Candidate to Next Boss: How Long Before I Can Take Your Place?

I actually did this a few years back.. The job sounded promising online, and even in the phone interview it seemed like a descent fit for me. However, when I got to the interview itself, my 'would-be' boss was very drab... wore a suit from the 70's looked like he hadn't combed his hair in a couple months, and to top it all off, was a monotone with absolutely no facial expressions to speak of. After talking for about 5 minutes I realized (not because of the boss) that this position was NOT a fit for me at all... something I had a lot of experience with, and hated every minute of it.

Candidate to Interviewer: "Uh . . What's Your Name Again?"

Funnies:-
1. The candidate forgot my name and said - "I cannot quite put a name to your face"
2. The lady asked me "So, which desk will be mine?" (She actually did get the job!!)

Blunders:- (I had seen all of these)
1. Badmouthing past employers
2. Cannot tell me why they are interested in my comapny or what we do
3. Talk too much
4. Ask them about teamwork and they talk about "I"
5. Dress inappropriately
6. Smelly - i.e reeks of garlic, beer or sweat
7. Anwers his/her cellphone
8. Appearing arrogant, pretentious, not providing specific answers, and not asking

Candidate Doesn't Know What She Doesn't Know

I had to interview a number of people for a position and there were 5 people all arriving one after the other. One of the candidates arrived early, which I thought was a good sign and the interview proceeded very well, till, that moment when I asked her to tell me why I should hire her. She began by explaining how she knew that the guy before her was unacceptable, by the way he dressed his walk and his facial expressions. Because, she knows people and she can tell!! Not content with that she then began to tell me about what type of manager I am.

He Could Not Answer Simple Questions

1. In a group interview setting where each person had a series of questions designed to elicit different characteristics of the role, the candidate aced the first 2 sections. When he came to me, my questions were far more abstract and asked for some application of his experience. He wasn't able to cope, and what seemed to have been leaning his way suddenly eliminated him from consideration.

Video Montage, Tears, and Do You Want to Wrestle?

True stories: (2 are from me..and 2 are from some colleagues over the years)

1. I once had a guy send me a video montage of himself. It started out with his professional background and then he decided to give me a day in the life of......which got a little creepy.

2. I once had a person cry in an interview as I was questioning them about their background and they admitted to falsifying their resume and they broke down when I started asking them about their responsibilities in their positions.

3. I once had a guy challenge me to an arm wrestling match for the job.

Candidate was BFFs with Obi-Wan Kenobi

The most memorable for me was when I was recruiting for a new assistant product manager. A staffing firm had convinced me they had the guy. He was young, energetic and had a MBA. On paper he looked great. Our products were very mechanical, so I always ask how mechanically inclined the candidate is and give an example. Well this poor guy went on to explain how he went to Home Depot and was able to source all the components, design and build his light saber. When he dresses up as Darth Vader the others in the club thought the light saber was a production unit! Needless to say, I didn’t hire the kid. TJNTIY.

Not Knowing What They Want Out of Life

When they don't know who they are and what they want out of life. A candidate knows the interview isn't going well when they find my interview questions novel, meaning they haven't thought about these questions before. In reality, I'm just trying to get to know them, but they don't know themselves, so the questions make them very uncomfortable. Candidates typically get the picture virtually immediately, though, since I simply communicate to them that the fact that they don't know the answers to the fundamental questions I ask them poses a serious risk to everyone on the team.

Aliens

Lots of stories. My favorite is one guy who went through a round of interviews, passing everything with flying colors, but I sensed something and decided to take him out of the office for coffee to get him away from the formal interview process. Within 20 minutes he began to explained his theory on how the world was being controlled by aliens and then proceeded to point a few out to me.

I now always take folks out for lunch or coffee before I hire anyone. Some people are simply great at interviewing.

  • By Anonymous at 05/20/2009 - 17:39
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Not Knowing The Company

When they just want a gay job and not having done any
research to why they want to work with me. Big mistake. TJNTIY.

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