I had an experience with a phone interview recently that was rather special.

The guy wants to interview me on the phone, by giving me a few scenarios. Without going into too much detail, he said the purpose of this is to see how I think on my feet. Fine, I'm all for it.

But then he asks me where I'm sitting. I tell him I'm at my desk. He goes on this rant about how I can't use Google to look anything up, and that I shouldn't be sitting near a computer. I told him that I would shut it off. He then says, "I know when people are using Google, so don't try any tricks."

Okay, we're off to a bad start.

I go through the first test, just fine. Then he's got a second test scenario. As I'm pausing to think about it, he asks me if I'm using Google. I tell him that I am not. Once again, he goes off on this rant about how he can tell if someone is using Google or not. I refrained from saying how I felt, and finished his test.

I'm not feeling too good about this interview.

We end with the guy asking me what I look for in a work place, and wants to know if there are things that are just as important as money. I tell him that one of the things that is VERY important to me is a "healthy environment."

The guy then asks me, "Suppose you work with this guy on your team, and he's not a particularly happy person, and he keeps to himself. How would you handle working with such a person?

This question really confused me, so I told him that so long as we could get our work done, I suppose it would be fine. He asks, "Maybe I'm not understanding your need for a HAPPY environment."

By this point, I'd had enough of this guy, and it became clear that not only would I not be getting the job, but that I wouldn't want the job, especially if I had to work with him.

"That's because I did NOT say anything about a HAPPY environment. I said that I wanted to work in a HEALTHY environment. This means an environment that is free of dysfunction and drama. During this interview, there were two occasions when you treated me like a child, while threatening me with your psychic abilities to know what people are doing when you can't see them. Clearly, you do NOT know when someone is NOT using Google, because I was NOT using Google, and yet you somehow believed that I was doing just that. You were talking down to me as if you had authority over me, and that you were eager to exercise it, when I'm not even an employee. THEN, your reference to a HAPPY environment showed me that you are not listening. The interview goes both ways, and while you were interviewing me, I was interviewing you. I am sad to say it, but unfortunately, YOU have failed my interview, so I am going to have to pass on this opportunity. Have a great day." click

As much as I need a job, I had to cut bait and call this one for what it was. This was not the healthy environment that I need. I've worked for some horrific people, and I refuse to put myself through that again. The interview goes both ways.