The first part of finding a job is trying to put yourself out there and send out resumes, requests, fill out candidate applications and contact anyone you would like to work for. Then the waiting game begins, and at this point, the most desirable thing is to get a call inviting you to a job interview.
A job interview is the time when you can not only sell your skills, but express your emotions and show your personality traits, demonstrating that you can get along with coworkers and you are willing to compromise when something doesn’t go your way. At the same time, it is the candidate’s opportunity to find out whether they actually want to work there, because during these conversations, they get a glimpse of what working at a company means.
Sometimes it becomes very clear that the company’s values don’t match your own, so you have the right to end the interview and to not waste your time. People on the internet had interesting experiences when it comes to job interviews and shared their stories.
If you would like to hear any more of them, Bored Panda has another list containing the ridiculous and really bad interviews people found themselves in where they needed to just get up and leave, which you can find here.
Read More: 30 People Who Walked Out In The Middle Of Job Interviews Share Why They Did It
#1 The Interviewer Was Constantly Checking Her Phone
the lady i was interviewing with would ask me a question then stop and look at her phone. after about the third time, i thanked her for her time and said something to the extent of “i value people who value my time, i’m sorry for whatever emergency you may have that you have to check your phone, but i don’t think this is gonna work” and walked out.
Image credits: [deleted]
#2 Interviewer Started The Discussion About Pay With “How Much Do You Need To Survive?”
Interviewing for a position with a newer residential construction company yesterday. For context, I have nearly 15 years in the building trades, and the position wasn’t clearly defined. During the interview I was asked about my skill set, and I answered honestly and confidently that all aspects of building a residence was in my wheelhouse. Comes the talk about salary. Interviewer asks me the worst possible starting question. “How much do you need to survive?” My response was along the lines of, “ And you wonder why the last three people you hired flaked on you?” You want quality, reliable, capable people? You pay for that. You want flakes? You pay them subsistence wages, and as soon as 10 cents an hour better rolls along, they’ll bail. Good luck” And I walked out. They have called me three times since then. I let it go to voicemail.
Know your worth and if you’re good at something, don’t do it for less than market value.
Image credits: Guyman-Realperson
#3 Candidate With 10 Years Of Experience Was Being Tested For Their SQL Knowledge (Programming Language)
When I had around 10 years of experience, in one interview, the interviewer asked me to write syntax of simple SQL statements. I thought he just want to see if I have experience in SQL and I wrote the SQL.
Again, next question is writing syntax of another SQL. I asked, what are you trying to test, whether I know syntax?
Interviewer: “Yes of course.”
Myself: “If you do not have any questions other than syntax, I believe, we may not be able to proceed with the interview”.
Interviewer’s face turned red and said “I decide what to test. Your job is to answer whatever I ask”.
I walked away.
Image credits: Aravind Akshan
#4 Interviewer Told The Candidate That They Don’t Hire Women Because Men Are Superior
I had moved to Fort Wayne, In. from the west coast with my fiance and living there for about six months. I was 21 years old and applied for an office job. There was a strange vibe as I sat in the reception area but I shook it off as being nervous. Finally, I was called back and sat down. The man who interviewed me kept asking me strange questions that didn’t pertain to the job. Suddenly he looked me straight in the eyes and told me that they did not hire “women” for the position and that men were far superior to girls. I got up walked out into the reception area and loudly announced to all the women sitting there waiting to be interviewed that they would never ever be hired due to the fact that the company is sexist. The women looked up shocked. Maybe they thought I was a sore loser until I told them to get up and look around especially in the work area and see if they could find one woman. Not one.
Image credits: Kristy Fleming
#5 Job Description Lied About Pay
Looking to escape my meh paying, order pulling job at popular auto parts company. Indeed ad says $25 per order, interviewer says customer pays $25 an order, we pay you $15. My response? “Why didn’t you say this in the ad on indeed? Also why would I leave a job for LESS money?” Walked out.
Image credits: BalancesHanging
#6 The Job Description Lied About What The Position Was
The people had advertised the job as an in-office management position with a reliable wage but were actually interviewing for a door-to-door salesman position with most of the pay being commission.
Image credits: [deleted]
#7 Interviewer Was Eating, Making Ridiculous Remarks As If They Didn’t Listen To The Candidate
More than once unfortunately.
First time, the man interviewing me was scarfing down his lunch and making rather ridiculous comments, such as saying I “left a job after only 9 months” when I made it clear that I had worked for a sole proprietor and my boss was killed in a plane crash. I took my resume back, said I wasn’t interested and left.
Second time, I had been called back for a 3rd interview. Each time, I had been asked super-specific questions. During the 3rd interview I realized they were just pumping me for information to solve their procedural problems and were not going to hire me. I was polite about it, but I told them if they needed further assistance I was going to have to be compensated and left.
Image credits: whatshouldIdonow8907
#8 Candidate Waited For An Hour And Nobody Showed Up
I didn’t even get as far as the interview.
I’d arrived about 10 minutes ahead; not too early, but with a polite and responsible margin. Then, I sat there for more than an hour past the scheduled time. Nobody came out to apologize for the inconvenience, explain the delay, or say how much longer.
I decided, right then, that I wanted nothing to do with people who would treat a job candidate so carelessly. If they’d act disrespectfully toward me, why would I think that conditions are any better for paid staff?
I told the receptionist that I was leaving, and I asked her to tell the interviewer how long I’d waited. I don’t know if the latter happened. I do know that I was proud to hold my head up and walk away.
Image credits: Callie Doggett
#9 Job Description Lied About The Position’s Responsibilities
I was looking for a marketing job and my recruiter sent me to a well known beauty retailer in Australia for a corporate role.
I received the job description ahead of time of course and I was excited. It would be a major role for me early in my career.
I got to the head office and was almost immediately asked my religion and values. Okkkkkk. I asked what that had to do with the position and the manager said that he was religious and was looking for someone with the same ideology. I said I wouldn’t answer but I didn’t have an issue with his faith as it shouldn’t come up at work. He then stated that the position was more a visual merch job (in FMCG retail this means stock person or someone who changes over the flags and tickets in store)
I politely said it wasn’t what I was looking for, and left. I reported them to the recruiter who removed them from the books.
Image credits: Rebecca Caldwell
#10 Interviewer Was Rude And Sexist
Not me, but a classmate.
When I graduated from Northwestern in 1982, they had an experienced lady running the placement and interviewing process. She held a little class telling us in detail what to do and how to fill out informational forms, like CV or resume. She seemed pretty severe and no nonsense.
We heard of a man from a tech firm who was interviewing a young female engineering graduate. She walked into the room at the appointed time, sat, and said”Hello.” He just sat there, looking at her, and said nothing. After five minutes of either plain rudeness, sexism, or what was supposed to be a stress interview, she got up and went to see the lady who managed placement, who came and collected the interviewer and told him to leave, and that he was banned from conducting any more interviews. She also wrote to his company to explain what happened.
Image credits: Jim Skelton
#11 Left Before The Interview Started Because They Heard The Interviewer Shouting At Another Candidate “Why Should I Hire You When I Could Hire Someone Cheaper In China”
Once I left before an interview. I could hear the interviewer shouting at another candidate, something like “why should I hire you when I could hire someone cheaper in China” in an angry, indignant, lashing-out tone. It seemed to me that the situation was intended to intimidate candidates and get them to work cheap, including arranging a situation in which they could hear this going on before they even went in.
Stood up, told the other candidate “I don’t think I want to work here” and left.
Image credits: Scott Willis
#12 Candidate Applied For A Full-Time Position But The Interviewer Told Them Only Part-Time Positions Were Left
I applied for 40 hour position since my current job at the time was only 16 with maybe 8 hours of overtime. Same kind of job with maybe more task than the current. Higher pay so seemed like a not a problem just win them over.
Turned up they asked so it is the 40 hour position you applied for?
yes I really would love full time.
Ah well those have all gone I only have 12 hours left. That not what I applied for and whilst the less hours and increased pay would equal the current pay. I just felt lied to and did not trust these two managers.
I just cut them off from their corporate talk, shook their hands and left.
Image credits: Cameron Alexander
#13 Interviewers Started Smoking And Didn’t Stop When The Candidate Told Them They Were Allergic
In 1990s, after taking VRS from my PSU job, I attended one interview. There was a panel of 3 members interviewing. As soon as the interview started, the three interviewers started smoking. I requested them that I am allergic to cigarette smoke and cannot stand it.
They said it is my choice to leave if I am not comfortable. So, I walked out of the interview.
Image credits: Mani Shankar
#14 Interviewer Started Asking Questions About The Candidate’s Religion
I walked out from the interview. I really wanted that job and everything was going good, until they started to ask questions about my religion,faith and etc. It was not connected with the job they just were asking such questions which can insult you. I just stopped their questions and made them clear that I don’t want to continue the interview.
Image credits: Samvel Ghazaryan
#15 The Perfume The Candidate Would Have To Sell Was Fake
The job was to sell knockoff perfume and cologne at flea markets and fairs. Not interested in ripping people off, even if I did have “the look” they wanted.
Image credits: SundayMorningTrisha
#16 Candidate Realised They Weren’t The Right Person For The Job
Twice. But it wasn’t really a “walk out”. In both instances, I paused the interview and admitted that I didn’t think I was the right person for the job. In either case, I was contrite and thanked them for their time. I can’t remember them being upset, though one was a panel interview and one of the managers was really stunned.
Image credits: Dan Bradbury
#17 Candidate Was Made To Wait 45 Minutes For The Interview To Start
I arrived at the interview on time to be greeted by somebody who I knew but considered professionally unethical. They kept me waiting for about 45 minutes before seeing me, so obviously thought something else was more important. I decided I did not want to work for a firm which was so unprofessional. Quite simple!
Image credits: Paul Young
#18 Company Didn’t Agree With Candidate’s Salary Requirements Even Though They Demanded Their Availability At All Times
One of my first interviews out of school. They quizzed me on all types of technical matters, that’s fine. But then they told me the relatively low pay, coupled with their requirement that I be on call nearly 24/7. Since I was in my early 20s, I had a busy social life. For me to be on call requires a whole lot on their part. I told them that my salary requirements begin at $100,000. This was in the early 1980s. They were surprised and not happy with my demand. No problem, I’ll move along.
Image credits: Bill Remer
#19 Interviewer Didn’t Come And Called Three Days Later Wanting To Reschedule
I arrived early and after waiting 20 minutes past time, a gentleman came in and asked if I’d been helped. I told him I was here to meet X. I was informed she was out of the office and they hadn’t been as to reach her on her work or personal cell phones. I told them I couldn’t wait anymore, and thanked them. The kicker? Three…THREE days later she called to reschedule! I didn’t even answer. I couldn’t believe the nerve of that woman!
Image credits: Jennifer Ross
#20 Interviewer Made It Clear That She Needed An Employee To Make Her Metrics Look Good
Once.
I had already been offered a job, but I still had interviews scheduled. I decided to see if I would get a better offer, so I went.
It became clear to me that the manager was a “turnaround artist.” I don’t know if there’s a better term, but it was pretty clear that she was there to try to rescue an ailing franchise (Think like an internal version of Kitchen Nightmares or Bar Rescue). She made it pretty clear that I was supposed to make her metrics look good. If this were McDonald’s (it wasn’t) it was the equivalent of not just ensuring that I asked every customer “Do you want fries with that?” but making my job dependent upon how many fries I sold.
Image credits: Doug Wall
#21 Candidate Was Given A Psychometric Test But Realised It Was Complete Nonsense
Yep. I was once given a psychometric test by an interviewer and left alone to complete it.
I took a quick look, realised it was complete nonsense, and left.
It was a bit of a shame since the job seemed decent we’d already covered the interview part by chatting for over an hour beforehand.
Image credits: Richard Oliver
#22 Candidate Got A Call About Their Brother Having A Car Accident
I didnt leave through fault of the workplace or employer… my brother was in a car accident and got a call from my sister letting me know
Image credits: Nik_Nogarda
#23 Interviewer Offered The Candidate Some Alcohol And Informed Them It Was The Company’s Culture
Once. It was right out of college. I had a newly minted degree in Business Administration from Texas State University and was out interviewing for entry level business jobs.
I can’t remember the company but I was in the interview with my resume talking to a woman and during the interview she offered me a drink. Wine or beer were the choices.
Apparently in the company culture that was normal. I wasn’t the only person offered a drink. One was offered a drink if that individual was doing well during the interview.
I declined and said I had to use the bathroom really bad-and asked where it was—She pointed and I left her office and building.
I don’t remember what the company did anymore but it was for a sales position.
Image credits: Robert Larson Jr.
#24 Candidate Assumed They Wouldn’t Need To Interact With Customers
I never really had this bad of anxiety since this morning. I got an interview to take an assessment for a warehousing job in a certain store. I thought I would be working in a quiet part and it was night shifts. The assessment was to interact with customers etc…and I immediately froze. Thought everything was going to go great seemed straight forward then they brought all these tasks with the customers so I just had to pull one of the managers aside and told them I’m just not cut out for this. I feel absolutely worthless. I’ve been jobless for over a year. Nothing seems to be going my way and I really want to put myself out there and show what I can do, everyone was really rooting for me to get this and I feel like I’ve let them all down.
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Image credits: throwanxietyaway929