share your instant death at interview stories

Sometimes the "instant death" is not a fault of yours but the interviewer(s) as well. I went for 1 interview where I could clearly feel that they are not interested in me. How I know? Because they talked more than me, and I was not given a chance to complete my sentences until they cut in. Which makes me wonder why they called me in the first place.

[miwashi]

I once went for an interview for the wrong position, though I believe it was not my fault. It was a new media executive position.

Their HR guy called me, confirmed that I applied for a job there, and asked me to come for an interview.

On that day I appeared, and the hr guy gave me some papers and asked me to read them. They were job descriptions - admin manager, corp communications executive, development executive, general education officer. No new media executive but I thought it was just a renamed corp comms executive position.

So I went into the interview room, did the usual background exposition, talked about my skills, and then I went "... and because of that I think I have the correct background for this new media executive position."

Immediately the interviewers looked shocked, and kept telling me the new media executive position was filled already.

So what was I being interviewed for?

The interview ended about 3 minutes after that. I tried to recover gracefully, and said that I would love to be considered for the corp comms position as it was similar, but they weren't interested in talking further.

Apparently, the HR drone was supposed to tell me to choose a job I was interested in from the papers, while I was waiting for the interview. And that the new media exec position I applied for was already closed. None of this was brought up to me.. All the way I thought I was going to be interviewed for the position I applied for.

In record time, 2 days after the interview, I got a rejection letter in my post box.

It gave me a very bad impression of this organization and how they worked.

Originally Posted by miwashi

I once went for an interview for the wrong position, though I believe it was not my fault. It was a new media executive position.

Their HR guy called me, confirmed that I applied for a job there, and asked me to come for an interview.

On that day I appeared, and the hr guy gave me some papers and asked me to read them. They were job descriptions - admin manager, corp communications executive, development executive, general education officer. No new media executive but I thought it was just a renamed corp comms executive position.

So I went into the interview room, did the usual background exposition, talked about my skills, and then I went "... and because of that I think I have the correct background for this new media executive position."

Immediately the interviewers looked shocked, and kept telling me the new media executive position was filled already.

So what was I being interviewed for?

The interview ended about 3 minutes after that. I tried to recover gracefully, and said that I would love to be considered for the corp comms position as it was similar, but they weren't interested in talking further.

Apparently, the HR drone was supposed to tell me to choose a job I was interested in from the papers, while I was waiting for the interview. And that the new media exec position I applied for was already closed. None of this was brought up to me.. All the way I thought I was going to be interviewed for the position I applied for.

In record time, 2 days after the interview, I got a rejection letter in my post box.

It gave me a very bad impression of this organization and how they worked.

who's choosing who?

from your posts, it seems you are quite desperate for a new job. don't be too picky.

[miwashi]

i think you misunderstand the point i was making. i applied for a job and they asked me down for an interview for a different position without telling me that. Of course I want any position but they didn't want me when they found out I wasn't told the interview was for a different position.

Mine is quite interesting. Fresh out of school.
Shortlisted for one of the more prestigious Stat Boards here.
Black pants/White shirt/Dark blue tie/smart briefcase
Was asked to evaluate a case prior to meeting the interviewers.
Deeply focused on the case study, twirling the wet ink pen...
Before I knew it, my white shirt became polka dot

Still, I entered the interviewing room unfetered.
The 3 gentlemen there gave me the "WHAT THE FUG" look...and like they say...the rest is history.

In retrospect, good as this effectively prevented me from joining the Govt. I have been in pte sector ever since and is surviving OK.

Went for my one and only govt job interview.
Guess where... GIC

There were a bunch of us there, we are supposed to take some sort of test.
I was the only one ( i think) that is a non honours graduate.

thank goodness I did not get the job!

Went for interview at big IT firm located at Suntec city. Met friendly HR who led me to the room where I waited. Interviewer (MD or VP can;t remember) came in , sat down and started reading my resume. After about a minute, she looked disturbed and asked me a few questions about my work experience.....then the classic line " I don't know why my HR ask you to come for an interview, I don't think your experience is relevant for the position"

I left in under 5 minutes but HR did call me later to apologise. Sigh.....quite surprised that this could happen at big MNC

-the end-

[miwashi]

not to mention all the wasted leave that we used to attend these fruitless interviews.
In 2007 I used 12 days of leave for attending interviews.

Mine is not really an interview per se

I am Mech Engineering grad from NUS.

I was searching for jobs many years back but to no avail so i was very sian.

And so i send in my CV to Tan Tock Seng Hospital to apply for a medical doctor job.

Surprisingly they replied saying i did not meet their criteria..i had a good laugh...ha

[Architektur]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Mine is not really an interview per se

I am Mech Engineering grad from NUS.

I was searching for jobs many years back but to no avail so i was very sian.

And so i send in my CV to Tan Tock Seng Hospital to apply for a medical doctor job.

Surprisingly they replied saying i did not meet their criteria..i had a good laugh...ha

Lol this is a good laugh. Maybe I should try something like this one day.