10 ways to botch an interview
June 12, 2008 by Maureen CatalanoPosted in: "Seemed like a good idea at the time", "Would you want this person in Finance?", Special report
Attracting candidates who are the perfect fit for a department is hard enough. But if these snafus are any indication, the good news is you’re not alone.
Here are the most catastrophic interviewing blunders recounted by Finance pros surveyed by CareerBuilder.com:
- “You should see my references.” — A prospective employee brought her children along. Think that’s bad? One candidate even brought his mom along for moral support.
- “Where’s the lunchroom?” – One candidate requested that the interviewer move it along because his stomach was grumbling with hunger while another whipped out a sandwich and began chowing down mid-interview.
- “Is your dress code casual?” — A prospective employee showed up barefoot. Another wore her Jackie-O-inspired sunglasses throughout the entire interview.
- “I’m really into compliance.” — One candidate inquired about the specific locations of the building’s security cameras. At least he asked — another didn’t bother and outright stole from the interviewer’s office.
- “No drinking on the job?” — A candidate brought a bottle of wine to his interview and offered the interviewer a glass of burgundy to ease the mood.
- “I sweat when I’m nervous.” — One hygiene-conscious person stopped to sniff his armpits prior to entering the interview room, in plain sight of his prospective employer. (We’re thinking the welcome handshake never took place.)
- “I’m ‘indisposed’ at the moment.” — A job offer wasn’t the only thing that went down the tubes: A candidate interviewing by phone didn’t hesitate to flush the toilet.
- “Excuse me while I take this.” — There’s only one move worse than answering a cell phone during the interview: This applicant asked the Finance manager to take a hike from her own office while he took the private call.
- “I’m not afraid to toot my own horn.” — To make himself memorable to his interviewers, one candidate burst into song — the national anthem, in fact. (At least he picked the right country.)
- “My car’s in the shop.” — At the interview’s close, one prospective employee asked his interviewer for a ride home.
What irks interviewers the most? According to the survey, dressing inappropriately, bashing previous employers and appearing disinterested are the most common mistakes a candidate can make.
What’s the funniest (or worst) interview experience you’ve had when looking for the right finance applicant? Share your stories in the comments section below.
Tags: Attracting candidates, Interview blunders, Interviews, The right fit, Top Ten
June 12th, 2008 at 11:44 am
What a great article! Whoever wrote them is hilarious!!!!!
June 13th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
I had one prospective candidate actually ask to stand throught the entire interview because she had Hemorrhoids’.
June 13th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
Outstanding…. I find it amazing that people would do any of these things. What were they thinking…?
They walk among us….
June 13th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
I asked a candidate if she had a problem with a co-worker and how she dealt with it. She said yes, her supervisor had a problem with her from day one, she wasn’t sure if it was because she was black or what.
June 13th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
I had a candidate that asked if they coud get a payroll advance if they were hired!
They didn’t get the job.
June 16th, 2008 at 9:51 am
I was interviewing a man who had a space of 5 years where he had nothing on his resume. I asked him want he did during that time. He said he was incarcerated for manslaughter for being at the scene where a man was murdered.
June 16th, 2008 at 9:57 am
I had one lady who came to the interview dressed in purple head to toe and through out the entire interview she was digging in her purse (of course every item she pulled out was purple also) and she laughed at most of the questions I had asked stating, “I need to think about that one, these are some good questions, where did you come up with them?” She did not get the job, and I was very close to just calling the whole interview off.
June 16th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
Our temporary receptionist, Princess, applied for the job permanently. On the application, under “Job Applied For”, she put “recipinest.” Under Former Occupation/Job she put “prostitute.”
June 16th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
I once asked a potential candidate if she could briefly describe what she did in her current role of over 18 months. She said she didn’t know. We stopped the interview and I spent the rest of the time career counseling….
June 18th, 2008 at 5:13 pm
Several years ago I was interviewing for a senior cost accountant. I asked her, as I did all applicant’s, how she dealt with stress. Her answer was “I turn into a bitch”. She was serious, no laughter. Thanks for sharing…………
October 25th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
I actually did have someone answer her cell phone in the middle of an interview. I was shocked. I would never believe that someone would really do that if I hadn’t seen it for myself. I’m glad to see that it made the list - lol - maybe someone will learn from it.