The first part of finding a job is trying to put yourself out there and send out resumes, requests, fill out candidate applications and contact anyone you would like to work for. Then the waiting game begins, and at this point, the most desirable thing is to get a call inviting you to a job interview.
A job interview is the time when you can not only sell your skills, but express your emotions and show your personality traits, demonstrating that you can get along with coworkers and you are willing to compromise when something doesn’t go your way. At the same time, it is the candidate’s opportunity to find out whether they actually want to work there, because during these conversations, they get a glimpse of what working at a company means.
Sometimes it becomes very clear that the company’s values don’t match your own, so you have the right to end the interview and to not waste your time. People on the internet had interesting experiences when it comes to job interviews and shared their stories.
If you would like to hear any more of them, Bored Panda has another list containing the ridiculous and really bad interviews people found themselves in where they needed to just get up and leave, which you can find here.
#21 Candidate Realised They Weren't The Right Person For The Job
Twice. But it wasn’t really a “walk out”. In both instances, I paused the interview and admitted that I didn’t think I was the right person for the job. In either case, I was contrite and thanked them for their time. I can’t remember them being upset, though one was a panel interview and one of the managers was really stunned.
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55points
#22 Candidate Was Made To Wait 45 Minutes For The Interview To Start
I arrived at the interview on time to be greeted by somebody who I knew but considered professionally unethical. They kept me waiting for about 45 minutes before seeing me, so obviously thought something else was more important. I decided I did not want to work for a firm which was so unprofessional. Quite simple!
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55points
#23 Company Didn't Agree With Candidate's Salary Requirements Even Though They Demanded Their Availability At All Times
One of my first interviews out of school. They quizzed me on all types of technical matters, that’s fine. But then they told me the relatively low pay, coupled with their requirement that I be on call nearly 24/7. Since I was in my early 20s, I had a busy social life. For me to be on call requires a whole lot on their part. I told them that my salary requirements begin at $100,000. This was in the early 1980s. They were surprised and not happy with my demand. No problem, I’ll move along.
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50points
#24 Interviewer Didn't Come And Called Three Days Later Wanting To Reschedule
I arrived early and after waiting 20 minutes past time, a gentleman came in and asked if I'd been helped. I told him I was here to meet X. I was informed she was out of the office and they hadn't been as to reach her on her work or personal cell phones. I told them I couldn't wait anymore, and thanked them. The kicker? Three…THREE days later she called to reschedule! I didn't even answer. I couldn't believe the nerve of that woman!
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44points
#25 Interviewer Had To End It Because The Candidate Would Reply With One-Word Answers And They Realized The Resume Was Inflated
Didn't walk out per se but I did cut the interview short after 10mins as an interviewer. The candidate wasn't prepared and replied to my open ended queries with single worded answers. Tried to put the candidate at ease with casual every day questions but even those were met with a blank look and dead end answers. It was apparent that the resume to HR was grossly inflated.
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39points
#26 Interviewer Made It Clear That She Needed An Employee To Make Her Metrics Look Good
Once.
I had already been offered a job, but I still had interviews scheduled. I decided to see if I would get a better offer, so I went.
It became clear to me that the manager was a “turnaround artist.” I don't know if there's a better term, but it was pretty clear that she was there to try to rescue an ailing franchise (Think like an internal version of Kitchen Nightmares or Bar Rescue). She made it pretty clear that I was supposed to make her metrics look good. If this were McDonald's (it wasn't) it was the equivalent of not just ensuring that I asked every customer “Do you want fries with that?” but making my job dependent upon how many fries I sold.
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36points
#27 Candidate Was Given A Psychometric Test But Realised It Was Complete Nonsense
Yep. I was once given a psychometric test by an interviewer and left alone to complete it.
I took a quick look, realised it was complete nonsense, and left.
It was a bit of a shame since the job seemed decent we’d already covered the interview part by chatting for over an hour beforehand.
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33points
#28 Candidate Got A Call About Their Brother Having A Car Accident
I didnt leave through fault of the workplace or employer... my brother was in a car accident and got a call from my sister letting me know
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32points
#29 Interviewer Offered The Candidate Some Alcohol And Informed Them It Was The Company's Culture
Once. It was right out of college. I had a newly minted degree in Business Administration from Texas State University and was out interviewing for entry level business jobs.
I can’t remember the company but I was in the interview with my resume talking to a woman and during the interview she offered me a drink. Wine or beer were the choices.
Apparently in the company culture that was normal. I wasn’t the only person offered a drink. One was offered a drink if that individual was doing well during the interview.
I declined and said I had to use the bathroom really bad-and asked where it was—She pointed and I left her office and building.
I don’t remember what the company did anymore but it was for a sales position.
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32points
#30 Candidate Assumed They Wouldn't Need To Interact With Customers
I never really had this bad of anxiety since this morning. I got an interview to take an assessment for a warehousing job in a certain store. I thought I would be working in a quiet part and it was night shifts. The assessment was to interact with customers etc...and I immediately froze. Thought everything was going to go great seemed straight forward then they brought all these tasks with the customers so I just had to pull one of the managers aside and told them I'm just not cut out for this.
I feel absolutely worthless. I've been jobless for over a year. Nothing seems to be going my way and I really want to put myself out there and show what I can do, everyone was really rooting for me to get this and I feel like I've let them all down.
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23points
