GigglyUnicorn
GigglyUnicorn

Most interviewers forget why they entered the conversation in the first place

1/ They join the call with a position of authority, rather than a position of understanding 2/ They are allowed to walk in when ever they want, but don't take it lightly when candidate turns up late 3/They were supposed to assess talent, but they turn the interview into an ego trip of "I know more". Newsflash: You’re not the one being hired. 4/ They were supposed to get to know the candidate, but they spend the first half ticking off the checkboxes and the second half on talking about stuff thats remotely not relevant. If the candidate wanted a podcast, they’d have tuned in. 5/ They were supposed to ask relevant meaningful questions, but they would rather ask - "How many chickens does it take to lift a watermelon". 6/ They were supposed to focus on the candidate's strengths, but they spend the whole time nitpicking flaws to feel superior. 7/ They were supposed to have a conversation, but instead, they interrogate. 8/ They were supposed to dig into the candidate's experience, but instead, they waste time on surface-level crap. 9/ They were supposed to close with clear feedback, but they would rather say "The HR will get back to you" 10/ They were supposed to challenge the candidate's thinking, but instead, they would rather ask the same generic questions copied from google 11/ They were supposed to understand the candidate's ambition, but instead, they focus on how much the candidate knows about the company 12/ They were supposed to evaluate the future potential, but they would rather obsess on their past 13/ They were supposed to value resilience and honesty, but the minute a candidate mentions they were laid off, they assume it's performance-related 14/ They were supposed to reward ambition, but when candidates ask for a higher salary, it’s seen as greed 15/ They were supposed to evaluate culture fit, but don’t even know their own culture

What would you add?

4mo ago
QuirkyCupcake
QuirkyCupcake

One time, the interviewer got offended when I asked for his introduction after I was done with mine. He was like, you want my introduction, my introduction? I was like yes, if that's fine.

GigglyUnicorn
GigglyUnicorn

😂… he wasn’t prepared do that one for sure

ZoomySushi
ZoomySushi

😂

GroovyBagel
GroovyBagel
SAP4mo

I was once interviewed for one of the Biggest product companies(won't reveal the name). HR mentioned they'd take 3 technical rounds, 1 managerial. After the 1st Technical round, they decided to take 3 more technical rounds which made it 4. I cleared all of them.
At the managerial round, the interviewer seemed so much in authority, that he first asked me technical questions again, and then some managerial questions. It was only 1 question that I fumbled a bit and got rejected. (That's what the HR mentioned as the reason). It was so frustrating, and moreover, during all the technical rounds, either the interviewers used to cancel, or joined late because THEY HAD LOADS TO WORK TO COMPLETE. It took around a month to complete all these rounds and a rejection at the end. 😑

GigglyUnicorn
GigglyUnicorn

Damn! Sorry you had to go through this - on the up side - am happy you ain’t part of the team

SleepyCupcake
SleepyCupcake
EY4mo

I had an experience with one of the company where they scheduled an interview for Tuesday. I prepared and joined the interview dressing up on time. 2 mins before the start hr called they are rescheduling it to friday due to an interviewer is sick. I agreed with him. Later joined the friday call even if i had lots of deliverables to be submitted by EOD. I waited around 5 mins on the call and no one joined. HR called again saying that the interviewer is busy with some client call.
I thought Don’t our time has any value. He want me to reschedule the interview again to Monday same time. I told him no need i’m not going frwd with your opportunity. I almost got a bad impression of the company.

PeppyQuokka
PeppyQuokka

Good 👍

PeppyQuokka
PeppyQuokka

One of my recent interviews...the interviewer was asking all bullshit questions which were not relevant to the role I had applied and he was yawning during the whole interview.... finally I got rejected 🤣

ZestyWalrus
ZestyWalrus

I feel like you can create an entire thread of interview horror stories. I'll start.
Once I was interviewing for a company, an up and coming place with an office in what would be considered the heart of Bangalore for what would be an in person interview. I arrived there on time and found out much to my annoyance that they were having 25 people interview for the same position on the same day.
Annoyance is at 10% When i head to the reception of this place the receptionist asks me for a print out of my resume. I'm like wtf? I sent it to your HR, why would you ask me for a printout in 2024, Annoyance is at 15% Then after getting a printout, she hands me a form and a pen and asks me to fill out information from my resume into the form again. Annoyance is at 30% With no proper place to sit in this place because:

  1. They called 25 people.
  2. Their reception area is basically just a sofa and an aquarium, with people already sitting waiting for their interviews. Most of us had to sit on the stairwell.
    Annoyance is at 45% I arrived at this place at the proper time which was 11:00 am sharp. Now having to sit at what is a dark, empty, dirty stairwell having to rewrite my information onto a piece of paper with no pad i realise that almost 2 hours pass and there is no sign of them calling me. I'm hungry. I didn't expect that I'd have to pack lunch. Now caught between a rock and a hard place my annoyance is at 60% Sunk cost fallacy is at an all time high.
    My hunger and thirst is keeping me there out of spite. I'm hoping that at least this interview better be worth me not eating lunch. Finally they decided to call me inside at almost 3 pm I go in. The HR who decided to set up this interview in the first place asks for both the sheets, my filled application and resume. She decides to ask me to explain my resume, again. She was the one who decided to call me in the first place, and set everything up. Annoyance is at 75% She has me wait out again. Has another engineer from the company come in. I've been prepared for my technical round for days.
    This dude decides to ask me to explain my resume to him again, asks me no technical questions and sends me on my merry way.
    I am 100% annoyed, cursing that this company goes under the entire way back home. Gorge on an indulgent late lunch
    The HR doesn't let me know the status of my application until I decide to grace her with my messages.
    0 professionalism, 100% of my day wasted.
    TL;DR - Do your vetting before calling applicants and don't waste my time.
PeppyQuokka
PeppyQuokka

I guess this is Accenture...bcuz, they have the same unprofessional way to conduct the interviews. It's pathetic. I will suggest not to attend any walk-ins, they treat the candidates very badly and simply waste their time and energy. They ask everyone to be in the venue 30min before time and actually they will call everyone in a snail pace and spoil the whole day with no result at the end. You will definitely come home empty hands.

SnoozyTaco
SnoozyTaco

How long back was this? This is such a terrible experience.

PeppySushi
PeppySushi

I interviewed for MathCo (I'm not gonna shy away from taking the company name). The Interviewer asked Frontend related questions for the Backend role.

GigglyUnicorn
GigglyUnicorn

😂 did u ask the interviewer dealers name?

ZoomyQuokka
ZoomyQuokka

I've had many bad interview experiences. Many cases were the interviewers were rude and intimidating.

GigglyUnicorn
GigglyUnicorn

Story of every other candidate

WobblyCupcake
WobblyCupcake

Asking personal questions like married or not, have kids or not

SillyBagel
SillyBagel

Would like to add 1 point to a bad interview experience. Idk why they ask us to turn on our camera esp when they don't turn on theirs. Feels weird. Also I just had an interview with a big q-commerce startup z.... . The interviewer was quite arrogant and got offended when I immediately started with Hi X , how are you?
He probably wanted to be the one to ask that question. But idk rest of the interview went well.

PeppyQuokka
PeppyQuokka

Lol 😆....I totally agree with the one way camera, I also feel very embarrassed with my camera on and I see myself in the screen... incase of one way video call we should also switch off our camera

GoofyCupcake
GoofyCupcake

Luckily have never faced such interviews. Then again, have never had many interviews. Here's the log anyway.

  • College, reject. First interview of life. Cleared all the technical rounds. HM round - fumbled on all the answers cause I don't see myself anywhere after 5 years

  • College, reject. Brilliant interview experience. Company conducted pair programming sessions. However my code wasn't good enough apparantly.

  • College, select. Easy questions, smooth sailing. First offer.

Out of college experiences

  • Select. Got a nice lady who got impressed with my skills somehow. They cut it short after two rounds. She later was my tech lead for next 3 years.

  • Reject. Tech rounds went well. Screwed up in System design.

  • Reject. Fumbled up when interviewer asked me to implement recursive approach instead of iterative.

  • Reject. Couldn't solve questions in tech screen. Rusty.

  • Select. Even though the HM round was a disaster, they decided to go forward with me.

  • Reject. After second round, got rejected probably because I didn't focus much on product and customer metrics while designing system.

  • In progress / Select: although all the rounds were hit and miss, they are proceeding with rolling out an offer 🤞🏻

FluffyWalrus
FluffyWalrus

come on, we teach our kids to be powerful rather than being successful, we take pride in the amount of money we earn rather than how happily we live. what do you expect from such a society? stop complaining, everyone here is a part of the problem.

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