Have you ever interviewed someone and wondered, what is wrong with you? I once had a candidate for

an intermediate level analyst job brag during an interview that he used to work other jobs and play

poker while working his primary office job. For example, for about two weeks before he was caught

and got fired from all his jobs, he'd take long lunches.

No one knew where he went between 10.30 and 1.30.

Turns out he'd gotten a job making pizzas at the next door pizza restaurant and worked the lunch rush.

He also bragged about playing poker at work constantly.

This was in the late 2000s, while online poker was still in its big boom. He bragged about these things to me as if I,

a relatively young professional at the time, would think he was cool. Or maybe he thought it

demonstrated his ability to multitask and still get his job done. I have no idea. Either way,

we did not extend him an offer. Had a candidate come in who said how hot my admin was and asked if she

was single or open to Freaky Fridays. What? Switching buddies with her teenage daughter to learn a lesson

about considering others' points of view and importance of family? No, but the implications were

definitely regarding bodies and swapping something.

During the interview I asked, I see you've managed a vegetarian restaurant.

What?

It says here you managed a vegetarian restaurant on your CV.

Oh, I guess I did write that.

Not really, though.

My girlfriend had an art exhibition, and I organized the sandwiches for the opening. They were vegetarian. This was a candidate that was otherwise pretty impressive seeming,

and he had been among the favorite candidates for a sought-after position.

The interview had gone quite well up until this point.

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