Interview Nightmares - The other side

[MDXer]

Since this thread has picked up again, and in the spirit of thread654-844067 lets here some of the nightmares where you have been the interviewer.

"Shoot Me! Shoot Me NOW!!!"
- Daffy Duck

 

[fredericofonseca]

Hum. Not many to tell.

One case interview booked for 11:00. Guy shows up at 11:30.

- Sorry I was kept on the traffic. (Places the mobile phone on the table!!).

I did still conduct the interview, even though the guy was acting somewhat disinterested.
When asked about salary expectations he quotes a value 1.5 times the normal salary for that position + plus accommodation and flights home twice a year.

I felt like pointing him the door! Just finished shortly after.




Regards

Frederico Fonseca
SysSoft Integrated Ltd

http://www.syssoft-int.com

 

[jrbarnett]

I was involved in interviewing potential degree placement students at a former employer. Because it was a placement post, we weren't expecting computer geniuses, but 2 (of 4) interviewees hadn't opened up a PC - and they had both completed the second year of a bachelors degree in IT.

I was conducting the technical test part of the interview, and it wasn't difficult, but some of the answers I received were absolutely priceless and it was difficult not to burst out laughing when I read their answers, or saw what they tried to do to our old P200 (I asked them to identify the "major components", not specifying what they were, and then to install a 3C509 network card into it).
Nobody got the fact that the CPU was hidden under the heatsink, the 430FX chipset with the word "Intel" on it was jumped upon as the CPU, the hard drive was often misidentified as the floppy drive.
When I asked them what I would need to do to add a CD-ROM drive to the system, none of them spotted the fact that there was no spare IDE connector, only 2 got the fact that the power cable would be required but they all got the fact I would need to take out the blanking plate.

John

 

[Dollie]

After watching from afar....

Hiring web developers.... a friend finally had to put the test machine on the desk next to him, and disconnect it from the internet. Too many candidates were trying to fake their way through the basic knowledge test and were actually googling for code.

Hiring basic office staff.... 10 candidates for one position. 5 don't even show up for the interview. 1 shows up and is asking about benefits (which we have an excess of) before they decide to fill out the app. The other 4 had severe marks on BG checks.

There may be a high degree of unemployment, and after seeing some of the hiring process, I'm inclined to believe that people want far more than they can offer in return.

 

[rphips]

About a year ago I was looking to hire a network engineer for my department I recieved over 400 resumes and out of those only 5 met the criteria.

So I had HR call them in for a interview - 3 of them stated to HR they couldn't come in for a interview right now cause they where going on vacation on monday (the interview was for friday before they where to leave)and they had to prepare for thier vacation THREE STRIKE OUTS

Of the 2 that came in for the interview - One came in with a Mohawk - Piercings all over his face and wearing a leather vest (with no shirt), shorts and combat boots - the other one the interview was going quite well until he stated - " I will need to make at least 50 dollars an hour cause I am suing my last company and for me to go back to work now it would have to be worth my time."

Needless to say I gave up looking and turn the company in a different way, we outsourced our Web Site - email- and dat processing server.




bob

"ZOINKS !!!!!"

Shaggy

 

[Zelandakh]

I had a guy with 33 spelling and grammar mistakes on his CV.

Insisted on using softwear, hardwear and programmes throughout the CV. So funny I nearly had to interview him. Nearly.

Another guy claimed to have trained 300 tech support staff in his company. Not users, but tech support. When asked to print a page from a well known application, was unable to do so. Had to get him back a second time just to see if he really was as bad as all that.

If I had a dollar for all those doing unofficial tech support for their company so it doesn't go on their CV...

<signature for rent>

 

[SQLSister]

I interviewed one poor man who absolutely could not say a single positive thing about himself. It was the most pathetic thing I ever witnessed. Made us want to pull him out into the hallway and explain to him that the purpose of an interview was to sell himself to us.

Another really arrogant type told us he would use manipulation to get his way and that his intention was to be the boss of everybody in the room. He was actually surprised we didn't hire him.

Then there was the woman who thought that the reason she should be hired for a big promotion was that she needed the money. Not a word about what we would get for that money though.

Then there was the guy with 2 years of work experience who somehow managed to put together a 10-page resume including his martial status, hobbies and a full page picture.



Questions about posting. See faq183-874

 

[Tarwn]

But I always include my martial status on my resume...and my picture...wait a minute...

_{01000111 01101111 01110100 00100000 01000011 01101111 01100110 01100110 01100101 01100101 00111111}
The never-completed website:

http://www.tiernok.com/

 

[chiph]

Actually, you'll see photos on a lot of European CV's (resumes to us Americans!), as well as religious affiliation, height and weight. I think some of the Asian countries tend to do that too.

When we get one of those, we have the HR person black out or remove those parts before the CV gets passed to someone who will be doing the interview.

Chip H.


____________________________________________________________________
If you want to get the best response to a question, please read FAQ222-2244 first

 

[ecobb]

At my previous employer, we were interviewing for an opening as an Assistant ColdFusion Developer. Just a basic entry level position requiring little experience. I distinctly remember one gentleman that applied for the job. He had been a customer of ours for some time, he was an extremely arrogant fellow and was also considered somewhat of a crook. No one at our office liked him, and he and I had "butted heads" on several occasions. When he found out that I was doing the interviewing/hiring for this position, he completely bypassed me and started calling/emailing my boss about the job. My boss quickly directed him back to me and informed him that I was the one he would have to talk to if he wanted the job, since I was the one he would be working for.

So, he finally sent me his resume. Here's the best part, when I got his resume he said he was applying for the "Senior Software Program Coordinator and Analyst" position. What the Hell is that? Hello?? We had advertised for an entry level web development position, and this guy comes up with that! It gets better...he had a two page cover letter describing in detail what that position was, what it would require, and how he would be perfect to fill it! He also wanted a 6 figure salary when we were only offering $12-$14 per hour.

Basically, this guy created a position (salary and all!) at our company and expected us to hire him to fill it. He knew none of the programming languages we used, he nothing about our database systems, actually he didn't even know basic networking!

He got mad and complained to my boss because we never called him up for an interview. That's OK, everyone in the office got a good laugh out of his resume, we posted it on the board in the break room!


Hope This Helps!

Ecobb

&quot;My work is a game, a very serious game.&quot; - M.C. Escher

 

[fredericofonseca]

And speaking of EU CV's.

In some countries the standard CV would start

I am the son/daughter of A and B, who lived in, and did Z.
I went to school at Y .....

By the end of the first page you would know more about his/hers family and places he lived on than anything else!!


I think Croatia or near by used to be like this. Things are changing though.

Regards

Frederico Fonseca
SysSoft Integrated Ltd

http://www.syssoft-int.com

 

[rosieb]

We always used to leave candidates with our receptionist for 10 minutes.

By the end of that time she always had a full personality analysis (and usually got information that would never have come out in a formal interview) - amazing how some people treat "unimportant" staff.

After a year or so, she had effective power of veto. I seriously wouldn't appoint without her input, and so often she found areas (good and bad) that warrented investigation during the interview.

Rosie
"Never express yourself more clearly than you think" (Niels Bohr)

 

[lionelhill]

Actually I'm really pleased you do that, because viewed the other way round, if I find I dislike the receptionist in a place, the chances are I'll be uncomfortable with every one else.

It's often much easier to find out about a company and its attitude from those you're not officially talking to. Interviews are so often very impersonal and a bit intimidating; it's hard to break the ice and talk/listen about things which are mutually important.

 

[SQLSister]

Rosie, I've done that too. Unfortunately it depends some on the quality of the receptionist. We went through a period here where we had a new receptionist every couple of weeks (at least 3 of them left at lunch and didn't return). I wouldn't have trusted the judgement of any of them. But a receptionist whose stayed around a while and who has shown she can be discreet, I do that. You really can tell alot about people by how they treat the less senior employees.

Our current receptionist, I would probably ask her opinion if we were interviewing. We've been feeding her lots of tasks anyway like web site testing and cleaning up some data so we can import it into the database. She's definitely a cut above the last few receptionists we've had.

Can I go on a rant now about how hard it is to hire a good receptionist. Most of them seem to resent having to answer the phone and greet people. Just what is it they expect a receptionist is supposed to do anyway?

Questions about posting. See faq183-874

 

[LesleyW]

rphips - you've got to see today's Dilbert strip -

http://WWW.Dilbert.com...

I think Scott Adams has been reading this thread!

 

[lionelhill]

SQLSister, no, no, no, you're misunderstanding, I can vouch for that... My wife is an ex-receptionist who's given up looking for jobs. She's very good at answering telephones, greeting people, and has a natural talent for knowing everybody by sight (or voice) even if she's only seen them once, from behind, in the dark. She's even polite, professional, discrete, and not averse to alternative office duties when required.

But many (most?) employers' requirement lists for receptionists seem to have more to do with age and hair-colour than professional skills.

(just don't get me on to agencies that lose a CV. Three times in two weeks...)

 

[rphips]

LesleyW

I just love Dilbert he is so close to what life is about.



bob

&quot;ZOINKS !!!!!&quot;

Shaggy

 

[Terpsfan]

My question to Rosieb is... if this receptionist was that insightful, why is she still a receptionist? Or did she move up the ranks?

 

[rosieb]

Omega36
[way off topic] That's a loaded question! What's wrong with being a receptionist? In a small company that often encompasses a multitude of responsibilities.

But to answer the question, yes, she was that insightful. She was very bright, but poorly educated and came from a background which did not encourage ambition, she had no desire for a career, she wanted a family. Last I heard, she had 4 kids and was deliriously happy.

She worked for the company for 5 years, was highly valued, well paid (really) and happy with the situation.

And, yes, I did ask her if she wanted career progression, she didn't.

Different people have different priorities. But lack of career ambition does not necessarily equal lack of intelligence.

Rosie
"Never express yourself more clearly than you think" (Niels Bohr)

 

[SQLSister]

lionelhill - sadly that is often true. Me, I've never understood why anyone would prefer decorative to competent.

For that matter I wouldn't pick a good looking guy over a smart one either.

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