This week I was invited for an interview at the Chamber of Commerce in my hometown to work as an Internet Publications Writer/Editor. When I arrived at the Chamber, however, I was surprised to find that the CEO had no intention of hiring me, let alone asking me any standard interview questions. Just after I managed to introduce myself, the official informed me that he had received over 90 applications from qualified journalists, and I was not one of them. Because I was under qualified, I would not be offered the job. According to this man, while my English degree from Cal Poly was a mediocre accomplishment, the university does not offer an optimal English Program. “It’s not like you have a degree from Cornell,” he said as he leaned back in his plush rolling office chair. I was shocked that a man who has worked for 36 years to promote the accomplishments of San Luis would berate the city’s own nationally top-ranking university. As he boasted about his own accomplishments for the rest of the half hour, I learned that he had received a BA from the prestigious Cal State Northridge.
Next, the official, deducing from my resume that I had received a concentration in Fiction Writing, asked, “What, did you think you were going to be the next great American novelist?” I politely assured him that I was not so arrogant as to hold myself in such high esteem. “Well, I don’t hire creative writers. Right-brained people want to make their own schedules, and I’ve found that they are unable to meet deadlines.” I argued that meeting deadlines would not be a problem for me, for I’ve had experience in the publishing world as the editor of an annual literary journal. My rebuttals seemed to have no effect on him, however, and he went on to tell me that I am very attractive and I should consider waitressing as a profession. I courteously thanked him for his expert advice and exited the Chamber, wondering why I had been called for an interview in the first place and cursing myself for not saying something spitefully witty in my own defense.
Has anyone had a horrible interview experience like this? What should I have done?
