Interview Horror Stories from #JobHuntChat

Last night, the sixth #JobHuntChat proved to be wildly successful.  From 10PM to 11PM ET, the amazing chatters assaulted Twitter with over 1,400 tweets, coming from 200 contributers.  While each week has been fun, last night has definitely set the bar for future chats, and I wanted to share responses from the most popular question of the night.

@JobHuntChat – Q4: What are some interview horror stories from the recruiters or job seekers here in #JobHuntChat

Horror Stories From Recruiters/Interviewers

@LauraVezer – Q4 – I had a candidate take a call frm his wife, & 5 mins later she arrived w/burger & fries for him. “Mind if I eat this?” #jobhuntchat

@martymjm – Q4 too many I have tooo many!!! 1st one guy who fell asleep while filling out the application #JobHuntChat

@Dannuroo – Q4 I had the flatulence interview from hell #JobHuntChat

@Dannuroo – Q4 I have been offered ummm “other favours” for a job too #JobHuntChat

@sbrownehr – Q4: Horror story – asked a candidate to tell me about his most recent job – he stopped talking 24 minutes later !! Ouch ! #jobhuntchat

@caseylooney – Q4: I once had guy show up wearing shirt that said “I love insert female body part here” asking to fill out application. #JobHuntChat

@LauraVezer – Q4: Body odor so bad I had to excuse myself mid interview & put lip gloss in my nose to complete interview #jobhuntchat

@sbrownehr – Q4: Had a co-op student who had a naked picture of his girlfriend as cell phone background – he stared at it during the int. #jobhuntchat

@MsCareerGirl – Q4: Unfortunately, I had a bad experience getting hit on. I wanted to run away…It left me feeling devalued as a career woman #JobHuntChat

@radicalrecruit – Q4: I once had a candidate get so nervous he lost bowel control…that was not fun. #jobhuntchat

@lockard7 – Q4: This is gross, but the Interviewee was so nervous, he urinated in the chair. #jobhuntchat

@Blogging4Jobs – Q4: I had woman breastfeed in interview. #deadserious #jobhuntchat

@Dannuroo – Q4 had someone admit to just turning up so I would sign his social security form saying he was actively looking for work #JobHuntChat

@ChrisFleek1 – Q4: Had an interviewee start talking to herself OUTLOUD-she was giving herself a pep talk to answer the question I had asked! #jobhuntchat

@GCompass – Q4: candidate reeking of smoke / perfume when I have breathing problems, couldn’t sit through interview #jobhuntchat

@CornOnTheJob – Q4: One of my candidates told me he had a pain in his ass, and found out it was a cyst. Then said “ouch” #JobHuntChat

@martymjm – Q4 A few drunks, more than a few stinky ones, one who brought his kids INTO THE ACTUAL interview #JobHuntChat

@thenetconnector – Q4: Candidate asked me to hurry up with our interview bcause she left her child in the car WOW #jobhuntchat

@tlcolson – Q4: Candidate spoke no english and brought his mother to translate for him during interview. (Customer Service position) #jobhuntchat

@Dannuroo – Q4:  a colleague of mine asked the strengths Q and got a “I’m great in bed”

@caseylooney – Q4: I have also had a drunk applicant tell me that I could come to his house and ride his horses…. #JobHuntChat

@Le_Brenda – Q4: Candidate showed up wearing tight leggings, oversized t-shirt w/ lunch dripped down front & a Boa. #bankjob #JobHuntChat

@SeeKrisRun – Q4: Interviewed a perosn who told me that she had 29 cats & 15 dogs. Told me her cats have “Cat AIDS.” #jobhuntchat

@karla_porter –  Q4:  Me: So, tell me about yourself.. Candidate: I killed someone #JobHuntChat

@drivethruhr – Q4: Had an interview show up a few minutes late due to a DUI (alleged) on the way to the interview. #jobhuntchat

@robinschooling – Q4. The candidate w/ open fly and no undies #JobHuntChat!

@karla_porter – Q4 Me: why isn’t ur application complete? Candidate: Jumped off the bridge and lost my cell phone. #jobhuntchat

@robinschooling – Q4 the applicant filling out app (old days) who paused, put pen down and changed baby’s diaper desk #JobHuntChat!

@sbrownehr – Q4: Had a mom show up for her son to make sure it was a “nice place to work” before her son was allowed in the building. #jobhuntchat

@martymjm – Q4: Had a candidate fill out an Application as Batman, I wish I still had that app #jobhuntchat

@BillBoorman – Q4: The worst thing is interviewing somone who doesnt know why they are there or what they want #jobhuntchat

Horror Stories From Candidate/Interviewee

@MaryfKrueger – Q4: A person interviewing me told me in detail about her divorce #JobHuntChat

@WriterChanelle – Q4. One time I listened to my mother who insisted that my natural hair needed to be straight in order to get a job. #JobHuntChat

@BLKMGK01 – Q4: I got asked if it was very different coming to work for white fellas when I applied for a job. That was a bit deep… #jobhuntchat

@steve_campbell – Q4: Knowing you’re a great candidate but not being able to express it in a short interview is the worst. #jobhuntchat

@hgondo – Q4: My worst job interview was in front of a panel of people in a foreign language. I was sweating profusely by the end. #jobhuntchat

@coreycondello – Q4: I’ve gotten: “Woah, I was expecting a large Italian man with a high phone voice!” when I walked into an interview. (My name) #jobhuntchat

@hgondo – Q4: During one interview I was asked why I didn’t share his religious beliefs! It was surreal. #jobhuntchat

@SJOgborn – Q4: I once had an interviewer say “Wow, you’re tall!” Yes….yes I am…not a great talking point. #jobhuntchat

@JennSchooley – Q4: Also got splashed head to toe by speeding cars while on the way to an interview once. #jobhuntchat

@WriterChanelle – Q4: I yielded. A very humid day resulted in straight/curly hair that ended up looking very unkempt for the interview #JobHuntChat

@leannapelham – Q4: 1 resume, 10 references, 12 interviews & IQ Test to get a job counting wallpaper and dusting sauder #jobhuntchat

Some of these are absolutely hilarious, and almost sad because they have actually happened.  I want to thank everyone who participated last night, and I hope you’ll continue to join my co-moderators (@Blogging4Jobs & @MsCareerGirl) and I for future chats.

Which of the Interviewer stories were your favorite?  What about from the candidates?

Do you have suggestions for future chat questions?  Submit them here!