HALLOWEEN: Workplace Horror Stories We Wish Were Not Real

Workplaces can sometimes be the setting for bizarre or unsettling events. Whether it’s a creepy co-worker, a malicious manager, or a looming deadline, there are many things that can make us dread going to work. The same goes for every role in every department, recruitment and human resources included.

As Halloween is right around the corner, we have gathered some spine-chilling stories in the recruitment world for your reading pleasure in the spirit of the spooky season. So get your blanket and flashlight ready and read on.

Story 1: The Sandwich Place Stakeout

Reddit user /u/Daedalus_0_ shares their spouse’s story about a time they interviewed someone for a job at a Sandwich place.

“The worst one my wife's told me when she was interviewing someone for a sandwich place was three questions one after another that the interviewee couldn't have made themselves seem dodgier.”

Q. "If I get hired can I get an advance on my first months pay?"

A. "No sorry, that's not something we're allowed to do"

Q. "Ah ok... Will I be doing cash drops at night from the safe?"

A " No, only supervisors have access to the safes"

Q "Will I be working on the till?"

It was not made clear in the story but we don’t think this person got the job.

Story 2: I Don’t Work with Women

Reddit user NewSummerOrange met with a candidate who looks a bit sexist. But then there’s a plot twist…

I was hiring a SWE (Software Engineer) - They had previously interviewed with the team lead who affirmed their technical prowess. My part was simply procedural. The lead wanted to hire them, and I needed to sign off. At the end of a very pleasant conversation with the applicant, the lead and myself - I ask something like, "How can management/leadership support you in your role?"

_Response, "I don't want to work with women."
Me something like, "How would you feel reporting to a woman?" Response, "I can't do that."_

I could actually see my team lead die a little inside during that conversation, he was so apologetic afterwards, and I was like "this is exactly why we interview."

Kicker - The applicant was a woman. She later sent multiple apology emails to my team lead, but never once apologized to me.

Today I think this was hilarious, but at the time I was offended.

Story 3: My Time is Valuable

Reddit user sting2018 seemed to find a candidate who could someday write a book on what not to do in an interview.

B2B Sales Position when I was interim sales manager. Guy comes in with colored spiked hair, wearing ripped jeans with his Baby Mama and his crying baby...yes...but wait no its gets better.

Guy arrives 30 minutes late as well! I was on the call with a customer so I was busy and wasn't that inclined to interview someone who was late and showed up dressing unprofessional.

As the guy is waiting for me he tells the secretary he has to go cash a check and get his baby some milk...

I finally come out and ask the secretary where he is, she informs me he left to go cash his check and buy his baby some milk...and I'm like "wow"

I go back into my office

an hour and half later he comes back, I'm in a meeting with the GM he's told to wait. Keep in mind by this point

He's brought his baby with him to an interview

He's brought his girlfriend with him to the interview

He arrived 30 minutes late

He left to go buy his baby some milk & cash a check

He's now 2 hours later

He's unprofessionally dressed for a B2B sales job interview

He's unprofessional to our sectary as well in regards to his comments and behavior

But it gets better

I come out and greet him and the first thing he says to me "My time is valuable, I don't like waiting for you" and I'm standing there in shock...and I go excuse me? He says "I'm here for the interview, and my time is valuable and your constantly too busy to talk to me...lets get this interview over with so I can start" and I'm like "Wow"

So I smile and say "Well I got great news, the interview is over we won't be moving forward with your application"

He protests, I ask "Did you even bring a resume?" He said "No" and I'm like "Alright our interview is over, good bye"

I was amazed, my secretary said he stood there for like 5 minutes just staring into space wondering wtf just happened to him. When his girlfriend stood up and asked the sectary "Does that mean we aren't going hire him?" and the sectary said "I believe so"

He left after that.

Punching in for Work

We save the worst for last. Usually gaps in a resume aren’t much of an issue. People can be traveling or taking a break. But u/envkvd met a candidate who had other reasons…

I was a recruiter a few years ago (never again). I was doing a pre-interview of sorts with a 45-50y/o woman at my office for a position with a client, and she had a gap in her resume a couple years prior. I asked about it thinking she was either unemployed at the time or that maybe she was omitting something, not at all expecting her to be honest if the latter were true. But no, she exceeded expectations.

Told me she used to work at the company I was interviewing her for, and that she was escorted out by security for punching one of her coworkers. So she thought it’d look bad to leave that on there and preferred I’d leave it off upon submittal. I remember not knowing if I should laugh at her joke or end the interview but when she never “lol jkkkkk!”-ed me, I wrapped things up real quick.

She called me a week later asking if there was any feedback and if the client would like to schedule a phone call.

Happy Halloween!

Workplace horror stories reveal some of the dark sides of working life that we often ignore or avoid. However, they also remind us that we are not alone in facing challenging situations at work. Once we look past the chilling aspect of these stories, we can learn from these stories and use them as an opportunity to improve our work conditions and experiences.