Interviews are usually a time for candidates to impress potential employers.
But for some HR officers and bosses, these sessions reveal just how unexpected hiring can get. Recently, several Malaysians took to social media to share stories of strange and shocking moments during interviews.
Photo via Channel News Asia
One employer recounted a frustrating situation with an internship candidate. Just as they were ready to make an offer, the candidate’s mother called with a list of outrageous demands, “Their resume and interview were great, and I was ready to take them on.
“But then their mother called and said she wanted the candidate to live with me, eat at my house, and commute in my car. I had to explain to the candidate why I had to reject them. Nothing had even started, but the mother was already making demands. It’s better to reject them now than deal with bigger problems later.”
Another employer shared a story about a timid candidate who struggled to answer questions. The candidate suddenly began crying mid-interview, forcing the session to stop: “The next day, the candidate’s mother came to the office and scolded us for being ‘too stern.’ I was speechless.”
Some encounters were even more bizarre. One employer described a traumatising portfolio review when a candidate accidentally displayed explicit photos from their phone while trying to showcase their work.
Other odd experiences included candidates asking the employer to create a resume for them or submitting their parent’s resume instead of their own, leaving employers unsure who was actually applying for the job.
These stories highlight that sometimes, interviews can be more unpredictable than expected — and that hiring isn’t just about assessing skills, but also navigating unexpected human behaviour.
