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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to ask you to make me feel better about this absolute howler of an interview? Or should I just leave the country?

217 replies

TattyOldOwl · 03/07/2026 20:57

So I had an interview today and it was over Teams in front of a panel of 3. I prepared well, and was sat in my home office at my desk on my new office chair

Anyway, before the interview, I’d been fiddling with the height adjustment of the chair as it wasn’t quite high enough for me. Finally got it sorted and all good.

so, I’m sat there and half way through an in-depth answer to a multi pronged question. I’m all animated and talking away when I suddenly feel myself descending but ever so slowly. I kind of stutter a bit as I’m SO distracted by this and I try to hold myself up by gripping my desk but it’s no use …. Literally, one moment I’m in their line of sight and then next, i gradually disappear from view as my hydraulic chair takes me all the way down as low as it will go.

I end up inches from my floor, desperately trying to scrabble myself back up and then I sort of PING back into view like a jack in a box to find one of the women on the panel literally helpless with laughter.

I just can’t. So mortified. Please tell me you’ve had worse?

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
catlover123456789 · 25/07/2026 20:46

TattyOldOwl · 25/07/2026 18:42

Thanks for the commiserations all.

would you like me to tell you about the time I ended up in a cupboard during an interview? What do you mean, no?!

Obviously, yes.

cheapskatemum · 25/07/2026 18:46

Thanks for the visual. That made me laugh out loud!

Original poster
TattyOldOwl · 25/07/2026 18:42

Thanks for the commiserations all.

would you like me to tell you about the time I ended up in a cupboard during an interview? What do you mean, no?!

OP posts:
twohotwaterbottles · 24/07/2026 23:03

It was obviously not in the stars for you this time OP. Something else will be. 😊You've made a lot of us laugh out loud so thank you! 💕

Fiddlesticks1 · 22/07/2026 07:32

Really sorry to hear you didn’t get the job but 10/10 for amusing us so much with your interview howler. I always think - their loss not mine.

Pineappleproblems · 22/07/2026 01:37

TattyOldOwl · 21/07/2026 19:00

Well

drum roll

I ….

didn’t get the job

😒

I’m fine with that because I do really enjoy what I do now and it was only a sideways type move anyway and my feedback was decent overall ( just an area where they felt my answer didn’t demonstrate as much leadership as they would have liked … err no shit? It’s really hard to assert yourself as a credible leader when you’re sinking ever so slowly down to your office floor!!

So I’d have liked to have rounded off the thread with good news but alas, wasn’t to be. I’m fine with that though.. it was an experience 😂

Commiserations OP.

Maybe you can now make your fortune as a comedian? This thread has been gold!

NoWordForFluffy · 21/07/2026 20:54

Thegreatestoftheseislove · 21/07/2026 20:53

Oh yes, I am well aware of that. However, many clients would be offended - a professional interviewing for a serious law type role should show more awareness in the language they choose to use. That is all.

Show quote history

Why are you coming back now to bang on about this? The moment passed two weeks ago. 🙄

Thegreatestoftheseislove · 21/07/2026 20:54

TattyOldOwl · 21/07/2026 19:00

Well

drum roll

I ….

didn’t get the job

😒

I’m fine with that because I do really enjoy what I do now and it was only a sideways type move anyway and my feedback was decent overall ( just an area where they felt my answer didn’t demonstrate as much leadership as they would have liked … err no shit? It’s really hard to assert yourself as a credible leader when you’re sinking ever so slowly down to your office floor!!

So I’d have liked to have rounded off the thread with good news but alas, wasn’t to be. I’m fine with that though.. it was an experience 😂

It is all good experience. Better luck next time.

Thegreatestoftheseislove · 21/07/2026 20:53

NoWordForFluffy · 04/07/2026 00:15

You've clearly not met (m)any litigation lawyers. Swearing is very much in the vocabulary! Nobody would bat an eyelid at 'Jesus Bloody Christ', not even the clients!

Show quote history

Oh yes, I am well aware of that. However, many clients would be offended - a professional interviewing for a serious law type role should show more awareness in the language they choose to use. That is all.

Thegreatestoftheseislove · 21/07/2026 20:50

DugnuttEyeBoogies · 04/07/2026 00:12

Blaspheme? How very … quaint. She wasn’t interviewing to be the next Pope or Archbishop.

Presuming OP is in the UK we are a secular society. Religious in the minority now. Who cares if she says JFC, I certainly don’t.

Show quote history

Good for you. My point was that somebody interviewing for a serious law type role should be more circumspect in their choice of language during the interview.

Original poster
TattyOldOwl · 21/07/2026 19:00

Well

drum roll

I ….

didn’t get the job

😒

I’m fine with that because I do really enjoy what I do now and it was only a sideways type move anyway and my feedback was decent overall ( just an area where they felt my answer didn’t demonstrate as much leadership as they would have liked … err no shit? It’s really hard to assert yourself as a credible leader when you’re sinking ever so slowly down to your office floor!!

So I’d have liked to have rounded off the thread with good news but alas, wasn’t to be. I’m fine with that though.. it was an experience 😂

OP posts:
catlover123456789 · 21/07/2026 13:52

Have they let you know yet? They are taking their time!

B1anche · 19/07/2026 18:11

TattyOldOwl · 19/07/2026 17:33

@Odditea heh heh - very good

OK so apparently outcome released tomorrow .. I’ll keep you posted!

We're all rooting for you OP!

Original poster
TattyOldOwl · 19/07/2026 17:33

@Odditea heh heh - very good

OK so apparently outcome released tomorrow .. I’ll keep you posted!

OP posts:
Odditea · 18/07/2026 11:57

So it was an Outerview?

Fiddlesticks1 · 18/07/2026 10:50

TattyOldOwl · 15/07/2026 18:48

@Fiddlesticks1 not yet! I’ll be told on Friday I believe so err let’s see 😂

🙏

ThisZanyPinkSquid · 17/07/2026 16:41

Have we heard about the job yet?

Original poster
TattyOldOwl · 15/07/2026 18:48

@Fiddlesticks1 not yet! I’ll be told on Friday I believe so err let’s see 😂

OP posts:
Fiddlesticks1 · 15/07/2026 10:16

TattyOldOwl · 03/07/2026 20:57

So I had an interview today and it was over Teams in front of a panel of 3. I prepared well, and was sat in my home office at my desk on my new office chair

Anyway, before the interview, I’d been fiddling with the height adjustment of the chair as it wasn’t quite high enough for me. Finally got it sorted and all good.

so, I’m sat there and half way through an in-depth answer to a multi pronged question. I’m all animated and talking away when I suddenly feel myself descending but ever so slowly. I kind of stutter a bit as I’m SO distracted by this and I try to hold myself up by gripping my desk but it’s no use …. Literally, one moment I’m in their line of sight and then next, i gradually disappear from view as my hydraulic chair takes me all the way down as low as it will go.

I end up inches from my floor, desperately trying to scrabble myself back up and then I sort of PING back into view like a jack in a box to find one of the women on the panel literally helpless with laughter.

I just can’t. So mortified. Please tell me you’ve had worse?

Any news on the job?

Goldengirl123 · 11/07/2026 12:25

I would hire you!!!😅😅😅

Atleastitsnotsunstroke · 11/07/2026 12:23

TattyOldOwl · 04/07/2026 18:36

@Whyarentmysquashesthriving ha ha.

now that reminds me of a food related incident I had last year. I was at a dinner thing for a charity event. Sat at a table of about 12 and chatting to people as I ate … the meal was chunky chips and battered fish. ANYWAY … I speared what I thought was another chip with my fork and put it in my mouth only to quickly realise it was actually a large wedge of lemon!

And me being me, and because I didn’t like to draw attention to myself , just chewed it and swallowed it, rind, pips and all.

it was disgusting

This deserves its own thread OP 😂.

It reminds me of when a friend and I went to Franco Manco and had a sourdough pizza. They were quite new at the time and we thought we were the bees knees. Towards the end of the meal, my friend, who'd been amply salting her margarita pizza as we went along with the salt on the table, looked at the salt and realised she'd been repeatedly adding sugar to her pizza.

She said 'I thought it was a bit sweet'. 🤣. Fair enough, who has sugar out on the table anyway, but I did laugh.

Pibs101 · 06/07/2026 15:24

I had an interview years ago which seemed to be going well and I came out feeling positive only to discover that 3 buttons on my shirt had popped open and my bra was very visible. I would have been sitting flashing them the whole time. To make matters worse I have very bad social anxiety and absolutely hate interviews at the best of times. 😢😳

I didn’t get the job.

Hurryuphumphreygeorgeiswaiting · 06/07/2026 14:49

🤣this made me laugh op. I bet you get the job.

Mildmanneredmum · 06/07/2026 12:24

veryoldwoman · 03/07/2026 21:08

I know someone who went to an interview hung over and one of the panel came to fetch her and held her hand out to usher her in- for some reason my mate took hold of her hand - so they walked into the interview room holding hands

I was the interviewer in a similar situation. Interviewing after work hours, for the candidate to get there, long interview, and when she left she reached forward with her hand to shake hands and so did I - except for some unaccountable reason I carried on and kissed her on the cheek. It was a big blue chip company, marble and chrome reception area, etc. We both behaved as though it hadn't happened.

NoisyViper · 06/07/2026 12:13

Thegreatestoftheseislove · 03/07/2026 23:55

@TattyOldOwl your tale had me laughing until this. If you were interviewing for a serious law type role, but demonstrate in an interview that you easily blaspheme when something untoward happens, I would question your ability to act professionally and avoid causing offence in serious situations. Still an amusing story though.

Show quote history

Really?? If you think a bit of irreverent humor in an interview means she can't act with complete professionalism when it actually matters... well, that's exactly the kind of pearl clutching that makes interviews boring! My best mate is a criminal defence lawyer and some of the stuff she comes out with would make your toes curl! And she's a bloody good lawyer too!

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