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Random TJNTIY Stories

Interviewer TJNTIYs are funny, informative anecdotes from recruiters and executives (hiring managers)about the things candidates say or do that ruin their chances of being hired, from the outrageous to the subtle and nuanced.

Candidate Was Wasting His Time

The interviewee was an older gentleman. He was looking for a collections position. As I was walking him back to my office for the interview he stated, “I don’t know what I’m doing here. I’m just wasting my time.” He repeated this three more times within the first five minutes at which point I stood up, stretched my arm out for a hand shake and said, “You know what? You’re right and we don’t want to waste any more of it. Thanks for coming in and have a nice day.” And I showed him the door. TJNTIY.

Mile High Club Member Stuck at Sea Level

Another recent one that cracked me up: A sales candidate told me that he was looking to change jobs because in his current job he was traveling about 90% of the time. He could have left it at that but he added, "Trying to get my wife pregnant between trips is not working out - I even had her meet me at the airport one time because I was only going to be in town for a couple hours." TJNTIY

Candidate Sends Letter From Behind Bars

Hmmmm.....I have a ton of stories....I was asked out on a date by one candidate. I had a candidate that sent me a letter from jail....and another candidate that complained to one of the managers about someone on the interview schedule (warning him against that person). Usually if we are not into a candidate we try to shorten the interview schedule a bit so everyone doesn't have to waste their time. The candidate might not know about this though because we might only disclose a couple of people they are meeting and tell them that they meet a couple of others, but they might figure it out.

There's the Truth and Then There's The Resume

My pet peev and the thing I now always check first when I am interviewing potential employees is that what their resume says and what they've actually done are similar. Unfortunately the practice is rampant. So don't lie on your resume kids. I also prefer much more than a 2 page summary for candidates. On the other side of the equation I find wearing a suit to an interview is usually a bad idea. Its rare that interviewers are wearing suits themselves and seems only to alienate you at the outset, at least for the roles and workplaces I tend to gravitate toward. TJNTIY.

So Sue Me

I actually feel almost sorry for the candidates when I read some of these posts, for some of these things I can´t see as that important. I can´t help feel a sense of arrogance, a "he needs this job so he should shup up!" I try to be more understanding with the candidates as I´ve been in their spot myself.However, I prefer not to hire people:
1 - Who come late for the interview
2 - Who don´t know what the company does
3 - Who give me long speeches on how they´ll be 100% committed to the company etc (the more they talk the less they do!)
4 - Who criticize their last employer or so mentions the possibility of filing a suit against them. TJNTIY.

Dude, Where's Your Career?

When I asked a young candidate (early 20's) if he was punctual he responded with, "There were a couple of times that I was late. You know, I'm still young and I like to go out and party so sometimes I can have a hangover the next morning." But wait! It gets better..."But even though I was late I still made it in to work! I would just try to work twice as hard to make up for the time so I can still leave at 5 o'clock". I did not hire him. TJNTIY.

Not a Candidate for a Toothpaste Commercial

During an interview with another senior consultant, after offering him mine and my colleague's business cards, the gentleman proceeded to pick his teeth with both our cards, all the while talking about how his deep experience and professionalism will most definitely get him the contract. TJNTIY.

Wardrobe Malfunction

We told a young designer to "dress professional and wear a suit". He did wear a suit... with tennis shoes and eye brow piercings. He didn't get the job. TJNTIY.

Patricia Martin

Candidate to President of Company: "I Want Your Job."

We've had a candidate on an interview for a manager's position reporting to the President of the company. The President was a fairly young/early in his career, (mid 40s), and no intention of retiring anytime soon. The candidate who was interviewing had a stellar twenty plus year career and was more senior than the President.

A Murderer for a Candidate . . .

One of my favorites is when we told a young designer to "dress professional and wear a suit". He did wear a suit... with tennis shoes and eye brow piercings. He didn't get the job. Second favorite. Early in my career I worked for a company where the local prison would send their newly released job seekers. On open interview day sitting across from me was a 6'6, 250 lb man who had marked on his application that he had committed a felony. Not quite sure how to handle it I explained to him that we needed to know what he was charged with as there were positions that he would not qualify for (my thinking was cash handling or children). He replied "no Maam, I have no problem discussing that. I killed someone"! Needless to say I was a bit frightened. Then he told me the story of a bar room fight gone bad. Believe it or not I actually placed him with a friend who was a brick mason and willing to give him a 2nd chance. Which he later messed up by getting into another brawl. Thankfully it wasn't with me! TNJTIY.