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What is the correct response to this interview question?

92 replies

DoesThisLookRight · 23/08/2019 21:36

It’s obviously not what I replied with but it’s been bugging me ever since as I can’t think of anything even vaguely acceptable.

Trying to get back into work as youngest will be starting school soon. I had an interview today for a job I didn’t particularly want but thought interview practice would be good. All going along fairly well, I thought until I’m asked ‘what would you say the worst thing you’d ever done is?’ I ask if they mean in a work capacity and interviewer 1 says ‘no, just in an overall capacity’ while interviewer 2 gives an expectant head tilt. For reasons I don’t fully understand I said ‘I’m a compulsive liar, everything on my CV and that I’ve just told you is a lie’ and then giggle. They both look at each other raise eyebrows and continue with the interview. I did try and tell them at the end that I was just joking but I think they’d written me off by then Blush.

I’ve spent the afternoon cringing and trying not to think about it. But what is the correct answer? I can’t think of anything you could say that wouldn’t make you look like a liar or a terrible person. Is that a normal interview question now? I was all practised for the ‘what are your strengths and weaknesses’ type questions but not ready to tell them the worst thing I’d ever done!

Also, if by any ridiculous miracle my interviewers are reading this thread - I was really nervous and I thought it was vaguely funny and infinitely better than actually telling you the worst thing I’d done.

OP posts:
Merename · 23/08/2019 22:57

Wait, so we seem to have moved on from the RB shag. Why was it the worst thing you’ve ever done? Was it reeeallly the worst thing. Not even for the story retelling value? I feel wrong asking this in case it was traumatic in some way but I’m hoping you wouldn’t have posted about it if it was...

EttyG · 23/08/2019 22:59

So at least two people are saying the worst thing they have done is shag Russel Brand. Is he that crap in bed?

tolerable · 23/08/2019 23:00

ha!id be surprised if they dont give you the job to be honest.its a fabulous answer to a total fucker question.i think in a call centre a required skill is plausible even if unbelievable ...maybe

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Parttimewasteoftime · 23/08/2019 23:02

I don't remember that OP but I said I be a rich tea 😲
Dependable safe strong...... the shame I got the job.
You answered better its all lies.

MillicentMartha · 23/08/2019 23:17

Hmm, married my ex is the true answer but I wish I had a funny one. Grin

Mythreefavouritethings · 23/08/2019 23:23

Sorry to derail, but whoever gave the Under Pressure/Bohemian Rhapsody answer, that is brilliant!

DoesThisLookRight · 23/08/2019 23:33

merename well, maybe not the worst thing I’ve ever done but definitely the thing I would never admit to in real life. I went through a short lived drug and shagging binge after being dumped in my early 20’s and tbh I can’t remember much of it!

OP posts:
maidenover · 23/08/2019 23:55

I've always wanted to be asked how I perform under pressure so I can answer "quite well, but I prefer bohemian rhapsody"

😂😂

LemonPrism · 24/08/2019 00:23

I'd probably have just said 'Wouldn't you like to know?'

JockTamsonsBairns · 24/08/2019 01:10

I got asked a similar question a few years back, in an interview for a job I was extremely keen to get. It's a shit question, and it really threw me. I assumed the question was in the context of something work related, so I owned up to a fairly drastic fuck-up I'd made years prior. I quickly followed it up with a bit of waffle about "taking responsibility, learning from mistakes, steep learning curve" blah blah. But I remember sitting there thinking, I can't actually believe I've just told them about that, willingly. As it turned out, I got the job, but I felt quite uncomfortable about that conversation for a long time afterwards. And, maybe not surprisingly, the company was awful to work for!

RezCowgirl · 24/08/2019 08:26

Ive had that question in an interview I said that I wasn't the kind of person to dwell on mistakes after I've learned my lesson. They offered me the job but I declined.

ForalltheSaints · 24/08/2019 09:14

Surely the correct answer is running through fields of wheat?

gilliansgardenbench · 24/08/2019 22:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

bananasaidso · 24/08/2019 22:14

well there you go, now you have your answer to that question.

toadabode · 24/08/2019 22:16

Wow what a totally inappropriate interview question. You answered it really well OP. Fuck them

fourquenelles · 24/08/2019 22:24

Hold up. What's wrong with Jarvis Cocker? I would.

Hiltonhonours · 25/08/2019 00:09

'I once did X but what I learned from this was y which was an important life lesson and I benefited from this learning curve''.

The worst thing I’ve done I guess (in other people’s eyes) is to shout at my MIL and cut her off. I called her a name and told her several home truths.

I learned from it that I am formidable when people are abusive to my son, that DH is a coward and scared of his parents, that the ILs are liars and bullies, that the rest of their family do as MIL tells them and most importantly that just because people are not intelligent it doesn’t mean that they are stupid in the ways of manipulation and abuse. Years of honing her skills means that MIL is a master of abuse all learned by trial and error I guess.

I didn’t benefit by learning this about MIL because I have cut her and her nasty family, off. I have benefitted from the cutting off by having a much more peaceful life.

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