Biggest interviewing pet peeve?

Is there anything you have seen, either as an interviewer or interviewee, that has been a pet peeve of yours?

Mine personally as an interviewee is when the interviewer, after they walk out of the room and close the door (or don't close the door), loudly says something to a colleague about the interviewee. One of my first super days I ever had, for example, a senior banker had walked out of the room, to the back near the coffee room, and just LOUDLY says to a junior employee, 'he was unprofessional!'

Then when he calls me to tell me I didn't get the job and I ask for feedback, he said 'we have none.' Maybe that was the time to tell me. Another instance when I was getting my first superdays, the interviewer walked out and closed the door. Next interviewer asked him 'did you close the door?' and asks for any thoughts. The guy says 'thats the worst candidate I've ever seen.'

Don't get me wrong I've had strong interviews as well, but I'm also interested in hearing you guys' thoughts on when an interviewer does that. Do they intend for the candidate to hear it?

 
Most Helpful

If they said it out loud (seems like purposely or maybe you're biased here).. but they meant it. I think you should look at this as a way to improve yourself. It hurts in the moment, but it's the mistakes you'll never make again.

For me as a candidate, the three things that I've encountered and dislike the most:

  1. Not actively showing interest in the conversation or being impatient, as if I'm not worth their 30 mins of their entire life. I get it if you have other people in mind already, but at least take these 30 mins as a way to learn more about someone, rather than making me feel useless and question why I am even here wasting my time too.
  2. Not attending the interview call on time. 15 mins later, got an email to reschedule, and following some an hour of wait time, the interviewer was still late. I was being flexible for them to get fustrated at me for their own situations. Be timely, it shows you care about the future generations working at your firm.
  3. Not following up on decisions. If it's a no, just tell me already. I rather get a firm NO than be ghosted for months.

I've dealt with these issues on my own and move on from them, but just from my experience they stand out. Basically, communication between both parties is extremely important to me.

 

As an interviewee: Asking ridiculous brainteasers that test no practical skill. "If A = B and the GDP of Kenya decreases by 3.5%, what is the mass of the Sun?". Fuck off.

As an interviewer: When candidates can't answer something about their CV. It's a 1-page CV and anything you put on it is fair game. You volunteered for a charity in Russia when you were in high school? I'm going to ask you about your favorite Russian stew. Filling your CV with things you can't speak about just to add content won't help you. If in doubt, take it out.

 

As an interviewer, the one thing I really dislike and is a huge turnoff is when a candidate shows no appreciation that I am looking for succinct answers after dropping explicit hints like "let's go through briefly", "tell me the most important takeaways", "summarize your experience for me in a few sentences". Sure, I get that you want to give me as much information as possible but i can guarantee you that this will not be thoroughly impressive.

Don't continue on with your well memorized introduction once you've been interrupted kindly and learn to take hints to move on to the next topic. It's important to get a sense of these things and I put this together with the soft skills you need to succeed in this job.

 
  1. When you can tell the interview is just trying to check boxes. Does he demonstrate A, B, and C?

  2. Random brain teasers that often come down to memorization.

  3. Being ghosted after an interview, Or the feedback is you're great but someone else is getting the job.

  4. Me having to spew BS to make clear you should hire me. Sorry I meant, articulately and concisely highlight the synergies between the opportunity and my experiences / passions. Allowing you to make the most informed decision possible.

 

Brainteaser Guy is the worst. I've never really had it as an interviewee, but I've had fellow interviewers ask that shit and it's always the same type of person who does it. Always an insecure guy who isn't great at his job (maybe OK but never great) and is in denial about the fact that his self-proclaimed high IQ doesn't matter in IB. Wants to believe its a quant jock role when it isn't. So he flexes over brainteasers to feel better about himself and keep the dream alive that anyone gives a shit.

 

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