Worst interview moment?

[13177]

It's one thing to call the HR and ask (my assumption is that HR has some obligation to be professional and discrete) but to just randomly call up ex-colleagues is odd leh.

Randomly calling up ex-colleagues indeed odd, unless the person stated the reference list of their ex-colleagues on the resume.

[Kusje]

Calling HR is worse right? HR will likely immediately inform your manager. Colleagues may still cover up for you.

 

Maybe they want to sabo the candidate , make him accept lower offer after he get screwed by his company.

I mean HR of the ex coy.

[Datsun366]

When we accept that human beings are dynamic and subject to evolution.

 

Calling up past history serves to provide old data.

 

The provision of said old data say by The lovable James and myself will be different even though subject matter is the same.

 

Use some science man, dun follow the cow path home.

 

I know the history of some figures held up as recent public examples of good behavior. Do not ask me if I agree with whether they should be held up as Lego role models. If you only knew what I knew.

 

HR are people doing a job. They have no consequences unlike some other people when they mix up millicuries and microcuries.

 

If you accept change, past history is good to know but not important to base judgement on.

 

Then people always do things to suit their purpose, as Caesar is wont to.

[Jamesc]

The only people they should call is the person put down as reference

 

and only after the staff has agreed. This is usually after the person has 

 

started work when they are still under probation.

 

A lot of people put me as reference and when they call me I always give

 

them a glowing testimonial as if he was the best employee in the world

 

so that he get the job or gets confirmed. If after a few months the manager

 

calls me and say this is the worse employee he ever hired I will just say

 

He must have changed a lot and was never like that before. So basically

 

asking for a reference is just a waste of time. You will never pick a reference

 

that will give you a bad assessment. 

 

[SuPerBoRed]

U doing HR bro ?

No. no reference was included in the application resume I sent in..Most recently I sent applications to 2 jobs at 2 companies.

Problem is apparently, they are good at "digging" to be able to contact my ex-colleague. I also don't use him as reference normally if requested...

It is really "back ground" reference check, I do not know which is doing the checks as I have not received any calls. Even my ex-colleague asked me "which job I applied at which company??" He also does not know the "other party" and calling from where..he told me apparently "they" are doing reference checks.

 

Just sharing as this is the 1st time I am encountering this situation...it's totally no clue, no head & tail what is going on. Maybe bros who encountered or HR people can help...

 

Thanks.

 

Im not.. but got headhunted b4.. basically.. if need to go tru digging to do backgrd check.. 

 

1- someone put up ur name for an opening with an headhunter and they are doing due diligience

2- the company you send ur resume to shortlisted u and they need to streamline that list

 

Eitherway.. good luck! 

[A_korusawa]

#1.   always include the followings in your CVs . . . .

 

References Available Upon Request

I will be very glad to facilitate requests with advance notice, thank you.

 

 

#2.  always try NOT to send CV directly to company

 

if possible, via an agency or headhunter where they do the 'bargains' on your behalf

many a time, they can found out the salary bandwidth allocated

[Ahgong]

One of the most straight to the point interview

 

"Your cv looks just like the other 20 sent to me. I don't have any questions for you. Just tell me, in 2 mins, why I should hire you over the other 19"

Yeah. They Shld also rem I am interviewing them as well

 

I have no interest to work for bullshiit people too asking idiotic questions

 

Too old for such crap

 

so. what was your answer?

i got a similar question, curious to know what your answer was.

[Francis-jack]

so. what was your answer?

i got a similar question, curious to know what your answer was.

Yeah how to counter this question

[Kezg1]

Yeah how to counter this question

 

 

...pack up and thanks them for the interview and leave...thats what I have done...LOL

[Jman888]

so. what was your answer?

i got a similar question, curious to know what your answer was.

 

 

"I think i should not waste your time further since you didn't hire the previous 19 other guys"  

[Ahgong]

Some interviewer is just unprofessional, regardless what is the position of the person. I remember i went to an interview, there are two interviewers, and maybe the manager didn't find me impressive etc, while i am talking half-way, he just cut in rudely and said something like, i have listen enough of what you have said so far, now just tell me why are you here since your work experience is so little...!

 

how did you counter then?

[Francis-jack]

...pack up and thanks them for the interview and leave...thats what I have done...LOL

LOL...well done

[Enye]

ask the interviewer to put the 20 CVs in a box and ballot

 

then leave

 

[Wyfitms]

so. what was your answer?

i got a similar question, curious to know what your answer was.

Can't recall exactly

Something to the point like I am familiar with the role and have a good job and good testimony from ex colleagues etc

[Watwheels]

Looks like in most interviews the hirer is not asking relevant questions. Imo HR shouldn't be the one conducting the interview unless it's the HR dept who is hiring help. Meaning the relevant dept should conduct the interview when they are hiring. From most comments here it doesn't turn out to be so.

 

HR hiring personel can be present but the relevant dept manager should do most of the questioning. Putting someone who is not relevant to him/her the 20 candidates will no doubt all look the same and not ask questions that matter. Finding out who is most suitable for the job. What a waste of everyone's time.

[Ahgong]

Ah, i can kinda explain why, even though when u have estimated the time for the interview, there is always some candidates who insist to continue with the interview until they feel certain that u are going to give them the job... 

 

i meet one myself previously when i told the candidate that we will get back to them with the result by the end of the week, the candidate then keep on wanting us to continue with the interview if we have any doubts on her capabilities...  In the end, sometimes, interviews might be dragged on for some reasons that we might not have expected...

 

 

then the courteous thing to do is to let the AA inform the candidate in waiting that the previous interview is still on going, and that his/her appointment time will be delayed.

I ever encountered before. the AA came to inform me of the delay. i waited 2 hours for the interview. Reason was because the person who had to interview me, had to fight a production "Fire" that caused the delay.

any reasonable candidate will be willing to wait if the reason was genuine and they are duely informed.

[Ahgong]

Ssshhhhhh dun pichar lobang

 

 

 

Jokes aside... i remember when i was much younger... i went for a job interview at a semi con manufacturer

I had many frens in there and they told me i am suitable due to my man management experience. 

the only thing is that i need to commit to night shift..

 

i did that but still din get the job

 

i think what went wrong was:

The interviewer ask me why i left my previous company. (i.e. before the job i was in during the interview). I said that that was my first job. i joined the company cos i was an intern there and they ask me to join them after i grad. i finally left the company becos the company was not able to pay my salary i.e. owe me salary. His face changed and ask me "Is that how you repay their kindness?"

After this question, you can sensed that he just want to finish the interview.

 

After so many years, i still cannot figure out why he had such a big reaction.

Maybe i will get flamed for this LOL

 

i dun understand the reaction of the interviewer. you mean he expect you to work for free?

if the company cannot afford to pay you your salary on time, and still owe you salary due to their incompetence to dish out salary come salary date, it is your right to leave and look for another company that can pay you salary on time for the work you do!

you dun leave on fresh air and sunshine you know.

[Still2016]

Many years ago I was sitting on an interview panel to hire someone whose salary starts from SG $40,000.

 

We had this relatively young guy who is well connect came into the interview room. He sat down on the chair and first thing he did was to complement the lady in the panel on how beautiful she was.

 

Guys, if one of strategy is to flatter, there are many more other subtle ways.

Edited February 15, 2017 by Still2016