Interviews are supposed to be the time for candidates to impress employers. But for some HR officers and bosses, what happens after candidates walk into the room can be a story worth sharing on social media.
Recently, several employers revealed some of the most unexpected and sometimes downright awkward situations they’ve faced during the hiring process.
The mum who wanted more than just an internship
One employer recalled how she was all set to offer an internship to a student after a promising interview.
“His résumé looked great, the interview went smoothly, and I was ready to take him on,” she said.
But just when she thought things were settled, she received a call from the student’s mother with a list of demands that left her stunned.
She told me she wanted her son to stay at my house, eat at my house, and even go to and from work with me in my car,” the employer shared.
Feeling uneasy, the employer eventually called the student to explain why his internship application had to be rejected.
“Before anything even started, the mother was already giving me instructions. Better to reject now than deal with bigger problems later,” she said.
When mom comes to the interview instead
Another HR officer revealed a moment when she thought she was interviewing a candidate for a nursery assistant position only to discover midway through the session that the woman sitting in front of her was actually the candidate’s mother.
“The daughter couldn’t come, so the mother came on her behalf. The interview quickly turned into a casual chat because how do you interview someone who isn’t even the applicant?” she said.
Candidate brings his boyfriend along
And then there was the HR officer who had to keep a straight face when a candidate showed up for his interview… holding hands with his boyfriend.
“They came in together, and while the candidate was filling out forms, they were sitting there holding hands. Yes, the candidate was male,” she said.
Watch the clip here:
