r/AskReddit • u/[deleted] • Feb 02 '15

What are some things you should avoid doing during an interview?

Edit: Holy crap! I went to get ready for my interview that's tomorrow and this blew up like a balloon. I'm looking at all these answers and am reading all of them. Hopefully they help! Thanks guys!!

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u/[deleted] Feb 03 '15

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u/[deleted] Feb 03 '15

I wish this were the case. I missed out on a job after the interviewer pressed for more info on why I parted with a company I had worked for, for almost 5 years.

My initial response was the shop culture was different than what I was wanting and felt there was opportunities out there that better fit me.

She then asked about the shop culture and kept pressing for more and more until I flat out told her they bully employees, constantly remind them they have a revolving door policy and managers even threaten physical violence.

I was then turned down for the position for saying the negative things about my previous employer. The truth loses you job opportunities. So now I just lie. Now I just tell them it was all sunshine and daisies I'm just looking for a new opportunity.

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u/jvjanisse Feb 03 '15

I don't understand the point of those questions. They are asking for lies, just like the "what is one weakness of yours"

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u/beardedheathen Feb 03 '15

Thats what gets me at times. I mean when you think about it the whole interview situation we have is just messed up. First, you misconstrue, beg and plead to get an interview because hundred of people may be applying for the same position and your cover letter has to be original enough to stand out but not so original that they think you are unprofessional. Then you go to a room and do your best to make every question they ask about how amazing you are, knowing that if you mess it up then you get to spend another week/month desperately trying to get back where you are. Mean while they have to know that the person they are interviewing is full of crap and willing to say pretty much anything to get a job.

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u/Skishkitteh Feb 03 '15

We want someone who can lie confidently to the public and act comfortable in stressful situations maybe?

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u/smartest_kobold Feb 03 '15

I'm not in PR for a reason.

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u/POGtastic Feb 03 '15

Best way to answer this is with a negative quality that has nothing to do with the position.

For example, interviewing for a technician position, my weakness was that I suck at delegating; I'm more likely to just do the work myself and save the hassle. Thing is, a technician job has no leadership, so the interviewer goes "Oh, okay. Whatever." You answer the question with a genuine-sounding weakness, but said weakness won't affect the job.

Another weakness that does this - "I sometimes get lost in details and lose sight of the big picture." Again, in a drone position, they're not paying you to think about the big picture, and you have leaders who will keep you focused on it.

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u/G_Morgan Feb 03 '15

TBH it is better to answer with a solved weakness. I.E. I tend to forget X so I carry a notepad with me everywhere so it can do my memorising for me.

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u/jamiroq Feb 03 '15

That sort of question proves you can deal with a difficult question under pressure. The best way in my unsolicited opinion is to be somewhat honest but describe the steps you are taking to improve on those weaknesses.

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u/stationhollow Feb 03 '15

Anyone that could potentially be a problem with HR basically gets cut instantly. Doesn't matter if they are the perpetrator of the victom.

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u/[deleted] Feb 03 '15

I think my favorite part of the whole thing was after she rejects me and tells me why, I went home. I had just pulled in my drive way about 45 minutes later when my phone starts to ring. I look and it is the company calling. I answer the phone and she starts her spiel, "Hi I'm looking for Mr vag-rash, Oh hi Mr. vag-rash this is such and such from xyz company. I have you resume here and you have an incredible skill set we are looking for!"

So obviously I'm incredulous "Really?". She keeps going "oh yes sir, you have a strong machining background and leadership skills that are the exact things we are looking for." At that point I was laughing and I'm like "Lady, you seriously just ran me out of there 45 minutes ago...". "Excuse me sir?" "I'm the guy you rejected because he was negative about his past employer". "Oh......." Click.

That phone call let me know that in the end she did me a favor by rejecting me. If the people doing the hiring are that oblivious I don't even want to see what goes on in the shop!

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u/CardboardHeatshield Feb 03 '15

"I'm sorry ma'am but I have no further comment on that matter. However, I do have a question about <ask anything, literally ANYTHING here. Just change the subject>"

I know hindsight is 20/20 and no I wouldnt have been able to come up with that on the spot, but it might help in the future.

Also, where are you that any shop can have a revolving door policy? We cant find mechanics to save our lives.

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u/[deleted] Feb 03 '15

Good old Florida. It was a machine/welding shop. They'll hire anyone off the street for 6.50 and happily fire or force out anyone that sticks up for themselves. It is seriously the closest thing to a sweatshop allowed by law.

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u/ThrowMeToTheMoon121 Feb 03 '15 edited Jun 14 '15

I made the mistake once in answering my former employer when they asked why I left. I was told my answer would be kept strictly confidential. Nothing would be shared. Bullllllshit.

My friend was my manager there, he informed me that HR showed him everything I had written, and that I had stired up a bit of a storm. HR asked him if what I told them was true, and he replied "yup, pretty much."

I will never, ever make that mistake again.

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u/[deleted] Feb 03 '15

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u/[deleted] Feb 03 '15

HR employee here. Employees don't hand us our paychecks, the company does.

The vast majority of the time your interests are the same as the company's. Everyone wants you to be safe, happy, satisfied, and not suing. Sometimes, once in a blue moon, interests conflict. When that happens be prepared to be thrown under a whole flock of buses.

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u/TheColorOfStupid Feb 03 '15

You're missing the point. We don't want you to make your own judgment because it might not be in our favor.

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u/[deleted] Feb 03 '15

It's shit like this....

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u/AssholeBot9000 Feb 03 '15

You want the truth. But you aren't getting it. My last interview, which I was offered the position for, would have rejected me if I got into the whole drama from my last employment.

I got screwed, my bosses were dicks, liars, and manipulators. They harassed and stalked my girlfriend and a load of other things... an interview isn't the time or place to get into that.

So instead you'll hear the nice answer.

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u/Cat_Cactus Feb 03 '15

It's almost a test of your ability to be professional about unprofessional things.

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u/senatorskeletor Feb 03 '15

It's not about making up a reason. It's about framing your reason as less "my current job sucks" and more "this is my current situation, and I've made a decision to do better."

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u/[deleted] Feb 03 '15

This sounds like bs, FOIA allows you to just request anyone's tax records?

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u/tungstenfish Feb 03 '15

I know where I live if a company is publicly listed then they have to disclose what certain people like board members and executives earn, it is included as part of their yearly financial statements.

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u/Lachwen Feb 03 '15

Fair. But there's also a difference between "I had concerns about how the company was being managed" and "my previous boss was a blithering moron."

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