I've had #6 types a few times. Never got offered those jobs and a couple I complained about to the firm's HR (after I was officially rejected). However, I know complaining did nothing. I was still without a job and those jerks still had theirs.
The ones I really hate are the interviewers who are coy and sneaky by asking questions like tell me about your experience beyond what you have on your resume. So if my resume says 10+ years and the job only requires 4-5 years, why on Earth do they want me to go over my job history past 10 years? Is it because they want to do the math in their small minds about how old I am without asking my age? This happened the other day and has really bothered me.
Elleof CA4:14AM September 06, 2012
Question: "If you were a tree, what kind of tree would you be?"
Answer: "If you were asking questions relevant to the job, what would they be?"
Alexof TX9:28AM July 05, 2012
Had an interviewer look everywhere except me AND was texting toward the end of the interview. I think at the very least, it's unprofessional.
Even if this person knew right away I wasn't going to be hired, they could have cut the interview short or feigned interest for the duration.
While I 'd like to work for this company, I don't know what will happen if I apply for another position in the future. Especially if the same person is the gatekeeper.
This was a manager, not HR.
Joeof IN12:55PM June 16, 2012
"Often these interviewers are simply making small talk ..."
When I am interviewing, I ask personal questions like those, not because the candidate's answers have any bearing on being hired, but because the candidate is too nervous or down-right freaking out, for me to properly interview. I need them to calm down, and "easy" questions help to do that.
Joshof PA11:26AM March 07, 2012
Great advice - practical, professonal, and reasonable tips for turning around truly uncomfortable and frustrating interview situations!
Diane Irwinof NJ3:48PM November 02, 2011
Great information - I am sorry to say that I have run into five of the six (luckily have avoided the hostile interview).
Keep up the good work - will be sure to follow.
Kevin Monahanof IN9:57PM November 01, 2011
This sounds pretty much like a typical interview at Microsoft.
Coder Boyof WA5:48PM October 31, 2011
I just dealt with a 3+4 combo. The guy spent most of the interview fiddling with his tie/phone/keys and periodically looked up to ask me, e.g., what kind of car I would be. Way awkward.
Re: 6, in my experience, being balls-to-the-wall-grilled often meant they thought you were pretty smart.
Ellsof MD4:54PM October 31, 2011
I had an interview that they kept asking me all sorts of personal questions. What I do in my free time has nothing to do with this job!
That same interview I felt like they were trying to get me to answer every question wrong b/c they knew they were going to hire someone else. Which really annoyed me bc thats a waste of my time and your time.
I didn't want that job anyway the boss was a pre-madonna. And they were having internal issues.
Beth Anneof FL2:14PM October 31, 2011
Oy. I had an interviewer talk about her personal crusades in education (since I currently work at a tutoring company that's involved with the school district, though the job was for an optometrist's assistant) and then ask me if I planned to pursue an advanced degree (Master's is right there on my resume...) it was extremely frustrating.
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Elle of CA 4:14AM September 06, 2012
Alex of TX 9:28AM July 05, 2012
Joe of IN 12:55PM June 16, 2012
Josh of PA 11:26AM March 07, 2012
Diane Irwin of NJ 3:48PM November 02, 2011
Kevin Monahan of IN 9:57PM November 01, 2011
Coder Boy of WA 5:48PM October 31, 2011
Ells of MD 4:54PM October 31, 2011
Beth Anne of FL 2:14PM October 31, 2011
Amber Dawn of WA 1:43PM October 31, 2011