"Conversation should be pleasant without scurrility, witty without affectation, free without indecency, learned without conceitedness, novel without falsehood."
When I was eighteen I worked in a shop whilst I was at college. I worked there for about two years, and quite enjoyed it. I'm the kind of person that lacks motivation, I need a good kick up the backside to get started on something, but once I do, I like to do well at it. I don't like to fail, and I try my very best not to. Now this was a reasonably small shop, and I was given more responsibilty than I probably should of being given at eighteen. One day the Manager organised job interviews to hire a Saturday Girl/Boy. However, she had over booked herself, and asked if I would do one of the interviews. Argghhhh! I think I was more nervous than the applicant, and it was a really awful experience that I just hated. So now I know how the person feels who is giving the interview. I always wonder if they are as nervous as I was. Hehe...maybe not! I was reading an article in a newspaper today. The people in it explained some strange job interviews they had. I don't think I believe all of them, so I shall share them with you!

One was asked to play 'catch' while fielding complex questions

One was asked to complete a logic test which had no correct answer

One employer conducted an entire interview with his back to the applicant, as an attempt to intimidate them

Another employer put an applicant in a room with his pet dog, and said if the dog liked them they got the job

Applicants have being asked to comment on the perfermances of other interviewees while they were in the same room

A candidate was asked what they would do if the CEO came in with his flies undone. Experts say the correct answer would be to be upfront and tell him!

Someone was asked to bubble wrap a photocopier, to test attention to detail

So JU, now it's your turn. Tell me about your strange job interviews!

Comments
on May 26, 2006
I was once given the task of shipping a postage meter to one of the company's branch offices.

I didn't pay attention to detail when bubble-wrapping it for shipment.

Moral of the story: the company gets cranky when you break one of their postage meters.
on May 26, 2006
Cute article.

One of my least favorite duties when I worked in management was interviewing for new technicians.

I'm gonna flip this one around:

I had one guy say that he couldn't work between sundown Friday and sundown Saturday because of his religion even though the ad specifically stated that employees are required to pull on call duty on weekends and holidays.

One guy showed up for the interview with a sack from McDonald's and ate during the interview.

One guy walked in dressed quite professionally, had a great resume, and his first question was "what business is this company in?". (the name of the company included the words "cable" and "communications")

I had a guy bring his dog to the interview.

I had a guy bring his wife to an interview.

I had a woman show up for the interview in sweat pants and a Hooters t-shirt.

These are just a few off the top of my head.


As for the strangest interview I ever had, I was interviewing for a position as a technical trainer for a communications company. I had to prepare (in advance) and conduct a training session for the Regional VP and Regional Director of Technical Operations (whom I had known by reputation for years), both of whom had many more years experience than I had at the time, in the airport meeting room.

I thought it went very badly but in the restroom afterwards the Director, standing at the urinal next to me (how's that for a weird interview situation?) said that he was quite impressed. I got the job.
on May 26, 2006
I thought it went very badly but in the restroom afterwards the Director, standing at the urinal next to me (how's that for a weird interview situation?) said that he was quite impressed. I got the job.


Dare I ask what he was impressed with? *Smack on hand* I couldn't resist. Sorry.

I think my strangest interview was one on the phone. The Professor didn't care whom she hired, as long as it was a person who lived in our house. I picked up the phone and got the job.
on May 26, 2006
Dare I ask what he was impressed with? *Smack on hand* I couldn't resist. Sorry.


Immediately after posting I knew that would come up
on May 26, 2006

I thought it went very badly but in the restroom afterwards the Director, standing at the urinal next to me (how's that for a weird interview situation?) said that he was quite impressed. I got the job.

on May 27, 2006
Moral of the story: the company gets cranky when you break one of their postage meters.


Hehe, ahh at least it was a lesson learnt!

One guy showed up for the interview with a sack from McDonald's and ate during the interview.


Omg! I can't believe that. Some people have no sense!

I thought it went very badly but in the restroom afterwards the Director, standing at the urinal next to me (how's that for a weird interview situation?) said that he was quite impressed. I got the job.


Damn someone beat me to the punchline!

I think my strangest interview was one on the phone. The Professor didn't care whom she hired, as long as it was a person who lived in our house. I picked up the phone and got the job.


Now that's my kind of job interview!

Thanks for the comments xx
on May 27, 2006
Another employer put an applicant in a room with his pet dog, and said if the dog liked them they got the job

That is probably the best way. A lot of people look great on paper but stink at the job and vice versa. I guess that is why the smart companies do multiple interviews in hope of better odds.
on May 27, 2006
That begs the question...


No it doesn't
on May 28, 2006
That begs the question...did it 'come up' in the bathroom too?


Ha...I'm glad you had the guts to say that!

That is probably the best way. A lot of people look great on paper but stink at the job and vice versa. I guess that is why the smart companies do multiple interviews in hope of better odds.


I agree that there should be a variety of tests to see just how good someone is at a job. People perform well at different things.
on May 29, 2006
Haven't had any weird interviews, although the process to join the Australian Airforce was probably the longest process I've had to go through (2 1/2 days of questions, prodding, poking, standing, sitting, more questions, really bad food and early, early, early starts).
on May 29, 2006
although the process to join the Australian Airforce was probably the longest process I've had to go through (2 1/2 days of questions, prodding, poking, standing, sitting, more questions, really bad food and early, early, early starts).


I couldn't handle that. My lack of ability to pay attention to anything for longer than a minutes would get the better of me. Did you get in?
on May 30, 2006
Yeah, I spent nearly ten years in. I spent my 20's being a clean-cut serviceman then my 30's being everything but...
on May 31, 2006
Yeah, I spent nearly ten years in. I spent my 20's being a clean-cut serviceman then my 30's being everything but...


Hehe! That's the rebel in you huh!