Job interviews - your experiences - Page 7

**haldane4** · August 14th, 2014, 11:12 PM

The worst job interview I had was for an entry level admin position at the university from which I'd graduated ten years before. I dare say they weren't impressed with my progress during the intervening years, but I was even less impressed with myself, so the whole thing was a punishing session.

It's been a number of years since I had a job interview and I've changed a good deal during that time - I'm almost tempted to apply for something just to see how I would handle an interview now.

**KingKeigh** · August 16th, 2014, 03:22 PM

I've been on my share. I've been on roughly 28 that I remember. Of those, I was hired for 18 of them. Not a bad track record but then that's not exactly speaking for the quality of the jobs either.

I tend to do well on job interviews as far as presentation and confidence. Im always ten minutes early at least. I have no problem putting on a suit. (It's amazing how many applicants show up in a jean jacket, khaki pants, a wool tie (or none at all) and duck shoes). I try to always know not only what the company does but their general history. I try to maintain eye contact with the interviewer and remember names and titles (not always my strong suit if there are several interviewers).

My weak spots are when Im asked what my goals are or why do I want to work for this company. You just know they don't want to hear you say "I need a job to get these fucking bills off my back and so my old lady doesn't leave me". But that's generally been my goal for many of the jobs I've had. My career is (should be) professional musician and I've done it on-and-off on many occasion but often I end up having to go back to the 9-5 world. So I try to come up with some cocky stock answer to give such as "I'm looking to help you make your company better". Or "yes, I've always wanted an adventurous and lucrative career in the taxi cab industry".

My other weak spot during interviews is when they ask if I have any questions. Countless advice columns well tell you it's a mistake to not have any questions to ask. They say asking questions shows you're really interested in the job. The only questions I can ever think of is "when can I start?", "how much does this job pay?", "do I have to work weekends?" or "where's my desk?"

**SanteeFats** · August 16th, 2014, 06:29 PM

I admit I was very blessed. I got out of the service and had an interview for one company and they hired me. I then had my second and last interview. It must have gone pretty well because I not only got the job was with them for 30+ years.

elf4736 · August 16th, 2014, 11:32 PM

At the age of 54 I interviewed for a position at a collage bookstore. The interviewer asked me what my
five year plan was. I told her it was to still be alive. She was not amused and I did not get the job which is
fine. I don’t want to work for people who don’t have a sense of humor, which now a days seems to be
almost everyone, at least here in the states.

**exfarmer** · February 28th, 2016, 09:46 PM

Eleven days ago I had an interview for a job delivering prestige cars (trade plate driver) things went so well that the two guys holding the interview said that they would be recomending me for a position, the next day I got a formal offer. The company will supply me with a company credit card to pay for all food, fuel, travel costs etc, a mobile phone and any other equipment needed. Also I get to drive the expensive motors.

Two days after that interview I had another at a courier company, that one went OK too. This was on the Friday, the manager offered me a trial going out with a driver for the day on Monday then after that was sucessful a job starting on the Tuesday. Did the job for a few days but found it a bit too much, up at 4am, 40 min drive to work, help unload a lorry and sort all the parcels for my route, load the van and then another 30 to 40 min drive to start delivering. Deliver/collect all the parcels then return to the depot for about 5:30 pm then spend an hour unloading and sorting vans. Get home around 7:15.

Was so tired after three days I lost control of the car on the way home and almost spun the car on the motorway. I've now quit that job and am pushing forward with the trade plate position.

**Meini Again** · February 28th, 2016, 10:50 PM

Thankfully, this is not my experience, but that of an old colleague, now ex-pat in Thailand.

He'd gone for an interview, weeks after applying for the vacancy in the audit/finance section of one of our local hospitals. After the usual NHS wait he was sent to a room and a nurse asked him to undress and put on one of those open-backed smocks.

He thought they were doing the "medical" first.
A small Asian doctor came in, asked him to remove the smock ~ he did ~ there was 10% unemployment under Thatcher at that time ~ a job was gold dust, the doctor walked around my naked, embarrassed mate and said
"You are obviously not 6 months pregnant"

He said he went to Hospital for throat/lung checks a couple of times after that "interview", but managed to transfer the appointments to a separate NHS trust in Coventry.

mixerdlb · February 29th, 2016, 11:14 AM

I once interviewed for a commissioned chemical sales position. The interviewer walked into the room, said "you look OK, when can you start?" Nothing to lose, I guess. I didn't take the job.

**Oswald** · August 29th, 2017, 01:30 PM

A month ago I went for an interview for a cashier with a Credit Union. I thought it went very well. The young lady (about mid-20's) who interviewed me was bubbly and gave off all the indications that I was a cert for the post. She told me that all they (the Credit Union) had to do was to contact my references which I'd previously given them. Once they had received the (presumably positive) response from my references I'd be offered the job.

Anyway, many weeks passed by and I didn't hear a squeak back from this Credit Union about the vacancy. So this morning I contacted my references only to discover that the CU have not contacted them! I've therefore come to the conclusion that the personnel officer I had the interview with lied to me!

I'm furious.

banquomerc · August 30th, 2017, 04:01 PM

I agree totally with elf4736 above; a lot of humorless successful people out there. They have a cold sense of humor often-loaded and limited at the same time. I would say in small town America, job openings are often filled before interviews happen by political manipulations and insider work (in my recent experience crooked bosses and a paid-off union). As my father did, I still travel to keep good pay and a sense of pride in not having to stroke the "man" or woman to keep in favor.

**rosestone** · August 30th, 2017, 05:02 PM

I had a job interview when I was 17 or 18 for a lowest-of-the-low position at an insurance company, and the bloke interviewing me, first thing he did was criticise me for not shaving 'properly' because I had some stubble on my cheek, then he dropped the classic "You have to have a great sense of humour to work here, I certainly do" line, then proceeded to display nothing of the sort, and talked about himself, and what he did to get started when he was my age, how enthusiastic he was, how everybody praised him because he was so eager etc. For 20 minutes. I don't think I said more than 10 words in the entire interview.

Didn't get the job, which was extremely fortunate, because I was desperate enough at the time that I would've taken it.

August 14th, 2014, 11:12 PM	#61
haldane4 Vintage Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: 1977 Posts: 598 Thanks: 3,187 Thanked 7,055 Times in 592 Posts	The worst job interview I had was for an entry level admin position at the university from which I'd graduated ten years before. I dare say they weren't impressed with my progress during the intervening years, but I was even less impressed with myself, so the whole thing was a punishing session. It's been a number of years since I had a job interview and I've changed a good deal during that time - I'm almost tempted to apply for something just to see how I would handle an interview now. __________________ First you dream, then you die.

August 16th, 2014, 11:32 PM	#64
elf4736 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 178 Thanks: 519 Thanked 2,735 Times in 166 Posts	At the age of 54 I interviewed for a position at a collage bookstore. The interviewer asked me what my five year plan was. I told her it was to still be alive. She was not amused and I did not get the job which is fine. I don’t want to work for people who don’t have a sense of humor, which now a days seems to be almost everyone, at least here in the states. __________________ You fool! You fell victim to one of the classic blunders - The most famous of which is "never get involved in a land war in Asia" - but only slightly less well-known is this: "Never go against a Sicilian when death is on the line"! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Ha ha ha...

February 28th, 2016, 09:46 PM	#65
exfarmer avvie pic by Estreeter Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Essex, England Posts: 13,737 Thanks: 109,422 Thanked 182,681 Times in 13,045 Posts	Eleven days ago I had an interview for a job delivering prestige cars (trade plate driver) things went so well that the two guys holding the interview said that they would be recomending me for a position, the next day I got a formal offer. The company will supply me with a company credit card to pay for all food, fuel, travel costs etc, a mobile phone and any other equipment needed. Also I get to drive the expensive motors. Two days after that interview I had another at a courier company, that one went OK too. This was on the Friday, the manager offered me a trial going out with a driver for the day on Monday then after that was sucessful a job starting on the Tuesday. Did the job for a few days but found it a bit too much, up at 4am, 40 min drive to work, help unload a lorry and sort all the parcels for my route, load the van and then another 30 to 40 min drive to start delivering. Deliver/collect all the parcels then return to the depot for about 5:30 pm then spend an hour unloading and sorting vans. Get home around 7:15. Was so tired after three days I lost control of the car on the way home and almost spun the car on the motorway. I've now quit that job and am pushing forward with the trade plate position. __________________ I no longer have time to upload videos, sorry.

August 16th, 2014, 03:22 PM	#62
KingKeigh Vintage Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Southern NJ Posts: 514 Thanks: 1,834 Thanked 6,538 Times in 512 Posts	I've been on my share. I've been on roughly 28 that I remember. Of those, I was hired for 18 of them. Not a bad track record but then that's not exactly speaking for the quality of the jobs either. I tend to do well on job interviews as far as presentation and confidence. Im always ten minutes early at least. I have no problem putting on a suit. (It's amazing how many applicants show up in a jean jacket, khaki pants, a wool tie (or none at all) and duck shoes). I try to always know not only what the company does but their general history. I try to maintain eye contact with the interviewer and remember names and titles (not always my strong suit if there are several interviewers). My weak spots are when Im asked what my goals are or why do I want to work for this company. You just know they don't want to hear you say "I need a job to get these fucking bills off my back and so my old lady doesn't leave me". But that's generally been my goal for many of the jobs I've had. My career is (should be) professional musician and I've done it on-and-off on many occasion but often I end up having to go back to the 9-5 world. So I try to come up with some cocky stock answer to give such as "I'm looking to help you make your company better". Or "yes, I've always wanted an adventurous and lucrative career in the taxi cab industry". My other weak spot during interviews is when they ask if I have any questions. Countless advice columns well tell you it's a mistake to not have any questions to ask. They say asking questions shows you're really interested in the job. The only questions I can ever think of is "when can I start?", "how much does this job pay?", "do I have to work weekends?" or "where's my desk?"

August 16th, 2014, 06:29 PM	#63
SanteeFats Super Moderator Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Santee, Ca Posts: 60,942 Thanks: 282,146 Thanked 815,714 Times in 60,990 Posts	I admit I was very blessed. I got out of the service and had an interview for one company and they hired me. I then had my second and last interview. It must have gone pretty well because I not only got the job was with them for 30+ years.

February 28th, 2016, 10:50 PM	#66
Meini Again Vintage Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: North Wales Posts: 3,637 Thanks: 32,358 Thanked 31,828 Times in 3,566 Posts	Thankfully, this is not my experience, but that of an old colleague, now ex-pat in Thailand. He'd gone for an interview, weeks after applying for the vacancy in the audit/finance section of one of our local hospitals. After the usual NHS wait he was sent to a room and a nurse asked him to undress and put on one of those open-backed smocks. He thought they were doing the "medical" first. A small Asian doctor came in, asked him to remove the smock ~ he did ~ there was 10% unemployment under Thatcher at that time ~ a job was gold dust, the doctor walked around my naked, embarrassed mate and said "You are obviously not 6 months pregnant" He said he went to Hospital for throat/lung checks a couple of times after that "interview", but managed to transfer the appointments to a separate NHS trust in Coventry.

February 29th, 2016, 11:14 AM	#67
mixerdlb Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 86 Thanks: 6,805 Thanked 1,818 Times in 84 Posts	I once interviewed for a commissioned chemical sales position. The interviewer walked into the room, said "you look OK, when can you start?" Nothing to lose, I guess. I didn't take the job.

August 29th, 2017, 01:30 PM	#68
Oswald Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 13,115 Thanks: 51,076 Thanked 282,672 Times in 13,805 Posts	A month ago I went for an interview for a cashier with a Credit Union. I thought it went very well. The young lady (about mid-20's) who interviewed me was bubbly and gave off all the indications that I was a cert for the post. She told me that all they (the Credit Union) had to do was to contact my references which I'd previously given them. Once they had received the (presumably positive) response from my references I'd be offered the job. Anyway, many weeks passed by and I didn't hear a squeak back from this Credit Union about the vacancy. So this morning I contacted my references only to discover that the CU have not contacted them! I've therefore come to the conclusion that the personnel officer I had the interview with lied to me! I'm furious.

August 30th, 2017, 04:01 PM	#69
banquomerc Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 439 Thanks: 12,925 Thanked 3,000 Times in 408 Posts	I agree totally with elf4736 above; a lot of humorless successful people out there. They have a cold sense of humor often-loaded and limited at the same time. I would say in small town America, job openings are often filled before interviews happen by political manipulations and insider work (in my recent experience crooked bosses and a paid-off union). As my father did, I still travel to keep good pay and a sense of pride in not having to stroke the "man" or woman to keep in favor.

August 30th, 2017, 05:02 PM	#70
rosestone Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 2,256 Thanks: 79,772 Thanked 37,957 Times in 2,261 Posts	I had a job interview when I was 17 or 18 for a lowest-of-the-low position at an insurance company, and the bloke interviewing me, first thing he did was criticise me for not shaving 'properly' because I had some stubble on my cheek, then he dropped the classic "You have to have a great sense of humour to work here, I certainly do" line, then proceeded to display nothing of the sort, and talked about himself, and what he did to get started when he was my age, how enthusiastic he was, how everybody praised him because he was so eager etc. For 20 minutes. I don't think I said more than 10 words in the entire interview. Didn't get the job, which was extremely fortunate, because I was desperate enough at the time that I would've taken it.