To really not see the point in an interviewer asking endless questions about my GCSE choices when I left school over 20 years ago?

[slinkyfiggy]

As per the title really.

I'm 38. I left school in 1993.

I had an interview earlier this week for an admin job at a college. The interviewer went through all of my GCSE choices one by one and asked questions about them, such as why did I choose to take two languages when I wasn't planning a language based career, and why did I take drama when it wasn't really an academic subject. She didn't mention any of my later qualifications that were relevant to the role.

AIBU to think her cross examination over my GCSEs was pointless? I chose my options at 14, based upon the subjects I enjoyed and was good at. I didn't have a planned career at the time. I got good grades in them all, surely that's the important thing?

[TallulahTwinkletoes]

My guess is because it's a college, they'll have all just done GCSEs so it's important?

[Wishtoremainunknown]

I would be . I can't even remember all my gcse grades. In fact I don't think my Gcses are even ON my cv.

[aquawater]

I wonder if she isn't used to doing interviews so picked up on the wrong things. There is a skill to interviewing (maybe she didn't have it!)

[Tobyjugg]

The interviewer is more used to interviewing students?

[TheoreticalDudeOfFeminism]

Does seem a bit strange. I'm a similar age to you, and can't remember the last time anyone asked about my GCSEs. I don't bother putting them on my CV anymore. I don't even mention my A-levels these days.

[DuchessofBuffonia]

How bizarre! Do you think she thought that you were applying for a course?

[slinkyfiggy]

No, she talked all about the role so I assume she knew it was for the job not a course lol.

I wouldn't have mentioned my GCSEs to her but there was an application form on which I had to list all my GCSEs and grades.

[LaurieMarlow]

Bizarre. She clearly doesn't know her arse from her elbow.

But what are they still doing on your C.V.?

[HappyAgainOneDay]

I hope no one ever asks about my GCSEs because I never took any - after my time.

[Unidentifieditem]

Ugh if she is your future boss you're in for a pain...she sounds dim.

[Picturesinthefirelight]

How strange.

I'm 40 & things were very different back then. There was no English Bacc, no requirement to take a language & science was separate subjects, you chose 1 or 2, rarely 3

My options were severely limited to the groups they were in & I did pretty much take the subjects I was good at/interested in.

Facilitating subjects wasn't really a phrase we heard

She sounds very out of touch.

[PumpkinPie2013]

YANBU How odd! Most 14 year old choose subjects they enjoy and are good at - the vast majority don't know what career they will pursue.

Also, the choice is often limited by what schools offer and what fits with the timetable.

Silly woman!

[LaurieMarlow]

Cross post with slinky, sorry.

I can only assume that because it's a college they think a grade C in GCSE French (or whatever) somehow relevant to a day job 20 years later. Crazy.

[eviesmum]

YANBU, I'm the same age and would find it incredibly odd and off track

[grumblepuss]

Don't you do the GCSEs that fit on the time table? Or you did 15 years ago.
You have to do maths, English, science, a language.
You got to pick a humanities subject and a tech subject?
Maybe if you'd done Vetenary science degree and were now working in marketing or something totally different it would be worthy of note.

[Redhead11]

I have been asked in almost every application form for my qualifications from school onwards and i left in 1983! One interview asked me to bring my certificates from my O grades and Highers! I did have them, but quite how they have survived all the house moves i don't know. and when all was said and done, they never even bloody looked at them!

I didn't get that job, either.

[Picturesinthefirelight]

Besides, what's wrong with drama. It is academic (my school didn't offer it but I did A level Theatre Studies alongside Music & English Lit!)

[slinkyfiggy]

We had to do maths, english and sciences, and then had to choose 4 options but the option blocks for each of the 4 were very limited. I was advised to do two languages by my language teacher as I was good at them both. From the humanities block I chose Geography and then there was an 'arts' block that was things like art, drama, CDT.

[Mehitabel6]

How odd! I don't think I can even remember my results-they have never been asked for since I was 17yrs.

[Leeds2]

She probably has a Year 9 about to choose their options!

[londonrach]

I choose my gcses based on if they fitted in my tabletable, making sure the one or two i enjoyed where chosen. We had a list of subjects in option a to e.

[Viviennemary]

It just sounds like she was totally inexperienced. In interviews you usually just have to go along with the interviewer and answer questions as well as you can. No point in taking a why are you asking me that attitude.

[Mrsgrumble]

Totally wierd, of you don't get the job I would actually write to them and tell them that some of the questions were irrelevant

[leftangle]

Very strange - do you have higher qualifications? I interview sometimes and we have a very rigid set of questions to follow which certainly does not include GCSEs or indeed any qualifications.
However I did wonder if their criteria tell them to ask about qualifications and they couldn't miss out the question even if irrelevant?
But no - I can't see any justification for those questions, even if you were a recent school leaver.

[smokinggnu]

Very odd questions. I was asked by an interviewer why I had the number I have. I just replied, that was usual for my school. And she didn't come back to it. I didn't get the job. I really doubt it was relevant but maybe she'd already decided against me / for someone else and was killing time or being nosey?