Robert Half International Inc. (RHI), a San Francisco headhuntry, surveyed top personnel executives of 100 major American corporations. RHI asked for stories of unusual behavior by job applicants. Back came a treasure trove. Here are some lowlights of interviewees' actions that did not get them the job.
- "The candidate told me that her long-term career goal was to replace me."
- "Stretched out on the floor to fill out the job application."
- "She wore a Walkman and said she could listen to me and the music at the same time."
- "Applicant challenged interviewer to arm wrestle."
- "Asked to see the interviewer's resume to see if the personnel executive was qualified to judge candidate."
- "Wouldn't get out of the chair until I would hire him. I had to call the police."
- "Pulled out a Polaroid camera and snapped a flash picture of me. Said he collected photos of everyone who interviewed him." (This would have really bothered me!)
- "During the interview, an alarm clock went off from the candidate's briefcase. He took it out, shut it off, apologized and said he had to leave for another interview."
- "He came to the interview with a moped and left it in the reception area. He didn't want it to get stolen, and stated that he would require indoor parking for the moped."
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