I recently went on a second interview to an A/E firm in Miami. I first met with the Director of HR and another HR gerneralist over lunch. We talked general topics about the company and my background, then the HR Director commented "this is not any easy place to work" (first red flag). A couple of minutes later she mentioned this role reported to the CEO, but don't exspect see him because he travels 85% of the time. (second red flag). I asked her about how long the position has been open, she paused and said, "this is not any easy place to work and we seem to only be able to have someone in this position for 1-2 years". (third red flag in 90 minutes)

We finished lunch and left to meet with staff members of the department I was interviewing. I entered the conference room and there were the 2 HR people and 4 department staff. We were just getting ready to start and the door opened. In came a woman about 5' 5" and looked like she had slept in her clothes (very wrinkled) and her hair was wild and frizzy. She sat down at the conference table and my interview began. The HR Director had prepared some canned questions so everyone of the interviewers could ask them to me at anytime. About 15 minutes into the questions, the woman who entered late asked a serveral questions. She interruppted me everytime I talked, she was very arugmentative, she commented she didn't like my answers, was very rude and unprofessional. (fourth red flag)This continued for 45 minutes, at that point, once I could get a word in I aksed her, "what is your role in the company?". She answered, " I am a degreed architect and partner in the firm". I thought to myself, this is not the type of company I want to work for and it's time for me to leave and go home (fifth red flag). But I didn't. I looked over at the other people in the room and I could tell they were intimidated and didn't say a word. About 5 minutes later, the bitchy partner left Shorty after that I had to leave to catch my fight home.

By the time I got home the HR Director had already left me message, expressing interest for me to come back for a 3rd interview and meet the CEO. Once we finally talked the next day, the HR Director was persistant to try and convence me to go back for round three. I kept thinking, she was in the same room with me and how could she think the last interview went well at all. She then proceeded to apologize about 6 times in a 20 minute conversation about the behavior of "the partner". To make a longer story, shorter we agreed I would not travel to Miami but scheduled a conference call with the CEO (out of professionalism) in 2 days at 10:30 am. It's now the day of the conference call and 10:30, no call. (sixth red flag). My phone rang about 11:15 and it was the CEO's admin. asst. apologizing for him being late and he would call when his was off the phone. At 1:26 I received a call from the admin. asst. for the CEO and she said, "The CEO and the HR Director have decided to change directions with this position and he will not be talking to you today. Good Luck and Have a Nice Day!" (seventh red flag).[/colo

This expereince was one I will never forget.

Please share any of your interview horror stories!

   Okay, so I was just talking to a colleague of mine today down in FL who told me a funny story..I'll keep it short and sweet...he was conducting a search for an EVP of regional Civil Engineering firm in the Southeast and found what he thought was a pretty good candidate, his credentials matched up pretty well with what the client was looking for.  The candidate was psyched about the opportunity so much so he went out and purchased a new suit and was lookin' like Dapper Dan.  He arrives to the interview with shoes shined, car freshly washed, clean shave and hair cut, multiple copies of his resume...and he forgot... to take...the tags... off his suit...he had NO idea...and maybe he still doesn't.  As horrible as that sounds, THAT killed it for him...I have to laugh that he was so dilligent in his preparation, but somehow he missed the tags.  I am wondering though if we should be laughing at the company-is that a grounds for NOT hiring someone? 

Not sure if this would go here, but for the sake of argument let's just say that the 90-day probationary period that most firms adhere to is an extension of the interview process. 

Anyway,  a few years back I worked for a search firm out west, and the young kid in the cube next me actually had a candidate that he placed shoot someone and kill them in the parking lot of a night club in Houston (the victim was not a co-worker).  If you are reading this and you are in Houston, you may recall this story.  Apparently the client company, a local and well respected firm, had hired a young P.E. who after a couple of months on the job got into an altercation with some random dude in the parking lot of a night club and shot him...unbelievable.  The reason I remember this is that the recruiter had to refund the company their fee.  Now that's an interview nightmare!