How to Mess Up a Job Interview
Top personnel executives of 100 major American corporations were
surveyed and asked for stories of unusual behavior by job applicants.
The low-lights were:
* "... stretched out on the floor to fill out the job application."
* "She wore a Walkman and said she could listen to me and the music
at the same time."
* "A balding candidate abruptly excused himself. Returned to office
a few minutes later, wearing a hairpiece."
* "... asked to see interviewer's resume to see if the personnel executive
was qualified to judge the candidate."
* "... announced she hadn't had lunch and proceeded to eat a hamburger
and french fries in the interviewer's office - wiping the ketchup
on her sleeve."
* "Stated that, if he were hired, he would demonstrate his loyalty by
having the corporate logo tattooed on his forearm."
* "Interrupted to phone his therapist for advice on answering specific
interview questions."
* "When I asked him about his hobbies, he stood up and started tap
dancing around my office."
* "At the end of the interview, while I stood there dumbstruck, went
through my purse, took out a brush, brushed his hair, and left."
* "... pulled out a Polaroid camera and snapped a flash picture of me.
Said he collected photos of everyone who interviewed him."
* "Said he wasn't interested because the position paid too much."
* "While I was on a long-distance phone call, the applicant took out a
copy of Penthouse, and looked through the photos only, stopping longest
at the centerfold."
* "During the interview, an alarm clock went off from the candidate's
brief case. He took it out, shut it off, apologized and said he had to
leave for another interview."
* "A telephone call came in for the job applicant. It was from his wife.
His side of the conversation went like this: 'Which company? When do
I start? What's the salary?' I said, 'I assume you're not interested in
conducting the interview any further.' He promptly responded, 'I am as
long as you'll pay me more.' I didn't hire him, but later found out there
was no other job offer. It was a scam to get a higher offer."
* "His attache [case] opened when he picked it up and the contents spilled,
revealing ladies' undergarments and assorted makeup and perfume."
* "Candidate said he really didn't want to get a job, but the unemployment
office needed proof that he was looking for one."
* "... asked who the lovely babe was, pointing to the picture on my desk.
When I said it was my wife, he asked if she was home now and wanted
my phone number. I called security."
* "Pointing to a black case he carried into my office, he said that if he
was not hired, the bomb would go off. Disbelieving, I began to state why
he would never be hired and that I was going to call the police. He then
reached down to the case, flipped a switch, and ran. No one was injured,
but I did need to get a new desk."
