AIBU to worry that bringing chocolates to an interview was inappropriate?

I’ve just remembered I went for an interview once and went to the loo. Didn’t know it had a dodgy lock and the boss walked in…luckily I’d finished and was washing my hands. Got the job.

I hope you get the job. If you don’t, don’t beat yourself up about the chocs. It will be that someone else was more suitable xx

Sounds absolutely fine. Good luck!

If you want to get a bit more analytical about it:

a) you took a mild risk, which is exactly the right strategy if you are up against a lot of other very similar candidates.
b) and seems it actually paid off. You got a good human chat out of it with the director. S/he will remember you and in a good way.

Well played!

It’s a bit unusual but I don’t think they will let it be part of their decision making to be honest. I wouldn’t do that again though.

I think it was an unusual thing to do but it wasn't as if you handed them to a panel after a formal interview.

You sound great. Don’t worry about it. Echoing others - I don’t think it’ll have any effect on your chances. I hope you get it!

There you go, it was taken in the spirit you gave it.
I think it’s a really nice and thoughtful gesture; yes, some people were interviewing you, but others were basically having their working day disrupted so they could meet/spend time with you, and a small gift is a good way of acknowledging that and saying you appreciate it.

I rather like it. It will certainly make you memorable!

If you are hired, there will be the expectation that you'll be bringing in a box of Belgian chocolates in every day. Could be expensive if you find that your salary is going on chocolate. Sugar is very addictive and this is not a good precedent to set.

What if your reporting manager takes you aside and tells you to up your game and bring in Lindt?

Firstly, do not worry that it will be interpreted as a bribe. I worked in an area where we are very strictly prohibited from entertaining anything that looks like a bribe. An small value item that can be shared with a whole team, like biscuits or chocolates, was not considered a bribe but would be noted as a gift for auditing.

Please also give yourself a break. This is all new to you, and in my experience doing something kind, even if it's inappropriate, won't lead to people thinking badly of you. If you don't get the job, it won't be because of the chocolates, it will just be because the job market is ultra competitive right now.

Best of luck OP, I hope you get it!

I was showing someone around. They brought buns .... There wasn't a lot but they were from a good brand..

He got the job. Everyone said it was a lovely thing to do... We weren't on the interview panel.

I think the fact that the boss had banter about it at the end means it’s all ok so try bit to think about it anymore.

He/she probably gave them to the cleaners to share and hasn’t given it a thought since.

I so want you to get the job.

I’m sure I read about a potential Oxford student taking a banana to his interview so that they would remember him! Not sure if he got a place or not!

Same. I would think it very odd.

At most corporate jobs you’re not allowed to accept gifts especially related to job interviews etc. if this was the case you would not be at blame the person who accepted the gift would be. You didn’t do anything wrong. Your gesture was very kind. Smaller companies would love this kind of gesture. But at the company I work at if I accepted any kind of gift even a small one I would be reprimanded.

I think the lasagne one is good though! Better than “going to the gym”!

Actually I think it was a good idea, it broke the ice, it was sweet, people hire people they like. It may have worked in your favour.

I bet you struggle in social situations so you have to latch on to a bitch.

Was that really necessary? Who among of us didn’t have some anxiety when trying to enter the world of work for the first time?

OP is a young undergrad (probably only 21 or so) still learning about the world and without any parents to guide her through it.

And from the description of how the gift went down, it sounds like she is genuine, charming and naturally good with people.

Ignore this post OP, you should be proud of yourself.

Ahh I've been interviewing for 25 years and never had this but it's sweet and I wouldn't use it in the decision making process. 💐

I got a job once because it was a group interview, and we had to do presentations to the team. One girl really struggled, and another candidate asked a dickhead question to demonstrate how badly she had done, when everyone knew it.

I followed up with a nice question that was easy to handle and allowed her to shine a bit. I wasn't trying to impress, it just seemed like the nice thing to do, and made it a lot less awkward for everyone in the room who was bringing about the mean question.

I've worked with organisations where hospitality or treats over £7 needed to be declared.

It's not common for the threshold to be so low but it's not entirely alien either.

OP - I know a few people taken on by big firms years ago. They wanted candidates from broad backgrounds, but they also knew that, and had business dress and etiquette lessons as part of the induction. One thing to watch for you might be making gestures that are too large.

My husband does this - will spend 20-30 quid on a friend's child when the convention is to swap gifts worth about a tenner. He doesn't realise that in some circumstances it's awkward and places pressure on others to be too generous - and in business, this can come under corporate hoapitality.

But don't think of it as any different than leaning a new formula in excel.

I've never had an interviewee bring me chocolates but I'd be very happy if they did!

Slightly different approach. Years ago I was interviewed in a group. We got showed around in the morning and then interviews in the afternoon. One of the candidates was a friend at Uni.
As we went into an IT suite (it was very early 90’s!) the friend said…
Oh, Petula’s hopeless with computers aren’t you?
So I sort of thought well that’s done, as I wasn’t the best.
We then went to lunch and the friend gave a whole commentary on choosing healthy options. I did not speak a word during that lunch - it was a school and they had school cake.
So I thought sod it. I’ll have two pieces with custard.
The interview was fine and one guy brought up the IT thing and I said listen, I’m not the best, but I’m not an idiot I’ll get stuck in. In fact if you let me take one home over the summer (it was a school!) I’ll have a crack at it.
They asked if I had any questions and I asked if there was any cake left over from lunch as I might as well make the day worth my while.
In teaching they used to tell you at the end of the day if you’d got the job.
I got the job.
The deputy who showed us around said he like the fact that I was pretty calm even when my mate threw me under the bus, and that being willing to learn and having a bit of humour would serve me well.
The friend was furious.
So you learned a lesson maybe not to do it again but you weren’t handing out bags of cash or bottles of champagne. You showed your kind nature and there are worse things in life.
Don’t sweat it and I bet those chocolates got wolfed down!
I got a tray of that cake as well. Downside was I had to spend a summer in my dad’s spare room with an Amstrad computer and its operating manual.

Its fine. I'd be thrilled get chocs from a candidate for interview!
Don't overthink it.