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

After your update it does sound more acceptable than just sitting in an interview room and whipping out a box of chocolates, which would be more unusual. It sounds like a thoughtful gesture from your description.

Sounds like you clicked well with them and I hope it translates into being offered a job. Try not to stress about it anyway.

Now that you explain the subsequent chat, it sounds fine and and the manager guy took it ok.

Having said this, I think you have learned not to repeat which is good.

The other good thing is that it’s reminded you of the fact that no one is around to guide you. This sounds negative but actually it’s a really useful thing to remember in your circs. I was in a vaguely parallel boat when I started out, but got no help whatsoever. Accept a mentor as soon as one is offered to you. There are professional behaviours you need to learn and then display automatically.

Fingers crossed for a job offer coming through.

I have worked in corporate offices for years and have interviewed candidates.

At the very worst I would just think you were naive (but in an endearing way) and were young / inexperienced in the job world. I would not think you were trying to bride me.

While the box of biscuits would not drive my decision to hire you it would indicate to me that you had a strong desire to work for the company, which would be a small bonus.

However don’t do it again! You sound sweet.

If it's any help to you, I interview graduates eveey year and this would have absolutely no impact on the outcome, positively or negatively.

It's not the done thing but so what. You did it with the best of intentions and any decent interviewer will understand that you aew new to interviewing.

Forget about it. In the last 10 years, it wouldn't even rank in the top 10 of strange things that happened in an interview. I've had a candidate text me afterwards with a message meant for someone else about their interview, someone who missed the chair when invited to sit down, people knocking over their glass of water, a person who got my name wrong several times even though they were corrected the first time, phones not on silent and a person who actually answered the call and a candidate with an inpromptu nose bleed.

I hired some of them!

Shit happens and this isn't an issue that will have any impact on the outcome.

If you want to the the interviewers you can simply say "Thank you for the time and the opportunity" at the end.

Don't over think this.

Best of luck with your job search.

They were happy and I think what you said was very nice and appreciated. In the years gone by I’ve worked where we had the odd sweet token of thanks and appreciated the thought, definitely not seen as bribery. Wish you all the best in fact really hope you get it. (Also if there is any ribbing as one poster said, do take it as friendly people, often don’t have time or much to say when chatting that’s all)

Definitely unusual, but not weird or offensive.

In the past, I've sent a thank-you card, brief note: thank you for the opportunity to interview for X position today. Yours truly ..."

Don't give it another thought @Thebigwideworld
You sound thoughtful amd genuine.

It was a box of M&S chocolates, not an envelope stuffed with used banknotes! As others have said, it's a nice, sweet gesture, if a little unusual, and is more likely to count in your favour than against you. Don't worry about it at all.

It's hardly bribery. I don't do interviews. But I'd think hmm that's a bit strange, but yay, chocolate 🤷

Hiring manager here. Never seen it done before but would certainly think it was a kind and considerate thing to do. Wouldn’t swing my decision but would leave a positive impression.

If you are right for the job it wouldn’t put me off hiring you - I can’t think anyone would think it a bribe or naff, perhaps a bit unusual.
Hope you get the job!

I’ve interviewed a lot of people. That absolutely wouldn’t have put me off you, I’d have remembered you, if you don’t get it, the chocks weren’t the problem. I’d hire you.

I’ve never been given chocolates in any of the interviews I’ve done but it will make you memorable

I actually think that what you said was nice and didn’t look as a bribe it looked more like you liked the place and how they approached the process. Because in some places the hiring process could be really really quick and time limited so you wouldn’t have chance to look around.

Please don't worry about this. I'd think it was a bit unusual but quite sweet and a lovely thing to do, especially if you said the bit about people giving up their time. The receptionist, current trainee, and other people may have nothing to do with the decision so they are giving up their time to show you how things work. Just because it's part of the interview process, doesn't mean that it's a scored part. It may just be something they do because it makes sure that you think you would like to work there. Interviews can be about whether you want to work for them as well as if they want you.
I think it shows kindness and manners, and is a lovely gesture. It shouldn't be taken into account for the job as that should be on suitability and performance during interview and assessments.

If you don't get the job, please don't beat yourself up about the chocolates. I am 99% sure that they would have been taken in a positive way but will have nothing to do with the final decision.

Oh and well done for getting this far!

As others have said, please don’t give this anymore thought. You definitely won’t be thought of as inappropriate or immature - it was a nice gesture and I’m sure it was appreciated, albeit not usual.

And also check out the 93% club - it was set up by a young woman who got a training contract at a big law firm coming from an underperforming state school without having role models etc and she tells lots of stories about how she turned up in inappropriate attire etc because she didn’t have help/know what the right etiquette was. She is very inspirational and helps provides resources for others in the same position on their career journey too. www.93percent.club

I wouldn't recommend for anyone to do this- as it makes you look quite green and inexperienced with social norms. But at the same time I would think it showed a sweet character underneath if someone did- it is hugely important to a harmonious workplace that people show that respect and consideration for each other. The workplace norms are much easier to teach than a decent character.

Our interviews are rigidly scored against set criteria to determine those we hire- they have to be to ensure we aren't unconsciously biased towards certain genders or skin tones.

Please don't worry- you won't have hurt your chances here with this.

I work in occupational psychology and over the years have run hundreds of these types of grad assessment centres for a lot of prestigious firms across different sectors. I feel for you in not having anyone to support you / give advice on the move into professional work because it is easier if you 'know the rules'. I recommend spending a bit of time online researching it because there is a tonne of information out there. Look at employers' own websites and formal recruitment agency websites and steer away from too many chat rooms like fish bowl, which can just be alarmist.

In this instance, I'll give you an honest answer because it will help you most for the future. It is not the done thing, so no need to do it again. But I don't think it's too much of a misstep: at best, it will be taken as intended but yes, might make you seem a little 'green'. At worst, you could seem as though you are trying too hard to swing things your way, but I doubt anyone would take it that seriously, especially not at grad level. Just forget about it and move on, it's honestly not that big a deal and there will be many more opportunities to come.

You are right to show gratitude for the opportunity; I think that respect on your part will have showed up in plenty of other ways on the day and will serve you well in future. Taking a moment to say thank you (vs taking a gift) can go a very long way and is not overdoing it.

However, companies spend their time on these events because they are looking for the talent that will create value for them in the future. Just remember it is a two way street and the right company will value you as much as you value them :)

Good luck OP - you'll be grand.

I interview lots of people for trainee positions in a professional services firm. I would have thought it was a nice, kind gesture and then judged you on your merit. I’m sure it won’t have impacted your interview either way. Good luck and hope you get good news!

Not the done thing. Don’t be surprised if you don’t get it, it comes across like bribery.

That was very kind of you and I can't imagine they will hold it against you/count it as an attempted bribe as mentioned above (not sure if PP was joking). It sounds like you are young and it's all a learning curve. If you don't get the role please don't beat yourself up, it won't be because of the chocolates. And I really hope you get it!! It's so hard to learn these things and to be honest times change so quickly parents might well not be the best to advise anyway as even when I started work 15ish years ago it was so different to now. If you have any other questions about life just post them in places like Chat and I'm sure people are happy to help! 🙂

I don't think it will affect the outcome but be prepared to be ribbed mercilessly for it if you get the job 😁 - which I hope you do!

Sounds like you’re interviewing in professional services of some sort? We’ve definitely had candidates buy chocolates at the end of their two week vac scheme to say thank you for the time people have given - our vac schemes are basically two week interviews so vaguely similar scenario. Honestly I don’t register if they do or don’t and it certainly doesn’t impact how we score and moderate them. Don’t stress about it, if you get the job (and I hope you do) make sure you ask for a mentor once you’re settled in, who can help you navigate some of the etiquette - I’d nothing else it will provide you with a bit of support and help boost your confidence. Sounds like you’ve done brilliantly getting to where you are, you should be proud of yourself.

I think it's quite sweet actually. And at least they'll remember you.