What was the most embarrassing thing you've said or done during a job interview?

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   letstalkabouteducposted 9 years ago

   What was the most embarrassing thing you've said or done during a job interview?
   
   Recently I had a job interview for a teaching position. I'm usually a pretty tough cookie, but the panel was asking me about my job history and it triggered a memory of when my son was diagnosed with autism. I started to cry during the interview! They were pretty nice about it, but the vice-principal stared at me like I had three noses!

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2. 70

   connorjposted 9 years ago

   
   
   At the university's employment office I was elated to see my name on the list of students to be interviewed. However a couple of weeks later it appeared when I went into the Kimberly Clark (KC) interview that I had made a significant error of judgment. I was wearing the same drab grey pin-stripped suit as the Director of Personnel, Mr. Dave Wright. In addition I soon discerned that the resume they were referencing wasn't mine. How could that be?
   Bob Forbes was the other KC interviewer. He was from the Engineering Office where, if I managed to get the job, I would be working from. As he instructed me about the position and elaborated about the Engineering Office and the town where the office was located I became more at ease.
   Bob had mentioned my full name a few times, that being John Connor and seemed a wee bit surprised that I was a freshman rather than sophomore. By the end of the 20 minute interview I thought the interview went quite well. I thanked Dave and Bob and shut the door on my way out. Sitting waiting for an interview was John Conner, a sophomore in the class ahead of mine. I said hi gave him a double-look as I began to speculate that maybe that was his resume that they were referencing.
   About a month later I received a letter with a job offer! John Conner did not. Later that summer after I had got to know Bob Forbes, he would chuckle only like Bob could chuckle, and mention to me, "Connor you know you are the first freshman that we have ever hired." I would reply, well that is because you knew I was the one. Bob confided to me that Dave Wright said I was of great character and thought I was very professional in appearance and voice. As I looked at Bob, we both laughed as he asked me why I never wear that suit I wore at the interview!
   The interview I went to was not for me; it was for John Conner not John Connor. None the less Dave Wright and Bob Forbes hired me. Eventually after 3 summers of employment, Dave Wright and Kimberly Clark hired me full time as an engineer where I continued to chuckle with Bob Forbes every time we "ran into" each other.

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   1. 70

      letstalkabouteducposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      That's a great story! Thanks for sharing.

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3. 83

   MicahIposted 9 years ago

   I once had to fill out a simple form prior to an interview.  I waited until the day of the interview to print out the form, only to find out that my printer was broken!  I wasn't able to print out the form, and I ended up asking the interviewer if she could print it out.
   
   Needless to say I never received a call back!

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      letstalkabouteducposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Those technical difficulties get us every time!

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   Davlyn Portposted 9 years ago

   Well I can absolutely share your pain.
   I cried during an interview because I feel like I was getting attacked by the interviewer. He was asking me a lot of questions regarding the role and I couldn't answer him as I honestly wasn't prepared for the interview. Then the interviewer was telling me how all the "young people" that comes for an interview with this company was not prepared and he's tired of it.
   
   He literally waited for 30 mins for me to stop crying and the entire time he was just staring at me. After that, we continued the interview. The interviewer was nice after awhile but I was a little put off by his demeanour. He actually offered me a role in the company for being brave enough to sit through his rant.
   
   Needless to say, I didn't accept, partly because I was too embarrassed to face him again.
   
   There are going to be interviews that bring out some emotions in us.
   If the job was really meant or fated for you, it will be yours.
   
   Keep your head up!

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      letstalkabouteducposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks for the story and the encouragement! Interviews are such pressure-filled events; it's surprising more people don't cry.

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   breathingposted 9 years ago

   This is a very interesting experience from my end. I’ve faced many interviews in my life but this one is the best and of course most embarrassing too. Once I was giving an interview for a chief engineer post and I was answering the questions quite well. Suddenly one of the interviewers said that okay, we see that you are doing quite well with the questions but your job will depend on this task. Actually he was the head of the company which I didn’t know at that time. He asked me to do something instantly that will surprise them all. I was very much puzzled for quite a few seconds but instantly delivered by slapping that particular boss of mine!!! Yeah, you heard it right I slapped him at his face!!! For a moment all the members of the board were stunned and started to talk in a bad manner to me. But the head stopped them immediately and to my surprise he said that he was happy!!! He wanted to test my performance in spontaneous situations and I’ve passed with flying colours!!  He immediate hired me and told the concerned person to type an offer letter to me. I was puzzled and ecstatic at the same time.
   I’ve heard many weird experiences during the interview but for instant embarrassment, this was my best experience!!

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   1. 70

      letstalkabouteducposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Wow! You wacky engineers! I'm glad you got the job.

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