Worst/Funniest Interview Experiences

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Interviewer: so what do you do in your free time?

Me: PAINTING I absolutely love to paint in my free time

Interviewer: no kidding, I play with my artistic abilities in my free time as well!

This convo goes on for what seems like eons, and I'm kicking myself for mentioning it because I haven't "painted" since May...aka since my one and only undergrad Painting class ended

I wanted to face palm my dumb*** so badly. Not sure what made that nonsense come out of my mouth
 
Dream_big said:
Interviewer: so what do you do in your free time?

Me: PAINTING I absolutely love to paint in my free time

Interviewer: no kidding, I play with my artistic abilities in my free time as well!

This convo goes on for what seems like eons, and I'm kicking myself for mentioning it because I haven't "painted" since May...aka since my one and only undergrad Painting class ended

I wanted to face palm my dumb*** so badly. Not sure what made that nonsense come out of my mouth
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I had a student interviewer ask me this
My answer: "if I'm being honest just Netflix and chill"

Result: accepted
 
Was talking to a coworker this week about his interview season since it's basically over, and asked him about his best and worst answers.

He said his worst was during a student interview at a prestigious school, and the conversation was on research experience. His previous job was as a research coordinator for pharma sponsored studies, and he made some comment like "it wasn't as gratifying because they were sponsor studies, which is why I like my current job and my bench work in college." The student asked him to elaborate on why the research wasn't gratifying.

"Well you know, since they are sponsor studies, I had no hand in designing the research."

Interviewer: "Okay.."

(Thinking it's bad because he's disparaging clinical research) "Well no I mean its still good, its just like.. it's like I adopted it rather than having my own research, so it's, you know, hard to be as invested since it isn't mine or my team's original work."

Student interviewer responds, "Okay, well my sister and I are adopted."

"...:lame:"

He hasn't heard back yet. lol.
 
mydogmolly said:
Was talking to a coworker this week about his interview season since it's basically over, and asked him about his best and worst answers.

He said his worst was during a student interview at a prestigious school, and the conversation was on research experience. His previous job was as a research coordinator for pharma sponsored studies, and he made some comment like "it wasn't as gratifying because they were sponsor studies, which is why I like my current job and my bench work in college." The student asked him to elaborate on why the research wasn't gratifying.

"Well you know, since they are sponsor studies, I had no hand in designing the research."

Interviewer: "Okay.."

(Thinking it's bad because he's disparaging clinical research) "Well no I mean its still good, its just like.. it's like I adopted it rather than having my own research, so it's, you know, hard to be as invested since it isn't mine or my team's original work."

Student interviewer responds, "Okay, well my sister and I are adopted."

"...:lame:"

He hasn't heard back yet. lol.
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The initial response sounds like a completely reasonable answer to me, even the adopted part sounds like a good way to put it. It just sounds like he got unlucky with the second response and that the student interviewer was kind of a jacka**. Honestly, I probably would have let a professor or admission counselor know about that, as that seems somewhat hostile and I wouldn't want a misunderstanding like that to affect my chances.
 
mydogmolly said:
Was talking to a coworker this week about his interview season since it's basically over, and asked him about his best and worst answers.

He said his worst was during a student interview at a prestigious school, and the conversation was on research experience. His previous job was as a research coordinator for pharma sponsored studies, and he made some comment like "it wasn't as gratifying because they were sponsor studies, which is why I like my current job and my bench work in college." The student asked him to elaborate on why the research wasn't gratifying.

"Well you know, since they are sponsor studies, I had no hand in designing the research."

Interviewer: "Okay.."

(Thinking it's bad because he's disparaging clinical research) "Well no I mean its still good, its just like.. it's like I adopted it rather than having my own research, so it's, you know, hard to be as invested since it isn't mine or my team's original work."

Student interviewer responds, "Okay, well my sister and I are adopted."

"...:lame:"

He hasn't heard back yet. lol.
Click to expand...

Woah. I would've died man


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile
 
Stagg737 said:
The initial response sounds like a completely reasonable answer to me, even the adopted part sounds like a good way to put it. It just sounds like he got unlucky with the second response and that the student interviewer was kind of a jacka**. Honestly, I probably would have let a professor or admission counselor know about that, as that seems somewhat hostile and I wouldn't want a misunderstanding like that to affect my chances.
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Yea I honestly thought it was a good answer but it was just a horribly unlucky situation with the interviewer. Also, that is the just answer that he told me, it might have been a little more blunt and not as well explained in the interview, provoking that kind of response lol
 
Interview at top 5 medical school ~1 week after girlfriend breaks up with me:

Interviewer: "Tell me about a mistake you made"
Me: "I was very busy and I didn't make time for my girlfriend, so she broke up with me"
(Why did I use that answer, why!?!?!?!?!?!?!)

Result: TBA
 
NewGuy789 said:
Interview at top 5 medical school ~1 week after girlfriend breaks up with me:

Interviewer: "Tell me about a mistake you made"
Me: "I was very busy and I didn't make time for my girlfriend, so she broke up with me"
(Why did I use that answer, why!?!?!?!?!?!?!)

Result: TBA
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I mean I honestly don't think that's a bad answer. Shows that you're being honest and you try to learn from your mistakes. Good luck!
 
mydogmolly said:
Yea I honestly thought it was a good answer but it was just a horribly unlucky situation with the interviewer. Also, that is the just answer that he told me, it might have been a little more blunt and not as well explained in the interview, provoking that kind of response lol
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It's not the best answer. There are private practice attendings, even academic centers and labs that are partly funded by big companies or are part of a study as a center for a multicenter study. It might be offensive to sound like you're bashing those types of studies. The wording could be more eloquent. Though it sounds like you weren't there and don't know the exact wording.

In any case the student interviewer used the word adopted from one context and applied it to himself which doesn't make sense. That's unfair.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile
 
NewGuy789 said:
Interview at top 5 medical school ~1 week after girlfriend breaks up with me:

Interviewer: "Tell me about a mistake you made"
Me: "I was very busy and I didn't make time for my girlfriend, so she broke up with me"
(Why did I use that answer, why!?!?!?!?!?!?!)

Result: TBA
Click to expand...
Honestly, those are the worst interview questions.

I expect the average answer to those sort of questions isn't far from a lie.
 
Jinxapotato said:
I mean I honestly don't think that's a bad answer. Shows that you're being honest and you try to learn from your mistakes. Good luck!
Click to expand...

Should've spinned it to talk about how you need to learn how to manage professoinal + personal life etc all that fun stuff hah
 
. . . I was going pretty strong on interviews and then this happened.

I was talking about how I love building meaningful relationships with people. Then she asked if this had helped me stay in touch with friends after college. I could only think of one friend that I stayed in touch with and only used him as an example.

She then asked. . . is that the only friend?
In my befuddled state, I said yes (as if I have no friends. . . words are hard)
Then on the drive home, I thought up a long list of those that I stay in touch with.

I won't know the results for a while.
 
Scene: As the interview nears the end.

Me: Can I have your business card?

Interviewer: Sure, come with me to my office.

Office: As they search for a business card to give me. I see a picture of a long hair 10-11 year old grandchild in a football uniform on their desk.

Me: Oh I see your granddaughter likes Aaron Rogers and the Packers.

Interviewer: That's my grandson.

Me: D'oh

Result: TBD

EDIT: Rejected!!! Lesson to all the other grasshoppers out there. LOL!
 
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Me, in relation to discussion about non-wet lab research: “I took a geography class because I had a hole in my schedule and it sounded cool” -> proceeds to talk about my interest in public health after butchering why I took a relevant class.

__

Him: “So, is this your first interview?”
Me: *laughs nervously* “Hahaha yeah I’m pretty nervous”
Him: *laughs nervously*

We later talked about residency and NIH funding, his residency and how he chose it, his med school and how he chose it, and so much more. I actually felt like this one went quite well...only time will tell.

Results: TBD
 
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hamstergang said:
NEVER guess the relationship of someone to someone else. It's not just about gender, either.
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I was sent to bring a mother and her newborn baby to surgery because the baby was having an imperforate anus procedure done. I can’t quite remember the name but it was one of those that could be a boy or girl but I hadn’t really thought about it. I said that HE was really cute and the mom politely corrected me, “she.” But for some reason, in my exhausted state, I decided I had to fumble through why I said HE instead of SHE. About 45 seconds later I called HER a HE again.

This probably belongs in “less informed pre-meds,” but the point is, don’t assume gender, and if you do, don’t feel the need to explain why. Fml
 
bioboy23 said:
I was sent to bring a mother and her newborn baby to surgery because the baby was having an imperforate anus procedure done. I can’t quite remember the name but it was one of those that could be a boy or girl but I hadn’t really thought about it. I said that HE was really cute and the mom politely corrected me, “she.” But for some reason, in my exhausted state, I decided I had to fumble through why I said HE instead of SHE. About 45 seconds later I called HER a HE again.

This probably belongs in “less informed pre-meds,” but the point is, don’t assume gender, and if you do, don’t feel the need to explain why. Fml
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There is apparently no gender in Tagalog. Every time someone from PI would talk about our girls, they would switch back and forth between he and she. All the Filipino nurses I worked with did the same thing. You get used to it, but it confused the hell out of me at first.
 
Matthew9Thirtyfive said:
There is apparently no gender in Tagalog. Every time someone from PI would talk about our girls, they would switch back and forth between he and she. All the Filipino nurses I worked with did the same thing. You get used to it, but it confused the hell out of me at first.
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I could see that being very annoying at first haha
 
H_Scheck said:
. . . I was going pretty strong on interviews and then this happened.

I was talking about how I love building meaningful relationships with people. Then she asked if this had helped me stay in touch with friends after college. I could only think of one friend that I stayed in touch with and only used him as an example.

She then asked. . . is that the only friend?
In my befuddled state, I said yes (as if I have no friends. . . words are hard)
Then on the drive home, I thought up a long list of those that I stay in touch with.

I won't know the results for a while.
Click to expand...
Wow! You walked right into that trap and shot yourself in the foot. I don't know how lethal the wound will be. But it's done, over, and now on to the next II!
 
The two interviewers at this medical school were both white male, 65+ years old. It was in a conservative state (not sure if it matters), and I'm from California.

Interviewer: What do you think will start the next war?

Me: Wow, I don't know. I used to be very updated with the latest news, but I have been staying away from a while now because I've been toying with the idea that humans can't physically absorb all the news sources out there. We're not wired to empathize with so much information and I think it could be one of the contributors to mental health. Um, oh crap I didn't answer your question. Um..... SOCIAL MEDIA...

***At this point, the interviewers just blinked curiously at me for several long seconds. Clearly I didn't consider that my audience may have a different perspective on social media... (but I also honestly just spewed something out of my mouth in hopes that my brain will catch up with a good reason later)

....5 seconds later....

Me: Because social media causes our opinions to become more polarized due to group think???

Interviewers: Okay, just FYI most of the other candidates said something more along the lines of scarce resources such as food, water, etc.

***GOD of course. They wanted something more intelligent and less abstract.

Me: Oh, okay...
 
fourandtwo said:
The two interviewers at this medical school were both white male, 65+ years old. It was in a conservative state (not sure if it matters), and I'm from California.

Interviewer: What do you think will start the next war?

Me: Wow, I don't know. I used to be very updated with the latest news, but I have been staying away from a while now because I've been toying with the idea that humans can't physically absorb all the news sources out there. We're not wired to empathize with so much information and I think it could be one of the contributors to mental health. Um, oh crap I didn't answer your question. Um..... SOCIAL MEDIA...

***At this point, the interviewers just blinked curiously at me for several long seconds. Clearly I didn't consider that my audience may have a different perspective on social media... (but I also honestly just spewed something out of my mouth in hopes that my brain will catch up with a good reason later)

....5 seconds later....

Me: Because social media causes our opinions to become more polarized due to group think???

Interviewers: Okay, just FYI most of the other candidates said something more along the lines of scarce resources such as food, water, etc.

***GOD of course. They wanted something more intelligent and less abstract.

Me: Oh, okay...
Click to expand...
I think your answer was better
 
Potentia Virtus said:
I think your answer was better
Click to expand...

HAHA thank you. I guess it depends on what the interviewer was looking for: a candidate who is very politically savvy? Or a candidate who thinks out of the box? I think ideally they'd want a candidate who is BOTH but I clearly demonstrated that I was only one of them.
 
WWI- fascist Italy
WWII- antisemitism in Germany
WWIII- I could see Iran or anther middle eastern country with a lot of oil money being a belligerent. Maybe North Korea or China. North Korea is poor, I guess.
 
fourandtwo said:
HAHA thank you. I guess it depends on what the interviewer was looking for: a candidate who is very politically savvy? Or a candidate who thinks out of the box? I think ideally they'd want a candidate who is BOTH but I clearly demonstrated that I was only one of them.
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just out of curiosity, did they actually think scarce resources was a good answer ?

im wondering if they were just trying to trap people who used that question as an excuse to trash donald trump

another answer could have been artificial intelligence. i mean i liked your answer too because that is clearly happening if you look anywhere on comment sections. i just think scarce resources is such a safe answer and its kind of strange that most people said that when its not likely to happen before a bunch of other things cause a war first
 
Recent interview:
Interviewer: What people do you have the most difficulty working with?
Me: Type A personalities and I don't always mesh. Sometimes their feedback can come off as a little arrogant or condescending. (me thinking about how many doctors I've worked with that were classic Type a) But it's no fault of their own.... Probably more me being sensitive!.. I've worked in a frequently understaffed healthcare setting, so I appreciate everyone! (and various other ramblings).

Result: Accepted!
 
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fourandtwo said:
HAHA thank you. I guess it depends on what the interviewer was looking for: a candidate who is very politically savvy? Or a candidate who thinks out of the box? I think ideally they'd want a candidate who is BOTH but I clearly demonstrated that I was only one of them.
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I think that the interviewer was looking for someone who has a modicum of knowledge of current events, and you really bombed the question. I mean, it's OK, sort of, to say up front that "I don't follow current events" [which is not exactly complimentary] but you just started babbling. They didn't ask why?, they asked for something totally different.

As a public service, here's a credible answer:
North Korea and the US and/or South Korea
Hamas and/or Hezbollah and Israel
Iran and any of the Arab nations
Iran and Israel
India and Pakistan
China and any of the Southeast Asian countries (I'll let you figure out why).
Russia and Ukraine
Russia and China
Venezuela and the US
 
Goro said:
I think that the interviewer was looking for someone who has a modicum of knowledge of current events, and you really bombed the question. I mean, it's OK, sort of, to say up front that "I don't follow current events" [which is not exactly complimentary] but you just started babbling. They didn't ask why?, they asked for something totally different.

As a public service, here's a credible answer:
North Korea and the US and/or South Korea
Hamas and/or Hezbollah and Israel
Iran and any of the Arab nations
Iran and Israel
India and Pakistan
China and any of the Southeast Asian countries (I'll let you figure out why).
Russia and Ukraine
Russia and China
Venezuela and the US
Click to expand...

In my mind, this is exactly the reason why I thought I bombed the Q. Oh well. Bygones 🙂
 
fourandtwo said:
The two interviewers at this medical school were both white male, 65+ years old. It was in a conservative state (not sure if it matters), and I'm from California.

Interviewer: What do you think will start the next war?

Me: Wow, I don't know. I used to be very updated with the latest news, but I have been staying away from a while now because I've been toying with the idea that humans can't physically absorb all the news sources out there. We're not wired to empathize with so much information and I think it could be one of the contributors to mental health. Um, oh crap I didn't answer your question. Um..... SOCIAL MEDIA...

***At this point, the interviewers just blinked curiously at me for several long seconds. Clearly I didn't consider that my audience may have a different perspective on social media... (but I also honestly just spewed something out of my mouth in hopes that my brain will catch up with a good reason later)

....5 seconds later....

Me: Because social media causes our opinions to become more polarized due to group think???

Interviewers: Okay, just FYI most of the other candidates said something more along the lines of scarce resources such as food, water, etc.

***GOD of course. They wanted something more intelligent and less abstract.

Me: Oh, okay...
Click to expand...

You're answer may not have come out as clean as it could have, but I think it's way better and probably more likely.
 
Before Interview: Practiced making eye contact when answering questions.

Me at Interview: Practice makes perfect.

Both Interviewers: In the middle of both interviews, I noticed both interviewers closing their eyes when speaking for what seems like an eternity or looking down or their eyes being shifty instead of looking at me.

Me after Interview: What the heck????

Result: TBD
 
infectiousdisease101 said:
(During a mock interview)
Interviewer: Tell me about yourself.
Me: Could you elaborate on specifically what you want to know about me?
I was told that was the worst possible answer to give.
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I kinda don't blame you though. I was asked that in several interviews and they each clearly were looking for something different. After asking "tell me about yourself," one actually wanted me to talk about my strengths, another wanted to talk about my interests, and another wanted me to talk about my background. No way to predict which way they're going.
 
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Tell me about it. Besides, we're scientists/physicians. We don't use broad times like fast or slow. We use precise numbers followed by units of measurements. So my first instinct as a scientist was to get a more precise idea of what they wanted to know. At least now I know since it's broad, I can drive it in any direction I want.
 
Potentia Virtus said:
The fact that you guys struggle with this question and overthink it to this degree speaks volumes. Ha ha holy freaking awkward. Have a conversation and act like a normal human being.
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It was a mock interview. The whole point of mock interviews is to make mistakes and not actually make them in the actual interview. Give me some credit I was smart enough to take advantage of it.
 
For sure. I was talking more about the people saying it was a bad/weird question. It's a pretty standard question
 
I've literally never had a normal conversation outside of an interview where someone said "so tell me about yourself." It's very far from normal conversation haha. However, it's important because it sets the tone for the rest of the interview.
 
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