My worst interview was a group assessment for teaching English in Taiwan. My group comprised of students and recent graduates (about 20-21 years old) had half an hour to come up with a lesson plan. Straight away some prick decides he's the boss and decides for us that we're doing it on London landmarks. Being the only one from London, we look to him to come up with ideas beyond Big fucking Ben, red buses and parliament. He’s stumped. Two more decide they're now the leaders so the half an hour is spent as an apprentice-style power struggle between three gobshites, with me and the other fella trying desperately to keep us on topic and within the allotted time. Thankfully someone was assessing all of this...
Eventually got some crap written down but we didn't have time to decide what we were presenting - then we had to present in front of 20-odd people. I had no idea what I was presenting and I really, really wanted the job so I was nervous as hell. Of course, the gobshites presented perfectly while I was a gibbering wreck. The other lad was left with about 5 words to say at the end. I was nearly sick after the assessment and was absolutely gutted with how it had gone.
Then came the interview where they asked us how the group assessment went. In a dignified way I built the group up, concentrated on the strengths and shit sandwiched the fuck out of it by saying what I would have done differently, got the ideas I didn't have time to express out of the way then went on to give the interview of my life and passed the assessment.
Another experience, I'm certain I was denied a few interviews as I once sent about 50 copies of my CV to various law firms where I had opened my personal statement "I am a confident, outgoing individual who enjoys a challenge and is not afraid to shirk responsibility." I've no idea why I wrote that or how I failed to pick up on it upon proof-reading, but my housemate at the time spotted it a couple of weeks later when I voiced to him my confusion as to why no-one had contacted me yet about an interview.
Not sure how true this is but it makes me laugh so I'll post it. A mate of mine is a recruitment consultant, he tells me that mental candidates are the biggest positive of the job
According to him he once sent a candidate for an interview with Barcap in London.
"Do you have a new suit?" He asked the candidate, "Oh yes, I've just got mine back from the dry cleaners."
"Brilliant" He answered "Wear that suit, try and look professional"
Client calls to give him feedback
"Well, it was a new experience"
"Why?" He answered "You've interviewed loads of my candidates"
"But none of them ever wore a Tuxedo to the interview before"
I'm so bad at interviews.