15 Job Interview Horror Stories
January 26, 2009 
84 Comments
We’ve all been there: the dreaded job interview. As unnerving and stressful as they are it’s to be expected that mishaps are bound to take place. Here is a list of the 15 worst job interview calamities that will leave yours in the dust. Next time you bomb an interview, feel free to check this list out; it’ll be certain to brighten your day and make you feel a bit better!
It’s never a good idea to badmouth your old boss, no matter how much you disliked him or how intensely you feel that she should have been the subordinate, not you. This applicant spent the length of their interview bellyaching about their former boss totally unaware of their interviewer’s relation to their aforementioned boss. They even had the same last name!
2. Zzz…
Remember back to your younger days in school where they stressed the importance of a good night’s rest before a big test like the SAT? Well the same goes for job interviews. It looks like this applicant failed to heed the advice of his tenth grade English teacher when he dozed off right in the middle of his interview!
3. A Day When Everything Goes Wrong
We’ve all had those days when you wake up and you just know it’s going to be a bad day, days where everything seems to go terribly wrong and you realize you should have just stayed in bed. At least that’s the realization this particular interviewee came to after an interview at an advertising company went completely awry.
Stressed out and in a hurry due to the process of pawning off his 5-year-old niece to an ex-girlfriend this unfortunate interviewee forgot to put on his suspenders and grabbed his prescription sunglasses instead of his regular pair. Needless to say once he discovered he had the wrong pair of glasses he figured it would be better to go through the interview blind than rudely in sunglasses.
When standing up to shake the interviewer’s hand he found himself standing in the middle of the agency’s office with his pants around his ankles!
As if that’s not horrific enough it only gets worse when on behalf of his hindered eyesight when asked to supply his resume he hands over a resume to a competing agency and was asked to leave.
4. Hello, Doctor?
Employers want to see that their perspective employees are independent thinkers who are capable of making their own decisions. This woman displayed just the opposite of what her interviewer hoped to find when she brought the interview to a halt in order to dial her therapist for guidance on how to answer a question!
We’ve all said things we wish we could go back in time and erase. This candidate was caught with his foot in his mouth when he made a wisecrack about West Virginia only to discover that his most likely now agitated interviewer hailed from West Virginia.
Always think twice before you do anything rash. When in a state of rage try your hardest not to let your emotions get the best of you, you may never know just who exactly you are ripping into. This woman sure didn’t when she flipped off, honked, and shouted obscenities to the driver of another vehicle prior to finding that same driver conducting the interview for her desired position.
7. What Are Your Qualifications?
Don’t make the mistake of being too full of yourself. Although you do want to portray a certain amount of confidence this applicant took it too far when he declared that he was so adept for the job that if he happened to be denied the position it would ultimately confirm the company’s management to be insufficient!
8. Sore Loser
This interviewee refused to leave his chair unless he was given the position. Eventually police were called in to the scene to remove the applicant.
9. Did I Get the Job?
Sometimes you have to wonder what in the world are some of these people thinking? Are they trying to sabotage the interview? This man clearly was when he stated that he didn’t actually want the position, he only needed to validate he was job searching for the unemployment office!
Although there is much more slack in dress codes nowadays you would assume its common knowledge that one must dress professionally when attending a job interview. Apparently not. This applicant showed up to an interview in her robe and slippers!
11. All For Nothing
Nothing’s worse than going to hell and back for a job interview only be denied the position. This particular applicant drove 30 minutes to a 7:30am interview, could not find the arranged parking lot forcing her to leave her car in a private lot, and waited 20 minutes for her interviewer to only find the position had been offered to another applicant two days ago. After all this the only thing the applicant had to show for her troubles was a parking stub.
Most people would agree that on a job interview they tend to feel a bit uptight and constrained however this woman showed no signs of tension as she proceeded to make her self at home by removing her socks and placing them on her interviewer’s desk claiming she was “too hot”.
13. The Literalist
When feeling nervous and under pressure its understandable to give one or two silly answers lacking forethought. When asked what person they would most like to meet, living or dead this applicant replied with “the living one”.
14. Spit it Out
It’s probably for the best to spit out that piece of Winterfresh before beginning an interview to keep clear of appearing ill-mannered or to avoid what happened to Yolanda Evans from Project Performance Corporation who had a piece of gum spewed into her face by an anxious interviewee.
15. Don’t Let the Door Hit You On the Way Out
A final impression is just as important as the first. This applicant made a memorable one when he got up to leave the interview and walked into a glass door shattering it to pieces.
Related Posts
Come to the interview working, not looking for workInterview Tips for First-Time Job Seekers
15 Deadly But Often-Made Resume Blunders to Avoid
Looking for Work in All the Wrong Places?
Things People Wish They Had Never Said About Their Boss on Twitter
Categories: Job Humor, Re-entering the Workforce, Resume & Cover Letter Tips, Why ResumeBear?
Tags:
Thanks for the really helpful tips. I’ll try some of these and try again, hopefully i’ll be successful.
When facing an interview, you tend to forget all the points and sometimes go blank. i think all points covered in th article are very relevent and they have been covered very well. I have taken many interviews and find that honesty in an interview is the best policy. Never ever try to bluff your way through. One lie leads to another and then to another and finally youare likely to get trapped.
Before an interview, calm your mind and meditate to avoid going blank because of being nervous. It calms your nerves and focuses your mind on what you need to do. Just make sure to get enough rest the night before to avoid falling asleep as the fool did in the “Zzz” story…
As a society how have we come to a point that you have to be reminded not to sit in your chair and demand that the job be given to you immediately.
Thanks for the article, made my day.
A useful article. A reminder of all the things that can wrong in interviews if you don’t prepare.
In accordance with number 11, I’ve realized that it’s really important to always arrive early to interviews, in case you have trouble finding the employer. Nothing is worse than showing up late for your first impression.
Lol amusing article… People actually do these things?
This site definitely makes you look at things a little differently. One of the hardest job a person can do, is look for a job. It can be very time consuming with many negative results. You might have 1 positive result, meaning you have an interview that you think went well, but 2 days later you the the agonizing call, that you are not the canidate. All the time and effort for nothing! These tips are very helpful, I am glad i came across this site.
Really interesting post. Situation no. 8 was kinda funny
Thanks for the tips… Some good reminders in there.
You’d think that some of these tips would be common sense. Apparently not. #10 has to be a practical joke. I can’t believe somebody actually did that.
The list was humorous but informative.
Nice stories, good for a change here :}
Ha ha ha, that’s really funny. Loved the list. BTW, that woman must be crazy to call her therapist in the midst of the interview. Good going Resumebear, keep it up.
This is really very helpful with handy ides and tips for those who are tired up very easily even for small defeats and challenges. This is like a boost up tonic.
Excellent work again, this one though with a difference. Loved the light mood of Resumebear. Enjoyed the post thoroughly. Laughed almost all through it. Thanks loads for sharing such funny happenings.
#4 is really funny. It seems that these days there’s a “life coach” or “therapist” for every need…so why not for interviews
?
This is a good reminder to keep yourself prepared. Thanks
Please. These are so made up.
I love it. On must look for the funny side life to survive this crazy world.
These truely are nightmares. This should be viewed as a feel good story for those having a hard time finding a job, at least you are not one of the above!
It’s very interesting article that everyone needs today.You have a lot of useful tips regarding the interviews and also mentioned about the worst job interview calamities.it will help us to overcome such problems …thank you
Thanks for the tips and ideas.
I always think that the best way to learn is by error. So, showing what you shouldn’t do is the best way to keep it in mind.
It is very great tips and ideas. It is very usefull. Keep rocking by great articles.
Very helpful, great ideas. Keep posting please
This was very helpful. You never know enough things about an interview. thank you so very much.
Great (scary, but great!) stories! Fortunately, I’m only “guilty” of example #1. Years ago, I was working on a movie, and I thought the production manager was – well, she was strange and withdrawn. I made a comment to this effect to another crewperson (the construction coordinator, I think)…well, as it turns out – he was MARRIED to the production manager!! Man oh man! There were no bad repercussions for me, but I learned a marvelous lesson I have carried with me for many years, ie, if you don’t know the players that well in any given situation, shut UP!!
Isn’t it funny how “common” sense just isn’t that common? These are all good things to remember — just in case!
Loved these stories. Its amazing what stupid things people do when it comes to interviewing. Great read.
Thanks for the pearls of wisdom!
Let’s not forget the clammy handshake. Some say it’s hereditary and not preventable. I say, look around for hand dryers in the bathroom!!!
This is good and great article. I really going to get help from this. Contents of this article give me inspiration and help to build up good future. I really was wondering here and there over the internet to make good resume. This article is giving good idea and tips while making resume. Thanks to author.
Hmm,
Good to know that someone know many things about interviews. Good job keep posting.
Eish I cant remember the last time I had to go for an interview! Maybe I been in my job for too long – Great article nonetheless – I will sure use some of these tips when I gather enough courage to actually apply for a new job!
Enjoyed the stories thoroughly, especially the 14th one. Okay, the gum may make you look cool, but it can cost you a job too (at least that’s what I learnt!!!). So next time you go for an interview, make sure you Spit it Out!!!!!!
Excellent post once again. Now I know what not to do in my next interview
And ya, these stories surely leave my own job interview experience (story) in the dust!!!
Thanks for sharing these horror stories and giving me some relieving moments.
Some good tips but also seems like some of these things are just plain common sense. Who goes to a job interview in a robe and slippers – no matter how casual you think “dress down” means?
This really reminds us of why we should always do our best once we get accepted for any job.
Taking your socks off in your interviewer’s office (#12)? Really? Who would ever think to do that. Seriously, if you’re searching for a job and any of these things even remotely crossed your mind, please find a good counselor before taking an interview (but also, please leave your cell phone in your car … do NOT call your counselor in the interview like the person in #4).
4. Hello, Doctor?
Employers want to see that their perspective employees are independent thinkers. . .
The word is “prospective.”
That typo is inexcusable!
Small but incisive and insightful book, Beat-the-Odds Interviews, by Melvin Sorcher, PhD shows clearly and effectively how to minimize the frustration and disappointment because of interviewers who do not know how to evaluate the answers to their questions or assess candidate potential. Nobody talks about the problem of incompetent interviewers, or its magnitude, but this book will generate more successful interviews than most conventional interview instruction. It’s a must-read. Go to book website: beat-the-oddsinterviews.com or to author’s blog: http://www.melsorcher.blogspot.com Great for interviewers, too.
This article was very helpful in helping me prepare for my interview. Another interesting site I saw that has similar information was http://www.thejobinterviewguru.com
That was a really good read. Thanks!
Thanks for the great read. I feel so bad for all those people. Hopefully they all and everyone else have learned from these.
I live in France. Went to the UK for a job interview that began early, so I got there the night before. Went to the local pub to kill a few hours the night before and hooked up with a woman. The next morning she went to work in the taxi just in front of mine. I ran into her 30 minutes later in her office.
She was the hiring manager.
I didn’t get the job.
I think preparation is one of the best answers to be able to avoid these mistakes. It depends on the preparation of the job applicant to overcome weakness in the job interview. The applicant has to practice and gain adequate knowledge about the requirements of the job. The job of the interviewer is to ferret out necessary information from the applicant, and if the applicant’s response doesn’t adequately answer the interviewer’s probe, then it will reflect badly on the personality of the job applicant. The applicant should be able to grasp the nuanced approach of the interviewer so as to avoid the impression of ignorance.
I am starting to feel like the sore loser…I get interview after interview and no one wants to hire me!!!
I attended an interview once where one of the questions they asked me was “Are you a performer?”, and I replied (without really thinking about it too much): “No, I don’t really like to be the center of attention.” Fortunately, the rest of the interview went so well that this little mishap did not cost me the job!!
Great tips! Thanks for the information. All job interviewers need to have this information as they look for positions.
More than stories I feel these are the lessons/experiences of people with which one can prepare for interview well in advance and repeat the mistakes which were discussed in above 15 points. It is really help full for all those people who are either nervous or over confident before interview and also to those who are not nervous and over confident. Thanks for this site for guiding people in the right direction to get the right Job by right approach.
Easy option to get useful information as well as share good stuff with good ideas and concepts
Helpful tips with good stories,from interview point of view.
Great article with lots of good tips on preparing for your job interview. I came across this site that offers advanced job interview strategies: http://www.FlawlessInterview.com
It’s a really great job interview resource.
Very interesting topic will bookmark your site to check if you write
more about in the future.
You got so many points here, that’s why i love reading your blog. Thank you so much!
Great morning. I wished to be able to write you a quick comment to express my many thanks. I’ve been studying your weblog for a month or so and have picked up a bunch of beneficial details as properly as enjoyed the way in which you have setup your weblog. I am attempting to run my personal weblog but I feel it is far too common. I’d prefer to concentrate far more on narrower subjects. Becoming all issues to all individuals isn’t all that its cracked up to be. A lot of many thanks.
“my God, i thought you were going to chip in with some decisive insght in the end there, not depart it with ‘we leave it for you to decide’”
I hope getting over a broken heart can be so easy as following a few steps.. but its not…
Hey extremely nice weblog!
Funny stuff! I love these Wacko Interviewee stories (I’m a job counselor). I especially like the one about the pants around the ankles. How do you come back from that?
Laurie recently posted..Excerpt from- “What Color is Your Straitjacket” coming soon- Work Snippets
I really liked “the living one”. Hope I get the chance to say it!
Couldn’t be written any better. Reading this post reminds me of my old room mate! He always kept talking about this. I will forward this article to him. Pretty sure he will have a good read. Thanks for sharing!
You certainly deserve a round of applause for your post and more specifically, your blog in general. Very high quality material.
Loved to read your blog. I would like to suggest you that traffic show most people read blogs on Mondays. So it should encourage bloggers to write new write ups over the weekend primarily.
This post was great. That poor guy who had the wrong glasses and whose pants fell down, I know exactly how those days feel. We’ve all had them. Great post!
Useful post can i have your permision to translate into German for our blogs readers? Thanks
Good for U. I think its one of the most informative post in this theme. Lookin’ forward.
ha ha ha ha very funny article i like it very much this is really useful article….
Amusing stories and I can only hope that they are fabricated or exaggerated
Maybe not, 15-years ago was led up a flight of stairs to the interview conference room and tripped and fell. It was SO not pretty!!!!
I’m old school and still wear the back suit to interviews. How people dress for interviews is shocking and more shocking that shows like “What not to Wear” and ads for Kohl’s a recommending floral dresses and a cardigan for an interview. “This is perfect and professional for an interview”, “they” say. I say — not even close.
Thanks for the article today — I love your posts.
Several years ago I interviewed for a Supervisory Position at a Computer Helpdesk. I was told by the interviewer I was lacking in certain skills. A year ago I was promoted to Manager of my Helpdesk and advertized for my replacement (Supervisor). Believe it or not the person that told me I was unqualified was one of the applicants. I elected not to interview him
ha..hah. Article made as laugh but the points given is a real fact.we have to remember them while facing an interview.
Keep working, good post! This was the thing… I had to understand.
By blunder standards, these are really good blunders!Try not to commit a blunder if you really want to be employed. Good article!
This is a really awesome entry. I found your blog from bing while browsing a similar subject matter. I really ate up what you had to discuss. Keep up the great work!
Really, this kind of message started in St. Fagan’s A kind of fortification throughout Cardiff Wales. These were endeavoring to create a Victorian customs went up by backyard garden along with unusual elevated, inseminated in your Nineteenth Century (1887), known as “Bardou Job” seemed to be among the 85 meant for the particular venture. The particular Tradition Increased Number was basically sought after to uncover this unique lacking increased by in which a large number of hated died over. These products think it is, of the venues, blossoming of what was once your head warden’s lawn regarding Alcatraz. This warden appeared to be recognized for their flowers plus the prisoners given assistance him or her. It had been lower than “top security” on a regular basis.
A couple of posts were accused of being made up…I think not. Here are a few things that have happened to me over the years:
Had a face to face interview that followed my CV passing muster and a phone interview. Woke up in plenty of time, but the electricity was out. That meant no running water (live on a well). Washed hair, brushed teeth and shaved out of toilet tank (not bowl). Was not told that it was a group interview and brought 3 copies of CV for FIVE interviewers. Only one of the interviewers asked questions, and that was the phone interviewer. No job.
Another time was sent by head hunter to site. The customer had no idea I was supposed to be there. They were absolutely unprepared, but hired me on the spot (still there three yrs later).
Another interview was promissed within a week. At the end of the week, I placed a followup call and got voicemail. Just so happens, they were at a remote location wondering why I wasn’t at the interview. Only after the guy picked up voice mail did he realize he told everyone but me. Got the job, but fired a month later when the company lost their contract with the state of Indiana. I got a contractual severance check, though!!
Agreed to interview for a position through a headhunter. I didn’t like the way that things were going with the recruiter, so I backed out with a week before the interview. The recruiter told me “look, just go whether you want the job or not. I promissed them that you’d be there. I got you the interview, you owe it to me to go”
I believe them all. People are nuts.
Now if this article was about terminations, woo-wee!!
Without a good interview, you will surely not get an offer from the employer. Be on your p’s and q’s to put your best foot forward.
We would really enjoy you to definitely are a invitee poster in my small web site.
This is a serious, but funny article! I just hope that the female candidate washed her feet and her socks. I have seen many job candidates in my career, and the last thing I need to smell on the job is someone’s funky feet.
Your awesome posts are incredibly useful.
Great article, ResumeBear! Keep them coming.