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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:
DontGoChasinWaterfalls · 06/07/2026 10:49

I cried with laughter reading this.
Op, thank you 😅😅😅😅

LeedsLoiner · 06/07/2026 10:38

I hope when they asked the "Where do you see yourself in a year's time?" question, you replied "sitting on a better chair"...😃

rainbowstardrops · 06/07/2026 10:20

I don’t usually laugh out loud reading MN but I did this time! I really hope you get the job!

TheHungryHungryLandsharks · 06/07/2026 10:05

@TattyOldOwl If it makes you feel better, when DH interviewed for a job during COVID apparently in the background you could see me outside on the patio chasing our puppy around the back garden as she had stolen a my bra. Whilst being chased by three other (adult) dogs who thought it was all some elaborate game.

He still got the job! 😁

GreenCaterpillarOnALeaf · 06/07/2026 09:46

LeedsLoiner · 06/07/2026 09:23

To be fair "kitchen experience" at Wetherspoons is "can you heat up stuff in an oven or a microwave?"

Show quote history

To be honest in a lot of commercial kitchens that’s pretty much it along with can you operate a fryer, do basic food safety like temp checks, do basic prep and grill a steak. The hard thing (which is definitely true with spoons) is the sheer volume of orders and the customers.

“Proper” restaurants are very different but a lot of places are just spoons plus more prep. Even nice places take advantage of Chef Mic in some capacity.

LeedsLoiner · 06/07/2026 09:23

GreenCaterpillarOnALeaf · 05/07/2026 17:26

Mate when I was interviewing for kitchen associates at Wetherspoons I would ask if they had any kitchen experience and the number of them who would say (with a straight face and absolutely not as a joke) “yes I have one in my house”…

Or worse, one guy who was 28 said “not really my mum cooks all my meals.”

Yours is just a funny mishap, just take solace in knowing there’s some people who are absolutely hopeless.

To be fair "kitchen experience" at Wetherspoons is "can you heat up stuff in an oven or a microwave?"

Weeellokthen · 06/07/2026 09:16

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

Nooooo 😂😂

latenightscrolling · 05/07/2026 23:05

I once had a zoom interview and I was upside down their end! I went into the camera settings but nope, nothing obvious. They were tech people and they couldn’t help me. Ended up having to turn the camera off. Still cringe now, didn’t get the job haha

RuinartRuination · 05/07/2026 17:36

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 never believe people when they say they’re crying with laughter at a post they’ve read but.. I have tears in my eyes reading this (and I’ve just realised that my kegels need a little bit of work)

PinkiePipe · 05/07/2026 17:27

Oh OP I'm so sorry but this made my day, I actually had slight tears in my eyes!

I think you're gonna get the job.

GreenCaterpillarOnALeaf · 05/07/2026 17:26

Mate when I was interviewing for kitchen associates at Wetherspoons I would ask if they had any kitchen experience and the number of them who would say (with a straight face and absolutely not as a joke) “yes I have one in my house”…

Or worse, one guy who was 28 said “not really my mum cooks all my meals.”

Yours is just a funny mishap, just take solace in knowing there’s some people who are absolutely hopeless.

Wetblanket78 · 05/07/2026 17:05

😂😂😂

Whyarentmysquashesthriving · 05/07/2026 17:02

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

Hahahaha

That also reminds ME of a time I was at a really serious and important meeting and got stung by a wasp, but felt like I couldn't react at all due to the seriousness of the meeting, so just froze and didn't do anything about it.

anyolddinosaur · 05/07/2026 16:49

You will be memorable. Had you managed to come back up with a perfectly straight face and carried on regardless I'd have definitely given you the job. As it is - you are still a contender.

Original poster
TattyOldOwl · 05/07/2026 16:44

Thanks for all the support and the shared stories - some of them have had me hooting

I’ll report back on whether I get it or not. So, I work for a certain sector in the Civil Service and this is for a same grade position but doing something else. Still in the same ‘department’ but I don’t know the people interviewing me or anyone doing that job.

and I’m grateful for that 😝

As it’s the civil service the wheels move slowly so it’ll be a few weeks I should think but I’ll pop back and update for sure.

I have a lot of previous over the years for excruciating interviews. In fact, my very first one was with Midland Bank (one for the oldies among us) aged 17. I was 10 minutes late as I had zero sense of urgency back then and couldn’t be arsed and the man interviewing me nodded off half way through the interview! It was a Friday afternoon and it was warm in the office but still!

Oh and then there was the time I decided to make up that I had a degree in European Studies from UCL. Almost died when one of the women interviewing me said ‘ ooh! I did that too! What a coincidence! What did you think of old Miller and his lectures?’

Sigh.

So this isn’t my first rodeo - although I hasten to add I don’t make stuff up these days - just do stupid stuff with furniture

OP posts:
Original poster
TattyOldOwl · 05/07/2026 16:32

@katepilar it’s a figure of speech. J for joke. Please don’t take that so literally.

id have to sell my house for a start…

OP posts:
SurferRona · 05/07/2026 16:29

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 think I only laugh out loud on here once a month or so; this wins for July already 🤣🤣🤣🙂☠️

katepilar · 05/07/2026 16:19

While I understand its not as funny for you as it is for all the readers, you have done nothing wrong. Wanting to leave the country seems a bit odd to me.

Differentforgirls · 05/07/2026 16:17

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?

Oh god 😂

TheIdlerReturns · 05/07/2026 16:12

Thank you. You've given me such a laugh and probably cheered up the people on Teams. Years ago, I was a rep. I visited this cool, trendy company, went through the spiel of the product, thought it went well, but when I left to leave I put someone else's coat on and off I went (long-sleeved blazer as per a suit). Had to return, where the people I'd presented to were falling about laughing - apologise profusely to coat owner, retrieve my own coat and flee.

AmandaHoldensLips · 05/07/2026 16:10

I had noro virus. Friend (nurse) came to see me and check all okay. She went for an interview the following morning for dream-upgrade-better-hospital. Half way through the interview the inevitable happened. Apparently it was epic.

NeededANameChangeAnyway · 05/07/2026 15:59

My worst interview still makes me absolutely cringe. The question was something to do with finances and I started blathering on about my mortgage and the price of the train ticket from my house to work (I had found out what a season ticket price would be before I went for the interview and it was eye watering and obviously stuck in my head). The interviews sort of stares at me in silence until I tailed off and then clarified it was project finances they were asking about.

I went beetroot red and couldn't answer anything else with any sense. Didn't get the job......!

Anonyhouse · 05/07/2026 15:43

This happened to the interviewer in one of my interviews and I made a joke about it and instantly was like “omg why did I say that”. Everyone found it funny though and we were all laughing. It made me stand out and left them with a good feeling and I got the job! So, don’t stress. They will certainly remember you and if you answered their questions well it could work in your favour! X

Conniecoconut · 05/07/2026 15:42

I once I interviewed someone on Teams and could only see their eyebrows, I asked numerous times for them to either adjust their chair / stand up / move the camera. We had to abandon the interview as they couldn't / wouldn't show their face and I had no idea if the person with the eyebrows was the actual applicant.

ruolocretaw · 05/07/2026 15:41

Don't we usually feel positively about people who make us laugh? Seems like this could work in your favour if you showed grace under pressure and were able to complete the interview. At least it was just an equipment failure that could happen to anyone. You didn't draw a blank and stumble endlessly for words (my biggest fear in these situations) or inadvertently put your foot in your mouth. I hope you get good news about the interview!