1. Jessica Harrington, marketing associate, Eastern Michigan University
“I interviewed a gentleman who looked great on paper but said two things during the interview that made me think, ‘Really ‘ When starting the interview, I asked him what his hobbies were, to lighten the mood. He replied, ‘I sometimes walk up to perfect strangers just to say hello. I also like to pick up trash if I see some when I’m walking around.’ After I asked him how the position would contribute to his professional goals and future plans, he replied, ‘My main goal is to be a rock star; this is more of a backup plan.'”
2. Jessica Simko, Career Branding Guide
“When your workload is heavy and you are overwhelmed, how do you handle the stress Candidate answer: I run in the bathroom and cry.”
3. Lisa Hall, human resources trainer and author of “Taking Charge of Your Own Health”
“I interviewed a senior engineer for one of our open positions. He demanded coffee and proceeded to spill coffee in his lap. Then he pointed to his groin area, laughed and said, ‘It looks like I wet myself!’ Needless to say, he didn’t get the job.”
4. Heather Lytle, senior partner, H&L Media Partners
“Without a doubt, the craziest thing I ever heard came from a candidate for an entry-level management position. He looked perfect on paper, so we scheduled a phone interview for 15:00. He answered the phone and when I introduced myself he said, ‘Hold on, I’m at a bar. Let me finish this shot and go outside.’ Amidst the noise of an active game of pool and a rowdy bar crowd, he slipped outside and told me, ‘You know what I’m a little drunker than I thought. Can we reschedule ‘ Needless to say, we did not.”
5. Zachary Z. Zguris, chief technology officer, Lime Design Inc.
“We always include a casual lunch or dinner portion during an interview to continue our discussions in a more informal manner. This candidate let their guard down, falling out of their ‘interview mode,’ during the friendly and casual meal-time discussions. They went so far as to share that they installed an illegal second network in their office with co-workers and would spend their afternoons gaming on the clock. They then went on to further share how regularly in the mornings and afternoons they would sleep at their desk during working hours. Bragging that they had never once been caught in either of these acts. Needless to say, this candidate was not hired.”
6. Cathleen Faerber, managing director, The Wellesley Group Inc.
“The most bizarre experience I ever had was regarding a candidate who was offered a position with my client. Because she had disclosed that she had a college degree, she was required to produce proof in the form of transcripts, diploma, etc. She told us that she was unable to produce the required documentation because her identity had been changed and that the information the firm was seeking was in her previous name. Due to safety reasons, she was unable to produce proof (in any name she had or was using).”
