In my 43 year career as a Social Worker, I had copious job interviews. Of course many of them led to real jobs.
For some more than one interview. Screening one. The shortlisted etc.
Most interviews were okay but some stand out as quite horrendous. Considering they were for a profession where sensitivity and non-judgemental attitudes were supposed to prevail it is surprising isn't it that some interviews were less than professional.
1. York-Finch Hospital- A child and perinatal position. The whole Social Work department needed to be in the interview. There was an air of anger in the room. The position needed was because the worker had gone to a conference in the States and obtained an offer for a new job. From the beginning one worker stated we do not like change and anyone starting here will have to do things the way they have always been done. Basically they wanted a clone of the person that was leaving. The icing on the cake was when the question about how I handled conflict was answered. One person did not like my answer and said that is not how we do things here. So I questioned what do you do! She answered we chew it up- meaning conflict and spit it out. I looked at another worker and asked is that what you do! Very adamantly she stated yes. So I looked at the first worker and said give me an example and you say it to her indicating the second worker and show me how you chew it up and spit it out! A person I knew from another work encounter, put her head down and tried not to laugh out loud at what I did. She knew me and knew I had had enough of that bitchy interview. As soon as I left the interview, I had decided I really did not want to work with that team- ever!
2. North York General Hospital- Professional Practice position. I was screened by a perky 25 something HR person that determined I was good enough to go to the next round. I was told there would be 3 people interviewing. So when I entered the room and saw a long table with about 15 people I was perplexed. It was explained that everyone on the Social Work team needed to be involved. Many questions were fired at me and not in a friendly manner. After a lengthy duration of questions, I was asked if I had any questions. When I asked what did you like about working at this place, every head went down with people looking at the table. One finally said she liked the team she was on. No one said they loved working there. When the interview was almost finished, one part-time person looked at my resume stating I see there are some gaps in your work history. Can you explain them? Funny because I had informed them earlier about gaps- time off with my children's births and layoffs that made me job hunt. Again it was asked in a very condescending way. When the HR person phoned a few days later to say I was the second selection but did not get the job. I was okay with the rejection. She asked if I wanted to know why I did not get the job. I simply said No and ended the conversation.
3. Children's Aid- Toronto North York Branch- Child Welfare Worker. I was returning to work after being at home for almost a year with my first child. I was into child care and baby care so had been reading and writing while home with my baby. The branch manager and a supervisor were interviewing. Every time when I would offer some new insights into child knowledge, the supervisor would challenge the simplest statement as if any ideas of my parenting knowledge and skills sucked. Even as I tried to sugar coat and say my answers in a kind way she would jump on me.
4. Markham Stouffville Hospital. A psychiatric Social Work position. It was a Friday and the interviewers all had casual Friday attire- yes blue jeans and casual tops. I had gone to the interview with a business suit. The interview was in a small room almost like a broom closet. I had been asked questions on my general knowledge of Social Work as if it was a First Year Quiz. The hospital was new at that time and there were doing a hiring blitz.
5. Blue Hills- Aurora. Supervisor and therapist position. Imagine going for a Supervisor position that needed many years of experience and one of the interviewers wanted to do a Role Play to assess my interview skills. "Mary" the client was the interviewee and I was the interviewer. I felt like I was in Social Work 101 class. Quite insulting. I asked several times this is for the supervisor position, correct. There were no management or supervisory questions at all. The pay was barely a penny more that what I was already making.
I have had interviews where the interviewer took phone calls; did not read my resume asking to describe all my work experiences that were clearly on the resume and challenged any answer I made.
One of the reasons I like being retired is the fact I have a pension and do not need to worry about applying for another job to earn an income.
How about you? What are your five worst job interviews?
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