Published Feb 19, 2014
AOx1
961 Posts
I had to sit in on an interview this last week where the potential hire, when asked about what she enjoyed most in past jobs, informed us that she didn't like any of her old jobs because her coworkers were idiots and her managers were either lazy or "another word for the plural of sphincters."
It was the most surreal experience. I've been in wonderful interviews and awkward ones, but never one this uncomfortable. The manager and other charge nurses were stunned. What's the worst interview you've ever witnessed or participated in? Most of the others that were odd were due to unprofessional attire or just awkwardness or nerves. I've never seen someone tank an interview like this before.
ChipNurse
180 Posts
Wow... I think some people are just totally clueless on how to conduct themselves in social situations and in formal situations, such as job interviews. When I was a retail manager, it always blew my mind when people would come in to an interview in sweat pants and answer why they wanted the job: "I just need money." Really? Nothing better to say?
MrChicagoRN, RN
2,605 Posts
Except for the sphincter part, she sounds like the bitter new grad I interviewed a few years ago.
CodeteamB
473 Posts
I was in an interview as a new grad. Everything was going well, we discussed my education and work experience, job duties and training, I met some staff, we were laughing, people were friendly, so far so good. Then one of the staff educators brought up my home town (which has a bit of a silly rivalry with the city I live in) and their hockey team.
"Oh, I bet you are a _______ fan! That's totally gonna be a problem working here"
"Actually, I'm not that into Hockey"
*Crickets*
The interview ended pretty much right there, I didn't get the job, but I did learn a lesson!
smartypantsnurse, LPN
58 Posts
Lol I've felt that way about some jobs but I would never say it in an interview! Worst interview I've ever had was at a nursing home when I was a new grad. The DON genuinely looked like she hated her job . And I'm pretty sure she rolled her eyes when I said I went into nursing to help people. My responses have gotten a little better ha ha.
Ruby Vee, BSN
17 Articles; 14,036 Posts
I was interviewing for a job I really wanted in a city 1000 miles away from where I lived, worked and went to school. By some coincidence, the interviewing assistant manager had graduated from my school, two years ahead of me. I walked in thinking this was going to work in my favor.
As she looked over my resume, the interviewer said, "Oh, your name is Ruby Coe. You must be Professor Coe's daughter! I dated your brother my last year in nursing school."
Not my father, not my brother. My father-in-law and my husband. Whom she dated the year we got married. Before AND after. I didn't get the job and the marriage didn't last much longer, either.
I'm sure she thinks *I* was the worst interviewee ever, because I told her she'd been dating my HUSBAND.
Not_A_Hat_Person, RN
2,900 Posts
As a new grad, interviewing for a position at a rehab hospital, an interviewer told me "If you don't feel that nursing is a calling, you'll never survive." It told me all I need to know about the facility. Another interviewer for a new grad Med-Surg position asked how I would handle combative patients.
I once interviewed for a job at an office supply store, and I think the interviewer forgot I was coming. He led me to the furniture section, sat down at a desk, and interviewed me there. I hoped no one would come by and ask him for help finding something.
I was once interviewed for the wrong job. I'd applied for a temporary web development job at a college. The interview had to be rescheduled twice because of deaths in the interviewer's family. When we finally sat down for the interview, he said he wanted to describe the job, then read the job description for a summer camp counselor. When I told him I'd applied for the web developer position, he apologized, then said it had been filled.
I was in an interview as a new grad. Everything was going well, we discussed my education and work experience, job duties and training, I met some staff, we were laughing, people were friendly, so far so good. Then one of the staff educators brought up my home town (which has a bit of a silly rivalry with the city I live in) and their hockey team."Oh, I bet you are a _______ fan! That's totally gonna be a problem working here""Actually, I'm not that into Hockey"*Crickets*The interview ended pretty much right there, I didn't get the job, but I did learn a lesson!
I'm from Boston, a big sports town, but I'm a sports agnostic. I interviewed for some new grad positions in Pittsburgh. When asked why I was interested in moving there, I mentioned the lower cost of living and my family in Cleveland, 3 hours away. I know the Steelers are a religion in Pittsburgh, and I know Clevelanders feel the same way about the Browns, but I wasn't aware of the intense rivalry between the cities' teams. I'm wasn't hired.
RNsRWe, ASN, RN
3 Articles; 10,428 Posts
Wow, my worst one doesn't stack up to these! But I'll offer him up, anyway:
I was part of a panel that was interviewing Shiny New Grad; as a charge nurse for the floor he's applying for, I'm involved. We were still asking stupid questions like "where do you see yourself in five years?" (does anyone ask that anymore? Maybe....).
Anyway, imagine my surprise when he told us that he expected to be in CRNA school.....he was "only doing the required time" in Med-Surg before going to ICU! And here I was, interviewing a prospective new nurse FOR my Med-Surg unit. So....thanks for telling me you "only" want to "do your time" while I put MY time into training you, etc, only to have you run to ICU at your next opportunity.
I know we ASKED him where he expected to be, but he sure didn't have to be quite THAT honest, LOL.....a more vague explanation of his future plans would have sufficed
He didn't get the job with us, AND he didn't get hired anywhere in our hospital. Gosh, wonder why...
flyersfan88
449 Posts
I was interviewing for a job I really wanted in a city 1000 miles away from where I lived, worked and went to school. By some coincidence, the interviewing assistant manager had graduated from my school, two years ahead of me. I walked in thinking this was going to work in my favor. As she looked over my resume, the interviewer said, "Oh, your name is Ruby Coe. You must be Professor Coe's daughter! I dated your brother my last year in nursing school." Not my father, not my brother. My father-in-law and my husband. Whom she dated the year we got married. Before AND after. I didn't get the job and the marriage didn't last much longer, either. I'm sure she thinks *I* was the worst interviewee ever, because I told her she'd been dating my HUSBAND.
:eek::eek::eek:
nurseprnRN, BSN, RN
1 Article; 5,116 Posts
Not me, but a friend had what I think must have been right up there with the worst job interview ever. She was interviewing with an insurance company for a management position, and during her interview experienced a totally unexpected flood of menstrual blood. I mean, a soaking-through-the-suit-skirt-into-the-chair-upholstery, running-down-the-pantyhose-to-the-calves FLOOD. She said there was nothing much to say except apologize, but she was being interviewed by a nurse who said, well, what the heck. She got the job.
annie.rn
546 Posts
Not me but a friend had what I think must have been right up there with the worst job interview ever. She was interviewing with an insurance company for a management position, and during her interview experienced a totally unexpected flood of menstrual blood. I mean, a soaking-through-the-suit-skirt-into-the-chair-upholstery, running-down-the-pantyhose-to-the-calves FLOOD. She said there was nothing much to say except apologize, but she was being interviewed by a nurse who said, well, what the heck. She got the job.[/quote']Wow! How embarrassing but at least she got the job :-) My sister (who is also a nurse) got very nervous before an interview with the nervous stomach to go along with it. She described passing very foul gas that was so bad she made herself gag. She did not get the job and was positive her nervous gas was the reason. She was actually relieved b/c she was so humiliated she didn't think she'd ever be able to show her face on that unit again. She is very prim and proper which only made the situation more awkward and more funny.
Wow! How embarrassing but at least she got the job :-) My sister (who is also a nurse) got very nervous before an interview with the nervous stomach to go along with it. She described passing very foul gas that was so bad she made herself gag. She did not get the job and was positive her nervous gas was the reason. She was actually relieved b/c she was so humiliated she didn't think she'd ever be able to show her face on that unit again. She is very prim and proper which only made the situation more awkward and more funny.