My Worst Camp Boss Interview Experience in Dubai: Why Interviewers Should Respect Every Candidate
Introduction
Every job interview is an opportunity for both the employer and the candidate to evaluate each other. A professional interview should focus on experience, problem-solving ability, communication, and respect. Unfortunately, not every interview reflects these values.
This article shares my personal experience during an interview for the position of Camp Boss with a Dubai-based company. This is my own perspective and should not be interpreted as representing every interviewer or every employee from any particular background.
My Background
Before attending the interview, I believed my experience matched the position well.
I have:
- Two years of experience as a Camp Boss in Qatar.
- Hospitality experience in a five-star hotel.
- Experience managing my own fast-food restaurant in Nepal.
- Supervisory experience after being promoted from a waiter earlier in my career.
- HACCP knowledge and practical food safety experience.
Due to financial difficulties, I had to sell my restaurant and started searching for a new opportunity that matched my professional background.
When I saw an advertisement for 20 Camp Boss vacancies at a Dubai-based company, I was hopeful and confident.
The Interview
The interviewer asked me several questions.
Question 1
Do you have experience as a Camp Boss?
My answer:
“Yes. I worked as a Camp Boss at a company in Qatar.”
The interviewer then asked:
Question 2
How do you prepare today’s budget?
I answered:
“First, I determine the camp occupancy. Then I list all required food items, housekeeping supplies, and operational materials. After calculating the per-head cost, I multiply it by the total number of residents to estimate the daily budget.”
Instead of discussing my approach or asking follow-up questions, the interviewer immediately said:
“No, you are wrong.”
The best answer may this latter i resource :
First, I confirm the current camp occupancy because the number of residents determines most daily expenses. Then I review the approved budget and the previous day’s consumption records. I estimate the requirements for food, housekeeping materials, drinking water, cleaning supplies, maintenance items, and other daily operational needs.
Next, I calculate the per-person cost and multiply it by the total number of residents. I also consider any special requirements such as new arrivals, departures, VIP visitors, maintenance work, or emergency purchases.
Finally, I compare the estimated expenses with the approved budget, prioritize essential items, coordinate with procurement and the kitchen, monitor actual spending throughout the day, and ensure all expenses are properly documented to avoid unnecessary costs while maintaining service quality.
A shorter interview answer
“I start by checking today’s camp occupancy. Then I estimate the required food, housekeeping supplies, cleaning materials, water, utilities, and maintenance expenses. I calculate the per-head cost, compare it with the approved budget, monitor daily consumption, and make sure spending stays within budget while maintaining good service quality.”
Suppose today’s occupancy is 500 residents. If the approved food cost is $6 per person per day, the food budget would be:
500 × $6 = $3,000
Then I add estimated costs for housekeeping supplies, cleaning chemicals, maintenance materials, drinking water, transportation, and any planned activities. After calculating the total estimated expenditure, I compare it with the approved daily budget and make adjustments if necessary.”
I politely replied:
“If my answer is incorrect, I’m willing to learn. I’m a fast learner.”
His response surprised me.
He said:
“We don’t have time to teach you. I can’t hire you as a Camp Boss. Think about working as a waiter.”
Why That Response Was Disappointing
Being rejected is part of job hunting.
Being corrected is also acceptable.
However, what disappointed me was the tone and the way my professional background seemed to be dismissed without meaningful discussion.
A person’s previous job title should never be used to belittle them.
Many successful supervisors and managers started their careers as waiters, cleaners, or laborers. I was promoted from a waiter to a supervisory position years ago because of my hard work and performance.
Every professional deserves to be treated with dignity.
The HACCP Question
The interviewer then noticed my HACCP certificate and asked:
“What are the seven principles of HACCP?”
I honestly replied with a little humor:
“I don’t remember them by heart at the moment. Let me search ChatGPT and I’ll tell you.”
Obviously, this was not the answer he expected.
While theoretical knowledge is important, I believe practical implementation is equally valuable. Many experienced professionals may not recall every definition word for word, yet they successfully apply food safety principles every day.
Interviews Should Measure More Than Memory
A professional interview should evaluate:
- Leadership
- Decision-making
- Problem-solving
- Communication
- Team management
- Crisis handling
- Budget management
- Practical experience
Instead of focusing only on memorized answers, interviewers should also assess how candidates perform in real-world situations.
Knowledge can be refreshed.
Integrity, work ethic, and leadership are much harder to teach.
My Personal Reflection
I left the interview feeling disappointed—not because I was rejected, but because I felt I wasn’t given a fair opportunity to demonstrate my experience and abilities.
This experience reminded me that candidates are also evaluating employers. Respect should go both ways.
One negative interview should never define a person’s career.
Advice to Job Seekers
If you have a negative interview experience:
- Stay professional.
- Do not argue aggressively.
- Learn from the experience.
- Continue applying elsewhere.
- Never allow one interviewer to destroy your confidence.
There are many companies that value experience, honesty, and potential.
My Thoughts
This article reflects my personal experience with one interviewer during one recruitment process. It does not represent every manager, recruiter, or employee at the company or from any nationality or region.
I hope employers remember that every candidate has a story, has worked hard to build their career, and deserves to be treated with professionalism and respect.
A respectful interview benefits everyone—even when the answer is “no.”
Rejection is temporary.
Respect should always be permanent.
I attend a interview of camp boss of NCT&H company based in Dubai where the interviewer was a Indian Kerala citizen, his age was about 48 years old, it’s very worst interview of my carriers in my POV Kerala people are very disrespectful and they don’t like a more competent candidates then them capacity. i attend many interview but interview with Kerala Indian are always worst and get feedback experience was demotivate and disrespectful, especially with Nepalis citizen, i don’t know what they think themself and why they behaviors this kind of activities with Nepalis citizenship i had many times face such kind of activities, they don’t act a human behaviors, it seems like there behaviors like a devils, i have 2 years camp boss experience in gulf countries as well as a hospitality background including 5 star hotel, i also a fast food restaurant experience in Nepal, due to my some financial issue i sell my restaurant and surffing a new job matching my background and went to attend a interview as a post of Camp Boss, in the advertisement there is a 20 camp boss vacancy in that company NCT&H company based in Dubai Abu-Dubai. in the interview below question asked me :
- Do you have experience as a camp boss?
Answer : Yes i have worked as a camp boss at …………….. Company Qatar,
2. How do you make today budget ?
Answer : First i know the occupancy of a camp and list the required materials calculate per head cost including food , housekeeping and required materials multiplies by total numbers of member in the camp
Response from him : No you are wrong
I tell him politely sir if i am wrong i will learn i am a fast learner, his response rudely No we don’t have time to learn I can’t take you as a camp boss, think about as a waiter lol i was sucked how he judge a person, he don’t know 1 was promoted as a supervisor before 10 years as a post of waiter lol how he can be such a dump interviewer,
He saw a HACCP certificate and asked a another question what are the 7 principle HACCP ?
My response was : I don’t Mug up now, Let me search in Chat GPT and tell you… lol
In my POV he is not taking interview he don’t want to know my creativity he just want to demotivated me and want to show me a downgraded, he is challenging with my dignity, I advice him don’t judge a person with 2/4 theoretical question, i believe you are in that position from a long time and know more than me but you can’t disrespect a person like that Fu*** your job and Fu*** you a person like you g0 to hell you and your company. you may be a good worker a big spoon of shake of Dubai but not a interviewer, Get lost from my country
This the my experience of Camp Boss interview with that Fu***** Kerala interviewer, In my experience most of the Keralan people attitude are same like that rude behaviors, So guys I humbly request you to ignore the interview of Kerala person interview and withdraw your application
