56 Jaw-Dropping Job Interview Fails You Won’t Believe Actually Happened
Was interviewing for a new role at my current company at the time, and had gone through about 20-30 different people all 10-15 minute interviews.
Get to the last few and I’m getting pretty tired since I hadn’t taken a break. After I finish an interview, I pick up my newspaper and start reading. Receptionist sends in the next applicant and I’m still reading my newspaper and ask “What’s going to make me remember you over the last 20 people that I’ve just interviewed?”
He simply gets out his lighter and sets my newspaper on fire, while I’m still reading it!
He was escorted out by building security and I was pretty angry at the time, but looking back on it, that kid had some serious [courage].
TL;DR – A candidate set my newspaper on fire while I was reading it.
I was put in charge of hiring at a call center years ago. As you probably can imagine, turnover is high. Even if you really want a job, having people yell at you for 6 hours a day will burn people out fast. So basically we hire everyone. Except this guy.
Pretty much as long as I can understand you during the interview process you have the job. We make people fill out applications but we don’t call or check on anyone.
So this guy interviews, speaks perfect English, seems nice enough. I ask him about his work history, just making conversation for the most part. I ask him why he left his last job and he responded that he left for stealing credit card information. I don’t know why he thought that wouldn’t be a red flag for a job where you take credit card information but…at least he was honest.
I tell him we’ll call him if anything opens up. Did that for 6 months, that was literally the only person who didn’t get brought into a training group.
Went to hire a girl for a restaurant I was managing, she showed up for the interview and seemed really….off. like she was on [something] or a had a few drinks. A short while later the cops showed up asking who’s badly damaged vehicle was in the parking lot and questioned some kitchen staff. Next thing you know she sees cops and bolts to the bathroom. The police had to go in and grab her, when they searched her they found a half empty bottle of vodka and some pills of some sort. She was arrested and escorted out of the restaurant. Apparently on her way to the interview she side swiped another vehicle. Needless to say we never saw her again.
Two incidents that stand out (different candidates for the same job):
1.
Me: “What would you say is your single most impressive professional achievement?”
Him: “I no longer have a colostomy bag.”
2.
Me: “This job is quite prominent, and may require you to give presentations to senior government figures. Can you tell me how you approach this kind of pressure?”
Him: “You’ve got to be joking. I’ll be off sick that day!”
Latest one – dude turned up an hour late for the first interview. I thought “well [stuff] happens to everyone” and gave him ten minutes as a courtesy and rescheduled. He was two hours late for his second interview.
(Candidate comes in from the street wearing headphones, sits down)
Hiring manager: Ok, so let’s start, do you want to take off your headphones?
Candidate: No, I can hear you over the music.
Credit: Job agency Robert Half.
I was interviewing for a position in a grocery store deli, and as soon as the first candidate came in I recognized her as a customer we had arrested for spitting in the face of a deli clerk two days earlier for slicing her cheese to thinly.
Pure chutzpah.
His phone rang, he took the call and talked to his mom – right in the middle of interview. My colleague hired him anyway. Guy did not last long – rarely showed up to work and when he did, slept (and snored) at his desk. Sigh!
A phone interview with a woman who had already had a decent 1st round interview. On the phone, the woman was audibly and belligerently drunk–slurring her words, sing-songy answers of various volumes and shouting some answers at me. I finished the interview as quickly as possible and promptly coded her as a rejection. She called me back the next day–totally sober–asking why she didn’t get the job.
A woman showed up with an infant. That’s okay I guess, come on in. A little while in, without any warning, she starts breastfeeding. Just wow.
We once had a candidate so desperate to go toilet whilst we left them in a room to do their test, they [did it] out of the 3rd floor window. 20 minutes into his second stage interview I was interrupted by a call from the office opposite reception. “Erm, Do you know someone went “toilet” out of your window?” After a 2 minute discussion I went back into the room. I couldn’t blindly ask him so I asked if he had opened the window. He moved his chair away, stared at me for 2-3 seconds and ran out of the room. Never saw him again.
My manager gave me the task to explain to the cleaner what happened.
Supa Ant 6x8ft. Welding Blanket Fireproof (Pack of 2) - Heavy Duty Weld Fire Blanket Tools - Welders Cover for Men Curtain with Gloves - Large Welding Gear for Welder Accessories
(as of August 30, 2026 00:32 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Supa Ant Canning Supplies Starter Kit (Food Grade) - Canning Kits Set for Beginners - 3 Pcs. Including Wide Mouth Jar Funnel, Magnetic Lid Lifter, Stainless Steel Jar Lifter (Assembled in USA) Blue
$9.99 (as of August 30, 2026 00:32 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
RIVER OF GOODS Alabaster LED Mesh Caged Ceiling Fan - 52" L X 52" W - White/Oak Wood-Grain Blades
(as of August 30, 2026 00:32 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
KiddyCare Diaper Caddy Organizer for Baby Nursery Basket with Handle Lid Nursing Caddy with Changing Table Organizer Cart Newborn Caddy Rosy (Floral Print) X-Large
$16.50 (as of August 30, 2026 00:32 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Post Comment