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s/o to Anna's job update - bad interviews?
Have you ever been on a really bad interview (either as an applicant or as an interviewer)? What happened?
I've had one - it was when we first moved to Bathurst, and I was interviewing with a small (husband and wife team) graphic design company. It was a relatively informal interview, and at one point he mentioned that I was engaged (what with the ring and all) and asked about the wedding. So I told him that yes, it was that coming May, etc. He said, "Oh that's great! So, have you thought about kids?" I just stared blankly at him. WTF? Why was he asking me about children in a job interview? Then he continued, "Because if you're thinking of starting right away, we probably won't want to hire you. We wouldn't want to hire a woman who is only going to be here for a year before she goes off to raise babies."
I was speechless. I mean literally speechless, which is rare for me lol. First, yes, it is TOTALLY illegal here for him to ask that in an interview (or for it to be a reason to discriminate against hiring someone). Second - I couldn't believe how casually he brought it up, like it was the most normal thing in the world and something that everyone asks! I think I ended up stammering something about, "Uhhhh...not...yet..." and the interview ended shortly after.
I wasn't offered the job, but even if I was, there's no way I'd have taken it - even if we weren't planning on kids right away (which we weren't at that stage), I would never have wanted to work for him!
Re: s/o to Anna's job update - bad interviews?
WOW. Did you report him? You should have. It is illegal in the US as well (provided only that you will still be able to perform the major functions of your job while pregnant I guess that rules out any jobs requiring you to ride high speed roller coasters every day
)
Lisa, how much maternity leave will you get? Is it mandated in Australia like it is here? Do you get twice as much time if you are having twins?
My first interview ever was at an open call for a newly-opening retail store (Future Shop, a Best-Buy type music/electronics store). I read the ad in the paper and stopped in for an application... in a tank top and denim shorts. The greeter handed me a clipboard and said "Fill this out while you wait" and I said "Wait for what?". I didn't realize that the interview was supposed to be right away!
So here I am, this 16-year-old girl surrounded by all these people in interview clothing, and me looking like I just wandered in off the street. I actually had to turn in the application, and explain that I didn't realize I was going to be interviewed and I needed to go home and change first. An hour later, I came back to the store and had to explain again that yes, I was the girl who came in earlier and wasn't prepared. When I finally got into the interview room, the guy looked over my application (on which I'd written that I liked music and that my GPA the previous year was a 4.0), and he said "Well, sure, a 4.0's easy if you're skating through on music classes!". What?!
Like you, Lisa, I didn't get hired - and I was totally okay with that!
oh my goodness - the nerve of that guy. I think you posted about this when it happened and I was upset about it then too
I had an akward interview for a summer legal position. It was at a firm out of state (I was living in AZ at the time). I had one interview down there that went great and then they flew me up to their main office. They made me wait about 45 mins (even though I appeared to be the only interview of the day) and then they called me back to a board room and 5 people were sitting at one end I had to sit on the head of the other end. We did the normal introductions and I sat down. And then..... nothing. No one said a thing. It felt like 15 minutes went by, but it was probably just a couple and I finally decided to intro into an all about me speech.
I still don't know if they just wanted to be intimidating or see me squirm, or what. Once it got going it went ok, the interview lasted about 30 mins. and then 2 of the partners took me to lunch and that went ok and they ended up offering me the job but I didn't take it because it was just - odd. Maybe that is normal for law firms? I decided my summer would be better spend traveling in Europe.
That guy sounds like a neanderthal, sorry. Was his wife with him in the interview? Because I'm wondering what she is thinking as he said this.
I've had to do a lot of interviews both as an interviewee and interviewer. I'd say this is the "worst" but it wasn't bad like the others that have been described. I'll say the canidate's name is C - and C was a referral from someone from my last company, so I knew C a little bit.
The interview was pretty technical, and was going really well. At the very end, my boss (it's 3-person panel-style interview) asks C if C is entertaining any other job offers. C sort of looks at all of us, and starts saying "Ummm", "Ummm". I'm thinking, "oh no, C has already accepted another job and we just spent over 3 hours in this interview only to be turned down". But C just kept on looking at us and saying "Ummm". So we started to ask, "Did you understand the question?", "Really, you don't have to answer if you're uncomfortable", and finally "Are you ok?". We asked if C was ok, several times with no answer. Then it struck me - at my last company I had heard the C has epilepsy. I say "OMG, I think C is having a seizure, call 911!" At this point, C goes into a full-on seizure; I think C was trying to tell us that something was going to happen, and when I said "seizure" C knew it was ok...?? Anyway, my co-worker and I quickly pull C out of the chair that C was about to fall out of and got C on the floor. We moved anything that could hurt C out of the way and just let the seizure happen. It felt like the longest few minutes of my life. The paramedics arrived and quickly took over. C was taken to the hospital just in case. Later that evening, I sent C an email and found out the C was OK.
But I swear that was one of the scariest moments I have experienced, but I am so glad that I have first aid training b/c I don't know what I would have done otherwise.
annasan - yup, she was sitting right next to him, nodding away. I couldn't believe it!
No, I didn't end up reporting him. Honestly, it probably would have been more trouble than it was worth. First, I'd have had to go to a government body (since it was just a husband&wife company, there wasn't an HR dept or anything) so you can imagine the red tape. Second, this place is a small town, and ridiculous as it sounds, if I'd made such a huge fuss, everyone would have known about it and closed ranks since I'm an "outsider" and then I'd be That Person that no one would have wanted to hire (regardless of how justified my complaint was).
Maternity leave...I'm actually trying to muddle through this right now! From my understanding, I can choose between:
#1) take 14 weeks of maternity leave on full salary. Then return to work for 12 further weeks - this is only part time (30%) but is paid as though I was working full time.
#2) take 14 weeks of maternity leave on full salary. Then return to work for 38 further weeks, again working only part time, but also only being paid part time (approx 1/3 of current take home salary).
#3) take 28 weeks of maternity leave at half salary. Then return to work for 12 further weeks, again only part time, but paid as though I was working full time.
#4) take 28 weeks of maternity leave at half salary. Then return to work for 38 further weeks, again working only part time, but also only being paid part time (approx 1/3 of current take home salary).
I'm not 100% sure on the last two options (the language used in the document is so confusing!)...I need to actually talk to someone from HR. LOL and no, I don't get extra time for twins, unfortunately!
that is really interesting. It is really great that you have so many options. I would love to just have the option (without negotiation) to do a part time return for a set number of weeks irregardless of pay - so that is just a nice bonus!
Yeah I was really surprised at all the different options! But I'm not sure I'm really understanding them properly either (as I said, the language was very confusing - kind of a negative of working for a government institution!). Ideally, I'd like 6 months at home without working at all, so I'm thinking maybe option #3, if I'm interpreting what they're offering properly (and if, after I crunch all the numbers, we can afford for me to go to half pay for that long - if not, I'll probaby go for option #1).
LOL well the only reason they're so good is because I work for a government body (universities are all government run here). In the private sector, you can take maternity leave for up to 12 months, but it's generally unpaid.
hi hi hi i'm late... (so what else is new?)
anyway, i haven't really had a bad interview... more an uncomfy situation.
i interviewed for an internship at an immigration law firm after my first year in law school.
on my list of references i had a professor who happened to run for a high profile political position a few years ago. he lost the election.
lawyer said "so, X, huh? he really made a mess of his campaign didn't he?" uhhhhh.... when my reference campaigned for elected office, i must've been in elementary school of junior high. i knew him through my classes and as an advisor. not as a candidate...
then lawyer says "so, i take all immigration cases except for filipinos. by the time filipinos come to me, they make a mess of their applications. they're just good for basketweaving."
um hi. i'm filipino. it's obvious from my last name and well, my face.
yeah, he offered me the job, because he had to. i declined.
hawaii 10.2008 plan ;P married bio ???
Ho-lee. Sheet.