Worst agency interview stories? Let's hear it! 🙃

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I was waiting in the lobby for my interview to start and my current boss walked in as he also had an interview at that time. at that agency.

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I ended up getting a job. It's awful.

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Went to interview for a creative position at an agency and they had me fill out an application.

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True story: I once went to an interview, and I was meeting with a production person first (which was weird, I was a copywriter). She asked me the same question 3-4 times about POP collateral, almost like she didn't know what it was. Really odd. Then she got up and excused herself. I sat there for about 20 minutes before I finally left the conference room. The lady had apparently quit and gone home. So odd. Never heard back or interviewed with anyone else there.

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After getting a tentative offer, I had to "interview" with the client to seal the deal. He asked me point blank what year I graduated college! (I don't include that on my resume precisely because it's potentially age discrimination and it's also irrelevant)

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Interviewed for a position out of state. 8 face to face interviews in NYC, all the way up to Global CEO. Then 3 more in actual office I'd be working (2 trips including planes and hotels and real estate/school visits) I had to share (and brief) 10 references from the category I'd be working in. All 10 had to fill out a form and write a letter (soooooo uncool) received 100% positive response along the way. Day offer letter was to come I got a call "We decided to Promote internally" 😳

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Sitting in the lobby of the agency while the GM was 20 minutes late for my interview... while all of my friends working at the new agency walked by and asked while I was there.

*awkward*

Got the job though, so it worked out well.

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Because I'm curious. What he did wasn't legal if he was the agency hiring you, but I'm not sure it isn't legal if he's the client (HR, please weigh in). How'd you handle it and did you get the gig?

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Thanks talent. The things I've seen clients get away with tell me that the agency probably just let it go.

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Once, just to get a freelance copywriting gig at an insignificant agency, they made me take an exam, which tested my knowledge of PC terms like "firefighter" and "postal carrier," as well as my ability to understand proofreading symbols. I passed. But I wish I hadn't.

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What do those terms mean? Serious question.

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@cd1 PC as in politically correct and non-gender assuming. So firefighter instead of fireman, etc.

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SD1, that is soooo fucked up! So sorry to hear!

CD1, why? How is that question ever justified/relevant/even legal?

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CD1. Totally illegal for me ask HR to ask. I'd downright axe murder a client who asked - there could be some liability for my agency, if we allowed the client to ask. But, it wouldn't be the end of the world. My boss always briefs managers and clients about what NOT to ask in interviews.

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I did tell the agency as I was highly offended, actually. That was like asking "are you pregnant or do you plan on becoming pregnant" for me. They were mortified and very apologetic telling me how he might be moving to another brand soon as client company was doing a dept re-org and I might not even end up working with him. They 100% had not talked to him about what not to ask. Only the account person had talked me up to him as their choice for the position. Btw, since then, I'd never work for a shop which can't hire freely their own staff without client "approval".

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Copywriter, most places do that, for EOE records.

How old were you when that happened, AAD?

I chuckled and brushed it off saying jokingly that it's definitely been in number of years as it must show from my resume (I had 10 years worth of FT experience if you glanced over the employment dates across my positions). I didn't say my age out right and I think/hope he got my hint.

What happened after is even more fucked up but not interview related. Boss who was hiring me quit and agency lost the account so nothing came of it. All around disaster! Talk about dodging a bullet

*a number of years

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