Job Search - the worst interview

I've been on quite a whirlwind adventure interviewing. Of course, there were the places that impressed, and there were a couple that fell short.

The first short coming was when I got into my temporary residence late at night to find a twin bed from (I swear) the 1920s awaiting me. I haven't slept in a twin since middle school. I'm not exactly tall (a nice average 5'5"), but my feet were still dangerously close to dangling off the end of the bed. The bed also had a nice bi-level appeal with one half significantly lower than the other from years of people 'sleeping'. Needless to say it was not the most pleasant few nights, and no doubt I wasn't on my best game in the morning.

The bed is relatively minor compared to my actual worst interview. Though, I did come to gauge my chances based on how well I slept the night before and the temperature and pressure of my morning shower.

To the worse interview... First misstep - the invitation to interview for ... huh... "which position did you apply for?" This should have been my first sign that all was not well. Indeed, it didn't get better from there.

This was my one and only interview in which I flew out (or drove out) the day of the interview, per their instructions.  I believe this is generally a bad idea - flight delays, traffic, weather, etc. The one good thing about the interview was that the trip out was smooth.

If at all possible, someone should pick you up at the airport - saves taxi fare and saves the candidate hassle. I was not picked up when I arrived at 11 am. I made my way to a cab and to the hotel where I was informed that the cabbie didn't have any change. Are you kidding? What cabbie doesn't have $4 in change? So a $13 cab fare became a $20 cab fare. Hello, ripping off your customers.

I rang my host to let him know I had arrived and to figure out lunch plans (11:30 am). He had not made any lunch plans, because apparently I don't need to eat... but I did have a 1 pm meeting with the dean.  We could squeeze something in beforehand. Unfortunately, a 12:15 pick up in a new jag convertible from the hotel and a 15 min drive to the dean meant that we were still late after quickly scarfing down a burger and my hair was a disaster.

Apparently, the meeting with the dean and an evening seminar were the only things planned for the day. We roamed the halls searching for someone for me to talk to. I ended up in one 'interview' over the copy machine for 20 min. Another meeting consisted of 10 mins of discussion followed by 15 mins of a discussion between the interviewer and a student.

I'm generally a go with the flow gal, but this was getting ridiculous. The second day was an improvement, but there was really no where to go but up... and it was still pretty bad.

Dinners were well attended though. Each dinner consisted of a lively bunch consuming multiple courses and copious amounts of alcohol. It was like port call after a cruise, so it brought back good memories of debauchery in my youth. However, I felt rather miffed when after two dinner bills over $750, I was informed that transportation 'on my side' was my responsibility.  They wouldn't pay for my parking ($36) or mileage to the airport ($30). Note to the search committee - it helps to keep a candidate happy. Instead of inviting 10 people to dinner, inviting 8 and reimbursing the candidate would have been the better route and cheaper!

And to end the interview with a bang, I arrived to the airport to be informed that my seat had been given away and that I was put on standby for the next flight. I had a lovely flight stuck between two larger gents who had been on holiday, arriving back home just late enough to miss tucking my kids in bed.

Sigh.

I'm glad that most of my interviews were enjoyable. Only one bad apple in the barrel.