Dumbest things said in job interviews
August 28, 2009 by Sam NarisiPosted in: Assessing the right candidate, In This Week's E-Newsletter, Interviewing, Latest News & Views
We’ve all said some things we regret. But hopefully not while interviewing for a job, like these candidates.
Regardless of the role nerves play in interviews, some statements just make you wonder how candidates made it this far.
Here are 15 of the most memorable interview responses from real people, compiled by CareerBuilder.com:
1. Q: Why did you leave your last job?
A: “I have a problem with authority.”
2. Q: What are your hobbies and interests?
A: [He said] ‘Well, as you can see, I’m a young, virile man and I’m single — if you ladies know what I’m saying.’ Then he looked at one of the fair-haired board members and said, ‘I particularly like blondes.’”
3&4. Q: Do you have any questions?
A: “Can we wrap this up fairly quickly? I have someplace I have to go.”
A: “If I get an offer, how long do I have before I have to take the drug test?”
5. Q: Why should we hire you?
A: “I would be a great asset to the events team because I party all the time.”
6. Q: Why are you leaving your current job?
A: “Because I (expletive) my pants every time I enter the building.”
7. Q: Why are you looking for a job?
A: “Cigarettes are getting more expensive, so I need another job.”
8. Q: Why do you want to work for us?
A: “Just for the benefits.”
9. Q: What are your assets? (as in strengths)
A: “Well, I do own a bike.”
10. Q: What are your weaknesses?
A: “I get angry easily and I went to jail for domestic violence. But I won’t get mad at you.”
11. Q: When have you demonstrated leadership skills?
A: “Well my best example would be in the world of online video gaming. I pretty much run the show; it takes a lot to do that.”
12. Q: Use three adjectives to describe yourself
A: “I hate questions like this.”
13. Q: Tell of a time you made a mistake and how you dealt with it
A: “I stole some equipment from my old job, and I had to pay for its replacement.”
14. Q: Have you submitted your two weeks’ notice to your current employer?
A: “What is two weeks’ notice? I’ve never quit a job before, I’ve always been fired.”
15. Q: Random responses
A: “May I have a cup of coffee? I think I may still be a little drunk from last night.“
Tags: interview, job candidates, questions
August 27th, 2009 at 5:12 pm
Funny.
August 27th, 2009 at 7:53 pm
after the interview the candidate called me and asked me out for a dinner date.
August 27th, 2009 at 8:30 pm
My response to the request for a cup of coffee in question #15 would have been “Certainly, I’ll get it ready for you ‘to go’ “…..
August 28th, 2009 at 6:29 am
Many years ago job application asked for the Sex of the applicant.
A: Three times a week
August 28th, 2009 at 8:08 am
One of our candidates during an interview when asked what accomplishments she was proud of answered “Well, I went on birth control”
August 28th, 2009 at 8:40 am
Q11.
Again, this shows the lack of understanding of a new age. I know quite a few people that are heaving into online gaming and have seen them go on campaigns. It does require thinking, planning, allocation of resources, working with others to achieve a common goal, budgeting, and strategy.
Anyone not seeing that, like Carree Builders, is obviously missing out on possible great candidates.
One youth I know was actually offered over $5,000 for his character for he achieved such high levels. He would organize campaigns across multiple countries and languages. He, that I know of, was never defeated. He was 15 at the time and school was not challenging enough, so he found something that would allow him to to really show who he is.
I would have further questioned this person to obtain if he was just a ‘gamer’ or truly a leader.
August 28th, 2009 at 8:41 am
LOL heavy not heaving LOL
August 28th, 2009 at 8:58 am
I truly hope that Richard is kidding in his response/comment. If not and he is really serious about that nonsense, I am so embarrassed for him and sad for his employer. Wow, get a grip. Just because the “new age” has young men and women with their posteriors hanging out due to pants that are too big on purpose or cut to just above the crack, does not mean I want to see it at the office or have that example representing our company.
August 28th, 2009 at 10:03 am
I had someone tell me once they were fired from their last job for getting into a fist fight with another co-worker…. “but she started it”
August 28th, 2009 at 10:41 am
Q11.
A “new age” applicant would be foolish to assume that everyone understands things such as this. So if this online gaming thing is as valuable an indicator as you claim, then an astute “new age” applicant would prepare in advance a good way to describe it to pique the interviewer’s interest without just blurting out something that 98 people out of a hundred would assume is a frivolous activity not worthy of mentioning in an interview.
August 28th, 2009 at 5:36 pm
@JuliJo
It is obvious you do not understand the conversation. I am not talking ghetto kids as you are depicting.
@Mike
You are assuming that that was an exact quote, which never happens!! Nor did you hear the rest of the conversation, but what an uneducated person reported on.
How can anyone hire people without knowing generations?? So if an applicant said he was a very accomplished chess player you would dismiss this person on those grounds?? What foolishness. Would you not hire a chess player as a stock player? Very much a interesting match as chess is about pattern recognition and strategy.
You are simply taking something you don’t understand, or don’t like and throwing it aside.
“Well my best example would be in the world of online video gaming. I pretty much run the show; it takes a lot to do that.”
I am sure this person wanted to embellish on his gaming, and it would have been worth doing so depending on the job and the mannerism in which he was stating those facts.
September 11th, 2009 at 11:39 am
I agree with you, Richard. The last company I worked for hired a young man (also deep into video gaming) for a position requiring skills in logistics, and he has turned out to be the best employee in that position they have ever had in 15 years. Shows what can happen when we open our minds to the possibilities of the younger generation….
September 18th, 2009 at 10:08 am
Well, Richard, I must say if you think that the only young people who have their butts haning out are from the Ghetto – you need a reality check.
September 18th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
When I first read the quote about gaming, I thought about a candidate who told me that she was the “queen of Saturn’s seventh moon”–which is a very different circumstance than some who is a “gamer”. Additionally, depending upon the industry (i.e., technology, video, online media, etc.)–a person who is a gamer that would be a skill that is desired. Richard, you make a very good point and the chess analogy was very on target. I think sometimes we get so focused that we do not think outside the box (I know it is a cliche term, but it applies) and just make assumptions. I do a lot of university relations and college recruiting–and the younger candidates do have a different perspective–that does not mean it is right or wrong–just different. If I ignore this, because it is different, or because I think it is strange, I would have missed out on a lot (and I do mean a lot) of smart–really smart, talented “employees”.
October 5th, 2009 at 12:06 pm
@Jen, Ghetto was an inference to style, not location. Sorry you were confused.
October 9th, 2009 at 3:35 pm
A new employee was completing his new hire paper work. One of the sheets he was required to fill out was an “Emergency Contact Information”. On the line where it asked the phone number of whom we needed to notify in case of an emergency, he worte “911″.