We’re hiring for an entry-level position with good wages and low entry requirements. The company is a pretty good place to work. We get loads of applicants and eventually create a shortlist. Then, we have a whole load of interviews and narrow it down to two great guys. They have similar education and experience, and they both interview really well. We are struggling to make an offer, so we invite them both back for another interview.

During the interview, we go into the details a bit more, and before the second interview has even finished, it is clear that [Applicant] just has that little bit more about him. In my mind, he is the one I would recommend. 

Me: “Thank you again for coming to this interview. We have had just so much interest. It has been hard to choose.”

Applicant: “Oh, I bet. I’m really interested in working here myself. It looks like a great job.”

Coworker: “We expect to place an offer in the next day or two.”

Me: “Were there any final questions you wanted to ask us?”

Applicant: “Oh, yeah. There aren’t any religious nutjobs working here, are there?”

Coworker: “No, we don’t employ nutjobs as a rule.” *Laughs*

Applicant: “Oh, I, err… Well, maybe not nutjobs, but you know what I mean.”

Me: “Sure, I do. No, everyone here is really friendly and we have a great atmosphere. In fact, [Owner] puts a lot of emphasis on it.”

Applicant: “Great, so I will hear in a couple of days.”

I showed him out, and my coworker and I had a chat. We both agreed that [Applicant] was the better choice. But the “nutjob” comment was worrying, especially in a multicultural, multifaith office. I decided to check social media on a hunch. Checking his full name showed me his profile which was full of ignorant and hate-filled comments. He was instantly removed from the application process and banned from future vacancies.

The lesson here is that if you’re going to hate others for believing in something, keep it to yourself.

I am trying to find regular work after being laid off due to the health crisis. I have a seasonal job through the holidays, but that is only about six weeks of work. Once my contract ends, I decide to use a little bit of the money I made to buy hair dye and dye my hair red; I want it a bit darker but it ends up about the color of Princess Ariel’s hair, but shoulder-length.

After going through FOUR phone interviews spread out over two months, I finally get an in-person interview. I meet the interviewer, she gets me a visitor badge, and we head to her office. After some small talk about traffic and the weather, we sit down in her office. As soon as I sit down, she starts with:

Interviewer: “So, your hair is a problem. It needs to be a natural color.”

Me: “Yeah, I thought that might be the case, but it’s no problem. I can cut it down to my roots. I’ve had short hair before so I know I like it.”

Interviewer: “Oh, I’d feel bad if we made you cut it. You can also dye over it.”

Me: “Yeah, I can’t really dye over this, but it’s okay; I’ve had short hair before.”

We talk for a few minutes about my work experience and such, and she brings it up again.

Interviewer: “I feel bad for making you cut your hair if you get the job, but it’s the policy for no unnatural colors. I feel bad that you can’t dye over it.”

Me: “It’s really okay. I’ve had short hair before. I can even show you a picture if you want.”

Interviewer: “No, that’s not necessary. I just feel bad you have to cut it.”

I reassured her AGAIN that it was fine. We talked about me some more and she brought it up a THIRD TIME. This time, I actually unlocked my phone and started looking through my pictures, but she stopped me and said it was fine, but she just felt so bad I had to cut it. We took a tour of the facilities and she brought it up a FOURTH TIME. I didn’t know what else to say at this point, so I just sympathized with her for feeling bad for making me cut my hair. Needless to say, I didn’t get the job.

I worked at a locally owned grocery store for several years. While I was stocking in the front of the store, a customer I didn’t recognize walked in. The following conversation happened as I continued stocking. 

Me: “How are you today?”

Customer: “I’m okay. I do have a question, though.”

Me: “Okay, what can I help you with?”

Customer: “My son put in an application, and I think you should hire him, but [General Manager] won’t because he’s not from Chicago.”

She used the manager’s actual name. The general manager didn’t hire new employees; he hired the managers that hired them. Also, we are in a town at the opposite end of the state.

Me: “Well, we do keep applications on file. And I think we’re only hiring for the bakery right now. Do you know what department he applied for?”

Customer: “It doesn’t really matter because I know [General Manager] won’t hire him anyway. [General Manager] only hires people from Chicago because that’s where they are from.”

Me: “Well, [General Manager] doesn’t really do most of the hiring; it’s the other managers here that hire for their departments. Also, I don’t think that where someone is from is a priority when we hire people here.”

Customer: “Yeah, I bet you’re from Chicago, too. [General Manager] never hires local people!”

Me: “No, I’m from the area.”

Customer: “I bet you just say that because you came here to go to the university.”

Me: “Not that it’s really your business, but I was born in [Neighboring Town]’s hospital and raised in [Local Nickname For Rural Area ten miles south of the store].”

Customer: “Well, I know [General Manager] never hires local people! And I’ve never heard of [Local Nickname For Rural Area].”

Me: “It’s between here and the town just south of here.”

Customer: “I think that [General Manager] should hire my son!” *Walks away*

We are hiring for a new admin assistant. There’s a good showing and we manage to get them booked in all on the same day. The first interviewee doesn’t show but calls in fifteen minutes later to see if there is any point in turning up. We tell him that if he is interested, we might be able to fit him in after the next interview. He says fine.

The next interview is going well, and the first guy shows up about ten minutes before we planned to end, so we tell him it will be about ten minutes. The interview goes on a little longer than expected, but nothing too long. 

We call to reception.

Me: “Could you please let [Interviewee] out and bring in the first guy?”

Receptionist: “He left.”

Me: “What?”

Receptionist: “I told him it would be about ten minutes, and after ten minutes was up, he tried to let himself in.”

Me: “Really? What then?”

Reception: “He became very restless and kept asking every minute or so when he would be let in. He stormed off in the end saying something about being busy and not keeping waiting.”

Me: “Please add him to the ‘do not hire’ list.”

We keep the name of every candidate we have previously interviewed, especially when it is such a bad experience. Apparently, he didn’t realise this, as he applied twice more for other roles. He never got an interview.

I accept an invite to a job interview. I have several lined up over a few weeks and don’t get a chance to do the normal background checks I normally do, so I go in a little blind. Halfway through the interview, I realise that the job doesn’t match the description at all. I stick out the rest of the interview to decide if it is something that I could make work.

After a night’s sleep, I realise that, no, it isn’t something I am interested in, and I will let the recruiter know when I speak to them next.

It isn’t long until I get a call from the recruiter.

Recruiter: “Hey, how did it go?”

Me: “Well, the manager seemed nice and the company looks solid. But the job isn’t for me.”

Recruiter: “What? Why? We spoke the other day and the job role was perfect for you.”

Me: “It is, but that’s not what they are looking for. In fact, it was like I was interviewing for a completely different job.”

Recruiter: “No, that can’t be right. I spoke to [Manager] and clarified everything.”

I’m thinking, “Okay, I’m not lying; I was the one in the interview.”

Me: “What can I tell you?! He was talking about legal and claims. I’ve never worked on anything to do with that stuff.”

Recruiter: “Well, there might be some of that, sure, but you could pick that up quickly.”

Me: “I’m not interested.”

Recruiter: “But I’ve already told them you would take the offer!”

Me: “Why did you do that?”

Recruiter: “They loved you and offered you the advertised rate.”

Me: “As I said, the job didn’t match the description at all. So, no, I won’t be interested.”

Recruiter: “Fine!” *Hangs up*

Not only did the recruiter waste my time, but I would bet money that he blamed me for turning down the job!