Awkward job interviews

[Speedy]

Re: Awkward job interviews

If I am not hiring you from a lower level team to my team (within the company), or hiring you based on a referral I get from someone I trust, there is a 99% chance you aren't considered for the job.

Notice I didn't bring up "experience" or "college degree", or interview quality. While those things are all important, and they are boxes to check, its all about who you know, and who is willing to tell someone to hire you. Certainly in some fields it is different, actually in a lot of fields it is different, but most times Ill say it comes down to who you know/who you impress.

I don't want to take away from the thread but I think this can provide a good discussion. Objectively speaking, Healy, isn't this lessening the talent pool of your team? I'm not a manager myself (primarily because I hate drama and people are always full of it!) but I always felt the "little guy" doesn't get considered because of a lack of experience/qualifications or doesn't have the right connections.

I get it...there are certain requirements from a candidate...but I feel like there are a lot of people that could do SO much more than their current job but just don't get the opportunity because of a lack of credentials or people in high places. I'm not ousting you (please don't take it as such)...I'm just curious of your thoughts behind it - perhaps you've been burned too many times or there are other reasons?

[HealyMonster]

Re: Awkward job interviews

I don't want to take away from the thread but I think this can provide a good discussion. Objectively speaking, Healy, isn't this lessening the talent pool of your team? I'm not a manager myself (primarily because I hate drama and people are always full of it!) but I always felt the "little guy" doesn't get considered because of a lack of experience/qualifications or doesn't have the right connections.

I get it...there are certain requirements from a candidate...but I feel like there are a lot of people that could do SO much more than their current job but just don't get the opportunity because of a lack of credentials or people in high places. I'm not ousting you (please don't take it as such)...I'm just curious of your thoughts behind it - perhaps you've been burned too many times or there are other reasons?

Yeah, I don't disagree with you, at all. The issue comes when projecting performance. Most of the time I am trying to hire someone I know from day 1 can fit in, contribute, learn, and not be an issue more often than not. The best way I can hedge my bet with those things is to dip into my network and hire someone that is recommended from those people as they know them, worked with them, and can give me the info about the person that I cant find on a resume or linked in.

I would absolutely love to find a diamond in the rough, the rudy rudiger type who has been overlooked time and again, and then I give them their shot and I look like a genius.

My biggest fear is the guy the OP interviewed, keeping it together for the interview, I hire them, and they show up day 1 and act like he did in the interview. With HR being HR, Im stuck with that guy for 6 months or longer as you cant just fire someone unless they do something thats a fireable offense. The chances of that happening are slim from a referral or someone who is a mutual friend/ former colleague that will vouch for them.

[slickdtc]

Re: Awkward job interviews

I had the same questions as Speedy. I've never been in the position to hire someone so I don't know that side, and clearly it's not easy to identify good candidates. But how much can a past employer give you on a person? Couldn't you get a feel for if a new hire will be a problem based on how they acted at their previous job?

If anything, a past employer would seem to be more honest considering they're losing a person then someone who might be friendly with a prospect, therefore giving you a skewed view even if you are trusting of the source of information.

[HealyMonster]

Re: Awkward job interviews

I had the same questions as Speedy. I've never been in the position to hire someone so I don't know that side, and clearly it's not easy to identify good candidates. But how much can a past employer give you on a person? Couldn't you get a feel for if a new hire will be a problem based on how they acted at their previous job?

If anything, a past employer would seem to be more honest considering they're losing a person then someone who might be friendly with a prospect, therefore giving you a skewed view even if you are trusting of the source of information.

You can't really call a company about an existing employee. If you applied for a new job, you most likely aren't going to tell your boss, and if the company you applied at a job to starts calling your current company it can create all sorts of drama.

Previous co workers is a different story. It's more like "I worked with Jim at such and such company, high performer looking to make a move" I will get their resume and interview them. Obviously I'd have more questions about the person but in a nutshell that's how alot get hired. Or at least get highly considered.

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[DJ]

Re: Awkward job interviews

Has anyone ever walked out of an interview before it was over? I came close a couple of times, but could never bring myself to do it, even knowing that if I was offered a job I wouldn't accept.

[Herky]

Re: Awkward job interviews

Has anyone ever walked out of an interview before it was over? I came close a couple of times, but could never bring myself to do it, even knowing that if I was offered a job I wouldn't accept.

I did once back in 2006. I was in sales then and was interviewing for a ad sales position with a local entertainment oriented newspaper. It was well known in the area and was pretty popular. Anyway I meet with the sales manager and the chief editor of the paper. The sales manager loved me and she responded well to my answers but the editor just stared at me. Then when it was his turn to ask me some questions he asked why I wasn't at my previous job. I had a lot of success there but they had downsized and went from 4 sales people to 1. They kept the guy with the most experience and he was really good. He asked why I was out of a job if I did so well there and started to question if I lied on my resume. After a few attempts to explain I was met with interruption and then he questioned if I even graduated from college and the validity of my resume. I finally stood up and said this wouldn't be a good fit for me and thanked the sales manager for her time and shook her hand. I then turned to the editor and told him he should never be allowed to sit in interviews ever again and that I'd never work for someone so unprofessional. Then I told him his people skills were "****".

As I was walking down the sidewalk the sales manager ran out and said she was sorry about what happened. She said she really liked me and that she was the hiring manager and wanted a second interview. I politely decline and said as long as that guy was there I'd never work for them.

I really like their paper as it has a lot of good articles about local nightlife/places to eat/movies/bands...ect. But that guy was such a prick. He's still there to this day but their turnover is notorious for ad sales. Me walking out worked out well.

Only time I've ever even considered walking out. I was young and really ticked off about it since my track record in sales was good.

[dsallupinyaarea]

Re: Awkward job interviews

Has anyone ever walked out of an interview before it was over? I came close a couple of times, but could never bring myself to do it, even knowing that if I was offered a job I wouldn't accept.

No, but I can assure you...

I recall having close to a 3 hour interview while going to college for a PT job at Wendy's.

I'd have walked out on this after an hour.

[Caulfield]

Re: Awkward job interviews

I recall having close to a 3 hour interview while going to college for a PT job at Wendy's.

I'd have walked out on this after an hour.

well, they have to be sure you know where the beef is.

[mgoblue]

Re: Awkward job interviews

I've never walked out...I've usually gotten into interviews where I at least hold my own, and thankfully haven't had super unprofessional people.

There have been some where I know I don't fit for what they want, and those just tend to end a bit sooner because I don't ask as many questions and they get done sooner...

[NYJets]

Re: Awkward job interviews

One story..2 years ago I was interviewing at a high school. This is during the summer so not a lot going on, and the school is pretty empty. I go inside, go to the main office, and the office has a sign on the door that if you have a scheduled appointment to just go to the waiting room next door and someone will come and get you. I had actually interviewed here in the past and knew this was the routine. But this time it gets to be 10-15 minutes after my interview was supposed to start and no one has come. So I go into the office, secretary is talking to a parent or somone about football for like 5 minutes while I stand there awkwardly waiting. Finally she addresses me and I tell her I have an interview, and she goes to tell someone. I wait probably another 15 minutes, and then they come to get me. I interview with 2 people and they both seem completely disengaged. One of them was constantly staring off at the wall or clock whenever i was answering the other person's questions. Whole experience felt like they already knew who they wanted and I had no chance, which happens, but this was so extreme I kinda think they might have miscommunicated and didn't even intend to bring me into interview.


Just in general I hate interviews that are so impersonal, which teaching interviews at least often are. A big panel of people taking turns asking questions, with zero back and forth. I had one where I walked in and first thing they said is "so this interview is 30 minutes long, we have 18 questions to ask, we will let you know when there are 5 minutes remaining." I'm like I drove almost 2 hours to get here if I need 32 minutes give me 32 minutes.

This past week though I finally had one that was a much more relaxed atmosphere, and even though they had a list of preplanned questions, it felt more like just a conversation, with a lot of back and forth. It was twice as long as my previous longest interview but it didn't feel long at all. I blew them away and they started contacting my references that afternoon.

[WaitTilNextYear]

Re: Awkward job interviews

One story..2 years ago I was interviewing at a high school. This is during the summer so not a lot going on, and the school is pretty empty. I go inside, go to the main office, and the office has a sign on the door that if you have a scheduled appointment to just go to the waiting room next door and someone will come and get you. I had actually interviewed here in the past and knew this was the routine. But this time it gets to be 10-15 minutes after my interview was supposed to start and no one has come. So I go into the office, secretary is talking to a parent or somone about football for like 5 minutes while I stand there awkwardly waiting. Finally she addresses me and I tell her I have an interview, and she goes to tell someone. I wait probably another 15 minutes, and then they come to get me. I interview with 2 people and they both seem completely disengaged. One of them was constantly staring off at the wall or clock whenever i was answering the other person's questions. Whole experience felt like they already knew who they wanted and I had no chance, which happens, but this was so extreme I kinda think they might have miscommunicated and didn't even intend to bring me into interview.


Just in general I hate interviews that are so impersonal, which teaching interviews at least often are. A big panel of people taking turns asking questions, with zero back and forth. I had one where I walked in and first thing they said is "so this interview is 30 minutes long, we have 18 questions to ask, we will let you know when there are 5 minutes remaining." I'm like I drove almost 2 hours to get here if I need 32 minutes give me 32 minutes.

This past week though I finally had one that was a much more relaxed atmosphere, and even though they had a list of preplanned questions, it felt more like just a conversation, with a lot of back and forth. It was twice as long as my previous longest interview but it didn't feel long at all. I blew them away and they started contacting my references that afternoon.

Very different at the college level. A normal on-site interview for someone seeking a teaching/research position at a university normally involves making a presentation (either a mock lecture--with or without real, live students present--or a slideshow about their research with Q&A sesh), meetings over breakfast, lunch, and dinner, a comped hotel room, ~30 min breakout meetings with various 2-3 person faculty clusters of the department, and also a low key meeting with only students. It's a full day affair (sometimes a full weekend), hyper-personal and all about giving the candidate an opportunity to ask questions and feel us out as well. Very ebb and flow.

I find it interesting that any interviewer would think he can get to know you through basically grilling you with stock questions while a clock is running. Those tend to be more of a pre-screen/phone interview type deal for us. For the real interview, we are mostly looking for fit and enthusiasm (with credentials and suitability/viability mostly ironed out from submission of CV/references and the phone interview).

[allBthere]

Re: Awkward job interviews

One of my best friends at a really important interview said something while he was in the office and the manager was pulling up things on his computer and not loving the lack of a back and forth.

My friend passionately said: "I just love coke"

lol

he was holding a can of it - but obviously it sounded embarrassing AF

still got the job though!

[Majingir]

Re: Awkward job interviews

I find it interesting that any interviewer would think he can get to know you through basically grilling you with stock questions while a clock is running. Those tend to be more of a pre-screen/phone interview type deal for us. For the real interview, we are mostly looking for fit and enthusiasm (with credentials and suitability/viability mostly ironed out from submission of CV/references and the phone interview).

Interviews are just so unnatural. Outside of a job interview, when do you ever have conversations like that?

And I hate interviews too because the entire interview basically has to be all about you. I've always been taught in life to never be conceded and constantly talking about myself or anything like that. But when it comes to interviews, you're basically supposed to make it all about yourself the entire time. That, combined with you having to be the one dominating the conversation the entire time, it's just something I can't really do. How I speak in real life vs how I'm expected to speak in an interview are like being 2 different people.

[WaitTilNextYear]

Re: Awkward job interviews

Interviews are just so unnatural. Outside of a job interview, when do you ever have conversations like that?

And I hate interviews too because the entire interview basically has to be all about you. I've always been taught in life to never be conceded and constantly talking about myself or anything like that. But when it comes to interviews, you're basically supposed to make it all about yourself the entire time. That, combined with you having to be the one dominating the conversation the entire time, it's just something I can't really do. How I speak in real life vs how I'm expected to speak in an interview are like being 2 different people.

Well, an interview is a unique interaction for a unique type of situation. When do you dress like at a wedding, other than when at a wedding? When do you do the things you do at a wake/funeral other than when you are at one? I think having unique responsibilities for unique situations is ok. The variety of life.

As for the personality part--the trick is not to see it as you needing to be 2 different people. If you can't get the job by being yourself (perhaps a slightly cleaner, overdressed, and more prepared version of oneself anyway), then you might be in the wrong industry or it might be a poor fit.

One art of the interview is to make it into a conversation whenever possible. Ask good questions (made possible through researching the position/company/organization beforehand). Take a breath. Try to find common professional interests, but don't pander. Express your interest and how you'd fit in. There should be back-and-forth except for how the most inexperienced and rigid of interviewers go about it. A lot of the structure of an interview is a proxy for determining how you would interact with potential colleagues. You can't really run away from that--the vast majority of jobs involve dealing with people in some form or fashion. And nobody is looking for perfection, because everyone knows what it's like to be on an interview.

Your interviewer is not just grading you on answers to questions, nor does she want to hear your life story/have it necessarily be "all about you." Remember, you should be assessing them just as much as they are trying to figure you out. Ultimately a new job is a mutual agreement, even though it might seem like the company/organization holds all the cards and you are on trial. It's best not to perceive it like that.

[tonibeatty]

Re: Awkward job interviews

I always experience a different kind of interview. Some are very funny and some are very serious kind of. In last interview I was finding how the interviewer is liking like.