By Maria Hanson, LiveCareer
For job seekers,
landing an interview
is a dream come true. But unfortunately, the actual interview can quickly go from
dream to nightmare.
"I've heard stories of people being interviewed for the wrong job, interviewers
interviewing the wrong candidate and grilling them about the wrong resume--you name
it, it has happened," says Ellen Reeves, the author of "Can I Wear My Nose Ring
to the Interview?"
You think you've had a bad job interview or two? How do they compare to these
bombs from both sides of the interview desk?
Naptime happens
"While I was in the middle of explaining my previous job duties, I realized that
the man who was interviewing me had fallen asleep. I spoke loudly and tried coughing,
but he was out cold, snoring. Since it was a one-man business, I just wrote him
a quick note and left. I never heard back.--Cathy Ng,
bookkeeper
Oh, my Lord
"I once had a candidate tell me the prophet of Jesus, who lived in his closet, told
him to apply for the job I interviewed him for."--Amanda Schnaub, hiring for a photocopy
assistant
The attorney audition
During an interview at a law firm, the interviewer discovered
that law student Jerry Levine had sung a cappella in college. "All of a sudden,
he puts down my resume and asks if I know anything from 'Annie,' his daughter's
favorite musical. When I said yes, he said, 'If you're interested in continuing
this interview, you're going to sing "Tomorrow" to her on the phone right now.'
I must have been off-key because I never heard from that firm again."
Don't sweat it
At an interview for a job with a defense contractor, Internet marketing
specialist Tom Shivers was faced with a difficult interviewer who stared at him
silently after he answered each question. "I was wearing a suit and tie and had
just come in from 90 degree heat outdoors. I began to sweat. The interviewer continued
to stare--and watch large beads of sweat roll down my face."
Phone interference
Paul Bailo, the author of "The Official Phone Interview Handbook,"
has fielded more than his share of phone-interview fails:
"One woman placed me on hold for 20 minutes and finally returned, saying she had
to let the dogs out."
"A client had SpongeBob SquarePants blasting in the background during the whole
interview."
"A former CEO from a utility company conducted his interview from the men's room.
The whole time, there was a ton of bathroom noise, water running, toilet flushing...."
The old bait and switchboard
Years ago Rochelle Peachey, who now runs a U.K.-U.S.
dating site called I Love Your Accent, interviewed for a job as a temporary telephone
operator. "I knew I couldn't work the switchboard, but my friend told me to bluff
it because they would like me and train me. I spoke knowledgably--until the interviewer
put me in a room with the dreaded switchboard to test me. The lights were flashing;
I panicked and climbed out of the second-floor window."
If you need to bolster your skill set, pursuing additional
education can help you to gain the skills you need to get the job you want.
Walk much?
"I had an interview with a corporate headhunter and was extremely nervous.
I must have crossed my legs extremely tightly, for a long time, because when the
interview ended and I got up to shake hands, I nearly fell to the floor because
of my rubber leg. I started to laugh nervously, then hysterically, as I pounded
my leg and limped out the door."--Paula Hubbs Cohen, freelance writer
Overcaffeinated
Sue Michaels, now the marketing manager for Sierra College, was
offered a cup of coffee before her interview. When she sat down to interview, she
went to set the coffee down. The coffee immediately spilled all over the important
papers of interviewer.
When interviewers attack
Lawyer Jane Jones (not her real name) was being courted
to work at a law firm. Everything was going perfectly until her interview with a
partner in the firm. He began attacking her verbally because she was slightly older
than other law-school grads and not from the area. "He yelled, 'What did you do
with your life?! You wasted it! You'll never be let into the local culture!'"
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