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Employers Share "Worst Interview" Tales BETHLEHEM, PA—First impressions are important, and 44 percent of employ ers responding to a recent survey conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) say it’s a job candidate’s general demeanor mat rirst gets tneir attention, but, sometimes, wnat me candidate actually does in the job interview can ruin the most favorable first impression. College recruiters responding to NACE’s Job Outlook 2000 survey were asked about their worst interview experiences. The majority cited interviews in which the candidate knew nothing about the organization or job opening. This included candidates who confused the employer with a competitor, and candi dates who couldn’t even place the employer in the right industry, such as a candidate who mistook an accounting firm for an aerospace manufacturer. Many recruiters said their worst experiences involved candidates with poor communications skills—the top personal quality they seek in new hires. Of course, some respondents also cited experiences that border on the absurd. ★ Excellent Salary Financial Security ★ Competitive Advancement ★ Voluntary Relocation ★ Lifetime Unique Service Visit our Web Site at http://sunsentinel.com/careerpath/ profilelz 1 usbp 1.htm or For More Info Call Toll-Free 1-877-772-8146 • EOE Here are some of the things recruiters say candidates did during job interviews: • brought lunch and ate it during the interview • swigged spring water from a bottle throughout the interview • offered to buy drinks for the recruiter after the interview • flirted with the recruiter • said that the application didn’t provide sufficient room to list his criminal convictions • came to the interview intoxicated • responded-"! don’t know" to all 13 of the recruiter’s questions • bragged about “drinking his brains out” on weekends to “relax" • used foul language • asked the recruiter’s religious beliefs and then spoke “in tongues" • said the recruiter was “a fool" for not hiring him • appeared at the interview with multiple piercings on her face • tried to sell personal grooming products to other candidates while awaiting the interview • asked to borrow money from the recruiter for parking; • told the recruiter he was very interested in working for the company’s competitor • wore swim trunks, a T-shirt, and loafers (sans socks) to the interview • wore shorts and a dirty T-shirt and snacked throughout the interview • verbally abused the recruiter for asking questions not to his liking » • interviewed for a sales position in hopes the company would hire her for a computer job • complained to the recruiter that the interview questions were too "hard" • put his feet up on the interview table and talked about adult entertainment Despite these experiences, employers cited on-campus interview ing as the most effective method for recruiting new college graduates. The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) is the leading source of information for human resources professionals who recruit and hire college graduates and for career services practitioners on college campuses who advise students and graduates in the career plan ning and the job-search process. The Job Outlook survey is an annual forecast of the hiring inten tions of employers as they relate to new college graduates. Each year, NACE surveys its employer members about hiring plans, starting salary data, and other issues related to the employment of new college graduates. For Job Outlook 2000,1,743 NACE employer members were surveyed; 435, or 25 percent, responded.