Favourite Awkward Interview Moments

<p>actually, chris, for all the interviews I've had, they've told me to dress casually. I obviously don't wear sweatpants or something, but I don't dress up. Even for like top Ivies they've said its cool to just dress casual.</p>

<p>Ok, so this isn't that bad, but I want to contribute...</p>

<p>It was in the very beginning the interview. We met at Starbucks, which I never go to, and I got tea because I know I'd like it. At one point I thought it would be cooled down enough to drink, so while she was talking I took a sip- and burned my tongue. My eyes welled up and I just tried not to show anything on my face and just keep listening to what she was saying! Ow, it was REALLY hot!</p>

<p>When we were leaving, I guess I was too concentrated on trying not to mess up and put my arm in the wrong coat sleeve or something, that I think I left my cup on the table... of course now that doesn't sound like such a big deal, but before I was like, "oh my gosh, now she thinks I'm a rude and careless person, or a litterbug, or something!!"</p>

<p>first college interview- status: over!</p>

<p>This is the best thread ever.</p>

<p>I have a couple of semi-awkward interview stories!</p>

<h1>1: Brown alumni interview</h1>

<p>The guy lives kind of far away, so my mom and I left really early to get to his house for the interview (I don't have my license yet). We got there about 20 minutes early, so we just kind of parked around the corner and sat there for a while. Finally, we pulled into his driveway, and I got out and rang the doorbell. His wife and middle-school-age kids let me in and said that he wasn't home from work yet, but "We're just relaxing and watching iCarly. Come join us!" So I proceeded to do so, occasionally answering questions like "What school do you go to?" and "Do you know so and so?" Mostly I played with his dogs and texted my mom, praying that that wasn't against "watching TV with your interviewer's family while waiting for the guy to show up" etiquette. </p>

<p>He arrived soon after. We went into a small room and I immediately assessed the couch - the back was very far back, and I'm very short. I didn't want to go through an interview with my feet dangling off the ground, so I sat forward the whole time and was able to add severe back pain to my list of ailments (I had a terrible headache that day, a fever, and an ear infection). </p>

<p>The interview went pretty well, but when I told him that another one of my top choices was Brandeis, he went on about all these things he had read about Brandeis' financial turmoil. He also tried to dissuade me from double majoring. It wasn't like he was cold about these things, just very honest (almost musing to himself). A few days later he emailed me an article about Brandeis' financial troubles. I'm glad he was thinking of me, at least!</p>

<p>Oh, and meanwhile, my mom is outside in the car. I guess he figured I drove there myself. He walked me outside and as soon as I got out, my mom starts her car in the driveway. The guy pretty much jumps out of his skin and says "There was someone here?!?!? You could have told me!" Then I very awkwardly ran to the car and yelled, "No, it's fine! Bye!" As we drove away, I swear he still looked mortified that he wasn't given the opportunity to be more hospitable.</p>

<h1>2: Hampshire phone interview</h1>

<p>I mentioned how I'm really into Science Olympiad, and my interviewer was involved in high school as well. He got really excited and asked what events I was doing this year. I listed some of them, but forgot one. Just totally blanked. For the next minute or so I randomly blurted out things like "oh my gosh!" "what is it!" "how can I forget?" and "I swear there was one more!" All the while I was looking for my S.O. binder (but of course he doesn't know that, since it's over the phone, so he thinks I'm just wracking my brains and rambling), and after he's already started to ask me what I like about epidemiology, I find it and exclaim "Cell Biology! That's it!"</p>

<h1>3: Swarthmore alumni interview</h1>

<p>To preface, My high school is named after this naturalist named William Bartram. Where I live, a lot of things are named after him. I had this interview at UF, and as I navigated through the campus I saw a Bartram building. I also had to give my interviewer a form with background information, so he knew the name of my school.</p>

<p>Interviewer (one of the FIRST things he says!): So, what do you know about William Bartram?
Me: <em>blank stare</em> Not much, really. I just know that a lot of places around Jacksonville have his name in it and there's a Bartram building here, too.
Him: <em>gives me a whole history of Bartram</em>
Me: That's interesting!
Him: And you'll be seeing a lot more of him at Swarthmore. He's from Philadelphia.
Me: <em>thinking: GREAT.</em></p>

<p>So I applied for an editor internship position for a magazine company...a Fashion magazine company.</p>

<p>Towards the end on the interview...</p>

<p>Interviewer 1 is sitting across from me, and Interviewer 2 is sitting on the right. Interviewer 1 has been asking all the questions while interviewer 2 grills at me. </p>

<p>Int 1: So, have you read our magazine?
Me: No, not reall- Oh crap. That was the wrong answer wasn't it?
Int 1: <em>Blank stare</em> .
So in a sad attempt to get out of the awkwardness of the moment, I turn to interviewer 2 on my right and ask</p>

<p>"So, what are you doing here?" </p>

<p>Note to self : </p>

<p>Don't ask the editor in chief "What are you doing here?" .</p>

<p>My princeton interview was quite awkward...
He asked a few questions about my EC's for about 5-10 minutes, then decided he knew enough about me ( huh?? I only had time to talk about 2 EC's and no academics, work, anything..) and told me about his princeton experience for 35 minutes. When it was the ''what questions do you have'' part, I asked one, and he just turned around the question without answering it for a few minutes and packed up his stuff and said ''no more questions, right?''.
I mean the interview didn't go as badly as I made it seem, but it didn't go exceptionally well, which is what I really desired. Princeton is one of my top-choice schools.</p>

<p>My harvard interview went exceptionally well ...but I don't even really want to go there. Eek :S And I only have been contacted for these two interviews for now...not expecting to get any others.
MEh.</p>

<p>This is awesome!</p>

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<p>Wow...I can't believe that actually happened haha. I have my Yale interview tomorrow.</p>

<p>Wow...I can't believe that guy didn't know. o-o That's horrible...</p>

<p>That's such a dirty, unethical, lowdown move by the interviewer. What a jerk.</p>

<p>You'd think people would know which interview they are going for...His/her own fault...</p>

<p>^ Agree with chris. The Harvard guy isn't to blame... from his perspective, this cheeky kid shows up for the interview, identifies the rival school as his first choice, and downplays the school he's interviewing for. SO not the interviewer's fault. The interviewer probably identified the meeting as a Harvard interview when he left the message in the first place. The candidate was a goof, plain and simple.</p>

<p>HAHAHA omg yeah but it's totally the kid's fault. He should have at least thought to check the message or thought to look up what school it was just in case</p>

<p>
[quote]
yeah, when you are asked “What kind of vegetable would you like to be—and why?” you'll feel pretty awkward to answer.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Oh my God, I'd just blurt out "Not Terri Schiavo!" without even thinking about it.</p>

<p>I hope I never get asked that question.</p>

<p>One of my interviews, which was at a Panera Bread and began immediately after one of my friends (who is a minority) had finished his interview with the same person, started as follows:</p>

<p>(handshake)</p>

<p>Me: Hi! I'm (so and so), nice to meet you.</p>

<p>Interviewer: Nice to meet you too! So, as you can see, I just finished my interview with Quota.</p>

<p>Me: Quota?</p>

<p>Interviewer: Yeah, your friend, Quota, you see him leaving just now? (as friend is exiting)</p>

<p>Me: Um, do you mean (friend's name)?</p>

<p>Interviewer: Your nickname for him is Quota, isn't it? He said a lot of his friends call him that as a joke.</p>

<p>Me: (slightly embarrassed now) Um, no, haha, I call him (friend's name).</p>

<p>Interviewer: Oh. Ok then.</p>

<p>Haha apparently a lot of my friend's other friends call him Quota, unbeknowst to me. Luckily, the interview still went well.</p>

<p>oh.my.god. quota is the best nickname for a quote-unquote ethnic friend ever.</p>

<p>This thread is hilarious! I have an interview with Penn on Tuesday, but hopefully I won't be posting anything! haha</p>

<p>Usually people introduce themselves and say, "Hi, I graduated from [college] in 19XX." That's ridiculous, though...</p>

<p>can't let this die...it's too funny</p>

<p>any new interview nightmares?</p>

<p>Just had a Princeton interview. </p>

<p>It went well... except for kind of one part. </p>

<p>Interviewer: Have you visited the school yet?
Me: No, but I'm flying out for admit weekend in april, so I can't wait to see it. </p>

<p>...doh. I probably sounded like the most arrogant kid ever. I don't think he caught it yet.</p>

<p>^^^</p>

<p>Sure beats a "Reject weekend" .</p>