My Worst Interview Experiences

A colleague asked me about my worst interview experience the other day. He wanted to contrast it to his, to see if he should be offended :-)

Hiring managers, HR folks, interviewing people are all people. So, it's not surprising that sometimes we don't find them at their best. Here are some of my worst interview experiences:

When the hiring manager changed his baby's diaper during my interview. I was a developer in my mid-20s. I had not babysat for small children, and had no idea about small children. The hiring had brought his toddler into work that day. During the interview, it was odiferously clear that the baby's diaper needed changing. The manager changed it while I was answering questions. Then, worst of all, he left the diaper in his trash next to his desk. The room stunk.

I know a lot more about babies and stinky diapers now :-) But I decided any manager who left the diaper in the trash in the same room as an interviewee was not to be trusted. Managers have the job to create a great environment for their staff.

Sitting in a stairwell because there was no other place to talk. Back in the late '90s, I was interviewing for a consulting engagement. The manager had offered her office to her staff for a meeting. (A reasonable thing to do.) But that left us with no place to sit. She suggested we sit in the stairwell. "No one ever goes there." Well, plenty of people did. I suggested we find a place to have coffee instead, but she persisted. We never did discuss the confidential issues.

No lunch in interview that started 9:30, and ended at 2:30pm. Back in my project management days, a recruiter called me, and pleaded with me to go on an interview. "The job was made for you." I finally agreed, and planned to spend most of a day on the interview. At 1 pm I asked about lunch. "Oh, no one's got the job of feeding you." I suggested we go down to the cafeteria, and I would buy lunch while my interviewer interviewed me. "I'm too busy. Just go yourself."  So astonishing on so many levels.

Not having anyone ready to interview me when I arrived. I arrived on time for my interview, but no one knew who was supposed to see me first.  I gave them 20 minutes and left. If they couldn't figure out how to get going in 20 minutes, this was not the place for me.

Having the interview location change, but no one told me. I was interviewing at a large company with a "campus." I'd discussed the location with the HR person earlier, and when I showed up, the security guard gave me a map and told me to drive 10 minutes away. Now I was late. And, so was my interviewer.

I hope none of these happen to you. If you're a hiring manager, know what you have to do to avoid these problems. If you're a candidate, decide what you can and cannot live with.