What is the most bizarre thing that has happened to you when conducting an interview?

What is the most bizarre thing that has happened to you when conducting an interview?

Mine: The candidate started to sing with no reason to do so!
— HeadteacherChat.com 🙋🏻‍♂️ 👂 (@Headteacherchat) April 8, 2021

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Here are some of the responses:

When interviewing one poor soul for a job I had a massive & inexplicable fit of the giggles. Almost sprayed my drink everywhere as a laugh came over me whilst I took a sip. It turned into an eye-wateringly funny time for no apparent reason. I had to leave to compose myself.
— Maxim Kelly (@maximjkelly) April 8, 2021

Got the OFSTED call whilst interviewing a candidate. Had to take a mid-interview break. He got the job too and was a brilliant appointment!
— MarkGS (@mgs0970) April 8, 2021

One of my earliest interviews, head was a real card. After deciding who got the job, he came into the holding room to the rest of us and said “you are the weakest links - goodbye!”
Everyone was horrified. I thought it was rather funny 😄
— Jonny Mitchell esq. (@MrJonnyMitchell) April 9, 2021

A TA brought in extensive photo album of their home renovation project,and insisted on talking us through every photo. I am still trying to work out why, 15 years later!
— dcan_running #Ubuntu 🙋🏾‍♀️🇩🇲 (@mobooboo2011) April 8, 2021

One candidate for an admin role told us his most enterprising idea was when he created a marketing plan to impress his boss. It was to sell out of date frozen curry.
— Jenni Elliott (@Mafalditakissa) April 11, 2021

The candidate took a live snake out of his bag.
— Andrew Percival (@primarypercival) April 9, 2021

I was interviewing with the chair of governors who introduced me by the wrong name. Apparently I was called Steve. Struggled to keep it together after that.
— Headteach Pete (@TeachPete) April 8, 2021

I accidentally pressed the button on my Christmas themed tie. It promptly played “Jingle Bells” for what seemed for ever. It certainly changed the atmosphere.
— Tim Gallagher (@timboz25) April 8, 2021

Panel- why do you want this teaching job?
Candidate- I like knitting.

We repeated question as thought she might have miss heard but no, went into realm of knitting and grandchildren. pic.twitter.com/lHwsVNRZXu
— HERmeticHeadteacher (@BexHeadTeacher) April 8, 2021

Being interviewed. Ht asked me to teach 30 min unprepared lesson to himself and three y6 children. They all pretended to be increasingly naughty and the interview ended with the ht asking me whether he thought it was more important to have ideas or do what the ht asks. Walked out
— Jack Sloan (@jacksloan) April 8, 2021

The candidate told me she was a registered witch
— SIAN WILLIAMS (@principalsian) April 8, 2021

We had a Governor many years ago who was about 100 and a parish councillor. Mid way through one poor NQT’s answer he turned to me and exclaimed “God almighty!”. Which is an improvement on another interview where he fell asleep. He wasn’t allowed on panels after that!
— Southgloshead (@Southgloshead) April 8, 2021

The headteacher I was interviewing with, drank the candidates tea and another member of the panel fell asleep on another interview 😴
— Jill Harland (@jillharland1) April 8, 2021

Candidates waiting in staffroom to be called in. When it was this persons turn she said she could not have her interview now because she was having her lunch! She did not get the job...
— Dr Kenny Frederick (FCCT) (@kennygfrederick) April 8, 2021

When I rang a candidate to say we were not offering him the job, he tried to argue and explain why I wrong getting increasingly abusive until I put phone down.
I’m still mystified what he hoped to achieve. He wasn’t getting the job & his behaviour confirmed our decision.
— SEA Inclusion & Safeguarding (@seainclusion) April 10, 2021

Interviewing for a Senco position and asking about what skills the candidate had that could be useful. With a straight face she said she was a really good bricklayer and would be able to build any walls we might need. 🤔 pic.twitter.com/6GzCjd9FIJ
— MrsTcoaching (@HelenTmrstarok1) April 8, 2021

Greeted the candidate and asked them to come in and take a seat. They then proceeded to take their shoes off and put them neatly next to the table we were sitting at. Couldn’t bring myself to ask why!
— Richard Lanning (@RichardLanning1) April 8, 2021

Candidate left after tour of school never to be heard of again! Wouldn’t mind, but we do encourage people to come for tours prior to application. Would also like to add it was before I’d taken over as co-head, a lot of decorating has taken place since then 😂😂
— kaye healy (@HealyKaye) April 8, 2021

A woman refused to even take part in an interview because we didn't have any herbal tea....apparently that indicated that we didn't care about our staff (it wasn't even our venue!!)
— Caroline Erskine-Murphy 💙 (@CErskineMurphy) April 8, 2021

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