Many of their guys were heading to softball game. I said how good I was and they should have me as pitcher ASAP.
Scott M. Bloom
President/Managing Member
BLOOM Real Estate Group LLC
I got my first job by taking a long shot and contacting a local video company. I just started emailing the CEO directly asking if I could hire his company to produce a documentary for me. I explained that this would need to be top-notch work, utilizing every piece of equipment he had available. I Googled where the office was located and somehow convinced him that I was doing a documentary on a mysterious sea-monster that lived in a lake that was nearby. And of course, I offered to pay the entire crew double their usual rate as hazard pay compensation (as documenting sea monsters is dangerous work.) It would require 24-hour surveillance of the lake, underwater cinematography, etc. Big budget stuff.
He was very confused and started asking what my exact budget was when I casually dropped in that I was a broke college kid looking for work and everything I had said was lies to get his attention. Luckily, he had already shared the story with his entire company and by then, they couldn't NOT meet me in person.
The CEO said he typically receives hundreds of job inquiries a month and ignores 99% of them. I've been working with them on and off for 3 years now.
Ben Reckelhoff
Multimedia Production Specialist
US Water Systems
Indianapolis, IN
In the days when I worked for others, I interviewed for a software job where they wanted experience with a specific software package.
I had no experience with it and only knew anything about it at all from a quick online search right before the interview...but I wanted the job because I was sick of my old job and felt confident of doing the other things they wanted.
So when I was asked if I knew the package, I said, "No...but since I'm an engineer and you said in your ad that the software is designed for businessmen, I'll have no problem learning it."
Since my boss was an engineer, he knew exactly what I meant and offered me the job on the spot. (Had he been a businessman, it would have turned out differently.)
Bryce Avery
President, Avery Enterprises, Inc.
It's not easy to break into television, but I did so without a resume. As just a college student who needed to know if a Mass Communications degree was something really useful, I showed up at KBMT-TV dressed in a suit. I asked if the station was hiring. The receptionist asked me for which department. I said, "I don't know. How many do you have?"
The kind lady went on to describe each department within the news station and I keyed in on the Production Department because she described it as one that builds sets, in addition to running cameras for the nightly news. I asked to speak to that manager and fortunately he was in and had time to talk.
I filled out a job application and then spoke with the man. He asked me if I had a resume and I said, "No. Do I need one?" At the time, I felt like a fool that I hadn't been more prepared. We had a nice chat and I left his office thinking that it didn't go so well because I wasn't prepared.
A few hours later, I received a call from the Production Manager. He said someone had just fallen off a ladder and broken his back. He asked if I could be there within the hour to run the cameras for the 6:00 news. I told him I'd be right there. So, that was my big "break" into television news. Three months later, I asked to be transferred into the news department where I began as a photographer. I then became a reporter, specifically working to bring in a helicopter pilot and becoming a SkyEye 12 reporter and fill-in morning anchor.
As I think back to that year (1979), I realize I was as green as they come, but being ready to drop everything and come when called is what got me into television news.
Marcia Noyes
The manager who was interviewing me asked 'where do you see yourself in two years' and I replied 'in your chair'.
I still got the job.
David Jessurun
In 1981, I flew to Dallas from Los Angeles on a Saturday to interview for a job as a business reporter at the late lamented Dallas Times Herald.
After my interview with the business editor, I talked to the executive editor of the newspaper, Ken Johnson.
Ken was an old-school newsman who didn't know (or care) much about business. "Why do you want to cover business?" he demanded, with noticeable contempt in his voice.
"Well," I replied. "What are the two things that everyone is always interested in?
"Sex and money," I answered.
"We can't talk about sex in a family newspaper, but we can talk about money," I continued. "Business reporting is nothing more than covering who's making money, who's losing money, and why."
The business editor took me out to dinner that night and offered me the job.
That's my story of an outlandish thing that still landed a job.
Candace Talmadge, Storyteller
Copy-Clinic
Talmadge Writing Services
I had a very difficult job interview about 2 years ago. The guy wanted to make sure that I was creative enough to bring fresh marketing strategy to the organization as it was rather stale.
I showed the guy my funky beaded purse which he inspected very carefully! and supposedly he gave me the job because of the purse! I swear this is actually true.
Margo Schlossberg
Prior to my career as a psychologist I was a singer. I auditioned at the esteemed Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in the Music Center, Los Angeles. I wanted to be noticed in the lineup so I decked myself in bling, bling, bling. Rings on each finger, strings of necklaces, and multiple bracelets. Later, the director told me I was accepted "in spite of wearing every piece of jewelry I own!"
Dr. Fran Walfish
Author, The Self-Aware Parent, Palgrave Macmillan/St. Martin's Press
During my last semester at Lehigh University in 1992, I had an interview scheduled with a "Big 6" company (Coopers & Lybrand). I was flying back from a visit with my family, and the interview was scheduled for later that day. My luggage - with my interview suit - never made it, so I had to wear a rumpled suit from the floor of my roommate's room. I was 10 minutes late because I was on crutches and underestimated how long it would take me to hobble there. Once there (sweaty from the labored walk), I proceeded to tell the interviewer how I hurt myself (my ankle got run over while pushing my little cousin out of the way of a tractor when we were horsing around at my grandparents' farm that weekend). My ankle was too swollen to put on my heels, so I had sneakers on and my foot had to be propped up on a chair next to my interviewers. At that point, I figured I would never get a call back, so I started telling stories about my Midwestern upbringing. I answered all of their questions, but took a more lighthearted approach. We laughed through the whole interview and decorum went out the window.
Imagine my surprise when I got a second interview (which I was on-time and well-dressed for)! I was told that I was called back because I was witty, engaging and able to "roll with the punches". They were looking for someone who wouldn't be intimidated by the company or clients and apparently I fit the bill! Not only did I get the job, but they let me choose the city I wanted to work in to make sure that I would be happy in the long run with the company. I stayed with them for almost 3 years, and I gained some great experience that formed a wonderful foundation for my career. This was one time where NOT being polished and professional paid off!
Kristina Casey
Director of Marketing
Vistacom Information Systems
A few years ago I was working for a non-profit in Texas and working on graphics for coupon books. Then I got a call from the Texas State Department of Health and was asked to come in for an interview to see if they would hire me for the project for a camping they were working on. The campaign was being funded to help the cessation program for smoking and when I was in the interview I found out the graphics that I would be designing would be for billboard and was going to be placed in one of the most high traffic areas in Houston so while we were talking I was asking them questions because I was currently smoker time and in the middle of the interview I asked if I could have a cigarette break because it was quite a long interview. The lady just looked at me with utter shock. I looked at her and I said oh I'm not going to apologize for being a smoker I can tell you the reason why your campaigns haven't it worked in the past is because their designs were all from a non-smoking point of view. They are condescending and judgmental. Yes, I am a smoker but I am a smoker who wants to quit. I can make the campaign for you that will make people want to quit. I walked out of there with a $36,000 dollar check. Bam.
Jacob Young
Founder of Young Social Media
When I was asked a dumb question ... "Did you go to university to find a husband? Most women do you know ..." I replied, "In my opinion, looking for a husband would be a full time job and I would rather be working in a full time career."
Anne Miner
President
The Dunvegan Group
Perhaps due to fatigue or anxiety... I totally zoned off into my interviewer's chest. I didn't actually realize what I was staring at until she raised her head from her notes and I had to raise my head to make eye contact. I'm certain she saw me flush but cleared her throat and continued the interview. The meeting ended well and she referred me to the next interview in the series for an insurance customer service rep position. I got the job.
Arash Afshar
MrArash.com
CrappyAwesome.com
The Cypher Effect
I passed on a job during the second interview because I was treated so poorly by the staff in interview one and two. I almost walked out, but sat through it and when they were done with their display of crazy that they called an interview, I declined on the spot. I said that I was not a good fit, but they immediately started making excuses.
The CEO called me the next day to find out why I had declined and asked me to come back and meet with him. I was their ideal candidate and my ability to call his team on their b.s. from day one was his favorite thing about me. The company was as dysfunctional when I left as when I started, but at least I gave them an ideal to strive for.
Julia Angelen Joy
Z Group PR
I got the job. I got to slap, grab, poke and make fun of other people while they were doing something stupid. Usually as dramatically as possible. No. I can't tell you who I worked for, only that it was completely legal. Ever wish you could have a job like that?
Neven Gibbs
Writer, Entertainer
In college, I was interviewing for a minor league baseball team internship. The interview was done in a group, which already made me nervous and we went around the room answering each question that was asked. One of the questions was, do you like baseball and what is your favorite team? I was so nervous and I answered honestly, I don't really like baseball and don't watch it that often. Everyone else had great stories about their lifelong love of baseball and their favorite team. I went home certain I hadn't gotten the job.
A few weeks later I got a call saying the interview loved my honesty and that I had gotten the position. Sometimes honesty is the best policy.
Stephany Kirby, Public Relations
BhavaCom
About 15 years ago when I was applying for a position as Director of Corporate Communications with a large, integrated healthcare organization, I was going through the steps in the process which include lunch with the person who would be my VP, along with two of his VP colleagues. Lunch was wrapping up, and my potential new boss turned to me and said: "What do you think about capitation?"
As I have a tendency to do, I spoke and thought at about the same time. As the following words were coming out of my mouth I thought: "Oh no - oh no! You have just said the most outrageously stupid thing ever!!"
I said: "Hmmm. You mean putting people's heads back *on*?"
As a communicator and someone who tends to think fairly logically I thought, well, if decapitation is cutting heads off, maybe...
We all had a good laugh and I did get the job. Seems they appreciated my sense of humor (I still wonder whether they realize that I wasn't trying to be funny...)!
Linda Pophal
Strategic Communications, LLC
I had been working for 4 years in the marketing department of a large publisher. Wanting to get back into book production I applied for a production manager position at the same company. If I got the job I would work for a person I had known the whole time at the publisher and used to pick on in a fun way. When it came time for him to interview me I asked, "If I get the job does that mean I have to stop insulting you?" He didn't answer that question, but did hire me. We got along great for years.
Jacqui Brownstein
Freelance Indexer, Proofreader, and Copyeditor
I flew to Tel Aviv for an interview with the Chairman and CEO of a promising tech startup. The chairman said he thought we were really working towards an agreement, but he'd have to hit the road in 40 minutes because he had a drive ahead of him. I immediately pulled out a 21 year bottle of scotch from my bag and slammed it on the table. I said, "This is the world's best scotch, two years running. If we make a deal in the next 30 minutes, we get to drink it."
My contract was written 29 minutes later on a scrap of paper and signed by everyone.
Old Poltney 21, if you were wondering.
Ben Feibleman
VP of Strategy and Business Development
VivoText
I once had an interview with a major hotel chain. The interview was to get promoted to a marketing executive in the corporate office rather than work at the property level. During the interview when they asked the standard interview question "What are your weaknesses?" I told the gentleman that I wasn't a morning person and it makes no sense to drive in traffic to get here. I not only got the job but got a schedule where I could come in at 10 AM instead of 8 AM and avoid an hour of traffic.
Erica Duran
In the first minute I said, "I only responded to your email because you are connected to a good friend of mine who thinks very highly of you, but before we go any further, I am not looking for a lateral move, if the management has not changed I am not interested, and if needing to give 3-4 weeks' notice is too much, please let me know now, as I do not want to waste your time or mine." This led to discussions on the power of positive changes and really understanding what career path I was looking for to make a move, when I was not looking. I ended up accepting the position.
Meredith Nash
Recruiting Team Lead
Eliassen Group
