by December 26th, 2009. Filed under: employment.
As part of my job, I give interview advice to candidates applying for travel jobs. When I ask them how it went afterwards, most people don’t come out remembering what went right. They remember the bad things. The joke that fell flat, the awkward silence halfway through, the question that left them scrabbling for an inadequate answer. And while some people just seem to have the knack for doing well in job interviews, most of us have probably had at least one complete interview disaster in our time.
But it’s not all bad - however poorly a job interview has gone, you can always be reassured by the fact that someone, somewhere, has done much, much worse than you ever have. Here are ten of the worst interview howlers that I’ve heard of, and ten pieces of interview advice that can help you to avoid the same mistakes.
10 - Who are you, and what am I doing?
After a telesales job interview that had gone well, the candidate surprised the panel by saying, offhand, “By the way, I don’t do cold calling.”
Interview tip: Do your research. Make sure you fully understand what the company does and what your job entails, otherwise you’re likely to make an obvious mistake.
9 - Job Train-ing
After an unsuccessful job interview, one candidate followed his interviewer to the train station. He spent the rest of the train journey pleading with her to give him the job.
Interview Tip: Enthusiasm is good, desperation is not. Accept it if you haven’t got the job - hassling your interviewer isn’t likely to get you anything except a restraining order.
8 - Fancy your chances?
One candidate concluded a job interview by asking the interviewer out on a date.
Interview Tip: No matter how well you think an interview has gone, this really isn’t a good idea. Make sure you end it professionally.
7 - Demonstrate your skills
When asked to give a practical demonstration of his abilities during a job interview, this candidate got out a deck of cards and proceeded to perform a series of magic tricks.
Interview tip: You don’t need interview advice to tell you that this is a bad idea. Remain professional at all times! Silly jokes, inappropriate clothes and strange behavior are all guaranteed to put an interviewer off.
6 - Any questions?
At the end of a job interview, this candidate was told that she could ask one question and one question only. After thinking intently for a few minutes, she said “Are you going anywhere nice on your holidays this summer?”
Interview Tip: You know that you’ll be expected to ask questions at the end of a job interview, and there’s no excuse not to prepare a few. Keep your questions focused on the job and the company, and use it as an opportunity to further express your interest in both.
5 - “I’m sorry, what was your name again?”
During one job interview, a candidate complained at length about his previous boss. Unfortunately, he didn’t realize that the interviewer and his former employer were closely related, and even had the same last name.
Interview Tip: This man was particularly unlucky, but it just goes to show that it is never a good idea to badmouth your former employer.
4 - “So tell me, what is your biggest weakness?”
When pressed to answer this question, one candidate answered “My dishonesty.”
Interview Tip: This is a difficult question to answer. Responses like “I work too hard” are no good, and owning up to a severe character flaw might sink your application. Pick a weakness that is true but that won’t affect the job that you are going for. For example, being erratic at paperwork is a disaster for an admin role, but is only a minor drawback for a sales position.
3 - Mums the word!
Everyone knows that you have to switch your phone off during a job interview. But one candidate, after the first few questions, got his phone out and called his parents to let them know how well the interview was going.
Interview tip: Stay focused during an interview. Don’t get complacent if you think it is going well, and don’t be discouraged if you feel it is going badly.
2 - A picture is worth a thousand words…
One candidate was asked to draw a picture that best described him. He drew a clown with blood pouring from its eyes, ears and nose.
Interview Tip: Interviewers are looking for people who can both fill the role and work well with other people. Worrying personality traits can be just as off putting as a lack of experience or inadequate skills, so be on your best behavior in the interview room.
1 - Murder, she said
No matter what unfortunate facts from your past happen to surface in a job interview, you can’t cause more alarm than this woman did. Alarmingly, in the middle of the interview she managed to imply that she’d murdered her husband.
Interview Tip: Think before you speak. Perhaps you think a strange remark or crude joke will make you memorable - you’d be right, but for precisely the wrong reasons.
Gail Kenny
http://www.articlesbase.com/careers-articles/top-10-job-interview-disasters-425630.html
Filed under: employment
December 26th, 2009 at 6:51 am
In a recent interview Janet Napolitano referred to terrorism as ‘man-caused’ disasters. what’s your take?
In a recent interview Janet Napolitano specifically referred to terrorism as ‘man-caused’ disasters. Shat’s your take? Should this immediately disqualify her from being the head of Department of Homeland Security? What should Pres. Obama do?
http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,613330,00.html
December 26th, 2009 at 11:53 am
Once again, Obama has appointed someone that isn’t qualified for the position.
And, she’s an idiot.
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December 26th, 2009 at 11:55 am
Am I missing something. They ARE man caused disasters, unless you believe there was a higher being involved….
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December 26th, 2009 at 11:57 am
The destruction of the World Trade Center — which George W. Bush failed to prevent — was a disaster caused by men. Secretary Napolitano is right, and President Obama should let her do the job he appointed her to do. So far, he appears to be doing so.
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December 26th, 2009 at 11:59 am
Uhm, mass-casualty terrorist attacks ARE caused by men (the terrorists) which would quantify the notion that they are "man made" disasters…are Republicans truly THIS braindead not to understand what she means? Or is this just another idiotic attempt by Republicans to find something…ANYTHING…to cry and whine about?
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December 26th, 2009 at 12:01 pm
Napolitano is an ugly lesbian and Obama hack. Terrorists are people too according to dems and it’s a buzzword libs don’t like. Hence, we no longer have to worry about Muslim terrorists since it hurts their feelings when we call them out for being bad people.
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December 26th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
well…..the results of terrorism is somewhat disastrous….and it is caused by man…. sooo……..that pretty much sums it up….
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December 26th, 2009 at 12:05 pm
Terrorism is man made. You throw stones at someone they throw some back. Check Americas foriegn policy which causes terrorism.Do some investigating.
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December 26th, 2009 at 12:07 pm
I think political correctness if for politicians, and securing the homeland is for the Secretary of Homeland Security.
A terrorist is someone who uses terror. The Nazis were terrorists; the KKK are terrorists; the Weathermen were terrorists. Am I going to get angry letters from Christians or Americans saying that "not all Christians or Americans are like that"?
Call a terrorist a terrorist; or don’t call them anything and just bloody fight them already.
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Not affiliated with any party. http://youngconservative27.blogspot.com/
December 26th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
My brother and sister live in arizona they told me she is basically complicit in the illegals swarming arizona…she’s a leftist in case you hadn’t noticed…card carrying…why do you think obama appointed her?? duh…birds of a feather…
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a guy who pays attention
December 26th, 2009 at 12:11 pm
Coming from the former governor of Arizona who left her state in worse shape than when she took over it…what do you expect? First, she doesn’t seem to recognize that the violence is ALREADY spilled over our borders, second, she is one of those shamnesty people, favoring blanket amnesty. AZ is well known for berating their officers and not allowing them to take illegals in when they are discovered. Their (her) solution? Fine the employers should they hire them, do not harass the illegals in any way (also meaning if they are stopped on routine traffic stops, police are discouraged against taking them in when they cannot prove they are citizens), and they get assistance from the government. After all, they can’t get a JOB…because the employer is punished instead. Janet N. is a joke and a danger to this country.
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MICHAEL J..give credit FULLY where it is due or remain silent. 9/11 plots were well known during Clinton’s presidency and not tackled then either. So, nice try, but you are not dumping this in the lap solely on opposition to further your partisan hate. It has been proven that what you are saying is a complete effing SHAM. Feel free to start providing some factual information in your answers, because thus far all you do is play partisan politics and shuffle it to the other side. Tell me..when you are living on Park Bench #29, will you still be searching for Republicans to blame things on? Grip…get one.
December 26th, 2009 at 12:13 pm
Could you please explain to us your big problem with someone referring to terrorism as a man-caused disaster?
Follow-up question: Why would this view immediately disqualify someone from being the head of the department of Homeland Security?
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December 26th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
She was the governor in my state (AZ). She turned a surplus in our state to a deficit, amongst other mistakes. She is an embarassment…
Why was she chosen for this position? She failed to secure our southern border and pandered to illegals.
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December 26th, 2009 at 12:17 pm
…wrap your mind around "this" scary scenario… "Barry" doesn’t know the difference from an E-1 & and a W-4 ! …side by side, "Barry" can’t tell the difference between an US Navy Officer from a Coast Guard Officer ! and you expect him to appoint anyone with "half a brain" and "one eye open" to be aware of what terrorism is…?
May God have mercy upon America as this ignorant "kid" runs us into the sewer with his "Train Wreck" Administration !
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John D "your ad here"… that would be like calling a Drug Dealer a "curb-side" Pharmaceutical salesman.
December 26th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
haha.. Man-caused sounds like she had a slip of the tongue.. same kind of slip Bush had when he refered to United 93 as being ’shot down’ instead of crashing. If someones going to run the United States version of the brown shirts then she should watch her mouth haha.. Now Alexander I have a question for you. Ive been reading your questions and answers on your site and you seem to be very opinionated. However you don’t allow anyone to debate anything you say since you block IMs and emails. It’s really funny that you sling so much mud and dont allow anyone to say anything back. Kinda rude if you ask me.
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December 26th, 2009 at 12:21 pm
While true, it is too vague of a definition. I think that government intentionally makes it this vague so they can call just about anything they want a terrorist attack.
A terrorist attack is an attack by a non-government organization that is done to try and change some political policy.
Guy blows up a bridge to cause chaos and put more stringent laws in order. Terrorism.
disappearance of the rainforest, while I have heard many people call it (in essence) a man-made disaster. not a terrorist attack. yet it falls into the former definition of "man-caused disasters".
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