Some Funnies

[Alex Blair (RIP)]

I'm sure half of these people worked for me at one time or the other...


Survey Reveals Most Embarrassing Job Interview Blunders

TORONTO, May 28 /CNW/ - Most people are on their best behaviour when
meeting with hiring managers, but some actions fall nothing short of bizarre.
In a recent survey, OfficeTeam asked executives to recount the most
embarrassing job interview moments they had heard of or witnessed. Following
are some examples:

<<
- "The candidate sent his sister to interview in his place."
- "The person was dancing during the interview. He kept saying things
like, 'I love life!' and 'Oh yeah!'"
- "A job applicant came in for an interview with a cockatoo on his
shoulder."
- "The candidate stopped the interview and asked me if I had a
cigarette."
- "We had one person who walked out of an interview into a glass door -
and the glass shattered."

The survey was developed by OfficeTeam, a leading staffing service
specializing in the placement of highly skilled administrative professionals.
It was conducted by an independent research firm and is based on telephone
interviews with 150 senior executives at the 1,000 largest U.S. companies and
100 senior executives in Canada.
It's helpful to do your homework before a job interview, and the following
job seekers would have benefited from more preparation:

- "The candidate got his companies confused and repeatedly mentioned
the strengths of a competing firm, thinking that's who he was
interviewing with."
- "A guy called me by the wrong name during the entire interview."
- "We're a retail company, and when we asked the candidate why she
wanted to work for us, she said she didn't want to work in retail
anymore."

Most employers observe applicants' body language to see how friendly and
honest they appear. Unfortunately, these job candidates could have used some
improvement in that area:

- "An interviewee put his bubble gum in his hand, forgot about it, and
then shook my hand."
- "A job seeker gestured with his hands so much that he sat on them to
stop it."
- "A candidate fell asleep during the interview."

Dressing professionally increases your chances of landing a job.
Regrettably for these next job hopefuls, the wrong attire can take you out of
the running:

- "Someone showed up for an interview in pyjamas and his hair not
combed, like he had just rolled out of bed."
- "The candidate had a big rip in the back of his pants."

While job seekers should give complete and compelling responses to
interviewers' questions, saying too much can work against you, as these next
examples demonstrate:

- "An applicant was doing really well in the interview until she got to
the reason she left her other job. She told us everyone was out to
get her."
- "A candidate insulted the interviewer on his tie."

"Although extreme, these examples illustrate the importance of interview
basics," said Dave Willmer, executive director of OfficeTeam. "To be
considered for a job, candidates must prepare well, dress appropriately and
provide compelling information about themselves."
OfficeTeam provides the following tips to avoid embarrassing job interview
moments:

- Do your homework. Study the company and ask the interviewer relevant
questions that demonstrate your interest in the firm.
- Dress to impress. Err on the conservative side with a suit in a
neutral tone. "Test drive" a new outfit before the interview to make
sure it's comfortable.
- Don't delay. Plan to arrive at your interview at least 15 minutes
early. Give yourself extra time if you are unfamiliar with the area.
- Keep it real. Offer examples and anecdotes that help illustrate your
strengths, but do not embellish or lie.
- Resist rambling. Once you have answered an interview question, stop
talking. Allow for periods of silence while the hiring manager
formulates the next query.

Alas, even careful preparation can't prevent all mishaps, such as the
following:

- "A candidate cut his lip shaving, and it was bleeding profusely
during the interview."
- "The applicant became ill during the interview."
- "The applicant spilled coffee on her suit."
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Added Willmer, "Handling problems gracefully may actually impress
interviewers. But if the situation can't be overcome, move on and focus on the
next opportunity. It's a learning experience that will someday make an
entertaining story."