A demonstration of skills
A past IT interview required that I produce and give a presentation about how to run an IT project.

Giving it due thought I decided that rather than the usual powerpoint trash I would in fact do it as a series of web pages using a stylesheet, thus demonstrating some of the skills I was there for.

All went well and later in the interview the IT "Manager" reeled off her list of questions.

"Do you know what a cascading style sheet is?"
"Yes, and I..." - I was cut off by the next question.
"How would use a cascading style sheet?"

Now from the monotone robotic nature of the questions I twigged she hadn't got a clue about IT at all, so I attempted to turn the conversation in a more useful direction.

"Actually, if we take a look again at my presentation you can see where I've used..."
"We've already conducted the presentation phase of the interview, How would you use a cascading style sheet?" She asked again.
"I'd use one in an interview presentation to ensure the pages shared a common design and save time in preparing it" I offered.

When I got the interview feedback apparantly I lacked technical knowledge in the use of website management. At the time I'd worked as a professional developer for several years.

Sometimes it's the interviewer who's thick not the candidate.
(golddust QOTW now revolves around being a cunt, Mon 25 Nov 2013, 11:51, 5 replies)

Very true
There's nothing like the creeping feeling when you realise that the person interviewing you for a position doesn't understand or know anything about the position other than what it says on the bit of paper in front of them.
( .Yeti. El amor en los tiempos del cólera, Mon 25 Nov 2013, 11:55, closed)

The Job centre was worse
I attempted to follow the system and locate a job through the job centre.

I identified something (web monkey) for which I was duly qualified and took the ID number to the desk.

The job centre chimp looked it up, quizzed me on why I thought I was suitable for the job.

I explained my qualifications and experience matched it perfectly and she went on about me not having the exact worded requirements for the role. If anything I was over qualified but she couldn't get past me not meeting the requirements to the letter.

I convinced her to let me "try" so she phoned the prospective employer to discuss my lack of exact match for the job spec.

By the sounds of the conversation from my side of the desk the employer put her in her place, I interviewed the same day and got the job.
(golddust QOTW now revolves around being a cunt, Mon 25 Nov 2013, 12:04, closed)

alright gnostic

( drimble he'd been white, he'd been black, Mon 25 Nov 2013, 12:26, closed)

This is what happens when HR people get involved in interviewing
If they had more intelligence than a crisp packet filled with contact adhesive they wouldn't be working in HR.
(ubergeekian, Mon 25 Nov 2013, 13:27, closed)

I do side with you, but:
What would you have answered to a quick one-line question in software quiz?
I agree you may have had a lucky escape in not having to work for or with that manager but just because somebody is asking questions which will be marked afterwards doesn't mean the questions aren't valid.
They can't not ask you about CSS, for example, because your presentation was using it both because somebody else could have made your presentation for you and because the interviewer can show no preferential treatment lest they leave themselves open to accusations of not being impartial.
(Me, I'm not... in any way intoxicated, Tue 26 Nov 2013, 18:31, closed)