interview horror stories - ZEFRANK.COM

auntie aubrey · 10-27-2006, 12:16 PM

i just had the toughest job interview i've ever faced. half the time i wasn't sure whether i just sounded like i was talking out of my ass, or whether i actually was talking out of my ass. so of course as my mouth is moving and i'm saying completely inane things, somewhere in the back of my head i'm double-thinking, "what am i saying? am i nuts? can she tell i have no idea what's going on?"

so i thought i would share my worst interview story. two reasons: one, to make myself feel better about today's disaster. and two, to invite others to share their stories.

i graduated from college up in nashville and immediately started the job hunt. i'd come out of school with a somewhat unusual and rarely desired degree, so it took a while to actually find some leads. finally a very large broadcaster/media company down in atlanta called me up and said they wanted to schedule an interview. i agreed to meet with them at 3:00 the next day and immediately went to work printing up maps and directions, etc.

the next day i drove 3.5 hours from nashville to atlanta and arrived around 1:45. Having never been to atlanta, i had no means of passing the time other than wandering around the nearby georga tech campus. at 2:40 i finally walked over to the media company and had the receptionist call the interviewer down.

his face was bemused. he glanced at his watch as i stood to shake his hand. i said, "i know, i know, i'm really early. sorry about that." he cocked his head to one side and said, "early?" i said, "yes, we were scheduled to meet at 3:00." he said, "it's quarter to 4."

here's where i had my most brilliant moment. i looked at my watch and uttered the double syllable, "NUH UH."

i stared at him like he was insane. "it's 2:45!" i protested. "it's 3:45." he replied. "we're on eastern standard time here."

...oh. right. nashville is central time. i forgot to accomodate for the time change.

anyway, i got the job so i must have been better at fasttalking back then than i was today.

anyone else feel like sharing a terrible interview story, so i don't have to feel like a lone putz in the crowd?

LeahDear · 10-27-2006, 12:38 PM

At my old school over here in England we used to have what was called Interview Simulation Day.

Managers from different companies came into the school and basically put us through mock job interviews to prepare the students for the real world.

I was a bit of a tyke at school and did not prepare for mine in the slightest! All I knew about it was that my interview was going to be with the manager of a local travel agent. Being the cocky little madam I was at that age, I figured I could bluff it....

There I was was telling Mr X just how well travelled I was.. blah blah blah... when he mentioned that he was going on a trip to Prague the next day. "Nice" I said with a knowing nod, "Germany is such a beautiful country"

He looked at me with utter disdain and said, "No.... it's in Czechoslovakia"

Needless to say I wanted the ground to swallow me up!

auntie aubrey · 10-27-2006, 01:25 PM

ouch!

LeahDear · 10-27-2006, 01:29 PM

Yes.. I've learned many a valuable lesson the hard way

Audreyvgs · 10-27-2006, 05:11 PM

NUH UH! you didnt say that! hahahahahahahahahahha

I"d of blurted SHUT UP!

no, me, i'd of inadvertently yiped STFU!

(i wouldnt have gotten the job)

madasacutsnake · 10-27-2006, 05:40 PM

I started to talk abut having been questioned by the Major Crime Squad.

At an interview.

WTF was wrong with me?

Brynn · 10-27-2006, 09:25 PM

LOL!

At my last job interview, I showed up in what I thought was a beautiful black cashmere sweater, and some nice gray wool slacks, tasteful jewelry - you know, nice, neutral...and the woman (who sported long white acrylic nails with little black rosettes painted on them to match her black and white floral print dress) interviewing me was looking to fill her own position after being promoted. She started by saying pointedly that they have a fairly strict dress code there, and that pants were not appropriate, then went on and on about how difficult the receptionist job actually was and how precious the position was to her, and how she had made it nearly impossible for anyone to fill her shoes. I became completely and totally intimidated. I found myself actually trying to talk her out of hiring me - you know, shaking my head, saying things like "Well, I haven't really handled that many lines before, so I'd hate to misrepresent myself...not sure how I feel about working full time with no breaks, blah blah blah." When all the time I couldn't stop thinking about how crappy my wardrobe must be if my best outfit wasn't good enough.
Afterwards, I kicked myself. I mean, really, how hard is it to answer phones and take messages? I liked the pay, but the thought of being stuck behind the station for nine hours a day, watched closely by this woman horrified me.
Did not get the job. What a blinding shock.

auntie aubrey · 11-06-2006, 08:52 PM

the diaper bag story made me laugh out loud. or "lol" as the kiddies like to say.

Quote:

Originally Posted by auntie aubrey

i just had the toughest job interview i've ever faced. half the time i wasn't sure whether i just sounded like i was talking out of my ass, or whether i actually was talking out of my ass. so of course as my mouth is moving and i'm saying completely inane things, somewhere in the back of my head i'm double-thinking, "what am i saying? am i nuts? can she tell i have no idea what's going on?"

i am happy to note that i didn't bomb as badly as i thought. they offered me the job today. excuse me while i dance.

Brynn · 11-06-2006, 09:10 PM

zero · 09-21-2007, 04:57 PM

why come you didn't just take them off & leave them in the lobby to be collected afterwards?

auntie aubrey · 09-21-2007, 05:41 PM

i entertained a fantasy where striding in confidently and pretending it was a conscious (although perhaps ill-advised) fashion decision was better than looking flaky.

i think bare feet would have tilted the perception closer to flaky than pretending the shoes were intentional.

zero · 09-21-2007, 05:49 PM

yes. i see.

keeping yours sandals on for the interview was probably the right thing to do

especially since you were wearing socks . you were wearing socks, right?

auntie aubrey · 09-21-2007, 07:18 PM

OH DAMMIT I FORGOT SOCKS.

seebe · 09-21-2007, 10:10 PM

Ha ha funny AA

10-27-2006, 12:16 PM	#1
auntie aubrey excursions Join Date: May 2006 Location: beyond the call of duty Posts: 2,443	interview horror stories i just had the toughest job interview i've ever faced. half the time i wasn't sure whether i just sounded like i was talking out of my ass, or whether i actually was talking out of my ass. so of course as my mouth is moving and i'm saying completely inane things, somewhere in the back of my head i'm double-thinking, "what am i saying? am i nuts? can she tell i have no idea what's going on?" so i thought i would share my worst interview story. two reasons: one, to make myself feel better about today's disaster. and two, to invite others to share their stories. i graduated from college up in nashville and immediately started the job hunt. i'd come out of school with a somewhat unusual and rarely desired degree, so it took a while to actually find some leads. finally a very large broadcaster/media company down in atlanta called me up and said they wanted to schedule an interview. i agreed to meet with them at 3:00 the next day and immediately went to work printing up maps and directions, etc. the next day i drove 3.5 hours from nashville to atlanta and arrived around 1:45. Having never been to atlanta, i had no means of passing the time other than wandering around the nearby georga tech campus. at 2:40 i finally walked over to the media company and had the receptionist call the interviewer down. his face was bemused. he glanced at his watch as i stood to shake his hand. i said, "i know, i know, i'm really early. sorry about that." he cocked his head to one side and said, "early?" i said, "yes, we were scheduled to meet at 3:00." he said, "it's quarter to 4." here's where i had my most brilliant moment. i looked at my watch and uttered the double syllable, "NUH UH." i stared at him like he was insane. "it's 2:45!" i protested. "it's 3:45." he replied. "we're on eastern standard time here." ...oh. right. nashville is central time. i forgot to accomodate for the time change. anyway, i got the job so i must have been better at fasttalking back then than i was today. anyone else feel like sharing a terrible interview story, so i don't have to feel like a lone putz in the crowd? __________________ that dog won't hunt, monsignor

10-27-2006, 12:38 PM	#2
LeahDear monkey Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,538	At my old school over here in England we used to have what was called Interview Simulation Day. Managers from different companies came into the school and basically put us through mock job interviews to prepare the students for the real world. I was a bit of a tyke at school and did not prepare for mine in the slightest! All I knew about it was that my interview was going to be with the manager of a local travel agent. Being the cocky little madam I was at that age, I figured I could bluff it.... There I was was telling Mr X just how well travelled I was.. blah blah blah... when he mentioned that he was going on a trip to Prague the next day. "Nice" I said with a knowing nod, "Germany is such a beautiful country" He looked at me with utter disdain and said, "No.... it's in Czechoslovakia" Needless to say I wanted the ground to swallow me up! __________________ I blame that Welsh tart!

10-27-2006, 01:25 PM	#3
auntie aubrey excursions Join Date: May 2006 Location: beyond the call of duty Posts: 2,443	ouch! __________________ that dog won't hunt, monsignor

10-27-2006, 01:29 PM	#4
LeahDear monkey Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,538	Yes.. I've learned many a valuable lesson the hard way __________________ I blame that Welsh tart!

10-27-2006, 05:11 PM	#5
Audreyvgs Blue's Clues Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: on Yur Last Nerve, huh? Posts: 5,412	NUH UH! you didnt say that! hahahahahahahahahahha I"d of blurted SHUT UP! no, me, i'd of inadvertently yiped STFU! (i wouldnt have gotten the job) __________________ I just LOVE what you haven't done with the place!

10-27-2006, 05:40 PM	#6
madasacutsnake no more nice girl Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 5,054	I started to talk abut having been questioned by the Major Crime Squad. At an interview. WTF was wrong with me? __________________ He really shatters the myth of white supremacy once and for all.

10-27-2006, 09:25 PM	#7
Brynn constantly amazed Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: in the labyrinth of shared happiness Posts: 6,206	LOL! At my last job interview, I showed up in what I thought was a beautiful black cashmere sweater, and some nice gray wool slacks, tasteful jewelry - you know, nice, neutral...and the woman (who sported long white acrylic nails with little black rosettes painted on them to match her black and white floral print dress) interviewing me was looking to fill her own position after being promoted. She started by saying pointedly that they have a fairly strict dress code there, and that pants were not appropriate, then went on and on about how difficult the receptionist job actually was and how precious the position was to her, and how she had made it nearly impossible for anyone to fill her shoes. I became completely and totally intimidated. I found myself actually trying to talk her out of hiring me - you know, shaking my head, saying things like "Well, I haven't really handled that many lines before, so I'd hate to misrepresent myself...not sure how I feel about working full time with no breaks, blah blah blah." When all the time I couldn't stop thinking about how crappy my wardrobe must be if my best outfit wasn't good enough. Afterwards, I kicked myself. I mean, really, how hard is it to answer phones and take messages? I liked the pay, but the thought of being stuck behind the station for nine hours a day, watched closely by this woman horrified me. Did not get the job. What a blinding shock. __________________ 1. While sitting at your desk, lift your right foot off the floor and make clockwise circles. 2. Now, while doing this, draw the number "6" in the air with your right hand. 3. Your foot will change direction.

11-06-2006, 09:10 PM	#9
Brynn constantly amazed Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: in the labyrinth of shared happiness Posts: 6,206	__________________ 1. While sitting at your desk, lift your right foot off the floor and make clockwise circles. 2. Now, while doing this, draw the number "6" in the air with your right hand. 3. Your foot will change direction.

09-21-2007, 04:57 PM	#10
zero ª ★ ª Join Date: May 2004 Location: lª m°°n Posts: 13,853	why come you didn't just take them off & leave them in the lobby to be collected afterwards?

09-21-2007, 05:41 PM	#11
auntie aubrey excursions Join Date: May 2006 Location: beyond the call of duty Posts: 2,443	i entertained a fantasy where striding in confidently and pretending it was a conscious (although perhaps ill-advised) fashion decision was better than looking flaky. i think bare feet would have tilted the perception closer to flaky than pretending the shoes were intentional. __________________ that dog won't hunt, monsignor

09-21-2007, 05:49 PM	#12
zero ª ★ ª Join Date: May 2004 Location: lª m°°n Posts: 13,853	yes. i see. keeping yours sandals on for the interview was probably the right thing to do especially since you were wearing socks . you were wearing socks, right?

09-21-2007, 07:18 PM	#13
auntie aubrey excursions Join Date: May 2006 Location: beyond the call of duty Posts: 2,443	OH DAMMIT I FORGOT SOCKS. __________________ that dog won't hunt, monsignor

09-21-2007, 10:10 PM	#14
seebe monkey Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 729	Ha ha funny AA

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