Second Post

What was your worst interview experience? Has anything ever gone drastically wrong in an interview; did you say anything stupid or were you late, for example? I'm sure there are some cringeworthy stories out there you want to share! ;)

At my first ever group assessment I barely spoke. In retrospect this was a strategic error.

The thing I dislike about interviews the most is all the formalities e.g. having to stand up to greet people when they enter the room, shaking hands, all that stuff. I always get worried that I'll mess it up and make a bad impression over the most trivial of things. In one interview I went to, somebody came into the room (the 2nd interviewer, who was a little late) and I shook his hand without having fully stood up, so I was almost hunched over, and I must have looked so ridiculous!

It makes me cringe to think that as soon as I walk into the room the interviewers will put me into boxes based on how I appear and speak.  Then after the interview they will give me a little score based on whether they liked me as opposed to my suitability for the job.  Such an awful procedure to endure.

I had a pretty awful experience at one interview where I managed to spill coffee down my tie and part of my shirt beforehand...I had to disguise it as best I could by covering myself with my jacket. Very embarrassing and of course it put me off-kilter for the entire interview, as it was all I could think about.

I had an interview where the previous applicant was just leaving their interview, and they were clearly very "chummy" with the person who was waiting for them back in the waiting room...hmmm. Put me off as it looked like they all knew each other, and made me feel like I had no chance when I went into my interview :( I didn't get the job either...