The Bert Show – “Vault: Is Harassment During Job Interviews More Common Than We Think?”
Date: February 11, 2026
Summary by Podcast Summarizer
Episode Overview
This episode of The Bert Show dives into the unsettling prevalence of sexual harassment during job interviews. The hosts explore whether such inappropriate and sometimes illegal behavior is more widespread than generally acknowledged. Drawing from a co-host’s anecdote, expert HR commentary, and a flood of listener experiences, the team uncovers the spectrum of harassment job applicants—especially women—face even before they’re hired.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Provocative Interview Question
- [01:02] Co-host 1 recounts a friend's recent interview, where a female manager unexpectedly asked:
"What problems do you foresee working under a very attractive female supervisor?" - The co-hosts dissect why such a question is problematic:
- It assumes the candidate’s (a man’s) inability to work professionally with an attractive woman.
- The phrasing presumes an issue, rather than neutrally exploring potential concerns.
- Discussion arises about whether this would ever be asked of female candidates.
2. Legal and Ethical Boundaries
- [02:19] Lead Host:
"It almost sounds like if we checked with that, that would be, if not inappropriate, illegal to ask a question like that."
- Conversation about discrimination and whether the question is unlawful or just distasteful.
- [03:21] Lead Host speculates if the question stems from previous problematic office dynamics.
3. HR Expert Weighs In
- [04:14] HR Expert Carlos (joined by phone) clarifies:
- Not quite illegal, but “totally inappropriate...He could make the case for sexual harassment with the way the question was phrased.” (04:31)
- The issue lies in gender-specific implications and assumptions about both candidate and supervisor.
- Offers legal context: Filing claims is possible through the EEOC, but successful outcomes depend on proving a pattern or blatant behavior.
- [06:11] Carlos:
“You have to be very careful. Everybody has the right to sue. Doesn’t mean everybody’s right when they sue.”
4. Opening the Phone Lines: Real Stories
- A surge of listeners call in with disturbing accounts, emphasizing how widespread and normalized this misconduct can be.
Listener 1: Renee
- [07:30] Met for an “interview” at a restaurant instead of an office, served drinks, then:
“I was basically taken outside, told that I was a very attractive woman and...they can’t really control their mouths and can I work around somebody like that? Because they can’t deal with another lawsuit.”
- The implication: the workplace is hostile, and the onus is on the candidate to tolerate harassment, not on the company to change.
Listener 2: Jennifer
- [08:58] The (much older) interviewer asks her on a date during the interview, then emails her late at night (“are you still hungry?”), using her contact info from the application.
- Commentary from the hosts on how some see interviews as opportunities for predatory behavior:
“It’s just a way to meet people, you know. Oh, this is a great way to meet a date...have no intention of giving her the job.” (09:44 Co-host 2)
Listener 3: Melissa
- [10:08] Interviewer makes sexually explicit comments (“have you ever slept with a married man?”) while alone with her, even on the way to a drug test.
“I actually been sexually harassed before I got the job...he was like, ‘have you ever slept with a married man out of nowhere?’” (10:08 Caller 3)
5. Workarounds and Safety Concerns
- Discussion surfaces about protective strategies—some women and men never meet alone with the opposite gender due to reputation and legal risks.
- The culture of “old boys’ clubs” is called out, where inappropriate behavior is normalized, and new hires are warned to tolerate it or not take the job.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
[02:19] Lead Host:
“It almost sounds like if we checked with that, that would be, if not inappropriate, illegal to ask a question like that.”
-
[04:31] HR Expert Carlos:
“That question, not quite illegal, but it's totally inappropriate... You could make the case for sexual harassment with the way the question was phrased.”
-
[07:30] Caller 2 (Renee):
“I was basically taken outside, told that I was a very attractive woman and...they can’t really control their mouths and can I work around somebody like that? Because they can’t deal with another lawsuit.”
-
[08:58] Caller 1 (Jennifer):
“I actually went to an interview and this guy was like, 50, and he asked me out on the actual interview.”
-
[10:08] Caller 3 (Melissa):
“...the guy that interviewed me actually said, well, you're very attractive...while we were on the way [to the drug test], he was like, have you ever slept with a married man out of nowhere?”
-
[11:12] Lead Host:
“That’d be sort of understandable.”
(on why some women never meet male colleagues alone to avoid risk)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 01:02: Co-host recounts inappropriate interview question
- 02:19: Hosts debate legality and appropriateness
- 04:14: HR Expert Carlos analyzes the scenario
- 07:19: Listeners begin calling in with experiences
- 07:30: Renee’s account of blatant advance and lawsuit warning
- 08:58: Jennifer’s story about being propositioned and harassed after the interview
- 10:08: Melissa shares about interviewer’s explicit comments
- 11:12: Hosts discuss the professional self-protection measures people take
Tone & Takeaways
The Bert Show maintains its signature conversational, candid, and sometimes darkly humorous tone—even as the topic turns serious and at times shocking. The show clearly condemns harassment, and both expert input and real-life accounts are used to spotlight how common and egregious sexual misconduct during interviews can be.
Key Takeaway:
Sexual harassment during job interviews is alarmingly prevalent, and those subjected to it often don’t take the job, but may not have the resources or knowledge to seek justice. Both awareness and proactive, company-wide change are sorely needed.
For more information or to share your own story, visit thebertshow.com.