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People Are Sharing Their Job Interviews That Didn’t Go Well, And Here Are The 26 Worst Stories
Congratulations, your application has landed you a job interview! Now it's time to do your homework, put on some nice clothes, and sit down face to face with your possible employer. What's the worst that could happen?
Turns out, a lot. A few days ago, Twitter user Kristin (@fencheeks) described a ridiculous experience she had with one recruiter, and it gave people the courage to share their own similar stories. From making mistakes and underselling yourself to creeps who think sexual harassment is OK, continue scrolling and check out some of the most popular replies to Kristin's tweet.
Image credits: fencheeks
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For one of our earlier articles, Bored Panda Becca Carnahan who is an experienced career coach located outside of Boston, MA. She is dedicated to helping early and mid-career professionals find fulfillment and joy in their work, and told us that every job interview is different and the same.
"The skills and competencies interviewers screen for will differ significantly based on the role and the company," Carnahan said. "However, you will almost always be asked a variation of 'tell me about yourself.'"
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#3
Viviane 3 years ago (edited)
An 8-hour volunteer position?? Does this restaurant do a lot of "trial shifts" with different candidates? I've done unpaid tests for graphic design jobs - they were an hour long at most. For restaurant work before that, I did paid shifts; I wasn't good at it, so I lasted anywhere from an hour to two days.
"There are subjects that are not just off-limits, but also illegal for interviewers to ask," Carnahan highlighted. "Questions around marital status, children, ethnicity, religion, race, and age should not be asked in an interview. Keep in mind, the laws in your state as well. For example, in some states, employers cannot ask about your salary history."
According to the career coach, while some inappropriate or illegal interview questions may be asked off-hand or with innocent 'get to know you' intentions, it is fully within your rights to not answer the question. "You can state that you would prefer not to answer, you can redirect the conversation, or directly ask 'Is that relevant to this position I am applying for?' or 'Can you help me understand how this question is relevant to the job I am being considered for?'"
Carnahan said it can be intimidating to respond in this way but it's also important to protect yourself and your boundaries. Just like Kristin did!
#9
Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago (edited)
Just wasting the time of someone who could be at an interview with a company that would pay them what they’re worth—-and tell them the range BEFORE making them take a slew of stupid tests!
#11
Lyone Fein 3 years ago
What makes people think they are so much better than others that they get to waste your time?
#13
#17
Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago (edited)
Had an interview for what sounded like a really great job, but one for which I couldn’t find a salary range anywhere online, even on sites like Salary.com, Glassdoor, etc. Their first question was if I had any questions. So I asked, point blank, what the salary was. They gave me a ridiculously low number. I asked if they could do any better than that, but they said that was the top amount they were authorized to offer. So I said I wasn’t going to waste their time anymore, and got up to leave. They asked me what I meant, so I told them that I didn’t work so hard to get my Master’s Degree (just graduated, in fact) to accept such a low salary offer. Their jaws dropped to the floor, like they couldn’t believe someone with a graduate degree wouldn’t be thrilled to work for a pittance. I just thanked them, then turned around and left.
#20
#24
Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago (edited)
What happened wanna bet the asshole only wanted to hire this one particular applicant he was attracted to, or is related to, or was a frat bro, so had to make the other interviewees walk out so their choice would end up being the only one.
#25
#26
third molar 3 years ago
Companies expect honesty only to tell on others. If its about the company then its bad attitude!!
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What do you think ?
Spork420 3 years ago
I went to an interview for a heating and cooling company. It went decent, did all the paperwork, took the tests, and then they threw in (oh some things we forgot to tell you). I would be going to about 6 different jobs a day, and they forbid their workers to show up hot and sweaty to a job. Mind you, this is in Phoenix, where it is 115 during the day, and you're working in 140 degree attics in the summer. They expected me to bring a duffel bag full of clothes to work, and change in my work truck before every new job, like 6 times a day. And then go home and do an entire load of laundry every night. On top of it, they then threw in that the owner doesn't like facial hair, and is convinced that guys with facial hair are dishonest people. So despite being well kept, I'd have to now be clean shaven and completely change my appearance. All the while the owner is there literally in her pajamas, fuzzy slippers, pajama pants, ratty old flannel. I noped the hell right out of there.
jk nbt 3 years ago
nice of them to tip their hand how unreasonable they were while still in the interview process... most companies will wait at least a week to give you the news about how unreasonable they are, thinking that you will stay anyway... you got away light and easy, before you had to buy six uniforms (or 12?)...
Load More Replies...
Brandon Marlowe 3 years ago (edited)
There was a sales job opening in my town but the home office was 50 miles away. Got a call to come in for an interview after I sent a resume. When I arrived the guy asked me to complete their job application. After that the interview went fine until he said, "You didn't put any church affiliation on the application." I asked, "Is that a problem?" He said, "No." He then said I'd have to pick up the company car at the office every morning and bring it back every afternoon. (50 miles each way!) I said that seemed wasteful but he explained that they had a prayer meeting every morning so I'd have to come in anyway. I told him it didn't seem like a good fit and left.
BleeBloo 3 years ago
I once had an interview for a boutique hotel in San Francisco, it was my dream job. There was an urn on the shelf behind by the smiling interviewer, along with a guy's picture, and all during the interview I had assumed that they were the remains of the interviewer's son. It turns out it was the previous employee for the position I was applying for, and his smilling face was staring right at me like he was saying "you're going to die here". They offered me the job but I didn't take it because, you know, ghosts.
Spork420 3 years ago
I went to an interview for a heating and cooling company. It went decent, did all the paperwork, took the tests, and then they threw in (oh some things we forgot to tell you). I would be going to about 6 different jobs a day, and they forbid their workers to show up hot and sweaty to a job. Mind you, this is in Phoenix, where it is 115 during the day, and you're working in 140 degree attics in the summer. They expected me to bring a duffel bag full of clothes to work, and change in my work truck before every new job, like 6 times a day. And then go home and do an entire load of laundry every night. On top of it, they then threw in that the owner doesn't like facial hair, and is convinced that guys with facial hair are dishonest people. So despite being well kept, I'd have to now be clean shaven and completely change my appearance. All the while the owner is there literally in her pajamas, fuzzy slippers, pajama pants, ratty old flannel. I noped the hell right out of there.
jk nbt 3 years ago
nice of them to tip their hand how unreasonable they were while still in the interview process... most companies will wait at least a week to give you the news about how unreasonable they are, thinking that you will stay anyway... you got away light and easy, before you had to buy six uniforms (or 12?)...
Load More Replies... Brandon Marlowe 3 years ago (edited)
There was a sales job opening in my town but the home office was 50 miles away. Got a call to come in for an interview after I sent a resume. When I arrived the guy asked me to complete their job application. After that the interview went fine until he said, "You didn't put any church affiliation on the application." I asked, "Is that a problem?" He said, "No." He then said I'd have to pick up the company car at the office every morning and bring it back every afternoon. (50 miles each way!) I said that seemed wasteful but he explained that they had a prayer meeting every morning so I'd have to come in anyway. I told him it didn't seem like a good fit and left.
BleeBloo 3 years ago
I once had an interview for a boutique hotel in San Francisco, it was my dream job. There was an urn on the shelf behind by the smiling interviewer, along with a guy's picture, and all during the interview I had assumed that they were the remains of the interviewer's son. It turns out it was the previous employee for the position I was applying for, and his smilling face was staring right at me like he was saying "you're going to die here". They offered me the job but I didn't take it because, you know, ghosts.
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