Two odd job interviews: which is the worst?

Witnessing a global apocalypse or having to dance in front of fellow applicants? Both sound pretty bad scenarios to contend with during a job interview – especially if you’ve got chorophobia (that’s fear of dancing, thank you very much Wikipedia).
Fri, 6 Sep 2013Witnessing a global apocalypse or having to dance in front of fellow applicants? Both sound pretty bad scenarios to contend with during a job interview – especially if you’ve got chorophobia (that’s fear of dancing, thank you very much Wikipedia).

Well, both happened or at least appeared to happen in job interviews that have found their way into the news this week.

A young graduate interviewing for a job at retailer Currys in Cardiff, who describes himself as a “terrible dancer”, was “embarrassed and uncomfortable” to find himself being asked to throw some shapes as part of the ‘interview’ process.

Alan Bacon said he had prepared extensively for the interview, even bringing in photos to support the five minutes he had been told he would spend talking about his hobbies.

The firm have since apologised and confirmed this was not part of their official recruitment policy.

Bacon adds that he would not be attending the store’s second interview, and was still looking for a job.

Meanwhile, the end of the world appeared to have taken place in front of the nervous eyes of Chilean jobseekers at electronics firm LG.

See the Youtube video below for how they pulled the prank – very much reminiscent of a similar Youtube-based recruitment stunt from brewing firm Heineken – and, just as entertainingly, the applicants’ reactions.

As Despair505 comments underneath the Youtube video: “Great, they've managed to get us Chileans to look even crazier than everybody already think we are.”

Or, as the Daily Mail rather tersely puts it: “Some interviewees are quick to see the funny side of things and are probably just grateful that they haven't just experienced the apocalypse.”

And as recruiter.co.uk knows, there’s nothing worse than going for a job interview, and then the apocalypse comes before you’ve even got to give that clever answer about what your biggest weakness is.

Do you have any strange interview stories? Do share by clicking ‘Comment’ at the end of the story, below the video.

FINANCIALS: Empresaria reveals fall in profits, but Offshore Services delivers growth

Empresaria’s Offshore Services operations proved to be the shining light in the company’s fortunes in 2023, according to the global specialist staffing group’s annual results.

Financials 27 March 2024

Gi Group trains mental health first aiders to support staff wellbeing

HR and specialist recruiter Gi Group plans to train around 100 mental health first aiders (MHFAs) across the business.

27 March 2024

Recommendations for better integration to support refugees into work

The current integration of refugees system is “broken, expensive, inefficient and damaging” for both refugees and the UK, according to the chair of the Commission on the Integration of Refugees.

Legislation 26 March 2024

HMRC employment tool CEST not updated in five years

The underlying decision engine of HM Revenue & Customs’ Check Employment Status for Tax (CEST) tool has not been updated in five years.

26 March 2024
Top