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Original poster

Disastrous interview for very much wanted job

93 replies

BeautyQueenFromMars · 10/08/2021 09:55

I've just left an interview for a job I really, really want. It did not go well. My mind went completely blank on a couple of the questions and as soon as I left I thought of all the great answers I could have given. Argh!

Nobody knows I've gone for the job, hence me posting on here rather than talking to family or friends.

Any funny stories or bad jokes you'd be willing to share to take my mind off it please?

OP posts:

Gliblet · 10/08/2021 10:08

Oh bless you. It may not have seemed as bad to them as it did to you, I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

For distraction purposes - the worst interview experience I've ever heard. A friend of mine went for a high paid job with a PR agency in Manchester a few years ago. He overslept slightly but managed to be up, dressed, out on time, stepped off the bus and dropped his portfolio of hard copy work samples in a puddle. Went in to a newsagent, begged some blue roll from them to mop the worst of the dirty water off, bought himself a bottle of Lucozade, took a minute or two to have a drink and calm down, then arrived bang on time for his interview.

He said the panel seemed a bit 'off' but cheerfully reassured himself that you never can tell with interview panels, walked back down to reception and asked if he could use the bathroom before he left.

The receptionist said 'Yes I think you should' and pointed down the hall.

He walked in and very nearly screamed. He'd only shaved half his face that morning, and the lucozade had left a bright orange half circle on his top lip

FanOnCurtainsClosed · 10/08/2021 10:13

I was asked how my friends would describe me at a job interview.

I replied 'punctual'.

It's true but not sure it's my most redeeming feature.

lastqueenofscotland · 10/08/2021 10:13

If it’s any consolation I once on the way to an interview walking the 2 minutes from the station to the office got completely shitted on rain wise. Turned up looking like a drowned rat and was really flustered. Got the job.

My current role I got during covid so a zoom interview and my always perfect internet cut out every 2 minutes. I was increasing frustrated but trying to hide it and also got the job. They made he point that they were impressed with how calmly and good humoured I dealt with it. They didn’t hear what I was shouting when it wasn’t working

SchrodingersMat · 10/08/2021 10:26

Oh OP I feel for you, I fucked up the interview for my dream job a week ago due to nerves. I still haven’t heard back from them so presume it’s a no 😭 I hope you get a better outcome!

AlmostSummer21 · 10/08/2021 10:29

@BeautyQueenFromMars
@SchrodingersMat

I hope you both did better than you fear you did. Interviews seem to be getting more ridiculous by the minute!

🌸🌺

SchrodingersMat · 10/08/2021 10:35

[quote AlmostSummer21]@BeautyQueenFromMars
@SchrodingersMat

I hope you both did better than you fear you did. Interviews seem to be getting more ridiculous by the minute!

🌸🌺[/quote]
Thank you! They said I’d hear by the end of last week and I haven’t, I wish they’d just put me out of my misery. So mean not to update people, I just can’t quite give up and put it behind me until I get a definitive no but it’s not looking good I guess.

Original poster

BeautyQueenFromMars · 10/08/2021 10:40

Thank you all.
That poor man, Gliblet!
SchrodingersMat, my fingers are very firmly crossed for you 🤞

OP posts:

happystory · 10/08/2021 10:40

My second ever job interview aged about 22, I was desperate to move cities to live with dp. I was rambling on about my current job and all the things I'd learnt, and the very posh interviewer said 'It sounds like you should stay in your present job' and I said 'Yes'. I did not get the job.....

Cameron2012 · 10/08/2021 10:44

18 years old interviewing for M&S.
They asked why I was leaving my old job and I said,
“ Because I bloody hate it”.
I was unsuccessful 😂

SchrodingersMat · 10/08/2021 10:45

Likewise @BeautyQueenFromMars 🤞🤞 I know plenty of people who felt they didn’t do well at interview but got the job so you’re not out of the game yet!

Cherrycee · 10/08/2021 10:49

This happened to me last year on a video interview with a panel of three directors. I was convinced it had been a disaster, but they were happy and offered me the job the next day! I still don't think it was a great interview, but I was a good fit based on my skills and experience. So you never know.

ReeseWitherfork · 10/08/2021 10:50

My company tend to grill the crap out of people at interviews and make them as nervous as humanly possible. We don't tend do hire based on potential or personality. Its a general symptom of our red tape, tick box exercise, panic if things aren't formal, culture. Which feeds into everything we do and slows progress or any real change/evolution. So although this might seem like the dream job OP... A recruitment panel that can't see you are nervous and adjust their approach in order to make a useful assessment of you is possibly a symptom of a company that you don't want to work for!

SmileyClare · 10/08/2021 10:53

He'd only shaved half his face that morning and the lucozade had left a bright orange half circle on his top lip

That's so awful it's hilarious

I sat down in an interview and took a sip of coffee. Unfortunately I overtipped the cup and poured half of it down my chin and new white shirt. No one on the panel mentioned it, they just ploughed on with questions while I tried to hold the material out a bit so it wasn't see through and act like having a coffee sodden shirt was normal.

ReeseWitherfork · 10/08/2021 10:55

This is hideous!! They sound like robots. Or complete bores. Why do people think interviewing has to be so dry and formal?
Did you get the job?

Enb76 · 10/08/2021 10:56

I totally ballsed up my dream job interview and surprise, surprise, did not get the job. Not only that but I probably came across as an over-eager puppy! Of course the job I wasn't that fussed about, flying bloody colours and I am now doing that, less appealing, job.

Still, I will get my dream job and I console myself with the fact that I will now know the answers to those questions which I utterly failed on.

FlowerArranger · 10/08/2021 10:59

I take it you'll be writing to thank you for granting you the interview? This is your opportunity to BRIEFLY explain your mental lapse.

FlowerArranger · 10/08/2021 10:59

Thank THEM....

AdelindSchade · 10/08/2021 11:05

Well I went to entirely the wrong place for an interview once across the wrong side of town. I was then of course late by the time I got to the right place and didn't get the job funnily enough.
I recommend 'the perfect interview' book you can get on amazon. Also I have had an interview I thought was terrible and I still got it so you never know.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 10/08/2021 11:07

I always think of the older lady we interviewed 15 years or so ago for a very basic admin job. From the look of her CV every time the large organisation she'd worked for for decades had reorganised she'd been moved. That could have been bad luck, but my manager asked her how she felt about learning how to do new things on the computer, a basic requirement of the job. She pulled a face and said dejectedly 'I don't like it, but you've gotta do it'. Then she was told that at any given time she might have several tasks to get on with. How would she keep track? She looked nonplussed and said she just looked at her desk to see what she had to do. She didn't get the job.

Good luck, OP! Hope you and anyone else waiting hear soon.

SmileyClare · 10/08/2021 11:09

Reese thanks, yes they were pretty rigid and formal and no I didn't get a call back. I assumed they thought I was an incompetent idiot who couldn't even use a mug without help.

GammyLeg · 10/08/2021 11:09

DH did a Skype interview in the early days of Skype. Both parties agreed to use audio only as the connection wasn’t good. Because of the time difference the interview was at 5am and DH just rolled out of bed and sat down on the couch in his boxers with the laptop on the coffee table.

As you can guess… they called via video and he unthinkingly answered. Cue a shocked looking panel of three people (from conservative country) looking at DH in his undies.

He didn’t get that one.

Moonflower12 · 10/08/2021 11:23

My worst job interview- Years ago, very young. I had really bigged up my previous role in my mum's company.
I walk into the panel of interviewers and nearly dropped with shock. The lead interviewer was my mum's old secretary. She obviously knew I'd not done all that I said I had. Most excruciating half an hour then ensues. I did not get the job. I have not lied on a CV since!

Another interview- years later. I turn up to be told that I should have an activity/ short lesson ready. ( teacher)
I was a bit so asked for some play dough and made some snails with the children and talked about them etc. Felt as though I'd done nothing and thought 'oh well!' I got the job!
So it can go both ways. Good Luck.

Moonflower12 · 10/08/2021 11:25

Forgot to say: they'd forgotten to tell me to prepare any activity etc.

Hoppinggreen · 10/08/2021 11:26

Someone ran into the back of me on the motorway, very minor damage but made me late for an interview, plus I was a bit shaken.
They handed me a cup of tea to calm down and I dropped it and it flooded the table, covering all the papers on there.
On the way out I met my team mate who was also being interviewed for the (external) job - The Recruiter had actually scheduled a gap so we wouldn’t bump into eachother but as I was late they had juggled things around. Luckily we were quite good friends so we just laughed about it.
He got the job

TheDogsMother · 10/08/2021 11:33

I had an interview yesterday and I was asked to relate my proudest career moment. I went blank. I am a recruiter

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