From the article: Unusual Job Interview Questions Help Select the Best
If you've ever done job interviews, you've probably heard it all. Candidates give job interview answers that undermine their application. They get tongue-tied; they're nervous. They're unpolished and unrehearsed. Candidates develop "diarrhea of the mouth." They don't know when to stop talking. Their job interview answers and questions are the darndest things. Share the funniest, saddest, most hysterical, off-putting, right-on-target, and weirdest candidate responses and questions you've heard over the years. Share your job interview answers and questions. See More Reader Responses. Share Your Memorable Ones
vacation time
- I interviewed a candidate who immediately started asking me about vacation time and our "sick leave policy." I'm not sure she had even learned much about the job yet.
- —Guest fc
Late...And Missing Work
- The candidate showed up late to an interview, blaming the subways for the delay. Unfortunately, that wasn't his only faux pas: he was missing the assignment he was asked to bring with him, and tried to deflect the problem by blaming his roommate for not faxing it over to our HR office.
- —Guest Eric
Social Security Fraud
- I was interviewing someone for an independent contractor position. At the end of the interview, she asked me if it would be okay if she used her daughter's social security number instead of her own because she was getting Food Stamps and she didn't want the income to be reported to the state. In other words, she was asking me to break the law for her. Needless to say, she didn't get the job.
- —Guest Suzanne
Volunteer Work, Not
- We were reviewing contact information and she indicated that she could be reached at a Social Services Organization in the community. I responded that she hadn't indicated that she was doing volunteer work and that service to the community is something she should be proud of. She responded that it was not volunteer work, It was a "place for people like me...who lose touch with reality."
- —Guest Brenda
Late to an Interview
- I had a guy turn up half an hour late to an interview without prior advisement. I decided to go ahead with the interview regardless. Just as we were about to start, he added, "Can we make this really quick? I need to be someplace." Needless to say, I skipped half my questions!
- —Guest Disha B
I have gas....
- I asked the candidate if he liked to smile. He responded, "yes very much!" I asked, "what makes you smile?" He stated, "I have gas!"
- —Guest KT
Memorable Interview Answers
- I asked, "What would your former supervisor say would be something you could improve?" Applicant Answer: "I need to lose weight."
- —Guest Daphne
CVs
- Not interviews, but I have had fun collecting comments from CVs received in this corner of Africa. Application for Forklift operator: "I went to Company X and used the forkift there and they closed down. I went to Company Y and drove the big truck and the forklift and they closed down. Now I would like to drive for you." Another gave as a reason for leaving her previous position: "Deceased." Not sure whether it was herself or her employer, or perhaps a dead-end job? A Receptionist said that her duties had included, "general upkeep of the Office Manager". And my favourive, a 21 year-old male applying for a Relief Receptionist post wrote: "To work as a receptionist is not a dream which was born out of poverty, but a passion and love of working with people embedded in my soul." You have to love the passion and the poetry.
- —Ian_Webster
Oh I used to....
- In doing an interview I saw that the candidate had revealed she had a prior felony conviction. I asked her to tell me about the felony, and how she had resolved the issue. She told me "I had done meth for a long time, but I stopped last week. Hopefully when I go to court the judge will be nice since I quit."
- —Guest Jennifer
Do you have any questions for me?
- No - but I did want to tell you how good it made me feel that I got called in for an interview. I was fired from my last job for stealing so this gives me a lot of hope.
- —ackreutzer
Twinkie Anyone?
- I was interviewing a person for an accounting role and about 10 minutes into the interview she said, "I'm starving, do you mind if I step out to grab something to eat?" She returned from the vending area 5 minutes later with a Twinkie and a Mountain Dew and proceded to eat them on the spot.
- —Nate1463
So what are your hobbies? 2. About what?
- Gossiping. So the candidate was asked what he liked gossiping about, and his response was "GIRLS". He would never ever be hired.
- —Guest Nimo
