favourite candidate before hand and unless they scew up the job is theirs.
[Peter_Sym], Nottingham

Added: Tuesday, 12 February, 2008, 13:46 GMT 13:46 UK
My worse interview was with a leading well known broadband company. Bought new suit, practised my skills, researched the company, got hair cut and everything possible to create that good impression. trouble is there was one thing I could not change and that was my age.Was clear the 22 yr old interviewer did not want a old 55 yr old in this company of young people and never even asked questions just old old reasons why I was not suitable, including to much stress.
[wizmyrddin]