No April Fools’ Prank: Interviews Heat Up with Outlandish Demands, Support Iguanas and Fistfights

Unprofessional behavior may jeopardize job offers, reveals the latest findings from The Harris Poll. Despite the expectation of professionalism during interviews, U.S. hiring managers have encountered a range of unprofessional conduct from candidates, with some job seekers also sharing unusual experiences with recruiters.

According to a recent Express Employment Professionals-Harris Poll survey, half of hiring managers cited rude behavior (68%), lateness (55%), or inappropriate attire (53%) as factors that would deter them from hiring a candidate. Other behaviors perceived negatively include lack of preparation (47%), unprofessional body language (44%), and failure to ask questions (27%).

Common behavior blunders witnessed by hiring managers include candidates dressing inappropriately and speaking negatively about previous jobs or managers. Around 2 in 5 hiring managers have witnessed candidates answering phone calls or texting during interviews.

Some unusual interview experiences reported by candidates include arriving late and making demands, pretending to receive a higher-paying job offer, and bringing a pet iguana to the interview.

Interviewer missteps were also noted, with job seekers reporting instances of interviewers answering phone calls, checking the time, or oversharing personal information during interviews.

Despite the occasional eccentricities, both candidates and hiring managers are reminded to respect each other’s time and focus on assessing qualifications and cultural fit. This sentiment was echoed by Bill Stoller, CEO of Express Employment International.

The surveys were conducted online by The Harris Poll on behalf of Express Employment Professionals, with 1,007 U.S. hiring decision-makers surveyed for the Job Insights survey and 1,002 U.S. adults aged 18 and older surveyed for the Job Seeker Report.