Vice presidents and Personnel Directors of the one hundred largest
corporations were asked to describe their most unusual experience
interviewing prospective employees:
1. A job applicant challenged the interviewer to an arm wrestle.
2. Interviewee wore a Walkman, explaining that she could listen to the
interviewer and the music at the same time.
3. Candidate announced she hadn't had lunch and proceeded to eat a hamburger
and french fries in the interviewer's office.
4. Candidate explained that her long-term goal was to replace the
interviewer.
5. Candidate said he never finished high school because he was kidnapped and
kept in a closet in Mexico.
6. Balding candidate excused himself and returned to the office a few
minutes later wearing a headpiece.
7. Applicant said if he was hired he would demonstrate his loyalty by having
the corporate logo tattooed on his forearm.
8. Applicant interrupted interview to phone her therapist for advice on how
to answer specific interview questions.
9. Candidate brought large dog to interview.
10. Applicant refused to sit down and insisted on being interviewed standing
up.
11. Candidate dozed off during interview.
These quotes are taken from real résumés and cover letters and were
printed in the July 21, 1997 issue of Fortune Magazine. (Note: all
typographical errors, etc., are as intended.)
1. "Let's meet, so you can 'ooh' and 'aah' over my experience."
2. "Am a perfectionist and rarely if if ever forget details."
3. "Received a plague for Salesperson of the Year."
4. "Reason for leaving last job: maturity leave."
5. "I was working for my mom until she decided to move."
6. "Failed bar exam with relatively high grades."
7. "It's best for employers that I not work with people."
8. "I have an excellent track record, although I am not a horse."
9. "My goal is be a meteorologist. But since I possess no training in
meteorology, I suppose I should try stock brokeridge."
10. "Personal interests: donating blood. Fourteen gallons so far."
11. "Marital Status: often. Children: various."
12. "The company made me a scapegoat, just like my three previous employers."
13. "Finished eighth in my class of ten."
14. "References: none. I've left a path of descruction behind me."
15. "Marital Status: single. Unmarried. Unengaged. Uninvolved. No
commitments."
