Things interviewees have said...

[Art_Vandelay]

Well, since I am interviewing soon, I am curious...for managers surfing this site, if you are able to disclose, what things have interviewers said that have made you think, "Next, please." I've read about dress code blunders, but any way to share other faux pas?

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

LOL! She sounds like the perfect candidate to me.

Perfect candidate for WHAT?

[Art_Vandelay]

Perfect candidate for WHAT?

Being unemployed; I was being sarcastic.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

Being unemployed; I was being sarcastic.

I got that, and I agree.

[aboucherrn]

Sounds like she would be a perfect candidate for Tuesday morning shifts.

[june2009]

While interviewing a possible PCA candidate I asked her about a challenging situation and how she overcame it. She proceeded to tell me about a baby at the day care she worked at previously that wouldn't quit crying no matter what she did. She kept referring to the baby as "it" instead of "he". That was a red flag to me.

[sauconyrunner]

I do some peer interviewing. Although we appreciate wit and sarcasm in our unit, somehow when the job candidate becomes "too personal" or too sarcastic it doesn't come across well.

Example: We all have Frequent Flyers in ED's across the country, people that make us roll our eyes heavenwards.

For some reason, even though we moan about them, as a candidate moaning about them has always been a next please for us.

I do think we may have been hypocritical, but...

[mariebailey, MSN, RN]

During a group interview, when there were multiple interviewers in the room, a candidate requested that the interviewers go around the table and disclose their astrological sign. No joke.

[Lynx25, LPN]

Last week, we spotted a new interviewee trotting down to the DON's office in a tiny t-shirt, out of which exploded her not-so-tiny belly, and some short-shorts.

For extra classy points, she had two packs of cigs rolled up in her sleeves.

Nailed it!

[PMFB-RN, RN]

I've had many people tell me that they had no intention of working in my specialty for any length of time. They were looking at my job as just a stepping stone to something else that they really want to do.

"Next!"

*** Oh ya~ I am amazed how many will say that. I very often interview new grads applying for our hospital's Critical Care Nurse Residency program. Every semester a bunch of them will tell us that their goal is to get their one year of ICU experience so they can apply to CRNA school. Usually they say this AFTER they are informed that the residency requires a 3 year contract if they are accepted. Sometimes we don't even continue with the interview.

[Art_Vandelay]

I do some peer interviewing. Although we appreciate wit and sarcasm in our unit, somehow when the job candidate becomes "too personal" or too sarcastic it doesn't come across well.

Example: We all have Frequent Flyers in ED's across the country, people that make us roll our eyes heavenwards.

For some reason, even though we moan about them, as a candidate moaning about them has always been a next please for us.

I do think we may have been hypocritical, but...

Sarcasm isn't appropriate for an interview unless you're interviewing to be a stand up comedian. How was a candidate too personal? Unless it's a personal anecdote about a patient that demonstrates good care maybe.

I don't think it's hypocritical. Some behaviors, even if they are defining personality traits, should be keep out of the interview room.

[Not_A_Hat_Person, RN]

Years ago, I interviewed for a job at a copy shop. At the time I was having severe sleep problems. When I went for the interview, I'd been up for almost 40 hours. I downed a large coffee before the interview and tried my best. I didn't get the job. I realized years later that I probably came off as drunk.

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

*** Oh ya~ I am amazed how many will say that. I very often interview new grads applying for our hospital's Critical Care Nurse Residency program. Every semester a bunch of them will tell us that their goal is to get their one year of ICU experience so they can apply to CRNA school. Usually they say this AFTER they are informed that the residency requires a 3 year contract if they are accepted. Sometimes we don't even continue with the interview.

THIS!!!!!!!!!!!THIS!!!!!!!!!!!THIS(and then, they are surprised when they don't get the job)