We've all been interviewed
for jobs. And, we've all spent most of those interviews thinking
about what not to do. Don't bite your nails. Don't fidget.
Don't interrupt. Don't belch. If we did any of the don'ts,
we knew we'd disqualify ourselves instantly. But some job applicants
go light years beyond this. We surveyed top personnel executives
of 100 major American corporations and asked for stories of unusual
behavior by job applicants. The lowlights:
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"... stretched out on the floor
to fill out the job application."
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"She wore a Walkman and said
she could listen to me and the music at the same time."
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" A balding candidate abruptly
excused himself. Returned to office a few minutes later, wearing a hairpiece."
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"... asked to see interviewer's
resume to see if the personnel executive was qualified to judge the candidate."
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"... announced she hadn't had
lunch and proceeded to eat a hamburger and french fries in the interviewer's
office -wiping the ketchup on her sleeve"
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"Stated that, if he were hired,
he would demonstrate his loyalty by having the corporate logo tattooed
on his forearm."
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"Interrupted to phone his therapist
for advice on answering specific interview questions."
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"When I asked him about his
hobbies, he stood up and started tap dancing around my office."
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"At the end of the interview,
while I stood there dumbstruck, went through my purse, took out a brush,
brushed his hair, and left."
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"... pulled out a Polaroid camera
and snapped a flash picture of me. Said he collected photos of everyone
who interviewed him."
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"Said he wasn't interested because
the position paid too much."
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"While I was on a long-distance
phone call, the applicant took out a copy of Penthouse, and looked through
the photos only, stopping longest at the centerfold."
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"During the interview, an alarm
clock went off from the candidate's brief case. He took it out, shut
it off, apologized and said he had to leave for another interview."
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"A telephone call came in for
the job applicant. It was from his wife. His side of the conversation went
like this: "Which company? When do I start? What's
the salary?" I said, "I assume you're not interested in conducting the
interview any further." He promptly responded, "I am as long as you'll
pay me more." I didn't hire him, but later found out there was no
other job offer. It was a scam to get a higher offer."
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"His attache [case] opened when
he picked it up and the contents spilled, revealing ladies' undergarments
and assorted makeup and perfume."
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"Candidate said he really didn't
want to get a job, but the unemployment office needed proof that he was
looking for one."
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"... asked who the lovely babe
was, pointing to the picture on my desk. When I said it was my wife,
he asked if she was home now and wanted my phone number. I called
security."
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"Pointing to a black case he
carried into my office, he said that if he was not hired, the bomb would
go off. Disbelieving, I began to state why he would never be hired
and that I was going to call the police. He then reached down to the case,
flipped a switch and ran. No one was injured, but I did need to get a new
desk."
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