When Good Interviews Go Bad

Peter Clayton recently posted "The Job Interview..." where he discussed the ubiquitous Candidate Experience. After a few decades of recruiting, I know that the CE is a by-product of both sides of the fence. The Good, the Bad, and the really freakin' Ugly.

Perhaps using humor is a better strategy for teaching the Do's and Don'ts of interviewing. Do any of these bring back memories? Are any of these...YOU??? Let me know in the comments...

The Origin of Job Interviews

(there's a reason why some - okay, many - recruiters are referred to as Neanderthals)

Facebook Ruins Job Interview

(oh sure - you have a reason for everything you've socially posted - )

Job Interview Shenanigans

(then there’s that one candidate who could care less)

The Completely Honest Job Interview (kinda NSFW)

(what some - or many - would like to say)

“Not a culture fit” Job Interview

(You have be to your authentic self or else you'll have a baaaaaaaad experience)

The @Tide Talking Stain Interview

(are they looking at my zit? is there a piece of food stuck in my teeth? oh nooooooo)

IT Interview Gone Wrong

(this isn't real but it'll still make you cringe)

Job Interview Mess Up

(bold face lies and even bribes)

"Evil" Panel Interview

(there always that one person on the panel or part of the slate you wish wasn't there)

Comment by Keith Halperin on June 19, 2014 at 3:28pm: Thanks, Steve. "Neanderthals? "Johnnys-come-lately"!

Remember this scene from 2001: A Space Odyssey with the apeman making a bone tool and then killing the tapir? (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mM6OIlreneA)

Well,what they DIDN'T show was that I recruited that very same ape-man, I mean: " Sr. Mechanical Engineer" for another band of sons-of-apes. They paid me a haunch of rotting wildebeest, AND I WAS GLAD FOR IT TOO!

Neanderthals? Sheesh: NEWBIES! I tell ya: these young recruiters today.....

Keith

Comment by Tim Spagnola on June 20, 2014 at 9:10am: Love it Steve....thank you for sharing.

Comment by Steve Levy on June 20, 2014 at 10:39am: Keith, that was an open source tool the ape used (Google Smash).

On a serious note (really), it would be "instructive" to say the least if more recruiters were videotaped during interviews. Videos are how athletes improve their techniques; in the case of most recruiters who have NO techniques, video should be considered a God send.

Comment by Keith Halperin on June 20, 2014 at 3:32pm: @ Steve: Good one!

Re: recruiters and video: I gather you're not talking about sites like RecruitersGoneWild.com, XXXRecruiters.com, or RecruitersILF.com, are you? IMSM, their booths and exhibits feature prominently at many major recruiting cons...

-kh

Comment by Derdiver on June 25, 2014 at 2:40pm: LOVED THIS!!! Worst interview experience I had was when I went through three separate interviews with three different people. Not one of them gave me the same job description. Not one. By the end of the day I actually if the three of them had ever met. Walked out on that one...

Comment by Keith Halperin on June 25, 2014 at 8:51pm: ISTM that if you're dealing with an "Employer of Choice" there's a fair chance you may have a terrible interview experience (even if you get hired).

Comment by Steve Myers on June 26, 2014 at 11:01am: That last video is the best. Typewriter to the head. classic. Reminds me of the time I interviewed with a guy who essentially wanted me to be the candidate therapist after he got done yelling at them (This was his idea of being a 'tough interviewer'). Needless to say, I declined his offer. Clown.