Headhunter Horror Stories

  • Post published:04/01/2018
  • Reading time:2 mins read

Seeming disinterested, arrogantly smiling and over- or under dressing for an interview – these mistakes can happen to anyone. But the almost unbelievable behavior of some candidates can leave a deep impression on the psyche of any  hiring manager.

As we are getting ready to rock in 2018, I wanted to share this little piece, hopefully to lighten up your day.  The list was compiled from an online study conducted by the Research Institute Harris Interactive on behalf of CareerBuilder.com.

No recruiters, headhunters or HR personnel were harmed during the following situations, and these encounters of the third kind are absolutely true.  Here goes:

  • One candidate rubbed lotion all over her feet during the interview.
  • Another responded to the popular question of why she should become a member of the team with, “My hair just fits perfectly.”
  • Another young lady, while playing with her elastic necklace, inadvertently pulled out a tooth. She was quickly out of the race.

A candidate asked for a brief interruption of the conversation to call his wife and ask whether the initial offered salary was OK. Only then could he continue the conversation. Or the candidate who, when asked why he wanted the job, answered, “My wife wants me to get this job.”

Of course one can celebrate a successful application process, but be careful not to overdo it. As recruitment consultant, Dr. Thomas K. Heiden, tells Experteer magazine:

“The biggest faux pas that a candidate has made in the application process was at the closing dinner with his future employer. They were celebrating their new working relationship, and the candidate was celebrating a bit too hard – five bottles of beer and an entire bottle of wine to himself too hard.” Cheers! Happy New Year.

Did you hear about the applicant who brought along his own pizza during a job interview, and proceeded to eat it aggressively, without even offering any to the interviewer. After he was done eating, the young man continued the interview with crumbs all over the table and around his mouth. Another situation involved a good-looking young woman who, directly after her interview, invited her potential new boss out for a romantic dinner.

via 7 Behaviors that can Ruin your Interview – Experteer Magazine

Tom Sorensen

Tom Sorensen is an executive search veteran with over 25 years of experience recruiting in Asia, Europe, and Africa. He has worked in executive search in Thailand since 2003 and is recognized as one of the country’s top recruiters and most profiled headhunters.