Idiots in job interviews - Page 2

Originally Posted by Mr. Moo 

I guess it's better than them wanting to play with your shift-knob.

Originally Posted by L'Incandescent 


All too common a problem, unfortunately. Or fortunately maybe, I'm not sure.

Originally Posted by L'Incandescent 

At my place of business, all interviews are conducted in my car. It can be hard to schedule rooms for interviews, but it is never hard to schedule my car. (Because I own it all by myself.) Interviewees always sit in the back seat so that they don't play with the steering wheel or turn the lights on and off. Or the windshield wipers for that matter.

Originally Posted by scarphe 

are you a pimp or low level drug dealer?

Originally Posted by L'Incandescent 

Not a low-level drug dealer, but apparently a pretty high-level bullshitter.
Just responding to sinnedk in accordance with a principle that my mom taught me when I was young: if you ask a silly question, you'll get a silly answer.

Originally Posted by L'Incandescent 

You gotta admit, the question about the abandoned warehouse was a bit silly! Your first question wasn't, though. To answer seriously, this was a second interview. I'm in academia, where second interviews take place on campus. At the end of the day, the interviewers and the candidate go out to dinner (which is still part of the interview, although less formal.) It is in that context that the applicant saw my car and scoffed at it.

Originally Posted by Eason 

So, if you are interviewing for a position, let me give you some tips:
* Don't hit on the other employees or students if it's a school
* Don't ask the interviewer how old he is
* Don't ask the interviewer if it's his first academic position
* Send a thank you email. Out of 20 people I've interviewed, only 1, the 1 we already decided to go for, sent a thank-you email.

Originally Posted by passingtime 

I would add try and make it look like you want to work there:
* Know what the company does
* Have some idea about what the position entails (although a good question is how the vacancy came to exist)
* Have to decency to at least pretend that you are gagging to work here.
Generally I would say:
* Have a folder for notes and questions you want to ask (it makes you look engaged).
* Wear at least a jacket and tie. Contrary to what you might read in these forums nobody cares what you wear beyond that (although avoid novelty ties)
* Don't badmouth your previous employer, you are always leaving them with regret since this is such a wonderful opportunity...
* Emphasis on collaborative approach, teamwork, that sort of stuff.
* Have some questions to ask, or look at your folder and tell them you had questions but they have covered them all.
On a personal note:
* Try to avoid interviewing on a Friday - it means I have to be in the office and I would rather not be.
* You can screw up initially or have a bad appearance and still get the job if you can demonstrate actual relevant experience.
* I don't care about thank you letters, once I have told HR what I think my interest in you is over unless you get the job (in which case it's not going to matter anyway).

Originally Posted by L'Incandescent 

You gotta admit, the question about the abandoned warehouse was a bit silly! Your first question wasn't, though. To answer seriously, this was a second interview. I'm in academia, where second interviews take place on campus. At the end of the day, the interviewers and the candidate go out to dinner (which is still part of the interview, although less formal.) It is in that context that the applicant saw my car and scoffed at it.

Originally Posted by Philip 

Damn that is rude, also said person must be deluded if they think they'll have enough dough to drive something fancy in academia. What positions do you normally interview for?