One company I applied at responded to me and told me the position had already been filled but thank you for applying… over a year after I applied.

The Apple engineer story also strikes home. One time I had been trying to get a second job, just something easy and late at night so I could literally make ends meet since my wife left her job. I happened to have an old co-worker who knew the manager at a movie theater. The manager said he needed a guy, so I showed up several times showing interest, submitting my application, name-dropping the manager’s buddy, etc. Never got hired, never heard back. Maybe he was being “nice” by not telling me they didn’t need anyone, or he didn’t want to hire someone who wasn’t a teenager.

One time I almost lost getting a job at Wal-Mart (6 levels of interviews btw) because they asked why I wanted to work at Wal-Mart when I had experience and a degree, etc. I dunno, maybe because I NEED MONEY and I NEED IT NOW or I go bust? Obviously I love the Walton family and want to support their wealth, of course.