Interview horror stories

March 5, 2021

Halloween is the scariest time of the year! Or is it?

Have you ever been to an interview where you’re just thinking ‘Please let me leave.’ Now that’s scary!

Most people have had at least one interview horror story, even our very own Recruiters have had their fair share of ‘get me out of here’ moments.


Here are our top 6 Interview horror stories:

1) "I once attended an interview for an office role. I arrived at reception and the receptionist told me to go straight up to the CEO’s office on the 6th floor. The lift was out of order and I was in heels. I arrived at the interview sweaty, tired and out of breath, the CEO turned to me and said ‘tell me about yourself’. I said ‘well obviously I am not into fitness but I am really good at sales!’ I got the job but 15 years later and it still makes me blush to think about it!"

2) “I once did an interview during which I developed a little tickle in the back of my throat. I coughed once or twice to clear it. No Joy. The interviewers offered water- “No, I’m fine thanks, Ahem ahem. Fast forward 10 minutes... I now have tears streaming down my face as I cough uncontrollably, while still trying to answer the questions. I have accepted the glass of water, but at this stage it would only be of use to drown me quietly. I am unable to breath effectively. Sadly, I was unsuccessful.”

3) "I once sent a candidate to an interview in Cavan, he then rang looking for directions.. turns out he ended up in Navan!" 


4) “I had an interview for an admin job and the manager asked me “if you were a car, what car would you be?” He was looking for me to say a VW Golf but I answered that I would be a Porsche (thinking he wanted a fast professional administrator) He then asked “if you were an animal, what animal would you be?” I was a bit stumped after the car choice and said I would be a lion, but he was looking for me to be a dog! Needless to say, I didn’t get the job!”


5) "I was walking to an interview, head down thinking of everything I was going to say and not paying attention to my surroundings when a car came out of nowhere and HIT ME!! Ok slight exaggeration… I was pushed by the car! But I still looked an awful fright arriving to my interview!" 



6) “I was once interviewing someone for a senior role who swallowed a fly mid interview! Just when he went to answer a question, in goes the fly never to be seen again. We were all able to laugh about it and he went onto complete the rest of his interview as if nothing had happened.”

retention trends n Ireland
July 28, 2025
Discover why nearly half of Irish employees would switch jobs for just a 10% pay increase. Learn what this means for retention, loyalty, and employer branding in 2025
Dublin recruitment trends in 2025, hiring in Dublin
July 23, 2025
Discover the latest hiring trends in Dublin for 2025. Learn how employers can attract top talent amid economic uncertainty, rising salary expectations, and hybrid work shifts.
FRS Recruitment Partners with Bluebird Care Ireland
July 14, 2025
FRS Recruitment and Bluebird Care partner in a strategic RPO agreement to enhance healthcare hiring and support high-quality, person-centred care across Ireland.
Employment Insights Report 2025
June 20, 2025
Discover key findings from the 2025 FRS Recruitment Employment Insights Report. 60% of workers expect a raise—but are employers aligned? Download the full report for in-depth trends on pay, job moves, and market outlook.
Doctor Jobs in Ireland
June 11, 2025
Looking to work as a doctor in Ireland? Find out how overseas doctors can register, apply for HSE vacancies, and begin their career in Irish healthcare. Opportunities available in Dublin, Galway, and nationwide.
nursing salaries Ireland
May 1, 2025
Discover 2025 nursing salary trends in Ireland. Learn what staff nurses, CNS, and ANPs earn, including regional pay, public vs private, and retention incentives.
Hiring mistakes
April 29, 2025
Discover the 7 key hiring mistakes Irish employers make in 2025—plus expert tips from FRS Recruitment on how to attract and retain top talent.
April 22, 2025
FRS Recruitment along with FRS Co-Op unveils sustainability strategy to cut carbon emissions by 20% and halve landfill waste by 2030, supporting jobs, farms & communities.
Explore the latest IT salary trends in Ireland. Discover 2025 salaries for developers, data analysts
April 11, 2025
IT Salaries in Ireland: What to Expect in 2025
April 10, 2025
Looking for pharmacist jobs in Ireland? FRS Recruitment connects pharmacy professionals with roles in community, hospital and specialist settings.
More Posts