Worst interview ever?

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   EternalTravelsposted 14 years ago

   So I just came back from one of my worst interviews. Every aspect of my resume was picked apart and attacked.  I have a university degree in Psychology prior to studying accounting - and this seemed to do more harm than good.
   
   I was also told I look 'argumentative' and like the type of person who would cause problems.  In reality - I'm shy and far more likely to cry than to ever start an argument!
   
   Ironically, I just spoke with the agency which set me up with this interview - and the company actually likes me.  Since I'm torn and in (almost) desperate need of money, live in a French city with very few English jobs, I did say I was still interested in this job.
   
   Any one else have any stories of bad interviews to share?

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   1. 68

      torimariposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Wow, what kind of interviewer was that? I'm glad they like you, but that sure stinks about how they treated you. Unprofessional.
      
      I haven't had a terrible interview...my problem currently is getting them, hehe.
      
      I guess my worse was for a job that told me I way overqualified for...I was like what?
      
      They even sent me a postcard saying how my skills were impressive but I was too qualified.
      
      I still am not sure how to react to this, hehe.

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         EternalTravelsposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Oo that's a tough one too!  Seems so unfair as well.  It's tough finding a job!!  And especially frustrating when they give you the 'overqualified' line.
         
         
         
         I just got a call to say I got the job & start tomorrow - we'll see how this turns out, if the scary boss is really a 'teddy bear' as HR tried to say he was!

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2. 83

   donotfearposted 14 years ago

   Sounds interesting. Maybe it's just their tactic for interviewing. But it's a negative tactic. That would make me run for an exit! Sounds like they were making a judgement on your character just by your appearance, though I doubt seriously you look "argumenative". That's ridiculous. Go for it honey...do your best....be pleasant. Show em what nice is!

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3. 59

   The Ropeposted 14 years ago

   Sorry you had such a bad experience - I agree that it just might be their interview tactics to see how you handle pressure but it still seems a horrible way to go about it.  Obviously you answered their questions to their liking though. 
   
   My last interview, everything was going great.  They liked me, knew I could do the job - said so many times.  We were setting up the location to get started (since it was a multi location position) and they found out I lived outside of the area.  They knew I was used to driving long distances for my jobs but they dumped me cold, on the spot.  Interesting, because my address was on my resume but they just didn't bother to notice it or bother to look up where my town was.  Never heard from them again.

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   EternalTravelsposted 14 years ago

   Thanks for the support and for sharing your story!

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5. 68

   Flightkeeperposted 14 years ago

   Well, since it's french, they do like to argue so being argumentative is not a bad thing in this case and the agency said they like you so it looks like it actually went well Good luck!

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   girly_girl09posted 14 years ago

   I once had an interview where one of the interviewers essentially accused me of lying!!! It was really awkard. And pissed me off. It was for an HR job and would've been the only job I've ever had outside of politics. Even still, they said my references and experience were fantastic, but this one guy kept accusing me that I'd eventually leave the company to return to politics. I kept saying no and he kept arguing that "there was no doubt in his mind that I would". Not sure if it was a test or if he hated republicans or what. I declined to go back for a final interview.

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   Wayne Orvisburgposted 14 years ago

   I had an interview that started with, "This is a high stress job, so I'm going to push your buttons and see how much you can take." By the end of it, I was ready to take the guy out to the parking lot. I have pretty thick skin and kept my cool, but inside I was ready to knaw on his skull. At the beginning he gave me six numbers to remember. He forgot about them but someone reminded him and I only remembered 4. It was wierd!

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   theirishobserver.posted 14 years ago

   I applied for a job as a handy-man once, they said can you do carpentary, I said No, can you do building, I said No, can you do Pluming, I said No, can you do electrics, I said No, They got really angry and said why did you apply to be a Handy-man when you have no skills, I said - I just live around the corner

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      Wayne Orvisburgposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      That's frickin funny!

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9. 59

   Greg Cremiaposted 14 years ago

   They were testing you. They got in your face and you handled it like a professional. Good work.

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10. 90

    IzzyMposted 14 years ago

    A friend of mine went for a job interview at MacDonald's in Benidorm - she thought to herself 'how hard can this job be? A Big Mac is the same in any language!'
    They asked her at the interview could she speak Spanish.
    'Si', she replied.
    They were about to give her the job, and then spoke to her in Spanish. It was obvious she didn't understand what they said, so they asked her 'thought you could speak Spanish?'.
    She replied, 'I can say si, no, buenas dias, gracias'.
    She didn't get the job. I wonder why? lol

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11. 60

    EternalTravelsposted 14 years ago

    Thanks for sharing! Sounds like I'm not the only one whose had these bizarre intense interviews! Also some entertaining interviews too

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12. 71

    wyanjenposted 14 years ago

    I don't go overboard, but when I'm interviewing somebody I'll try to make them a little uncomfortable.
    I'm not looking for a real answer when I ask a bizarre question, I just want to see how easy somebody gets freaked out.
    More importantly: whether a person will admit that they don't know something that really doesn't matter in the first place, or whether they will foolishly pretend that they do know.
    
    A tough interview is a sign that it is a good company to work for, IMO.
    

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