Thursday HR Humor: Meet the Dumbest Job Interview Applicants

Human resource pros share the worst things they've seen,from real candidates trying to get hired. Here's what not to do wheninterviewing for a job:  

 

Spammed a prospective employer.

"Applicant put up posters ofhimself in the company parking lot."
-Anonymous HR professional

Ordered in lunch.

"Applicant delivered prepaid Chinese food, including afortune cookie with his name and phone number."
-Anonymous HR professional

Was just weird.

"A job applicant came in for aninterview with a cockatoo on his shoulder." (no birds on your shoulderunless you're Cee-Lo Green!)
-Source: Robert Half Technology

 Took the edge off...with a drink.

"I swear this is true: Someone threw his beer can inthe outside trash can before coming into the reception area."
-Anonymous HR professional

Gave morethan a handshake.

"Someone applying for a job hugged me at the end of theinterview."
-Anonymous HR professional

Called in an understudy.

"The candidate sent his sister to interview in hisplace."
-Source: Robert Half Technology

Wore the wrong outfit.

"The candidate arrived in a cat-suit."
-Source: Robert Half Technology

Read the directions wrong.

"We ask prospective job applicants at our business tofill out a questionnaire. For the line 'Choose one word to summarize yourstrongest professional attribute,' one woman wrote, 'I'm very good at followinginstructions.'"
-Anonymous HR professional

Got too creative.

"Applicant announced hiscandidacy with a singing telegram."
- Anonymous HR professional

Grossed out the interviewer.

"Someone once blew her nose andlined up the used tissues on the table in front of her."
-Anonymous HR professional

Thought he was larger than life.

"Applicant rented a billboard,which the hiring manager could see from his office, listing hisqualifications."
- Anonymous HR professional

Misunderstood the work.

"An individual applied for a customer-service job, andwhen asked what he might not like about the job, he said, 'Dealing withpeople.'"
-Source: Robert Half Technology

Brought a sidekick. Who wasn't patient.

"Once an applicant's friend came in and asked, 'Howmuch longer?'"
-Anonymous HR professional

Didn't bother with research.

"It's amazing when people come in for an interview andsay, 'Can you tell me about your business?' Seriously, people. There’s anInternet. Look it up."
-HR professional in New York City

Listed all experiences...relevant ornot.

"I had somebody list their prison time as a job. And anexotic dancer who called herself a 'customer service representative.'" 

-Sharlyn Lauby, human resources consultant in Fort Lauderdale, FL

Came hungry.

"I had someone eat all the candy from the candy bowlwhile trying to answer questions."
-Anonymous HR professional

Hey: TMI, people.

"A guy once talked during theinterview about how an affair cost him a previous job."
-Anonymous HR professional

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