These chilling stories show the horrors of not preparing for an interview!
Simone’s Spooky Interview Tale
Once upon a chilling autumn evening, Simone, a young professional seeking a new job, scheduled an interview at a renowned but eerie corporate office. The grandiose architecture was accentuated by ominous storm clouds looming overhead. As she arrived at the office, the atmosphere felt strangely somber. The glass doors to the office seemingly opened on their own, inviting her in. She shook off the uneasy feeling, attributing it to her being nervous. The receptionist, a peculiar-looking woman with an unnerving smile, greeted her. She offered Simone a seat in the dimly lit waiting area, adorned with modern furniture and antique paintings of stern-looking individuals. Minutes passed, but the interviewer was nowhere to be seen. Simone could sense a presence watching her, yet the room seemed empty. A sudden cold breeze made her shiver, and the lights flickered momentarily.
Finally, the interviewer, Mr. Moore, emerged from a grand, creaking door. He had a pale, ghostly complexion, and his piercing eyes seemed to bore into her soul. Throughout the interview, Mr. Moore asked peculiar questions about her experiences, but his tone sent shivers down her spine. Simone felt as if the room itself was judging her. The interview took an even stranger turn when Mr. Moore vanished for a moment, leaving her alone in the room. She contemplated fleeing but was drawn to the antique mirror, reflecting an empty chair that shouldn’t have been there. When Mr. Moore returned, he acted as though nothing unusual had occurred. Simone was so nervous at the thought of not doing well in the interview that she hurriedly concluded and left the office, vowing never to return.
The moral of Simone’s spooky interview tale is that she displayed excessive nervousness during the interview, leading to stuttering, fidgeting, or an inability to communicate thoughts and experiences clearly. Simone’s advice to the Fellows is to prepare yourself for an interview by having a friend or family member interview you, looking in a mirror and pretending that you are in the interview with someone, or even watching mock interviewing videos. Understanding and avoiding these pitfalls can help you perform better during interviews and present yourselves to potential employers in the best possible light. – Simone, NY
The Tale of the Zombie Connection
I took a second round of interviews in the hallway of the company I was presently working at – which is not the best way to conduct an interview. The office did not have conference rooms, working from home was not an option back then, and I was barely able to leave my desk so I decided to take the Zoom call in a hallway on another floor. It was a fail, the internet connection was so poor, I couldn’t get on Zoom and the call kept dropping. I finally made my way outside, but the interview was cut short due to connection issues. I ended up getting the job and I am still with my company today.
My interview tip is tomake sure you are in a quiet location, with a good connection, and plan for your interview. – Gabby, NY
Scary Tunes…
On the day of the interview, I walked into a dimly lit room occupied by an imposing panel of interviewers. I began to get questions directed at me and earnestly responded with enthusiasm until the awkwardness of the moment sunk in. My heart sank as I realized my phone had taken on a sinister role. It unleashed its ghostly ringtone, sending shivers down my spine and startling everyone in the room. It was an interview I will never forget!
Despite the fright, the interviewers were surprisingly understanding, and we had a good laugh about it afterward. I learned two valuable lessons that day: always double-check your phone before an interview, and sometimes, a touch of humor can break the ice in the scariest situations. – Blessing, IL
- The interview starts at home! Do research (stalking?) in advance so you’ll know at least a little about the interviewer.
- If unsure, dressing too formal is always better than dressing too casual for interviews.
- Show up on time, which translates to 5-15 minutes early.
- DO ask questions about the interviewer when wrapping up – whether it’s about their career path, future vision/goals, favorite projects or stories, etc.
- Always send a thank you email and incorporate personal topics you bonded on.
- Don’t forget to SMILE and sound conversational even if the monologue was rehearsed in front of the mirror.
- Try not to fixate on the results; rather, be present throughout the journey and take a woosah moment when needed! – Jessica, NY
- One of my biggest mistakes in interviews is not coming prepared with strategic and specific questions. Today, I would hone in on questions about expected work deliverables as well as culture. Is this a culture that encourages questions? Is this a culture that rewards entrepreneurial behavior? – Sarah, NJ
- DO come authentically YOU! Be true to who you are. When the time comes, you will find the job/career that is best fitting for you!
- DON’T speak about unnecessary details unless you’re asked. Rambling could throw you off sometimes, and oversharing could be distracting. Try your best to be concise!
- DON’T try to memorize your materials. Instead, have at least 3-5 major key points and aim for it to be quantitative data to share during your interview. Share your accomplishments and what you’ve worked on. – Jasmine, NJ
- Plenty of interviewees have had only a basic understanding of what my company does – which is to say, they looked at the company website for 5 minutes. That is a definite strikeout. – William, NJ
- Always practice live. No matter how you feel, live practice will show how you’re going to perform. – Andy, NY
- Always pay attention to appearance. This speaks volumes and shows respect for the organization and yourself.
- Finish any food or drink before the interview. I have had quite a number of coffee spills during the interview process. – Montgomery, NY