Well, that interview could have gone better...

[Snaploud]

Ugh...I'm going to have to purge a lot of that from my memory. She was not impressed with my liberal arts background (despite my now going to a top accounting graduate degree program) or my work experience (primarily extra-curriculars with a couple internships and a long temp assistant accountant assignment).

Well, it was a reach anyway. I can't really expect to be getting an internship at the largest accounting firm in the country (not with my only having just started my accounting degree), but it was nice that somebody over there thought enough of my resume to get me the interview.

Any interviewing horror stories out there...?

 

[thestrangequark]

When I was 23 I was denied a job with a high end private tutoring company. I wasn't denied because of my credentials -- they were impressed, in fact: High honors degree from NYU with a double certification in Childhood Education and Special Education and a double major in psychology, 8 years experience teaching one on one, small groups, and entire classes, glowing letters of recommendation, etc. Why was I turned down? Because I looked too young. The owner of the company interviewed me personally and his exact words were, "Even in a blue suit, you only look 17."

 

[Finn]

When I was 23 I was denied a job with a high end private tutoring company. I wasn't denied because of my credentials -- they were impressed, in fact: High honors degree from NYU with a double certification in Childhood Education and Special Education and a double major in psychology, 8 years experience teaching one on one, small groups, and entire classes, glowing letters of recommendation, etc. Why was I turned down? Because I looked too young. The owner of the company interviewed me personally and his exact words were, "Even in a blue suit, you only look 17."

Ouch. That sucks. I did look like a teenager when I was 23. I sadly now look over 20.

When I was pursuring my first BA degree, there was a female student of Asian heritage (not sure if she actually came from there or not) who was tiny and looked like a 12 year old. People would come up to her and ask where her mom was (she was in her late 20s at the time). Can't imagine how interviews would go for her.

As for me, I recall my first job interview when I first moved to Cincinnati six years ago. It was at a major bank chain in the Cincinnati area. It was completely out of my preferred field and qualifications. I wanted to work at a zoo or a biological job at the time but the job I was interviewing for was on the recieving dock doing inventory or something (It would have paid well).

The interviewers (all three of them) were so cold and emotionless that they made Tuvok look like Neelix emotionally. They ended up asking me questions about my interests in working with animals and biology research, which had to raise red flags for them big time. It was a huge waste of time.

 

[RJDiogenes]

When I was 23 I was denied a job with a high end private tutoring company. I wasn't denied because of my credentials -- they were impressed, in fact: High honors degree from NYU with a double certification in Childhood Education and Special Education and a double major in psychology, 8 years experience teaching one on one, small groups, and entire classes, glowing letters of recommendation, etc. Why was I turned down? Because I looked too young. The owner of the company interviewed me personally and his exact words were, "Even in a blue suit, you only look 17."

You should have told him you'd be willing to grow a beard.

 

[thestrangequark]

When I was 23 I was denied a job with a high end private tutoring company. I wasn't denied because of my credentials -- they were impressed, in fact: High honors degree from NYU with a double certification in Childhood Education and Special Education and a double major in psychology, 8 years experience teaching one on one, small groups, and entire classes, glowing letters of recommendation, etc. Why was I turned down? Because I looked too young. The owner of the company interviewed me personally and his exact words were, "Even in a blue suit, you only look 17."

Ouch. That sucks. I did look like a teenager when I was 23. I sadly now look over 20.

When I was pursuring my first BA degree, there was a female student of Asian heritage (not sure if she actually came from there or not) who was tiny and looked like a 12 year old. People would come up to her and ask where her mom was (she was in her late 20s at the time). Can't imagine how interviews would go for her.

As for me, I recall my first job interview when I first moved to Cincinnati six years ago. It was at a major bank chain in the Cincinnati area. It was completely out of my preferred field and qualifications. I wanted to work at a zoo or a biological job at the time but the job I was interviewing for was on the recieving dock doing inventory or something (It would have paid well).

The interviewers (all three of them) were so cold and emotionless that they made Tuvok look like Neelix emotionally. They ended up asking me questions about my interests in working with animals and biology research, which had to raise red flags for them big time. It was a huge waste of time.

Yikes! I do still get mistaken for a teen on occasion -- Monday, actually.

You should have told him you'd be willing to grow a beard.

I'm still working on growing leg hair. Seriously, I shave out of habit, but it's all peach fuzz.

The guy asked me to call back in a few years, but I look exactly the same as I did 3 years ago.

 

[NickInABox]

When I was 23 I was denied a job with a high end private tutoring company. I wasn't denied because of my credentials -- they were impressed, in fact: High honors degree from NYU with a double certification in Childhood Education and Special Education and a double major in psychology, 8 years experience teaching one on one, small groups, and entire classes, glowing letters of recommendation, etc. Why was I turned down? Because I looked too young. The owner of the company interviewed me personally and his exact words were, "Even in a blue suit, you only look 17."

Isn't that discrimination?

 

[thestrangequark]

When I was 23 I was denied a job with a high end private tutoring company. I wasn't denied because of my credentials -- they were impressed, in fact: High honors degree from NYU with a double certification in Childhood Education and Special Education and a double major in psychology, 8 years experience teaching one on one, small groups, and entire classes, glowing letters of recommendation, etc. Why was I turned down? Because I looked too young. The owner of the company interviewed me personally and his exact words were, "Even in a blue suit, you only look 17."

Isn't that discrimination?

Possibly, but he had a valid point. This is a company that caters to celebrities, politicians, and the super-rich. Clients pay a lot for tutors, and they want tutors who are experienced. I didn't look the part, and it would be hard to sell me. It sucked, and was somewhat unfair, but I understand why he did it. It's okay, though. That job offered $40/hr and the job I interviewed for the following week and got pays $50.

That was another funny interview though. Again, I was interviewing with the founder and owner of the organization (I work for a non-profit), along with her assistant. Her assistant thought I was great. Her boss (my boss now), spent the entire interview telling me I was too young and too inexperienced for the job, and then asked me when I could start! I was confuzzled!

 

[nx1701g]

My personal favorite: The interview where I was asked out by the recruiter immediately following the interview.

 

[TheBrew]

Did you get the "job"?

 

[John Picard]

Ugh...I'm going to have to purge a lot of that from my memory. She was not impressed with my liberal arts background (despite my now going to a top accounting graduate degree program) or my work experience (primarily extra-curriculars with a couple internships and a long temp assistant accountant assignment).

Well, it was a reach anyway. I can't really expect to be getting an internship at the largest accounting firm in the country (not with my only having just started my accounting degree), but it was nice that somebody over there thought enough of my resume to get me the interview.

Any interviewing horror stories out there...?

Yeah, I feel your pain. I once went to an interview without pants and didn't realize it until the interviewer pointed it out. Still, I think my qualifications should have won out over a minor mental lapse.