Strangest person you have interviewed ?
Discussion
Not as strange as some but we interviewed for a site maintenance person. One word answers, no interaction, seemed bored by the whole thing. In desperation (his CV was really strong) I asked him about the novel he was writing according to his CV; he came alive, told us the whole plot about fraud in an industry which had huge potential for that sort of thing and he had worked in as well so there was probably some real world experience in there. On and on he went until I had to stop him with a 'that sounds really interesting, thanks' to get back to the interview and............back to two/three word answers! An improvement I guess.
He got the job though as our only other candidate gave a response of 'you're have a laugh aren't you?' to a reasonable requirement of the job role (to travel to another site, 45 mins away once per week in a vehicle provided by us and spend a full day there)
Didn't last though, he resigned after a year. Maybe a huge advance on the novel?
He got the job though as our only other candidate gave a response of 'you're have a laugh aren't you?' to a reasonable requirement of the job role (to travel to another site, 45 mins away once per week in a vehicle provided by us and spend a full day there)
Didn't last though, he resigned after a year. Maybe a huge advance on the novel?
I once interviewed someone who was pretty arrogant, mentioned that the job was a bit beneath his abilities to be honest and, at the end, said the salary range wasn't enough so he'd be expecting more.
We always rang candidates back when we'd decided on the successful applicant. My boss (who interviewed alongside me) said 'I'm not sure what to say to X really. I can't really say we decided not to hire you as you came across as a w
ker'. 
We always rang candidates back when we'd decided on the successful applicant. My boss (who interviewed alongside me) said 'I'm not sure what to say to X really. I can't really say we decided not to hire you as you came across as a w
ker'. I have had some corkers, phone interview with a guy in the US who was having a fight with his wife and dog in the background, soon cut that one short. Latest one was an in person one with a chap who appeared to be off his face on coke. Told us how he liked to cycle around his local area dressed as Chewbacka. After he was dropped a really nice email explaining that he did not get the role he followed up with a series of emails slagging everyone off and saying the company would never make it. He has since reapplied for a couple of other roles!!!
I've never been the interviewer for standard, face-to-face interviews before. But I did do a handful of telephone interviews for IT contractors. I narrowed it down to 5 candidates, all had really strong CV's. 1 out of the 5 was genuine, knew his stuff and was pleasant to speak to. The other 4 ranged from just blatant lying to barely being able to speak/understand English despite their CV being immaculately presented.
One guy, when asked a technical question would pause for a good 30 seconds, before I'd follow up with "It's okay, we can move on to the next question" to which he'd reply "Can you repeat the question?" - So, I did... Only to hear him frantically typing in the background (obviously Google searching the answers), only to come back with some vague, completely off-topic answer which he'd regurgitated from a random article/documentation. The worst part was at the end of the interview when I gave him chance to ask me some questions on the role, he complained about the location and would only accept the offer if he could WFH 3 days per week and the day rate needed to be 50% higher! I had to hold back the urge to laugh/put the phone down...
It was painful to say the least... I'm glad I don't have to do this often, never mind face-to-face.
One guy, when asked a technical question would pause for a good 30 seconds, before I'd follow up with "It's okay, we can move on to the next question" to which he'd reply "Can you repeat the question?" - So, I did... Only to hear him frantically typing in the background (obviously Google searching the answers), only to come back with some vague, completely off-topic answer which he'd regurgitated from a random article/documentation. The worst part was at the end of the interview when I gave him chance to ask me some questions on the role, he complained about the location and would only accept the offer if he could WFH 3 days per week and the day rate needed to be 50% higher! I had to hold back the urge to laugh/put the phone down...
It was painful to say the least... I'm glad I don't have to do this often, never mind face-to-face.
On the flip side, I did attend an interview as a candidate once, many moons ago, in an sales based role.
Very strange interviewee, who had a nervous twitch that really got to me, I couldn't stop giggling and laughing.
He kept on going Hmm, Hmmm, under his breath every few seconds, coupled with a jerk upwards of his left shoulder.
Sort of a Harry Hill impersonator, and that's all I could see when I looked at him, I was in stitches.
I was almost in tears throughout the interview, in the end, half way thru, I had to make an excuse to visit the toilet.
I was outta there, straight out the door, into the car and off as quick as possible.
Very strange interviewee, who had a nervous twitch that really got to me, I couldn't stop giggling and laughing.
He kept on going Hmm, Hmmm, under his breath every few seconds, coupled with a jerk upwards of his left shoulder.
Sort of a Harry Hill impersonator, and that's all I could see when I looked at him, I was in stitches.
I was almost in tears throughout the interview, in the end, half way thru, I had to make an excuse to visit the toilet.
I was outta there, straight out the door, into the car and off as quick as possible.
Interviewed a girl years ago who, despite submitting a strong application and well written (in English), couldn't speak or understand a word of English. She literally did not say a single word, not even in whatever language she could speak. Whilst I was happy to cut it short and have a break before the next one, she took up a slot that someone else less stupid could've had which is a bit frustrating.
More recently, was interviewing a young nervous guy. We'd provided a glass of water for him and I was drinking water from my bottle, i.e. straight from the bottle, which I placed just next to my laptop in front of me. Towards the end of the interview, he'd run out of water so just reached out across the table for my bottle and poured himself some more. I put it down to nerves but found it quite strange behaviour.
More recently, was interviewing a young nervous guy. We'd provided a glass of water for him and I was drinking water from my bottle, i.e. straight from the bottle, which I placed just next to my laptop in front of me. Towards the end of the interview, he'd run out of water so just reached out across the table for my bottle and poured himself some more. I put it down to nerves but found it quite strange behaviour.
StevieBee said:
We were recruiting a team of people to work on a five month field project in East Sussex. Selected 10 for interviews - all with excellent CVs and suitable experience.
One lady turned up for her interview. Ran through the usual opening spiel. Asked her a question and she said nothing - absolutely nothing! Asked her another - again, nothing. I asked her if she was alright.....nothing. Just stared at me and my colleague. I double checked her CV to see if she was deaf or foreign - but no. I explained that an interview was a two-way thing and invited her to contribute something, anything. But she just stared at us. I asked if she was unwell, nervous...nothing!
I wrapped up the interview explaining that the job was public engagement so speaking was sort of a pre-requisite skill. She left and that was that.
Oddest interview I've ever been involved with!
That is rather bizare. Maybe she did have some kind of disability that Was'nt disclosed? One lady turned up for her interview. Ran through the usual opening spiel. Asked her a question and she said nothing - absolutely nothing! Asked her another - again, nothing. I asked her if she was alright.....nothing. Just stared at me and my colleague. I double checked her CV to see if she was deaf or foreign - but no. I explained that an interview was a two-way thing and invited her to contribute something, anything. But she just stared at us. I asked if she was unwell, nervous...nothing!
I wrapped up the interview explaining that the job was public engagement so speaking was sort of a pre-requisite skill. She left and that was that.
Oddest interview I've ever been involved with!
Interview for trainee accountants over the last decade:
One turned up and said she didn't like 'numbers'.
One spoke in a normal accent when arranging the interview over the phone, but then spoke in an American accent during the interview.
One said he had prior experience which had been left off his CV. Turns out the prior experience was bricklaying.
One turned up and said she didn't like 'numbers'.
One spoke in a normal accent when arranging the interview over the phone, but then spoke in an American accent during the interview.
One said he had prior experience which had been left off his CV. Turns out the prior experience was bricklaying.
I had a guy tell me he wasn’t really interested in the role he’d applied for and that he could run a company more successful than mine, but didn’t want to put in the capital. To be fair he had a couple of good ideas and decent industry experience, but I couldn’t get to the bottom of why he was sat in front of me.
I’d told the story in a ‘worst cv’s’ thread of a lady who’d included a photo keyring of herself with her CV. She was as bonkers as expected during her interview.
I’d told the story in a ‘worst cv’s’ thread of a lady who’d included a photo keyring of herself with her CV. She was as bonkers as expected during her interview.
When I interviewed for jobs I always asked candidates to tell me about the company they had applied to join.
All I was looking for was the very basics of who/where/why/what that could have been found by a quick Google.
This would utterly stump many of them, often they didn`t know the first thing about it.
I found it quite useful in sorting the wheat from the chaff on a few occasions.
All I was looking for was the very basics of who/where/why/what that could have been found by a quick Google.
This would utterly stump many of them, often they didn`t know the first thing about it.
I found it quite useful in sorting the wheat from the chaff on a few occasions.
I am strictly a lurker here but a recent applicant for a head chef role was an affable but portly mid 70s gent in an ivory blazer and panama hat. Like a sort of keith floyd acolyte.
Now, i have only interviewed perhaps twenty chefs so don't consider myself an expert, but I'm not sure that your (clearly true) SAS career, murder of your vietnam prison guards or close friendship with Tom Cruise was the most important career information to dwell exclusively on whilst applying for a job in a small seaside kitchen.
Also, in case you are thinking of reapplying, shellfish does actually go out of date and it isn't just "a fad".
Now, i have only interviewed perhaps twenty chefs so don't consider myself an expert, but I'm not sure that your (clearly true) SAS career, murder of your vietnam prison guards or close friendship with Tom Cruise was the most important career information to dwell exclusively on whilst applying for a job in a small seaside kitchen.
Also, in case you are thinking of reapplying, shellfish does actually go out of date and it isn't just "a fad".
pounana said:
I am strictly a lurker here but a recent applicant for a head chef role was an affable but portly mid 70s gent in an ivory blazer and panama hat. Like a sort of keith floyd acolyte.
Now, i have only interviewed perhaps twenty chefs so don't consider myself an expert, but I'm not sure that your (clearly true) SAS career, murder of your vietnam prison guards or close friendship with Tom Cruise was the most important career information to dwell exclusively on whilst applying for a job in a small seaside kitchen.
Also, in case you are thinking of reapplying, shellfish does actually go out of date and it isn't just "a fad".
Interviewing anyone who works in kitchens can be "interesting", delusional , fantasist, stoned, drunk or just flashing tits seems normal after a while.Now, i have only interviewed perhaps twenty chefs so don't consider myself an expert, but I'm not sure that your (clearly true) SAS career, murder of your vietnam prison guards or close friendship with Tom Cruise was the most important career information to dwell exclusively on whilst applying for a job in a small seaside kitchen.
Also, in case you are thinking of reapplying, shellfish does actually go out of date and it isn't just "a fad".
I once had an interview where I felt sorry for the Interviewer.
It was 1994 for context.
I was a strong candidate, and keen to move in, solely it has to be said because I felt the pay I was earning was taking the piss. He asked me what my salary requirement was. The advert had said competitive.
I said " I'm on £17K, I need £18k but I won't take less than £20K because I have The experience and skills that will save you far more than that, as we've discussed"
He went pale. And said "Well, you are already paid £2k more than me, so I am not sure how, I'd get that past HR"
To which I said "Your advert is a lie then? "
Thank God for recruitment consultants, who you can check the salary range with before you attend interview.
It was 1994 for context.
I was a strong candidate, and keen to move in, solely it has to be said because I felt the pay I was earning was taking the piss. He asked me what my salary requirement was. The advert had said competitive.
I said " I'm on £17K, I need £18k but I won't take less than £20K because I have The experience and skills that will save you far more than that, as we've discussed"
He went pale. And said "Well, you are already paid £2k more than me, so I am not sure how, I'd get that past HR"
To which I said "Your advert is a lie then? "
Thank God for recruitment consultants, who you can check the salary range with before you attend interview.
I've not interviewed that many people and as a small company our interview process isn't exactly structured.
We needed someone for telesales and had an applicant who had quite a sparse CV but it did mention he was the 'best telesales person I know'. Went through the usual questions about the company and what he knows about us, which he answered ok in a really strong scouse accent (which you can't discriminate against, right?)
Our Sales Director warmed to him immediately as he had the sales gift of the gab so we took him to the pub next door for a pint and a game of pool to try and get to know him better.
I was on the verge of beating him until he declared "we don't play the two shot carry rule, lad!"
I was so gobsmacked I agreed with him, he won, and to this day I'm still pissed off I didn't insist we did.
He's been with us a while now, will quite often be seen in the most casual clothes, feet on desk and phone in hand. Can't really argue as he can't half sell.
We needed someone for telesales and had an applicant who had quite a sparse CV but it did mention he was the 'best telesales person I know'. Went through the usual questions about the company and what he knows about us, which he answered ok in a really strong scouse accent (which you can't discriminate against, right?)
Our Sales Director warmed to him immediately as he had the sales gift of the gab so we took him to the pub next door for a pint and a game of pool to try and get to know him better.
I was on the verge of beating him until he declared "we don't play the two shot carry rule, lad!"
I was so gobsmacked I agreed with him, he won, and to this day I'm still pissed off I didn't insist we did.
He's been with us a while now, will quite often be seen in the most casual clothes, feet on desk and phone in hand. Can't really argue as he can't half sell.
Hammer67 said:
When I interviewed for jobs I always asked candidates to tell me about the company they had applied to join.
All I was looking for was the very basics of who/where/why/what that could have been found by a quick Google.
This would utterly stump many of them, often they didn`t know the first thing about it.
I found it quite useful in sorting the wheat from the chaff on a few occasions.
+1All I was looking for was the very basics of who/where/why/what that could have been found by a quick Google.
This would utterly stump many of them, often they didn`t know the first thing about it.
I found it quite useful in sorting the wheat from the chaff on a few occasions.
It's astonishing how many candidates do no research at all.
Dr Jekyll said:
Hammer67 said:
When I interviewed for jobs I always asked candidates to tell me about the company they had applied to join.
All I was looking for was the very basics of who/where/why/what that could have been found by a quick Google.
This would utterly stump many of them, often they didn`t know the first thing about it.
I found it quite useful in sorting the wheat from the chaff on a few occasions.
+1All I was looking for was the very basics of who/where/why/what that could have been found by a quick Google.
This would utterly stump many of them, often they didn`t know the first thing about it.
I found it quite useful in sorting the wheat from the chaff on a few occasions.
It's astonishing how many candidates do no research at all.
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