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Congratulations, your application has landed you a job interview! Now it's time to do your homework, put on some nice clothes, and sit down face to face with your possible employer. What's the worst that could happen?

Turns out, a lot. A few days ago, Twitter user Kristin (@fencheeks) described a ridiculous experience she had with one recruiter, and it gave people the courage to share their own similar stories. From making mistakes and underselling yourself to creeps who think sexual harassment is OK, continue scrolling and check out some of the most popular replies to Kristin's tweet.

Image credits: fencheeks

For one of our earlier articles, Bored Panda Becca Carnahan who is an experienced career coach located outside of Boston, MA. She is dedicated to helping early and mid-career professionals find fulfillment and joy in their work, and told us that every job interview is different and the same.

"The skills and competencies interviewers screen for will differ significantly based on the role and the company," Carnahan said. "However, you will almost always be asked a variation of 'tell me about yourself.'"

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Viviane
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

An 8-hour volunteer position?? Does this restaurant do a lot of "trial shifts" with different candidates? I've done unpaid tests for graphic design jobs - they were an hour long at most. For restaurant work before that, I did paid shifts; I wasn't good at it, so I lasted anywhere from an hour to two days.

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"There are subjects that are not just off-limits, but also illegal for interviewers to ask," Carnahan highlighted. "Questions around marital status, children, ethnicity, religion, race, and age should not be asked in an interview. Keep in mind, the laws in your state as well. For example, in some states, employers cannot ask about your salary history."

According to the career coach, while some inappropriate or illegal interview questions may be asked off-hand or with innocent 'get to know you' intentions, it is fully within your rights to not answer the question. "You can state that you would prefer not to answer, you can redirect the conversation, or directly ask 'Is that relevant to this position I am applying for?' or 'Can you help me understand how this question is relevant to the job I am being considered for?'"

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Carnahan said it can be intimidating to respond in this way but it's also important to protect yourself and your boundaries. Just like Kristin did!

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Viviane
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow, the nerve and then trying to neg/shame a candidate. If they pay minimum wage, they'll be very lucky to get an inexperienced person who just wants experience for their next job.

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Kathryn Baylis
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just wasting the time of someone who could be at an interview with a company that would pay them what they’re worth—-and tell them the range BEFORE making them take a slew of stupid tests!

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lyone_fein avatar
Lyone Fein
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What makes people think they are so much better than others that they get to waste your time?

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sofacushionfort
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They do that. We think were being interviewed, but we’re just comparison models for an internal audit. Send them an invoice for a business consultation.

standfast09 avatar
Richard Grant
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've heard, more than once, that some employers fill their positions in house but are still required to post the position. I've always thought that was a waste of time.

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Riley Quinn
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

On my way through the parking lot, I figured I'd waste a bit more time, so I keyed her car.

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lindacowley avatar
Auntriarch
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They've got to prove that it's okay to give the in house person the job, by advertising and interviewing outsiders.

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kathrynbaylis_1 avatar
Kathryn Baylis
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They couldn’t have called all the people with interview appointments and let them know the decision to hire someone in-house. Wait. What about the job THAT person just vacated? Wouldn’t it be open?

mayrenechester avatar
Mayrene Chester
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Perhaps they were trying to see if you could fill the job of the person who transferred to this job

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RoseAnne Hutchence
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hope you called them on that shite (social media post, company review, anything).

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Meami
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This pisses me off. So many HR departments require that jobs be posted outside of the business/institution even though they know they are hiring inside.

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Frances Sones
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have a disability which in my industry guarantees an interview if you meet the minimum requirements. I've had way too many interviews where they've either clearly already filled the position or have no intention of hiring me - even if I had been the best candidate. I did get one job where they told me they'd been disappointed by their preferred candidate so offered me the job instead.

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Matt
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Same thing happened to me. I was super early, and hang out a a nearby coffee place so that I could be punctual. I showed up a few mins early for an interview. The place had less then 20 staff from what I could tell. Noone was expecting me. The person that did the interview was not even sure where to conduct it, at one point it was like, we can just do it here in front of everyone, before someone else suggested they move to an office. Interview was just like, how are you. where you from sort of things, followed by a walk around the place at the end. it was clear the guy was just caught off guard. I doubt he had ever interviewed someone before. The way they showed me around, and had asked if their hours were suitable for me, I honestly thought I had landed the job. A few mins after I left and was on a bus, I got a call from the agency that sent me saying they already filled the position.

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Melanie Wittmier-Steffler
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

WOW I feel your pain! Had to get up extra early to take a bus, 3 transfers to get there on time- interviewer late, waited 45min- then grease ball old man comes in SMOKING CIGAR, told me I'd have to sleep with "out of town" vips & him when asked- for receptionist job that paid minimum wage😨 Told him if I was a prostitute WHY would I apply for this job for minimum wage when I could make thousands on the "blvd"- and no amount of money could induce me to sleep with him-

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Leigh Cauthen
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This happened to me the day before I graduated college. I drove an hour, the interview took an hour and at the end they said "well we already hired another candidate but we thought this would be a good experience for you". I wish I had enough experience to have stood up and walked out then and there but I awkwardly let her chat for another 10 minutes and let. I was beyond furious. I would never have drove all that way and wasted my time. I didn't need the experience and I really needed to be getting everything ready for my graduation and packing to move home. It was so insane.

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JuniorCJ82
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would have said thanks for wasting both our times asshole and walked out.

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DKS 001
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

what a twat. The interviewer should know better.

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NsG
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They... wanted you to bend spacetime? NO ONE can do more than an hour's worth of walking in an hour. It's against the laws of physics.

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iBlank
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

haha, yep good to play it cool whether the "wow!" is good or bad

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Kathryn Baylis
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Had an interview for what sounded like a really great job, but one for which I couldn’t find a salary range anywhere online, even on sites like Salary.com, Glassdoor, etc. Their first question was if I had any questions. So I asked, point blank, what the salary was. They gave me a ridiculously low number. I asked if they could do any better than that, but they said that was the top amount they were authorized to offer. So I said I wasn’t going to waste their time anymore, and got up to leave. They asked me what I meant, so I told them that I didn’t work so hard to get my Master’s Degree (just graduated, in fact) to accept such a low salary offer. Their jaws dropped to the floor, like they couldn’t believe someone with a graduate degree wouldn’t be thrilled to work for a pittance. I just thanked them, then turned around and left.

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Dynein
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

To summarize using more understandable grammar: Group interview, interviewer says the job is only for 2 months, EVERYONE leaves, OP has same reaction as everyone else (which is to be shocked/confused, then decline and leave)

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Kathryn Baylis
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What happened wanna bet the asshole only wanted to hire this one particular applicant he was attracted to, or is related to, or was a frat bro, so had to make the other interviewees walk out so their choice would end up being the only one.

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third molar
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Companies expect honesty only to tell on others. If its about the company then its bad attitude!!

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