Thanks to all of you who shared your moments of interview embarrassment. Here were the best of the entries. All of the following descriptions are in the member's own words, edited slightly. We also added the subheads.

FIRST PRIZE
If the Shoe Fits. . .

This actually happened to my identical twin, but it's so funny, I had to pass it on.

She was going for a job interview as a computer programmer in the IT department of a large tire manufacturer. When she arrived at the check in point, the guard said, "Here, I'm supposed to give you this," and handed her a pair of safety shoes - what we used to call Earth Shoes. Big and ugly. Not wanting to appear unknowledgeable, she put them on and carried her high heels with her.

She went in, met her prospective boss and did well on the interview. At the end, he asked her if she had any questions and she said no. Then he looked at her and smiled and said. "Well, there is one thing. The shoes you're wearing. They're mine, you were actually just supposed to bring them to me, not wear them."

Embarrassing as it was, she got the job. Shows how poise really can pay off!

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SECOND PRIZE
Panty Hose Pantaloons

My last interview was split into two parts: a panel interview and a written part. In between, I asked to use the bathroom. When I came out, the person directed me to where I would do the written portion. I realized once I had sat down that my skirt had been tucked into my panty hose the whole time we walked through the building.

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THIRD PRIZE
Lens Crashers

When I came into the reception area for my interview a screw came out of my glasses and the lens fell to the floor, shattering. I excused myself to go back out to the car and retrieve my sunglasses. I then switched back and forth between my sunglasses and my one-eyed glasses. I had to go through the interview and plant tour fumbling with glasses as I am fairly blind without them. Of course, I was totally unnerved by what had happened and figured I had blown the opportunity completely. Everything was a blur, in more ways then one as I fumbled my way along.

Amazingly I was hired and am still here.

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HONORABLE MENTION
Ladder Lapse

I was interviewing for a safety position at a large manufacturing facility. I had 8 years experience going into the job and I was confident. The interviewer asked me what my goals for the future were. I explained that I would like to gain increased responsibility at the company and eventually climb the "corporate ladder." The interviewer proceeded to ask me what my "ladder" looked like. I had ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA how to respond to that and he kept staring at me waiting for a response... I started to cry... so I pretended I was having contact lens trouble, excused myself to go to the bathroom and gathered myself and returned back to the room. Eventually I led the interviewer away from that question without ever answering. I did get the job, believe it or not.

Gwen Walters

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HONORABLE MENTION
Collar Flap Flap

A few years ago, while on a second interview for an EHS position at a chemical/waste disposal company, I stopped by my home to change into my interview clothes while taking a couple hours off from my current job. It was a hot day, I was excited and I had a few cups of coffee in me. So my adrenaline was pumping.

After putting on my white shirt, getting my tie just right after a few tries and putting on my suit, I confidently flew out the door and in to my car for the interview.

I felt the interview went well: I was comfortable with the questions and our rapport, but felt I wasn't getting as good eye contact from my interviewer as I should have. My tie knot felt good when I reached for it; I didn't see any spots on my shirt when I looked down. I kept going on, hoping all was well.

It wasn't until I was back in my car and looked in my rear-view mirror that I realized that my collar had not been buttoned on either side, and was sticking up on both sides! I certainly must have looked odd to my interviewer and others whom I had encountered on my facility walk-through. I displayed a careless lack of detail in that interview.

Bottom Line: Take the time necessary to ensure a professional appearance. You don't want your appearance to distract from your capabilities, and you want to come across professional and detail-oriented! I did not get that position.

Alan G. Colter

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HONORABLE MENTION
A Revealing Moment

Here is my embarrassing moment during an interview. While shuttling from one group of interviewers to another, I noticed many people I passed in the halls smiling and greeting me pleasantly. Once I sat down with my next interviewer, she introduced herself and said, "Your blouse is unbuttoned." Oh, I did not get the job.

Thank you.

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HONORABLE MENTION
A Parable on Padding

I was just out of college interviewing for my first job. A friend recommended that I "pad" my resume by listing any and all computer programs I had ever used, including one I had used only twice during an internship. Well, wouldn't you know that on my first interview the hiring manager was very familiar with this program and really started focusing on what I could bring to the department to help them modernize. I had to admit to him that I had only used it a couple of times. He challenged me that it shouldn't be on my resume unless I could really speak about my experience with it. Needless to say, I didn't get that job.

However, I decided to heed his advice and immediately revised my resume, taking out little half-truths and other "padding." While it came across as less impressive, I felt more confident about what was on my resume and what I might be asked about. About 3 months later, I found a position I stayed at for many years. Honesty in all things is the one piece of advice I now pass along to any who ask.

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HONORABLE MENTION
Never Saw It Coming

When I was still at the construction business, I happened to come across a job ad for a construction safety officer. Since I had already spent 12 years with construction works, I presumed that all of the topics to be asked were already within my capability to answer. Unfortunately, they asked me to enumerate the elements of a safety management program. In front of the panel, what I did is to make some excuses and tell them that I did not encounter those topics yet.

TOP 10

William Shakespeare: You probably shouldn't bring him up in your job interview.

10 Things Not to Say in an Interview

By Glenn Demby

Speaking of interview bloopers, here are 10 things you should never say in a job interview. To give credit where credit is due, the first eight of these items come from a recent article published by the search firm, CareerBuilder.com.

1. "I hated my last boss." The message: You're a difficult person and not a team player. If you did have a problem with your last boss, keep it to yourself or explain why the relationship wasn't right.

2. "I don't know anything about your company." The message: You didn't prepare for the interview and aren't a hard and diligent worker.

3. "I have no questions for you." The message: I'm not all that interested in the company and in what you had to say about it.

4. "I'm going to need to take these days off." The message: You're presumptuous and assume you're going to get the job.

5. "How long until I get promoted?" The message: The job is beneath me and just a stepping stone to something else.

6. "Are you an active member of your church?" The message: You lack tact and social decorum. There are certain topics, like religion and politics, that you just don't want to broach at an interview.

7. "As Shakespeare so eloquently phrased it. . ." The message: I'm pretentious and I script my answers.

8. "And another thing I hate. . ." The message: You're negative and angry.

9. "What happens if I can't do the job?" The message: You lack confidence.

10. "Your receptionist was really rude to me." The message: You don't get along well with others. Try to make nice with the gatekeepers. And if you do get into a tiff, don't bring it up. Given a choice, the existing employee almost always gets the benefit of the doubt over the job applicant.

Source: "8 Worst Things to Say in an Interview," by Anthony Balderama,CareerBuilder.com

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