Bad Job Interviews

[Diesel_2000]

Had a group interview with a rather large financial firm today, and found the first time experience fairly tough.

Worked hard to push my POV across in the group activity, but got hammered by two other aggressive types putting their POV across.

Anyone out there had any similar experiences in a group interview?? Also did you manage to get a second interview??

 

[daddy_4_eyes]

Had a horrible 1-on-1 interview once.
The whole interview consisted of light conversation, nothing relating to the job or my experience, etc. The interview ended abruptly and I knew I didn't have a chance of getting the job.

Got a call only 20 mins later and was told that I didn't articulate my career ambitions & motivations for seeking employment with them well enough.

Weird interview, considering I wasn't interviewed. I honestly thought that she was just the receptionist keeping me company while I waited for the real interviewer

 

[campbell]

I had a shocker ages ago. Public Service type scenarios.
They asked what I could bring to the team in the way of quality assurance. I looked at them blankly, said oops, sorry I aint got a clue. Its only 0800, I need another coffee. They came back to the question and said they were thinking along the lines of handwashing. I said, I dont want to work here if I bring that to the team, as thats what all nurses do automatically, and you have a problem with your team if they need me to remind them to wash their hands.

They looked at me, I cringed.
I got the job.

 

[Equus]

Had a group interview with a rather large financial firm today, and found the first time experience fairly tough.

Worked hard to push my POV across in the group activity, but got hammered by two other aggressive types putting their POV across.

Anyone out there had any similar experiences in a group interview?? Also did you manage to get a second interview??

Group activity is meant to be about team work. Suffice to say, thse 2 aggressive type won't be accepted since they're too dominating.
You on the other hand should've said "Yes that's an appropriate idea but..."

If they said "**** you, I don't care what you say", listen to what they say and pick out flaws in their idea. That'll make you sound analytical in your approach. If you acted like a passenger and shut up and put up with their idea and did nothing afterwards, that's a bad image because it makes you look like a passenger. And nobody wants a passenger.

Good luck anyway.

 

[Diesel_2000]

Worst part about the group interview was that when I initially had to put my point across to the group, I found the aggressive types eyeballing me in hope that I crashed and burned. It came down to those two against me whilst the other three were rather passive, so I felt compelled to bring the fight to them, rather than just roll-over to the two of them. Hard to say if that'll score me any points.

Find out in a few days how I went so fingers crossed.

Cheers Equus!

 

[Equus]

If I was a hirer, I wouldn't want an aggressive type.
The workplace has changed its not autocratic anymore where I say do it and you do it. Not anymore , it's more about encouraging and getting people involved rather than saying what I say goes.

So another good tip is that if you see passengers within the group, invite them to have a say rather than staring them down.

Nevertheless, You've done what you've done so good luck and remember that an interview is basically selling yourself in less than 60 second.

 

[emuboy]

Went to an interview once for a junior office position back in the early 1990s; it was a small family company, and the people to interview me were the humourless man who owned the business, and his daughter, who ran the office and looked after the accounts. The daughter was very good looking, and I got nervous and stumbled and bumbled my way through the interview, even messing up a question they asked me about simple debits and credits.

Needless to say, I did not get the job, and I suspect that it may have gone to an applicant with two X chromosones.

 

[Bombermania]

I did an Interview once where the guy told me about the Company then says any questions and that was the full extent of the Interview

 

[campbell]

I did an Interview once where the guy told me about the Company then says any questions and that was the full extent of the Interview

Did you get the job? or even want the job after that.

 

[Bombermania]

Did you get the job? or even want the job after that.

No I didn't get the role! nor was I disappointed

 

[campbell]

No I didn't get the role! nor was I disappointed

lol.
What were they thinking, going through the motions. It sounds like a PS interview, when they already have the person they want. lol.

 

[Bombermania]

lol.
What were they thinking, going through the motions. It sounds like a PS interview, when they already have the person they want. lol.

Making matters worst the whole thing came via an Employment Agency

 

[Barry Zuckercorn]

Had a mate of mine freeze in a group interview a few years back. One of the interviewers asked him "how would your friends describe you?"

After a lengthy pause (and presumably a complete mental blank) he said "some would say I'm an undiscovered genius".

No luck that time round.

 

[Smell The Glove]

Needless to say, I did not get the job, and I suspect that it may have gone to an applicant with two X chromosones.

Wentin for a job interview when I was about 16 at some retail place. I thought something felt strange when I didnt see one bloke around. The interviewer then said to me "I'll be honest here and not waste your time. We only hire females here. We are just required by law to interview some males as well." I think at the time I mumbled something about them giving me a phone call to explain all this before I made the effort to get down there, but didnt really think too much about it at the time. In hindsight I could have made some trouble for then (but I didnt really want that job anyway).

A few years later I went past the same store. Nothing had changed.

 

[Macca19]

Worst interview I had was an interview that was recommended to me by the agent at the business school id just completed studying at. The job wasnt even anything id studied. That was enjoyable. Felt like a right plonker and fluffed the interview to make sure I didnt get it. They ended up saying something like 'well they recommended you but seems you're not really qualified for the job' to which I replied 'yeah, ill be ringing the agent as soon as I walk out the door'. Think they felt a bit sorry about the situation. Told the agent to **** off and dont bother if they dont even know what i studied.

 

[LondonCalling]

Had a job interview a few years back that was going quite well, they were happy with my qualifications, my answers were fine, etc. I saw no reason why I didn't have the job, it was as good as mine.

Get a call from the recruitment agency later that day telling me that I'd been disqualified for inappropriate language when answering a question, in that as soon as I said anything unsatisfactory, I would be immediately out of the running for the interview. Meanwhile, I'm sitting here wondering what was going on, or what it was I said.

Turns out when I was asked to provide an example of when I'd effectively dealt with an angry customer, I quoted a customer saying to me "This is bullshit". Thought that was a bit rough, given it was contexualized, rather than me deciding to go off tap.

Another really bad one was somehow being given a second interview as the student liason officer for Asian students at RMIT. Never applied for it, don't know how it came up, I was desperate for it, and turned up anyway, to find myself the token non-Asian guy waiting to be interviewed. Came in and just felt embarassed at how out of my depth I was (bearing in mind I was barely 18 at the time).

Them: "So what makes you think you'd be able to sufficiently assist our large community of Asian students?"

Me: "Well, I'm a bit like them in kinda being new to the city, so I'd be able to help them find the best cheap places to eat and buy groceries....y'know, stuff like that."

Them: "Do you speak any second langauges?"

Me: "...........Nah."

Them: "Have you ever been to a university before?"

Me: "Nah, I dropped out of high school last year."

Them: "Right. Thanks for your time."

 

[BigBadCam]

I did really well at school and got close to a perfect in the VCE - near enough anyway to do anything that I wanted at uni. During year 11 though, I was widely regarded as someone who was highly intelligent but sucked at life.

My first job interview was for a job at safeway, and even with 5 pre tertiaries behind me in year 11, I turned up nervous as all hell and must have come across as a complete ******. I ended up telling them when they asked what I had to offer that I was strong and could push trollies really well. Was never really good at talking myself up at that stage. I was devestated at the time that I couldn't even get a job at a supermarket, but with a few years hindsight, I can't help but laugh.

That's the only job interview that hasn't been successful for me.

 

[Diesel_2000]

Them: "So what makes you think you'd be able to sufficiently assist our large community of Asian students?"

Me: "Well, I'm a bit like them in kinda being new to the city, so I'd be able to help them find the best cheap places to eat and buy groceries....y'know, stuff like that."

Them: "Do you speak any second langauges?"

Me: "...........Nah."

Them: "Have you ever been to a university before?"

Me: "Nah, I dropped out of high school last year."

Them: "Right. Thanks for your time."

Haha that's gold. Love the way they cut you off so subtlety

 

[Equus]

Get the job?

 

[Diesel_2000]

Still waiting to here back from them. Could be a good sign??? or possibly a bad sign???

 

[fryingpan]

I did really well at school and got close to a perfect in the VCE

widely regarded as someone who was highly intelligent

with 5 pre tertiaries behind me in year 11, I turned up nervous as all hell

We're all impressed.

 

[BigBadCam]

We're all impressed.

Haha, this bloke wasn't.

 

[Diesel_2000]

No dice for the job, but have two other interviews pending so fingers crossed

 

[Bodicifer]

I had one years agwith two chicks from a recruitment agency in the financial sector and they asked me "What motivates you to get out of bed in the morning?" and my answer was "Money"...let's just say they were looking for something a bit fluffier than that!

 

[Monkey Worshipper]

I've become good at reading between the lines of ads and seeing "must work like a dog and long hours are par for the job".

Every interview I stress that I've come from a long hours job, looking to reduce the hours but don't mind working the hours for month end only (Accountant).


Anway, interview from hell No.1:

It was at a large a/c place. Get to tthe premises and the building looks like crud. Accounts are in demountables. Inside the carpets are stained like people have dropped their coffee. Demountable is 20 years old, like it came from a mine site. Files all over the floor, 4 people shoved into a 5 x 5m space.

The guy takes me out the back, under a pergola next to the manufacturing section. Crummy 20 yo plastic chairs and table. We have an interview outside!!!! It's an accounting job FFS!!! With buzz saws going off 15m from my ear.

I went through the motions, when he asked me what I wanted, I said $120K incl Super, going rate was around $70K. Even if they offered me that, I wouldn't take the job ever. Couldn't get out fast enough.


Interview from Hell 2:

Interview was fine. Software manufacturer. Cutting edge stuff with programmers. CEO goes to Asia & America regularly, I'd be going ocassionally as well (wheeling & dealing in Finance). They were prying around to see if I'd work long hours. Went for 2 interviews, we'll get back to you. I was desperate to get out of my job.

And then nothing....

1 week later, I'm desperate, ring up, person is out of the country. "What the hell is going on with the job, have you made a decision". Reception: I don't think we have, we'll get back to you. That was Sep 07.

And then nothing.....

Aug 08.... get an e-mail "Would you consider the job". My response: Nope. Their response "If you change your mind, let us know".

UP YOURS