When recruiting goes wrong, it goes REALLY wrong. Here are some unforgettable interview experiences that will make you laugh, cringe, and perhaps appreciate your own hiring challenges a little more (all courtesy of the Empirical Talent Acquisition team).
After conducting hundreds of interviews throughout our talent acquisition careers, most blend together into a professional haze of standard questions and polite small talk. But every now and then, an interview happens that leaves you sitting there afterward thinking: “Did that really just happen?”
Here are some of the most memorable—and mortifying—interview experiences our team has encountered, along with the lessons we’ve learned along the way.
The Inappropriate Flirtation
At the start of a Zoom interview call with a candidate, at the point where we had barely made it through the initial introductions, the candidate smiled and said: “Oh wow, your hair looks so nice — very beachy, beautiful curls.”
While this was certainly a bit of a forward comment for an interview setting, I brushed it off and moved on. But later in the discussion, he began explaining how he connects with clients by asking a branding question and flat out asked me: “If your brand were a car, what kind of car would it be?”
I played along, responding: “Right now, I’m a Nissan — but I aspire to be an Audi.”
Without missing a beat, he responded: “Well, if you keep wearing your hair like that, you’ll get there in no time.”
Then, completely out of context, he casually mentioned that he was single.
Spoiler alert: He was not recommended for the role.
The Monologue Master
A candidate had an admirable background and solid résumé, but the moment we joined the Zoom call, I realized this was going to be something else entirely.
From the start, they came in with high energy, rapid-fire talking, and absolutely zero sense of pacing. Before I could even finish my introduction, they jumped in with: “Yes, totally! So here’s what I think, and actually that reminds me of something I did back at [previous company]…”
Every time I tried to speak, clarify a question, or pivot the conversation, I got steamrolled. At one point, I asked: “Can you walk me through how you handled—”
The candidate immediately interrupted: “Oh yes, absolutely. So that’s a great question. What I always try to—”
I never finished the question. Or ANY question. After 20 minutes of being talked over and generally ignored, I was silently wondering if they realized I was the interviewer—not simply their audience.
The Hand Model
The candidate joined our Zoom call and the camera angle wasn’t great, but it wasn’t the worst I’d seen. However, they would rest their hands on their desk—crossed at the elbows—which blocked the camera completely. So throughout the entire interview, I found myself staring at their hands while they answered questions.
I politely said: “I think your camera might be at an odd angle—feel free to adjust if that helps.”
They smiled and said: “Oh yeah, it’s just the way I’m sitting.”
No adjustment was made. When they later mentioned that a strength of theirs was “attention to detail,” I had to maintain a really good poker face.
The Mug Mishap
During an interview prep call with a strong candidate, I noticed she had a coffee mug that said “F this Sh*T”—and she was using it during our call!
I said to the candidate: “I like your mug.” I could immediately see that she froze and was absolutely mortified. She quickly apologized and was incredibly embarrassed.
I told her it was totally fine and that this would stay between us. It did—and she got the job!
The Commute Conundrum
For one position, a job posting clearly stated: “Must be able to commute daily to [location].” The application question asked: “Are you able to commute daily to [location]?”
The candidate replied: “NO.”
Then why did you even apply?!
The Unready Candidate
I called a candidate at our designated time for an initial Zoom screen call. She joined the call and right away announced: “Hold on a sec, I’m just going to hang up my dog’s leash and grab some coffee and then I’m all yours.”
All I could think was: whose time should we be respecting here?
The Homework Dodger
When asked: “Did you have a chance to review our client’s website?” a candidate I was interviewing responded:
“No! Honestly I’ve been so busy working and applying for jobs I didn’t, but I plan to. Look, I’m not going to lie and say I did when I didn’t. I hope you’ll understand. And really, what’s the big deal? I didn’t look at their website.”
Mind you, this was for a key leadership role with a significant compensation package.
My response: “This may not be the right fit for you.”
The Test Cheater
A candidate was required to complete a written assessment before our interview. During our conversation, I asked some of the same questions from the test—and they answered everything incorrectly, despite having passed the assessment.
When confronted about the discrepancy, the candidate admitted they had their best friend complete the assessment for them. When I ended the call, they were upset, asking why they weren’t given credit for “passing” the test.
How could we trust someone to review financial documents and personal information when they’d already demonstrated such dishonesty?
The Coaching Catastrophe
During a phone interview, a candidate would repeat every question I asked, pause, and I could hear a female voice in the background providing the answers, which he would then repeat to me.
When asked if someone was coaching him, he denied it. After I pointed out that I could clearly hear the woman, he became agitated and said I must have “trust issues in my personal life.”
As I moved to end the conversation, he said: “Go [vulgar word] yourself. You obviously don’t know a stellar candidate, and you just made a very big mistake. I will share your interviewing technique with others to warn them about you.”
Hmmmm … this one left me speechless.
The Memory Lapse
After responding to a candidate who had sent me their resume, the first question the candidate asked me was how I got their personal information. The person also stated I was being unprofessional by contacting them “out of the blue.”
I explained that they had applied to our posting and sent me their resume with all their contact information. They said they didn’t believe me and told me to send them the job description.
This interaction left me with my mouth wide open in surprise!
The Grandmother Guidelines
When asked for dress code suggestions, I replied: “If it’s attire that your grandmother would be comfortable with you wearing when you take her to lunch, it’s probably a good choice.”
The candidate’s response: “Well I don’t have a grandmother anymore. Is there anyone else I would have to impress at lunch with what I’m wearing?”
The Bathroom Break
During an interview conference call between a company owner and a candidate, I listened in on the conversation to take notes. At one point I heard a strange noise in the background—followed by a toilet flush.
The company owner asked if I heard anything during the call. I just started laughing, and he said: “I guess that is a yes. Do you think he heard it as well?”
The Attitude Adjustment
During an interview for a sales position, a candidate told me she had applied directly to the company and was ignored, so why was I contacting her now if she wasn’t good enough the first time?
And this is what she shared with me: “All I pick up on is a bunch of nonsense. If you need a good salesperson, one is available and it’s me. I’m sure there’s a fee charged for hiring someone … so then I guess we both just got screwed and lost out on money.”
Then she hung up on me.
Key Takeaways for Job Candidates
Based on these experiences and many MANY others during our careers, we share some essential guidelines for interview success:
Before the Interview:
- Research the company thoroughly—understand what they do, their values, and their mission
- Prepare thoughtful questions about learning opportunities, job functions, management style, and growth expectations
- Review your application materials and be ready to discuss them in detail
- Test your technology and camera setup for video interviews
During the Interview:
- Remember you’re on video—dress professionally and maintain appropriate boundaries
- Listen actively and avoid interrupting the interviewer
- Be honest about your experience and qualifications
- Ask insightful questions that demonstrate your genuine interest in the role
- Maintain professionalism regardless of how the interview unfolds
After the Interview:
- Send a personalized thank-you note within 24 hours
- Highlight specific parts of the conversation you enjoyed
- Include any additional clarification questions you may have
- Avoid using AI to generate your thank-you note—authenticity matters (and companies can quickly spot an AI response!)
Professional Presence:
- Ensure your social media profiles (especially LinkedIn) present a professional image, as employers often review candidates’ online presence
- Spend time to optimize your LinkedIn profile with appropriate photos and professional content
Remember: interviews are a two-way street. While these stories might seem like outrageous recruiting tales, they serve as important reminders that preparation, professionalism, and authenticity are the keys to interview success. The goal isn’t perfection; it’s demonstrating that you’re someone the team would want to work with every day.
Have your own interview horror story? We’d love to hear it!
And if you’d like to learn more about Empirical’s talent acquisition services, we’re just a call or email away. Connect with Laurie Beasley, Director of Human Resources at Empirical: lbeasley@thinkempirical.com.
