What is your most embarrassing job interview experience? (job offer, employee, employer)

[Chatteress]

Originally Posted by TKramar

I happen to have excellent diction--however, gender discrimination happens on both ends.

Oh ... I am well aware of that fact but it is still wrong nevertheless.

[Praline]

(1) I was interviewing with a judge for a summer law clerk position - I leaned forward in the chair to hand him a list of references and leaned over too far - I slid to my knees in front of his desk, cracked my forehead on the front of the desk, and the list blew underneath it. I was scrambling around under the desk trying to retrieve the paper (which stubbornly remained out of reach). He was watching me fascinated the whole time. I got up off the floor, sat back in the seat and tried to pretend like nothing had happened.

(2) I was sprinting to catch a taxi because I was running late for a job interview, my hair was already ruined because it was a hot and humid day and my hair style was already wilting - I bee flew up my nose, I fell and cut my thumb on a piece of glass, and lay there screaming and trying to dislodge the bee.

(3) I was rushing to get on an elevator before it closed on the way to yet another interview, and the woman that was already in the car, glared at me and pushed the close-door button. I yelled, "Thanks a lot you selfish cow!" When I finally got to the floor I wanted and hurried out of the elevator, I saw the woman talking to the receptionist and looking in my direction. You got it - she was the person I was supposed to see. We just stared at each other and I turned around and got back on the elevator and left.

[Chatteress]

Originally Posted by Praline

(1) I was interviewing with a judge for a summer law clerk position - I leaned forward in the chair to hand him a list of references and leaned over too far - I slid to my knees in front of his desk, cracked my forehead on the front of the desk, and the list blew underneath it. I was scrambling around under the desk trying to retrieve the paper (which stubbornly remained out of reach). He was watching me fascinated the whole time. I got up off the floor, sat back in the seat and tried to pretend like nothing had happened.

(2) I was sprinting to catch a taxi because I was running late for a job interview, my hair was already ruined because it was a hot and humid day and my hair style was already wilting - I bee flew up my nose, I fell and cut my thumb on a piece of glass, and lay there screaming and trying to dislodge the bee.

(3) I was rushing to get on an elevator before it closed on the way to yet another interview, and the woman that was already in the car, glared at me and pushed the close-door button. I yelled, "Thanks a lot you selfish cow!" When I finally got to the floor I wanted and hurried out of the elevator, I saw the woman talking to the receptionist and looking in my direction. You got it - she was the person I was supposed to see. We just stared at each other and I turned around and got back on the elevator and left.

WOW! Those were seriously embarrassing experiences. Hopefully, you can laugh about these now but I know they were not funny when they happened.

[Praline]

Originally Posted by Chatteress

WOW! Those were seriously embarrassing experiences. Hopefully, you can laugh about these now but I know they were not funny when they happened.

I do laugh now because I ended up getting a position I liked - but at that time I felt like I was under a black cloud! (Okay, I'll admit it - I'm still embarrassed a little over the interview with the judge - I felt like such a klutz and a fool).

[bluepepper]

Originally Posted by Chatteress

Nice...

No doubt. I took it as a positive sign, but we'll see...

To actually contribute to the thread: the first interview I ever had was for an internship after my freshman year of college. Needless to say I was pretty jazzed about it. So I'm on the phone and everything seems to be going well; I'm getting the usual questions ("tell me about yourself", "what are your biggest strengths/weakness", "why do you think you'd be good at this job", etc) and I think I'm doing pretty well, especially since I'd never had a remotely professional interview before. Then I get hit with one I was totally unprepared for:

"Give me an example of a time you had to think on your feet and did so successfully".

My mind goes completely blank which, of course, is especially bad given the question at hand. The result? Awkward pause. "...Um...Well, I...Uh..." Even more awkward pause. When it became unbearable I eventual blurted out, "Well, not right now I guess!", hoping for a chuckle. Nothing.

In the end it couldn't have hurt me too much since I wound up with the position. But I felt like a complete moron.

Ever since then I've crafted answers to that question in case I ever get asked that again. Never have, though...

[Chatteress]

Originally Posted by bluepepper

No doubt. I took it as a positive sign, but we'll see...

To actually contribute to the thread: the first interview I ever had was for an internship after my freshman year of college. Needless to say I was pretty jazzed about it. So I'm on the phone and everything seems to be going well; I'm getting the usual questions ("tell me about yourself", "what are your biggest strengths/weakness", "why do you think you'd be good at this job", etc) and I think I'm doing pretty well, especially since I'd never had a remotely professional interview before. Then I get hit with one I was totally unprepared for:

"Give me an example of a time you had to think on your feet and did so successfully".

My mind goes completely blank which, of course, is especially bad given the question at hand. The result? Awkward pause. "...Um...Well, I...Uh..." Even more awkward pause. When it became unbearable I eventual blurted out, "Well, not right now I guess!", hoping for a chuckle. Nothing.

In the end it couldn't have hurt me too much since I wound up with the position. But I felt like a complete moron.

Ever since then I've crafted answers to that question in case I ever get asked that again. Never have, though...

I recall during my first employment search, I interviewed with Circuit City and was totally unprepared to answer the situational questions such as the one you faced. Needless to say, I did not get the job. I guess it was for the best considering that they are now out of business but I would not have worked with them for long as I relocated 6 months later.

[Heimdall]

I had one today. It was over the phone. The recruiter asked me 20 technical questions, and I was only able to answer to like 6 of them. Thank God it wasn't face to face I would have died of embarrassment. Anyways, I doubt I'll be hearing from them again.

[WannaliveinGreenville]

When my interviewer said he needed to perform a breast exam....

[annerk]

Originally Posted by Praline

(1) I was interviewing with a judge for a summer law clerk position - I leaned forward in the chair to hand him a list of references and leaned over too far - I slid to my knees in front of his desk, cracked my forehead on the front of the desk, and the list blew underneath it. I was scrambling around under the desk trying to retrieve the paper (which stubbornly remained out of reach). He was watching me fascinated the whole time. I got up off the floor, sat back in the seat and tried to pretend like nothing had happened.

(2) I was sprinting to catch a taxi because I was running late for a job interview, my hair was already ruined because it was a hot and humid day and my hair style was already wilting - I bee flew up my nose, I fell and cut my thumb on a piece of glass, and lay there screaming and trying to dislodge the bee.

(3) I was rushing to get on an elevator before it closed on the way to yet another interview, and the woman that was already in the car, glared at me and pushed the close-door button. I yelled, "Thanks a lot you selfish cow!" When I finally got to the floor I wanted and hurried out of the elevator, I saw the woman talking to the receptionist and looking in my direction. You got it - she was the person I was supposed to see. We just stared at each other and I turned around and got back on the elevator and left.

Sorry, but I'm really laughing at the mental image. I hope this was long ago and you're able to laugh now as well.

[Praline]

Originally Posted by annerk

Sorry, but I'm really laughing at the mental image. I hope this was long ago and you're able to laugh now as well.

My family still laughs over this and it was years ago!