- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
re: What's the strangest job interview you've ever had?
Posted on 1/10/20 at 10:27 am to JohnnyKilroy
Posted on 1/10/20 at 10:27 am to JohnnyKilroy
Went on an interview a few years ago for a gunpowder facility. All they did was produce gunpowder. They were constantly inspecting and upgrading the facility, so they needed an on site structural engineer. The facility had about 4 or 5 department heads and I was interviewed by all of them separately. Everyone basically had the same interview questions, so by the third guy I was getting very annoyed. The interview took the whole day and by the end, I just wanted to get out of there. They paid for everything though; flight, hotel, rental car, and food.
Posted on 1/10/20 at 10:36 am to JohnnyKilroy
In law school I applied for summer clerkships at pretty much every firm from a couple of cities who recruited and did on campus interviews. I was on a transactional path and would eventually be going to tax school, but I applied to every firm whether it was a litigation opening or transactional. One firm interviewed me and spent the whole time grilling me about being a transactional attorney because all they did was trial work. One of the guys wasn't that much older than me and was a huge prick the entire time, he asked me, "why would you even apply for this job?" I just said, "I don't know, why did you interview me?" and got up and left. I got home and already had a rejection letter in the mail the next day, those frickers had already sent the letter before I even had the interview

Posted on 1/10/20 at 10:43 am to jchamil
quote:
One of the guys wasn't that much older than me and was a huge prick the entire time, he asked me, "why would you even apply for this job?"
I was actually expecting this question the way my interview was going lol.
Posted on 1/10/20 at 10:43 am to JohnnyKilroy
I had an interview with a company that a search firm had found for me. The first round interview was pretty normal, but the interviewer was in HR and didn't have any good answers when I asked about the company itsself.
While driving home, they called and asked to schedule the second round interview for the next day. This consisted of something similar to your story, as it was a 3 person panel interview but the CEO peppered me with really odd questions basically the whole time. When I asked if I could ask any questions at the end, they said no and left.
I stopped for food on the way home and got a call asking me to come right back and get an offer, so I went back and tried asking questions about the company then but they said they didn't have time and that I had 24 hours to accept or decline.
I still have no idea what that company really does, or how they operate because I was never allowed to ask a single question to anyone other than the clueless HR lady.
While driving home, they called and asked to schedule the second round interview for the next day. This consisted of something similar to your story, as it was a 3 person panel interview but the CEO peppered me with really odd questions basically the whole time. When I asked if I could ask any questions at the end, they said no and left.
I stopped for food on the way home and got a call asking me to come right back and get an offer, so I went back and tried asking questions about the company then but they said they didn't have time and that I had 24 hours to accept or decline.
I still have no idea what that company really does, or how they operate because I was never allowed to ask a single question to anyone other than the clueless HR lady.
Posted on 1/10/20 at 10:52 am to USMEagles
quote:
"it's so nice dealing with white people, you always know where you're headed."
Yikes. She says that to the wrong person and her life is over.
Posted on 1/10/20 at 10:55 am to JohnnyKilroy
ive never had an interview like that, but its not entirely uncommon. some companies and organizations, most notably the san antonio spurs who are notorious for this, will put you through an intentionally hostile interview just to see how you react to it. ive never understood the appeal to that but it is what it is
Posted on 1/10/20 at 11:05 am to JohnnyKilroy
Not strange but recently I was brought in by a company to talk. I basically laid it out there you called me, I didn't call you so if you are interested in me let's not slow dick this around and make an offer. Supposed to got offer by beginning of year. They want to meet one more time. Said OK. I wasn't looking to move and told them that so you need to knock my socks off with offer. Told Mrs. that I wasn't trying to bomb interview and run them off but wasn't trying to nail it either. We shall see by next week if I get the game changing offer or just stay where I am at.
Posted on 1/10/20 at 11:09 am to JohnnyKilroy
Should have dropped trow and shite on their floor.
Posted on 1/10/20 at 11:10 am to Epic Cajun
quote:
I was watching one of those true crime shows the other day and that's what the guy did. They looked all over for the missing person and could never find them, until the guy confessed.
Was his name Henry?
Posted on 1/10/20 at 11:20 am to WestCoastAg
quote:Actually, hostile interviews are great to go through. I guess it depends on your demeanor. I'm a very sarcastic, smart-arse that really doesn't care whether people like me or not. It's really more about who I like, which isn't many people, actually. But when assholes want to become super antagonistic in an interview, you basically know in about two seconds if you want to work with these assholes or not. If not, just be a smart-assed a-hole in reply.
ive never had an interview like that, but its not entirely uncommon. some companies and organizations, most notably the san antonio spurs who are notorious for this, will put you through an intentionally hostile interview just to see how you react to it. ive never understood the appeal to that but it is what it is
Posted on 1/10/20 at 11:21 am to HubbaBubba
quote:
He said everyone hated the company president and that what I did made me legendary inside Sanyo because I thoroughly dressed him down and embarrassed him in front of his management team.
I can't believe I read all that. I also get the President sucked in an interview, but I will say I also am not sure if an interview necessarily reflects on how someone is to work for. You can get a taste of their personality certainly, but some people just suck at interviewing.
Finally, the reason I commented, is it seems doubtful the President had much to do with your flights? Why would he? Seems more likely the President scheduled the interview and time and HR took care of the rest? So I don't necessarily understand why you took that out on both HR and the President? More likely HR was a bunch of pushovers that did what the President asked.
I get it all adds up to being crappy, I'm just saying that doesn't necessarily mean what it seems like you took it as.
Posted on 1/10/20 at 11:25 am to HubbaBubba
quote:
Actually, hostile interviews are great to go through. I guess it depends on your demeanor. I'm a very sarcastic, smart-arse that really doesn't care whether people like me or not.
I agree. I've been in plenty of interviews where you play good cop bad cop. To really test their personality. Always have the good cop give them some positive reinforcement. If everyone is a prick, that's different. But I don't think its all bad to push people in an interview at all.
Posted on 1/10/20 at 11:37 am to baldona
quote:I get your interest. It's one of those, "you had to be there" moments to fully grasp the assholery that permeated that place, which is why I tried to paint a broad picture in my post. A corporate culture takes on the identity of it's leaders. Their leader, (a) didn't even shake my hand, (b) was only interested in his own agenda, (c) had no care or concern for my time, which I was willing to give, but he dismissed my concerns when I pointed out the very limited time that was available, and (d) asked of me a very dickish condescending question knowing I had been asked to prepare a 90-day action plan to discuss, which I had printed out and was prepared to hand out and discuss in my folio.
I can't believe I read all that. I also get the President sucked in an interview, but I will say I also am not sure if an interview necessarily reflects on how someone is to work for. You can get a taste of their personality certainly, but some people just suck at interviewing.
Finally, the reason I commented, is it seems doubtful the President had much to do with your flights? Why would he? Seems more likely the President scheduled the interview and time and HR took care of the rest? So I don't necessarily understand why you took that out on both HR and the President? More likely HR was a bunch of pushovers that did what the President asked.
I get it all adds up to being crappy, I'm just saying that doesn't necessarily mean what it seems like you took it as
Plus, I just don't like people already anyway, and he just happened to rise to the top of the list that day. Simple enough.
Posted on 1/10/20 at 11:50 am to JohnnyKilroy
First one was with a sales company I thought was legit. Setup phone interview that went great and got invited to speak with owner and sales manager. Get to the place and it looked like a paper bomb went off in the office with shite everywhere. Owner went to lunch and never showed up. The sales manager was some chick and had no shoes on the entire time, Just her bare feet. Told me interview should last about 2 hours. Asked to go to the restroom and hauled arse out of there.
Second was invited in for an interview and acted like everything was normal. Get there and find 8 other people in the waiting room for the same job. Figured it was one by one being interviewed... Nope! All 8 of us go in and sit in front of one manager and claims this is the best form of doing interviews. He asks a question and people just start blurting out and talking about themselves over each other. 5 minutes in and i got up from my chair and rolled out in the middle of people trying to yell over each other.
Second was invited in for an interview and acted like everything was normal. Get there and find 8 other people in the waiting room for the same job. Figured it was one by one being interviewed... Nope! All 8 of us go in and sit in front of one manager and claims this is the best form of doing interviews. He asks a question and people just start blurting out and talking about themselves over each other. 5 minutes in and i got up from my chair and rolled out in the middle of people trying to yell over each other.
Posted on 1/10/20 at 11:54 am to JohnnyKilroy
I was between jobs years ago and interviewed with a company to sale group health plans to large corporations.
First off the dickwad manager had pictures of himself on a bicycle riding with a large group down the middle of the road which I hate.
He asked me what I thought about bicyclist
Then he told me this nugget: "you don't look like our other sales people". WTF is this, I'm 6'1" decent looking white dude and was dressed up tie and all. I have no idea what he meant.
First off the dickwad manager had pictures of himself on a bicycle riding with a large group down the middle of the road which I hate.
He asked me what I thought about bicyclist

Then he told me this nugget: "you don't look like our other sales people". WTF is this, I'm 6'1" decent looking white dude and was dressed up tie and all. I have no idea what he meant.
Posted on 1/10/20 at 12:06 pm to The Torch
Interviewed with a porn company years back.
That was fun.
That was fun.
Posted on 1/10/20 at 12:19 pm to SEClint
quote:I wish I remembered. I watch too many of those shows to remember the specifics on this particular one. I don't think the guy actually worked at the cemetery, he just lived near there or something and found a grave that was already dug out. He just dug a bit deeper, and put the body in there. Next day, they have the funeral and the casket is placed on top and buried. It's a pretty fool proof way to get rid of a body
Was his name Henry?

Posted on 1/10/20 at 12:19 pm to JohnnyKilroy
I interviewed for a co-op in college for a time on tools plant assessment. Got the job and also paid for a TWIC card. As I was about to start, my manager said this would be for 8 hrs only at $15 an hr 4 days a week. I would have burned more money in gas than what the job was offering.
Another job I interviewed for asked me about a work controversy and how I handled. Told them how I was shifted out to CA to take on a technical role. The product line manager went to all the major customers and said I didn’t know anything and don’t trust him in order to save his worthless arse. The interviewer blamed me for the situation and immediately ended the interview.
I work in oil and gas production- I get oil out of the ground. I interviewed for a company that sells filtration devices. I asked about their oil and gas filters. They look at me like I’m an idiot and proceed to snark and say it’s used in diesel refining. Because I was in oil and gas I was supposed to know all aspects of oil and gas including refining and research the company products before the interview. They sell over 3000 different filters.
Another job I interviewed for asked me about a work controversy and how I handled. Told them how I was shifted out to CA to take on a technical role. The product line manager went to all the major customers and said I didn’t know anything and don’t trust him in order to save his worthless arse. The interviewer blamed me for the situation and immediately ended the interview.
I work in oil and gas production- I get oil out of the ground. I interviewed for a company that sells filtration devices. I asked about their oil and gas filters. They look at me like I’m an idiot and proceed to snark and say it’s used in diesel refining. Because I was in oil and gas I was supposed to know all aspects of oil and gas including refining and research the company products before the interview. They sell over 3000 different filters.
Posted on 1/10/20 at 12:23 pm to The Goon
quote:So you accepted a position before you knew what the pay was? Or, they changed it on you after you accepted?
I interviewed for a co-op in college for a time on tools plant assessment. Got the job and also paid for a TWIC card. As I was about to start, my manager said this would be for 8 hrs only at $15 an hr 4 days a week. I would have burned more money in gas than what the job was offering.
Posted on 1/10/20 at 1:00 pm to JohnnyKilroy
Got contacted by a smaller contractor and they asked me to go in for an interview. I showed up and the guy looked and acted just like Seth Rogan in Step Brothers. It completely threw me off.
Popular
Back to top
