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barred_owl
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« Reply #210 on: November 13, 2009, 03:07:33 AM » |
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In a phone interview with Famous Civil Rights figure, I was asked a slew of illegal questions. Realized I would not take that job with hu, and wondered if that was the method of scaring off candidates hu didn't want there.
Went to another interview approximately a two hour drive away. Having spent a sleepless night, I arrived in town with just enough time to make a hasty trip to a deli I knew to use the bathroom, check over clothing, and arrive looking calm at interview, congratulating myself on how prepared I was and what a pro I had become at interviewing.
Only to find out from admin that I was two days early (and had the time wrong to boot). Fortunately, admin was extremely discreet and I returned on the right day.
Oh, dear! I suppose you could have spun that as being "exceptionally punctual" and "extraordinarily patient," or something! |
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...I can't help rooting for the underdog underbird. |
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larryc
Hu hatin'
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 17,572
Eschew the hu.
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« Reply #211 on: November 13, 2009, 03:22:39 AM » |
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I love that this thread has been revived. I have only some second-hand contributions:
1. Someone I know had a campus viist at a school in Jersey last year. The dean kept glowering at him. When he began answering the diversity question with a spiel about how he looked forward to living in the diverse community, the dean interrupted him saying "Well I am from Brooklyn, and in Brooklyn all we care about is if the wrong kind of people move in next door!" Then my friend sneezed and she threw a Kleenex box at his head.
2. Apparently when they were interviewing for my replacement at my old school last year, my chair took a visiting candidate to visit the VP, who came out of his office and said "We have a hiring freeze as of today, so this search is canceled." I keep expecting the poor candidate to post on this thread!
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cspaula
New member
Posts: 6
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« Reply #212 on: November 16, 2009, 03:19:14 PM » |
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I had my first ever phone interview and was sick with a terrible cold; the next day I lost my voice completely. Thank goodness it was a phone interview because I would have had to cancel. I thought I was prepared and then the first, most obvious question came: why would you be qualified for this position? I stumbed and lost track of what I was saying, then I started to cough...It was an awful start. The bulk of the questioning was more specific and I think I did much better. To be honest I really do not know how it went. I will see if I get called for a job talk. Who knows...but it was nerve racking. I know I should be able to answer the broad questions but silly me was not prepared for them. Oh well.
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melba_frilkins
Doing laundry.
Member-Moderator
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 6,171
Ok, I'll tell you a little secret if I don't run o
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« Reply #213 on: November 17, 2009, 03:41:04 AM » |
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My worst interview moment was of my own making. This was about 12 years ago. PowerPoint was new fairly new to me. So I've got my PPt slides ready to go and practice my teaching demo a million times. Fast forward to the teaching demo: they have the computer/projector all set up and hand me a remote control. As I'm talking, every so often the PPt slide switches on its own--usually just before I'm ready to move on. I thought it might be something weird about the remote control, or who knows what. So I just made the best of it, but definitely awkward.
(Later, turns out it was my fault. I'd accidentally saved my time-per-slide while practicing and it used those timings to auto-advance the slides.)
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Nothing to see here. Move along, folks.
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frog111
New member
Posts: 39
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« Reply #214 on: November 20, 2009, 11:29:17 AM » |
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When we hosted an interview, everything went well for the candidate, no flight delays, no lost luggage, great presentation, nice lunch discussion, in short, a great visit. Except for the call later in the day from the police, asking if I was hosting Mr. So and So, and if I was, could I escort him back to his car. Neither the candidate or I had any idea what this was about, so we trot out to the parking lot to find a squad car and a fire truck waiting. Turns out the candidate was so focused on the day, he locked his keys in the rental car, AND left it running. So from around 8AM to 3PM, the car just was idling in the lot, and drew some attention.
Yes we did hire him, and he is still here.
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hikingprof
Junior member
Posts: 55
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« Reply #215 on: November 20, 2009, 09:22:21 PM » |
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I was on an interview once where they asked me to teach a sample class. I showed up at the appointed time and place only to find that the students were not expecting a guest lecturer that day. A few moments later the regular instructor (an adjunct) showed up, and asked who I was and what I was doing in her class. The SC had never told her that we were borrowing her class. Things went downhill from there. I did not get the job.
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luvstowrite
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« Reply #216 on: November 21, 2009, 10:43:36 AM » |
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I was on an interview once where they asked me to teach a sample class. I showed up at the appointed time and place only to find that the students were not expecting a guest lecturer that day. A few moments later the regular instructor (an adjunct) showed up, and asked who I was and what I was doing in her class. The SC had never told her that we were borrowing her class. Things went downhill from there. I did not get the job.
The only thing that could have been worse would have been if the adjunct had applied for the same position. |
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"If you want to make enemies, try to change something." -- Woodrow Wilson
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larryc
Hu hatin'
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 17,572
Eschew the hu.
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« Reply #217 on: November 21, 2009, 12:24:45 PM » |
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When we hosted an interview, everything went well for the candidate, no flight delays, no lost luggage, great presentation, nice lunch discussion, in short, a great visit. Except for the call later in the day from the police, asking if I was hosting Mr. So and So, and if I was, could I escort him back to his car. Neither the candidate or I had any idea what this was about, so we trot out to the parking lot to find a squad car and a fire truck waiting. Turns out the candidate was so focused on the day, he locked his keys in the rental car, AND left it running. So from around 8AM to 3PM, the car just was idling in the lot, and drew some attention.
Yes we did hire him, and he is still here.
And you have a story for his retirement party! |
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cranefly
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« Reply #218 on: November 21, 2009, 12:48:46 PM » |
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Not an interview, but for a job talk. The job was clearly sewn up in advance, because *NO* faculty members showed up to my talk.
I got there early and the doors were locked (it was a Saturday). By about 20 minutes past the time my talk was supposed to start, the doors open from the inside, and a guy asks me what I want. I explain, and he gets me set up in the room. I had introduced myself to him, and he told me his name. He eventually said, "Well, looks like I'm the only one!" So I gave my talk to him.
I *LATER* found out he was just the a/v guy, not even a faculty member!!
University, you know who you are, and I hate you.
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« Last Edit: November 21, 2009, 12:51:56 PM by cranefly »
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onion
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« Reply #219 on: November 21, 2009, 12:51:06 PM » |
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Not an interview, but for a job talk. The job was clearly sewn up in advance, because *NO* faculty members showed up to my talk.
I got there early and the doors were locked (it was a Saturday). By about 20 minutes passed the time my talk was supposed to stop, the doors open from the inside, and a guy asks me what I want. I explain, and he gets me set up in the room. I had introduced myself to him, and he told me his name. He eventually said, "Well, looks like I'm the only one!" So I gave my talk to him.
I *LATER* found out he was just the a/v guy, not even a faculty member!!
University, you know who you are, and I hate you.
Holy cow! That's the WORST story I've ever heard! And I'm dying to know the Uni... |
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cranefly
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« Reply #220 on: November 21, 2009, 12:53:13 PM » |
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Not an interview, but for a job talk. The job was clearly sewn up in advance, because *NO* faculty members showed up to my talk.
I got there early and the doors were locked (it was a Saturday). By about 20 minutes passed the time my talk was supposed to stop, the doors open from the inside, and a guy asks me what I want. I explain, and he gets me set up in the room. I had introduced myself to him, and he told me his name. He eventually said, "Well, looks like I'm the only one!" So I gave my talk to him.
I *LATER* found out he was just the a/v guy, not even a faculty member!!
University, you know who you are, and I hate you.
Holy cow! That's the WORST story I've ever heard! And I'm dying to know the Uni... It was for a very posh university in South-Western UK :) |
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punchnpie
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« Reply #221 on: November 21, 2009, 01:03:12 PM » |
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Heck of a story, cranefly. Pray tell, what happened immediately afterward? Where was the committee? Did anyone interview you? Did you just pick up your stuff and go home? Did the uni burn to the ground in a great showing of karmic justice?
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What about all them other professors – ain’t they your kin? Good God, no. I loathe them and they loathe me. – Sunset Limited
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hegemony
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« Reply #222 on: November 21, 2009, 10:21:46 PM » |
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Are you sure you were in the right place, and an audience wasn't waiting for you fruitlessly in a room somewhere else?
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Tragedy tomorrow, comedy tonight.
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alleyoxenfree
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« Reply #223 on: November 21, 2009, 11:58:33 PM » |
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I have a version of that. I recently showed up to give a job talk and found no committee, just an apologetic receptionist. 20 minutes later, committee members showed up from a long lunch, soused. Seems they rarely got a chance to go to expensive restaurant on the university dime.
Giving a job talk to the incoherent, those who can barely remember their names much less a decent question at the end, is so not fun.
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oseph
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« Reply #224 on: November 21, 2009, 11:59:30 PM » |
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I have a version of that. I recently showed up to give a job talk and found no committee, just an apologetic receptionist. 20 minutes later, committee members showed up from a long lunch, soused. Seems they rarely got a chance to go to expensive restaurant on the university dime.
Giving a job talk to the incoherent, those who can barely remember their names much less a decent question at the end, is so not fun.
Was the lunch to discuss the candidates, or were you, the candidate, supposed to be there? |
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Oseph....you are right and you make sense.
For your future comments, I insult very directly.
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