Strangest Interview Trail Experience

[Cambover]

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A lot of us have been on the interview trail quite a bit and I'm sure we have some stories to tell. One of mine:

I was one of the first on my plane from Raliegh/Durham to O'Hare. While I was sitting down and making myself comfortable, I notice this older gentleman holding up the line and talking to himself. He's on a Bluetooth headset and completely distracted. The older space cadet takes his seat behind me, still talking, and I forgot about him. We take off without a hitch and then the captain comes on over the speaker, "Good evening ladies and gentleman, we will have a pleasant 2 1/2 hour flight to Chicago tonight..." As the word Chicago left the speaker's blare, I heard a sudden frightened choking sound that words cannot do justice. I look behind to see the old gentleman manically trying to unbuckle his seat belt. The attendant hurried over to accost him, and I hear this slip from his mouth, "I'm supposed to be flying to Dubai..."

The man had gotten on the wrong flight. Somehow the ticket counter never realized and his must have been the only open seat on an otherwise full flight. I have no idea how he managed that.

 

[NVdisG]

This didn't happen.

 

[Kinch]

This didn't happen.

I don't know...

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/201...lis-to-las-vegas-without-a-boarding-pass?lite

 

[492618]

A lot of us have been on the interview trail quite a bit and I'm sure we have some stories to tell. One of mine:

I was one of the first on my plane from Raliegh/Durham to O'Hare. While I was sitting down and making myself comfortable, I notice this older gentleman holding up the line and talking to himself. He's on a Bluetooth headset and completely distracted. The older space cadet takes his seat behind me, still talking, and I forgot about him. We take off without a hitch and then the captain comes on over the speaker, "Good evening ladies and gentleman, we will have a pleasant 2 1/2 hour flight to Chicago tonight..." As the word Chicago left the speaker's blare, I heard a sudden frightened choking sound that words cannot do justice. I look behind to see the old gentleman manically trying to unbuckle his seat belt. The attendant hurried over to accost him, and I hear this slip from his mouth, "I'm supposed to be flying to Dubai..."

The man had gotten on the wrong flight. Somehow the ticket counter never realized and his must have been the only open seat on an otherwise full flight. I have no idea how he managed that.

Don't international flights have a separate terminal? Multiple levels of fail must have happened here.

 

[Mt Kilimanjaro]

There are no direct flights from RDU to Dubai.

 

[Cambover]

This didn't happen.

100% honest.

Don't international flights have a separate terminal? Multiple levels of fail must have happened here.

I was flying American, and I can't say where the gates were.

There are no direct flights from RDU to Dubai.

From what I could understand, he was going to layover through Heathrow and then to Dubai. I'm not sure if there was another flight before Heathrow.

 

[ChemEngMD]

Don't international flights have a separate terminal? Multiple levels of fail must have happened here.

100% honest.



I was flying American, and I can't say where the gates were.



From what I could understand, he was going to layover through Heathrow and then to Dubai. I'm not sure if there was another flight before Heathrow.

I live in the triangle and fly out of RDU a lot....there is no "international" terminal...everybody is lumped in together...small airport, but they have been doing construction on terminal 1 for a while now, so maybe they will separate them in the future.

 

[Mt Kilimanjaro]

From what I could understand, he was going to layover through Heathrow and then to Dubai. I'm not sure if there was another flight before Heathrow.

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and guess it was Chicago -> London.

 

[Cambover]

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and guess it was Chicago -> London.

Nope. That guy definitely did not want to go to Chicago. He was freaking out until the attendants calmed him down. They were able to radio ahead when we were closer to Chicago to let their staff know that he would need help figuring out flights.

 

[McRunner]

I don't know...

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/201...lis-to-las-vegas-without-a-boarding-pass?lite

Hey maybe I'll see him flying out of MSP next week hahaha

 

[Pseudonymity]

Not really my fault here but awkward nonetheless:

Interviewer: So what do you do for fun?
Me: Oh I play X instrument
Interviewer: Ahh I see... Does it help with the ladies??
Me: Uhhhh what did you say?
Interviewer: I said do the ladies like it?
Me: Ohhh yeahhhh

 

[volcomx]

Getting on a wrong flight can definitely happen. A guy on my flight checked in and started walking down to the plane. The ticket guy had to run down and catch him to tell him he was going onto the wrong flight. If the ticket guy and the passenger both aren't paying attention, one could end up flying to some random place.

 

[pyrrion89]

On a domestic flight out from the interview:

*I see the flight attendant approaching with the beverage trolley. I think to myself, "I want an orange juice."*
*Flight attended looks at me*
"You're about to order an orange juice."
Me: "What the f---?!" I think to myself.
"How did you know?"
Flight attendant: "I've been doing this job for 10 years, I can tell you're the kind of face that wants OJ."

Was a blond gentleman in his late 40's. He was also fluent in Spanish and automatically began conversing in Spanish to a Hispanic-looking couple next to me when asking what they wanted to drink. How he knew they spoke Spanish beats me.

 

[Entadus]

Not really my fault here but awkward nonetheless:

Interviewer: So what do you do for fun?
Me: Oh I play X instrument
Interviewer: Ahh I see... Does it help with the ladies??
Me: Uhhhh what did you say?
Interviewer: I said do the ladies like it?
Me: Ohhh yeahhhh

On a domestic flight out from the interview:

*I see the flight attendant approaching with the beverage trolley. I think to myself, "I want an orange juice."*
*Flight attended looks at me*
"You're about to order an orange juice."
Me: "What the f---?!" I think to myself.
"How did you know?"
Flight attendant: "I've been doing this job for 10 years, I can tell you're the kind of face that wants OJ."

Was a blond gentleman in his late 40's. He was also fluent in Spanish and automatically began conversing in Spanish to a Hispanic-looking couple next to me when asking what they wanted to drink. How he knew they spoke Spanish beats me.

Laugh-out-loud funny, guys!

 

[Cambover]

Not really my fault here but awkward nonetheless:

Interviewer: So what do you do for fun?
Me: Oh I play X instrument
Interviewer: Ahh I see... Does it help with the ladies??
Me: Uhhhh what did you say?
Interviewer: I said do the ladies like it?
Me: Ohhh yeahhhh

That seems like a really cool interviewer. Was he/she faculty or a student?

On a domestic flight out from the interview:

*I see the flight attendant approaching with the beverage trolley. I think to myself, "I want an orange juice."*
*Flight attended looks at me*
"You're about to order an orange juice."
Me: "What the f---?!" I think to myself.
"How did you know?"
Flight attendant: "I've been doing this job for 10 years, I can tell you're the kind of face that wants OJ."

Was a blond gentleman in his late 40's. He was also fluent in Spanish and automatically began conversing in Spanish to a Hispanic-looking couple next to me when asking what they wanted to drink. How he knew they spoke Spanish beats me.

How could someone know that even if they work at a job for 30 years?

There are no direct flights from RDU to Dubai.

He was connecting to Heathrow as I mentioned above.

 

[osprey099]

I met a fellow interviewee at the airport before and after our interviews; thought that was kinda a coincidence.

 

[calgirl1234]

was at an airport and randomly started talking to this guy next to me. turns out he's a professor/md/owns his own practice (went to harvard for his md/phd) and he was telling me about how being a doctor now sucks and isn't like it was before. you're basically a slave to the hospitals and insurance companies and you're not your own boss anymore. at the end, he told me he was sorry for scaring me and that i seem very optimistic. he gave me his business card and told me if i ever want to apply to ____ school, i should hit him up.

 

[thisisansley]

This one was just kind of a fail on my part. A couple weeks ago I had to fly to FL for an interview from NYC (where I live) but the day of the flight I had an exam and my phone inexplicably stopped working. So I rushed from my exam to the apple store and had to wait forever for them to fix my phone (though when I told them I had a flight they were very accommodating) and I guess in my stress I forgot to check which airport I was flying out of. I got to JFK and tried to check in and they said they couldn't find my boarding pass... Because I was supposed to fly out of LaGuardia. *facepalm*

Everyone was actually really nice and understanding but it cost $50 to get on a different flight and I know I will never do that again.

 

[Cambover]

This one was just kind of a fail on my part. A couple weeks ago I had to fly to FL for an interview from NYC (where I live) but the day of the flight I had an exam and my phone inexplicably stopped working. So I rushed from my exam to the apple store and had to wait forever for them to fix my phone (though when I told them I had a flight they were very accommodating) and I guess in my stress I forgot to check which airport I was flying out of. I got to JFK and tried to check in and they said they couldn't find my boarding pass... Because I was supposed to fly out of LaGuardia. *facepalm*

Everyone was actually really nice and understanding but it cost $50 to get on a different flight and I know I will never do that again.

Ouch. That sounds like a rough day. Luckily, Iowa only has one airport around here, so I know that won't happen to me.

 

[amichel]

This one was just kind of a fail on my part. A couple weeks ago I had to fly to FL for an interview from NYC (where I live) but the day of the flight I had an exam and my phone inexplicably stopped working. So I rushed from my exam to the apple store and had to wait forever for them to fix my phone (though when I told them I had a flight they were very accommodating) and I guess in my stress I forgot to check which airport I was flying out of. I got to JFK and tried to check in and they said they couldn't find my boarding pass... Because I was supposed to fly out of LaGuardia. *facepalm*

Everyone was actually really nice and understanding but it cost $50 to get on a different flight and I know I will never do that again.

Sounds like an episode of 'Friends'. 😉

 

[Cinclus]

Not strange, but something nice that doesn't happen every day:

Mt first time I was ever in Texas was when I interviewed at Baylor. I went to a local BBQ place for dinner the night before my interview, and I struck up a conversation with a friendly older fellow in line just before me (you were served stuff you picked out as you moved down the line). The fact that this was my first day ever in Texas was mentioned at some point during our conversation. The guy was paying for his to-go order at the same time I finished selecting my food, and he paid for "the nice young student behind me" at the same time, telling me "welcome to Texas" as he walking out of the restaurant. I got in a surprised "thank you" as he was leaving, and I felt nice and welcome as I chowed down on some delicious TX BBQ.

Sharing my strangest experience would just give away my identity, so I will refrain.

 

[Lya]

Not strange, but something nice that doesn't happen every day:

Mt first time I was ever in Texas was when I interviewed at Baylor. I went to a local BBQ place for dinner the night before my interview, and I struck up a conversation with a friendly older fellow in line just before me (you were served stuff you picked out as you moved down the line). The fact that this was my first day ever in Texas was mentioned at some point during our conversation. The guy was paying for his to-go order at the same time I finished selecting my food, and he paid for "the nice young student behind me" at the same time, telling me "welcome to Texas" as he walking out of the restaurant. I got in a surprised "thank you" as he was leaving, and I felt nice and welcome as I chowed down on some delicious TX BBQ.

Sharing my strangest experience would just give away my identity, so I will refrain.

That's very kind of him.

I know one of my friends who accidentally forgot his wallet in a restaurant, but the cashier grabbed hers and paid the meal for him. He said to the cashier thank you and asked how he could pay her back, and then she said, "You don't have to pay me back. Pay it forward to others. Have a nice day."

 

[Lya]

I am not sure if this is "strange", but I immediately classified it as rude.

At one school my interviewer decided he didn't like the interviewing room assigned to us so we went to a busy hallway. He sat us down in two chair next to each other and began interviewing me. The hallway was bustling and loud with current students and some of my fellow applicants passed by the situation and gawked! Worst of all, this interviewers colleagues would pass by and try to strike up a conversation with him and he was utterly distracted from what I was saying and he had me repeat myself 50% of the time.

That is very unusual.. Sorry for the bad luck...

 

[13132]

That is very unusual.. Sorry for the bad luck...

I thought maybe he was being edgy and seeing how I would respond to an unplanned and stressful twist.

 

[NeuroNYC]

So I'm at my first interview, ever. It's early september. I'm at school A.

This is how the interview began.

Interviewer: Welcome to school A! Is this your first interview?
Me: Yes it is, I'm very excited to be here at school A.
Interviewer: Great! And we're really glad you could be here. Tell me, do you have other interviews?
Me: Yes 🙂
Interviewer: I see, where?
Me: School B, C, D, and E.
Interviewer: Where is the clinical training for school E, thats not right in the city is it? isn't it in [suburb]?
Me: No I believe it's in the city, but I'm really just glad to be here at school A.
Interviewer: Great... Great.. They have a good program at school E.
Me: They do, but I'm really impressed with some of the developments and recent changes to the curriculum here at school A

----at this point, my thinking was that he was trying to yield protect, but wait for the next part

Interviewer: Yeah we're really proud of the changes we're making, and of our plans for the future. Tell me, did you apply to school Z? (school Z is a relatively new MD program less than half an hour away from school A)
Me: Yes I did, I haven't heard anything from them.
Interviewer: Well school Z has this great new program called [program name] that allows the students be exposed to some great stuff early on. Do you know anything about it?
Me: No, I don't know much about school Z to be honest with you. I'm really just excited to be here at school A. It seems like a great place to study..........

WHAT. THE. WHAT

 

[Lya]

So I'm at my first interview, ever. It's early september. I'm at school A.

This is how the interview began.

Interviewer: Welcome to school A! Is this your first interview?
Me: Yes it is, I'm very excited to be here at school A.
Interviewer: Great! And we're really glad you could be here. Tell me, do you have other interviews?
Me: Yes 🙂
Interviewer: I see, where?
Me: School B, C, D, and E.
Interviewer: Where is the clinical training for school E, thats not right in the city is it? isn't it in [suburb]?
Me: No I believe it's in the city, but I'm really just glad to be here at school A.
Interviewer: Great... Great.. They have a good program at school E.
Me: They do, but I'm really impressed with some of the developments and recent changes to the curriculum here at school A

----at this point, my thinking was that he was trying to yield protect, but wait for the next part

Interviewer: Yeah we're really proud of the changes we're making, and of our plans for the future. Tell me, did you apply to school Z? (school Z is a relatively new MD program less than half an hour away from school A)
Me: Yes I did, I haven't heard anything from them.
Interviewer: Well school Z has this great new program called [program name] that allows the students be exposed to some great stuff early on. Do you know anything about it?
Me: No, I don't know much about school Z to be honest with you. I'm really just excited to be here at school A. It seems like a great place to study..........

WHAT. THE. WHAT

That is a next-level distraction/trap for interviews... I will be so confused by the end of that interview...

 

[joonage]

^ In other words, "Run. Run far away from here and don't look back!"

 

[milkandcereal]

While I was waiting for the shuttle to take me to my terminal from the parking lot at 4:45 in the morning, a woman ate half of a banana and offered me the rest. I thanked her, but had to regretfully decline.

 

[Omppu27]

There are no direct flights from RDU to Dubai.

My father lives in Dubai and I have flown there twice. Almost 100% sure no flights go from NC to Dubai. I have only flown there through Washington and Atlanta.

EDIT: Just saw the later posts about London. I honestly don't know what went wrong then. Maybe the dude is an idiot and thought that he was flying directly to London from NC?

 

[NeuroNYC]

That is a next-level distraction/trap for interviews... I will be so confused by the end of that interview...

Thankfully there were multiple interviews at this school and the others were much better, much more "normal", I suppose. I was just so shocked that he OPENED the interview by asking about other schools, like don't you want to build some sense of trust and communication before you start trying to trap me? Bizarre. I was on guard the rest of the interview.

 

[BlueLabel]

Not strange, but something nice that doesn't happen every day:

Mt first time I was ever in Texas was when I interviewed at Baylor. I went to a local BBQ place for dinner the night before my interview, and I struck up a conversation with a friendly older fellow in line just before me (you were served stuff you picked out as you moved down the line). The fact that this was my first day ever in Texas was mentioned at some point during our conversation. The guy was paying for his to-go order at the same time I finished selecting my food, and he paid for "the nice young student behind me" at the same time, telling me "welcome to Texas" as he walking out of the restaurant. I got in a surprised "thank you" as he was leaving, and I felt nice and welcome as I chowed down on some delicious TX BBQ.

Sharing my strangest experience would just give away my identity, so I will refrain.

Love hearing stories like this. By any chance were you at Luling City Market? One of the best Texas BBQ places in Houston.

 

[TheShaker]

I thought I was going to die yesterday. I was on a flight that just got in the air (literally 2 minutes after takeoff) and the airplane was getting really shaky. Suddenly, everyone in the front freaks the **** out in this abnormally shaking plane and I thought either the plane was going down or some terrorist just made his move. Turns out an old lady just passed out but I think my heart exploded a little.

 

[Anathema]

I missed my flight home after an interview and had to sleep in O'Hare for the night. When I arrived home the next day my whole family was sick and I caught a high fever that night. Not weird, just bad luck.

Edit: just realized earlier that week a student interviewer talked about how a few of the other students missed a flight and had to sleep at a hotel or the airport. This was in response to me being in state and not having to fly.

 

[SilverCat]

Try searching 'Bizarre Interview.' Lots of great stories on that thread.

 

[Cambover]

I missed my flight home after an interview and had to sleep in O'Hare for the night. When I arrived home the next day my whole family was sick and I caught a high fever that night. Not weird, just bad luck.

Edit: just realized earlier that week a student interviewer talked about how a few of the other students missed a flight and had to sleep at a hotel or the airport. This was in response to me being in state and not having to fly.

That sucks. At least when I've had overnight layovers, I've had family in the area.

 

[Cinclus]

Love hearing stories like this. By any chance were you at Luling City Market? One of the best Texas BBQ places in Houston.

Nope. I was at Goode Co.

 

[OCDOCDOCD]

I thought I was going to die yesterday. I was on a flight that just got in the air (literally 2 minutes after takeoff) and the airplane was getting really shaky. Suddenly, everyone in the front freaks the **** out in this abnormally shaking plane and I thought either the plane was going down or some terrorist just made his move. Turns out an old lady just passed out but I think my heart exploded a little.

I know how that feels. About 11 years ago I was on a flight that had to make an emergency landing. You could tell something was weird about the flight from the start because 30 minutes in they still hadn't said you could use electronics or turned off the seatbelt light, and the plane had been accelerating/decelerating rapidly and seemingly at random. Finally the pilot came on and non-nonchalantly stated that the plane was "having electrical problems" and needed to turn back. Then on the way back you could see that they were dumping fuel from the wings, and when we landed there were maybe a dozen emergency vehicles waiting on the tarmac that followed us to the gate. Scariest half hour of my life.

 

[Anathema]

I know how that feels. About 11 years ago I was on a flight that had to make an emergency landing. You could tell something was weird about the flight from the start because 30 minutes in they still hadn't said you could use electronics or turned off the seatbelt light, and the plane had been accelerating/decelerating rapidly and seemingly at random. Finally the pilot came on and non-nonchalantly stated that the plane was "having electrical problems" and needed to turn back. Then on the way back you could see that they were dumping fuel from the wings, and when we landed there were maybe a dozen emergency vehicles waiting on the tarmac that followed us to the gate. Scariest half hour of my life.

Jesus Christ, once you started talking about dumping the fuel my hands began to sweat.

 

[geh926]

Jesus Christ, once you started talking about dumping the fuel my hands began to sweat.

My palms already sweat on every flight! That experience would have probably been the dagger in the heart, haha.