horrific interview.

[PreMadonna]

Painfully, embarrassingly awful.
Dry mouth. Blank brain. Waffly.

Terrible.

Never again.

I once worked for a public sector organisation and hadn't been there long when they interviewed for another post. One of the interviewees was really late, unavoidably, but then they were really unpleasant to her in the interview. I googled her and her twitter came up and she talked about how horrible the interview was and how upset she had been.

What she didn't realise was that it was an awful place to work, the people were horrible, the job was awful, we were treated dreadfully by management. I wished she could have known what a lucky escape she had.

Premadonna, remember if you get the job hopefully you're going to be there for a while. And it has to be something which is good for you and will make you happy as well. If you met these people and you instantly had no rapport and they made you feel uncomfortable you would probably have hated working with them too.

Don't let it knock your confidence, remember you were interviewing them, as well as them interviewing you.

If it makes you feel any better, years ago when I was dabbling in acting, I got a chance to audition for a very famous stage/screen actor who was casting a very prestigious theatre production.

Convinced this was going to be my big break, I was really excited and utterly terrified. So excited/terrified that, in the middle of my big speech, at a particularly dramatic moment, I completely misjudged where I was standing and fell straight off the edge of the (very high) stage .

I just remember the hideous feeling of falling in slow motion, as I watched the very famous actor leap out of his seat in the stalls and run forward (also in slow motion) to try and catch me!

Guess who didn't get the job?

I once went for an interview and only got what "task" they wanted me to do a few days beforehand. They wanted me to deliver a training seminar on a topic I was unfamiliar with, in a foreign language. The job advert only specified a degree, not in any specific subject, and that language skills would be useful but not essential, and that extensive training would be given on the job. It wasn't even well paid!

But I was young and keen and thought I'd give it my best shot. I prepared notes and slides, and got stuck in. About halfway through the allotted time, they stopped me and said I wasn't good enough, not least because I was using notes. They all chimed in with comments as to why I wasn't good enough, would never be good enough and why I wouldn't get the job. They sat there telling me this for about 15 minutes (as long as I had been talking). They did though suggest that I could go back to university and do a new degree in a very specific subject and maybe come back to them in 3 years time and try again, although from what they had seen that day, I would still likely not be good enough and it would be a waste of their time as well as mine. It was soul destroying.

In retrospect, I think they must have wanted a more sales type presentation, full of soundbites and fake confidence.

I once went for interview at a Catholic school. was only girl and only non catholic being interviewed so felt a bit token from thr outset. in interview with head (a monk) he outlined v generous pay package. my response "jesus christ that's good". I have no idea what came over me. didn't get job :-)

There's a great thread in classics somewhere about terrible job interviews - this one. Worth a read! www.mumsnet.com/Talk/mumsnet_classics/a1622126-Just-had-the-worst-job-interview-ever-Anyone-else-care-to-share

Must have done somethibg right as just had the phone call.

I'm gobsmacked.

Blimey.

See. Told you!

Well done, btw.

Ha was just scrolling down to add - I had the most awful interview - rabbit in headlights feeling - felt it went awful and got called back and subsequently got the job (second interview went really well).

Did you get the job or through to the next round? If the latter totally swat up on the company, check out their annual report - it can often give a good idea of the plans and ambitions of the company etc and swat up on the role, lots of examples for the competency bit - especially if there are ones that show the skills required for the role. Go in feeling confident - they like you, you know about them and what they want and show how you will be good in the role.

Wow, congratulations!

I once had an interview where I was really nervous and absentmindedly picked the skin around my fingernail as I was talking.

Got home, went to the loo, realised it had bled. All over my neck, collar and cheek. Excellent. I must have looked fucking insane.

Oh and congrats!

I had a terrible interview about a year ago. My boss had actually asked me to go for the job (a seconded position in a related organisation) and had assured me it was similar to what I've been doing for most of my working life. The exact details re job description were sketchy so I just prepared on that basis.

The interview turned out to be for a specialised post requiring someone with very particular skills and experience. It was sort of related to what I do but much more specific and technical (akin to going for a job as a teacher when you work in a crèche). I couldn't have been more mortified as they asked me technical question after technical question and I don't know why they didn't just let me out of my misery but I suppose they didn't want to be rude. I was mortified, all the more so because people in work knew I'd gone for it. It still haunts me now. They must have wondered what on earth I was doing there.

Stupid boss.....

Ooh brill! Congrats OP!!!

MrsToddsShortcut that did make me giggle (sorry!)

Congrats!

I got surprised interviewed yesterday. That was fun.

Congratulations OP! You were clearly memorable in a good way, perhaps it was a very graceful fall over your bag ;)

Now you need to practise your 'game face' for when you meet the interviewers again.

Just saw this, wow, well done OP!!

PS a very famous stage/screen actor - oh go on MrsTodd who was it?