BellaOnline Forums Career Unemployment Interviewing horror stories?

It amazes me as a recruiter that inappropriate personal comments still find their way into interviewing conversations. I thought I'd share one of mine.

As I was about to leave at the end of a recent interview, the interviewer (male) said to me, "I hope you don't mind my saying so but you have the most beautiful teeth I've ever seen."

I thought the meeting had gone well and had been professionally handled by this individual up to that point. Even with my experience as an HR professional, I have to say I was dumbfounded by the inappropriate comment and very uncomfortable with it. So, I simply said, "thank you" (don't as me why...maybe a knee/jerk reaction?) and left the office. I never followed up with this individual and did not return his phone calls.

Anyone else have an interviewing horror story they'd like to share?

Renee,

I used to be a Job Developer and it was work!

Finding the jobs for people was easy. Placing people in the jobs was the hard part.

It still amazes me to this day, what people think is acceptable to say during interviews. He probably thought he was getting brownie points by complimenting you. <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

I loved doing that type of work, however. It's something so rewarding about a formerly unemployed client starting their first day of work! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I was trying to think, and I'm not sure that I ever had an awful experience. One guy I interviewed with had tons of cool little toys on his desk, and I ended up knocking one off while playing with it, but he hired me anyway <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Glad you never encountered such an uncomfortable situation like this. Interviewing is stressful enough as it is...and you found a boss w/a sense of humor too!

Thank heavens this kind of thing hasn't happened to me too often as an interviewee. I guess that's why this story sticks in my mind.

Now, as a recruiter, there have been LOTS of strange conversations but we'll save some of those for other topics of discussion!

Okay so I'm a little late joining this topic <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />
My baddie wasn't a normal interview. I was submitting my portfolio to several companies, hopefully for a commission, and I got one really awful response. All they sent back was a letter saying "call me when you get some talent" It broke my heart, and I very nearly stopped working because of that. Luckily I recovered <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> made some complaints to the right people, and got an official apology.

Hi Bella Family:

Do you have any "Interviewing Horror Stories" to share

Me, I hate waiting FOREVER for someone to finally come out of whatever office they are hiding in and "acknowledge" me. With the recession still with us, it seems that the job hunter no longer counts as a human being(lol). Oh well, I guess I will continue to WAIT on these folks...

Now your turn...

Thanks,