I said the most ridiculous thing in an interview

[Boomerang99]

They asked me how to create an effective team and my mind went blank so I said I would bring them cookies.

I'm not getting the job am I? Still cannot believe I said that!

It’d work for me!
There’s still hope OP….I’ve said many a questionable thing in interviews and still got the job! Good luck!

Ha ha! I once said "I don't make mistakes" when asked how I'd fix a problem for a client if I'd made a mistake in my work.

When the guy said "Oh, everyone makes some mistakes" I said "Nope, not me!" because by that point I felt like a twat anyway!

Haha, don’t worry. My old line manager said that they once asked the question ‘how would you alleviate a stressful situation in the team’ and the candidate answered ‘bring in cake’

You’re not the first and won’t be the last. No idea if they got the job though.

Oh and at one job interview two of my answers were…’’I don’t know’’

I got the job 😂

Must have been my winning personality!

I once said I like to steal things at an interview. I don't but even if I did, why would I feel the need to share?! I remember just looking at them, with my face like this 😯

I love your answer. I’d hire you. Can’t underestimate the power of biscuits.

@FortunesFave

Ha ha! I once said "I don't make mistakes" when asked how I'd fix a problem for a client if I'd made a mistake in my work.

When the guy said "Oh, everyone makes some mistakes" I said "Nope, not me!" because by that point I felt like a twat anyway!

Absolutely golden!

Aw, it's not the best of answers, but I'd love to hear if you get the job. Fingers crossed!

@HunterHearstHelmsley you made me

@BigYellowHat

Oh and at one job interview two of my answers were…’’I don’t know’’

I got the job 😂

Must have been my winning personality!

As someone who has to hire people I much prefer when someone says 'I don't know' than makes up a load of waffle.

I don't know but I would ask or look up the process/policy is a brilliant answer, no one is expected to know everything and showing that you will investigate and find the right answer rather than making something up and getting it wrong is a good thing.

Tbf that's the kind of team leader I want.

I hate the “what is your biggest weakness” type question.
When asked if once I completely deadpan said “I can’t reverse park”
Got the job

I almost hired someone who didn't have any experience of the job because she said she would bring in homemade samosas every day.

I would definitely hire anyone who was great through the rest of the interview and then topped it off with cookies!!

Conversely I also once interviewed someone for a payroll role who answered a question with "well it's only payroll! It's not that hard!" (I spent 3 years studying a payroll management degree)

I had an interview once where they asked me about a certain policy. I had swotted like mad (huge promotion) but I hadn’t read that policy. I just said “I know the one you’re talking about but I’m sorry, I’m not able to answer that question”. I still got the job!

I think they expect you to freeze on at least one question.

I tell this story all the time, I couldnt stop saying spreadsheets. So in a answer to thr question about team morale I said if make a spreadsheet of problems and who worked well where. Which is a terrible answer and not remotely something I would do but I couldn’t stop banging on about spreadsheets.

Shaking hands at the end of the interview "Thanks very much"
Pause
"Bye Mum, love you"!!

Still got the job!

Cookies sounds like an excellent idea. When I managed a team I always made sure we had biscuits and sweets...

It won't be the worst answer they've heard and it probably shows you as a generous, community minded person. On our team it would show you to be a like minded person - we all bring in food for the team to celebrate wins, birthdays or just because! We work late shifts so we do rotating dinner clubs too (one person cooks and brings in food for the night, usually of their culture as we have a really varied team). It all helps build team morale and has definitely made us more tight knit.
So yeah, whilst it's not a hugely 'clever' answer if I was interviewing I would actually view it as a fun positive answer that shows you care about the people behind the job.
If they wanted further info they could always press harder in the questioning.

Some of these have made me laugh!

And let's face it, who doesn't want a manager who brings in cookies?!

@RozHuntleysLeftHand that just made me spit my coffee out. That's brilliant.! Cracking user name too.

@dudsville it's with the civil service so I won't find out for a good while. They are terribly slow when it comes to recruitment.

I went for a sales job fresh out of uni and asked if it would be a problem if I was rubbish at selling. Yeah. Thirty years on safe to say I'm still not working in sales.

Chin up OP it's a nice answer I reckon and won't go against you!

To be fair that's quite a good answer 😊

When I first started doing the thing that I do, I was young and fresh and I wanted to change the world. I applied for a senior post doing that thing, with responsibility for a caseload.
Interview involved a problem-solving presentation. Missy here did a very efficient if I may say so, presentation on repairing a leaking sink, inc troubleshooting, potential health and safety hazards.
I thought it was pretty good and I still have the presentation and I still think it's pretty good. Unfortunately the interview panel thought I was stark crackers, to the point where my feedback included asking if I'd ever considered having counselling....

I’d hire you!

I think that's a decent start to an answer...