We've all been interviewed for
jobs.
And, we've all spent most of those interviews thinking about what not
to do. Don't bite your nails. Don't fidget. Don't
interrupt. Don't
belch. If we did any of the don'ts, we knew we'd disqualify
ourselves instantly. But some job applicants go light years
beyond
this. We surveyed top personnel executives of 100 major American
corporations
and asked for stories of unusual behavior by job applicants. The
lowlights:
"... stretched out on the floor to fill out the job application."
"She wore a Walkman and said she could listen to me and the music at
the same time."
"A balding candidate abruptly excused himself. Returned to office
a few minutes later, wearing a hairpiece."
"... asked to see interviewer's resume to see if the personnel
executive was qualified to judge the candidate."
"... announced she hadn't had lunch and proceeded to eat a hamburger
and
french fries in the interviewer's office - wiping the ketchup on her
sleeve"
"Stated that, if he were hired, he would demonstrate his loyalty by
having the corporate logo tattooed on his forearm."
"Interrupted to phone his therapist for advice on answering specific
interview questions."
"When I asked him about his hobbies, he stood up and started tap
dancing around my office."
"At the end of the interview, while I stood there dumbstruck, went
through
my purse, took out a brush, brushed his hair, and left."
"... pulled out a Polaroid camera and snapped a flash picture of
me. Said he collected photos of everyone who interviewed him."
"Said he wasn't interested because the position paid too much."
"During the interview, an alarm clock went off from the candidate's
brief case. He took
it out, shut it off, apologized and said he had to leave for another
interview."
"A telephone call came in for the job applicant. It was from his
wife. His side of
the conversation went like this: "Which company? When do I
start? What's
the salary?" I said, "I assume you're not interested in
conducting the interview any further." He promptly responded, "I
am as long as
you'll pay me more." I didn't hire him, but later found out there
was no
other job offer. It was a scam to get a higher offer."
"Candidate said he really didn't want to get a job, but the
unemployment office needed proof that he was looking for one."
"... asked who the lovely babe was, pointing to the picture on my
desk. When I said it was my wife, he asked if she was home now
and wanted my phone
number. I called security."
"Pointing to a black case he carried into my office, he said that if he
was not hired, the
bomb would go off. Disbelieving, I began to state why he would
never be hired and that I was going to call the police. He then
reached
down to the case, flipped a switch and ran. No one was injured,
but I did
need to get a new desk."
