I've just be overtly racist in a job interview. I'm not getting the job am I

[JayHooooo]

had an interview today for a job I really wanted. It's for a very professional role, one where I will work with vulnerable people from all different backgrounds.

I was asked for a time when I worked with someone challenging in the office.

I discussed someone who would very openly state their opinions on people. Whether it was insulting their clothes,hair or work performance. She was very very blunt and honest. This caused conflict in the team as people were angry and offended with her and complained.

So I discussed with her what was appropriate for the work place blah blah (insert good I interview standard answer here )

When the interviewer told me that that was a very interesting example and what was the end result I said that she did learn not to be too personal but that she is still very honest but to be fair, she's Nigerian, and that's what Niegerians are like'.

😭😭😭😭😳😳😳😳😳😳😳

Absolute stunned silence from the panel!

I won't get the job. No chance.

The rest of the interview was a blur. I honestly want to curl up and die. I get so nervous in interviews and end up saying something really stupid, but this is the worst.

AIBU to say I'm not getting the job.

I think you won't get it but at least there is a learning point for other interviews i.e. you can't apply the behaviour/experiences of one person to an entire nation. That could have come from your colleague saying that was her experience/culture in Nigeria but that could only be with the people she knew, not the entire nation.

if you are quarter Nigerian you know the score!

but yeah, onwards and next time just censor yourself a bit and THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK

beelands dad that's so bad

I had to laugh at that.

The harder we try to make sure our language is PC in certain circs. the more likely we are to blurt something horrendous out of nowhere. It's like our brains wait for the right moment to fuck us up.

My FIL ties himself in knots trying not to say the word 'black' when in the presence of his DIL but seems to do nothing but come up with conversation starters which involve black things. It's bloody hilarious. She sits there trying so hard not to laugh This has been going on for 10 years!

I work frequently with Australians and my goodness they can be very direct and straight to the point.

It's so funny how it's all relative. I am Australian and I work with South Africans and say exactly the same about them!

Oh dear!

If it's any consolation, I recently told a story about getting my period in a job interview. The question was about the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to you and I wheeled out a story about coming on while wearing white jeans on a school trip. WHY?

Incredibly, I was offered the job.

I've been for interviews and been told that the reason I am good at getting value from my budgets is because I'm Scottish (ie mean).

No you're not going to get it. Has reminded me of going to boarding school with lots of Nigerian girls though. I often used to be greeted at breakfast with 'You look terrible, go back upstairs and do your hair or the crows will mistake you for a scarecrow and land on your head'. In fairness, that bluntness saved me from many a fashion faux pas.

Well there is a whole industry out there predicated on giving advice for working in inter-cultural teams, doing inter-cultural negotiations etc. Which cultures are more direct/indirect, more/less time oriented, more/less into socialising and small talk etc.

So I can't see that the core of what you said was really racist, it was just inelegantly expressed and as you say a bit too sweeping.

I'd say depending on how aware the interviewers are of the issues surrounding doing business across cultures, they might not have taken it the way you fear. But...I wouldn't rate your chances that highly either.

Amber that told them

original dhs business partner is Scottish and he uses the phrase 'if you can be bothered' took dh ages to realise it's a phrase and not a criticism.

I have never worked with an Irish person who hasn't been bloody funny and quick witted.

Oh dear OP!

Once I had an interviewer open an interview with the immortal line....

'You've got a funny accent, eh! Where are you from?'

I was like and all her colleagues were just

It was an academic job interview!

I once was part of an interview panel for a very senior professional role in a diverse part of London, and the candidates were asked a question about equality / inclusion.

One (I cannot say why they made the shortlist) used the expression: "People like that"

He could have aced the rest of the interview (he bombed) and I would have made sure he did not get the role. Feedback unsurprising included this "mistake". The asshole genuinely thought whiteness conferred him supremacy.

You could have said immediately - being a quarter Nigerian I have a lot of experience of this (to mitigate the comment). Even if it is true (which it may well be - I've worked briefly in Lagos a few times and think you may well be right) it just not a great comment for an interview. Some cultures do differ - Americans can be a bit loud and overly enthusiastic; Japanese will even close their eyes in meetings to show they are listening (!); some cultures don't like confrontation. I have had training before working abroad or meeting people from other cultures - as someone said above we all know these cultural differences apply even if it's just you cannot shake hands as you have arrived in a country where men won't touch women's hands or whatever.

They might think you were being honest about differing cultural norms. Or maybe not.

You weren't being racist. You didn't say "all black people do X."

You were identifying a cultural norm, common among Nigerians. The trouble is many white British are scared of being called racist.

Its a shame as you are clearly not racist.

You could maybe contact them and explain? Then theyd see the depth of your knowledge and sensitivity on the subject.

I worked in a company with lots of 'desks' - so countries or continents represented by, say, the German desk, of South East Asia desk.

We all got on fine, and joked about our differences (German women would wear shorts to work, US desk wouldn't let women wear trousers, Japanese desk really worked the secretaries hard, French desk had to leisurely approach to timekeeping).

It was rather nice actually. At booze ups we'd all bring a local tipple and food.

'sleeping generalisation'

But, if you're Nigerian yourself, how could you referring to normal Nigerian behaviour be racist. I'm British, if I were to say something like....'Well, she didn't show emotion about it, because Brits are like that, stiff upper lip etc!' Would that be considered racist?

Well I don't know. I don't think 'Nigerian' is a good example of a culture. Yes it's one country but vastly different depending on area. I have found interactions with Yoruba and Igbo to be quite different, for example.

So if you said 'Nigerian culture' to me I would think you were making a sweeping generalisation and yes, I'd find it a bit racist.

Cringe! Yh no job for you. I do that too sometimes. My Italian family is completely bonkers and inappropriate and just very un British (obviously). There are times I've made a comment that sound racist. But it's not intentional, as I'm completely un-racist! Just aware of cultural differences as I was raised around them!

LouKout might have a point. It is not impossible to contact them and say you realise you might have made a faux pas. Come to think of it, the second job I mentioned in my last post, only came my way because of the way I dealt with something I had really cocked up in my application. Give it some thought. As long as you don't over-labour the point, it might get you noticed in the right way.

I don't think it's racist. I am
Currently having to disipline a Nigerian employee for exactly the same - she just doesn't get it but has offended a lot of people!

But it's pretty bad to refer to in a interview. Bless you. It will pass x

You could say its being culturally aware and sensitive?

Oh god, I'm cringing for you, OP!

Please tell me you immediately explained that you're of Nigerian descent and have experience of the culture??

Some cultures are very direct in their methods of expression, in my husband's (white but not British) culture, they don't smile almost at all. There are genuine differences in cultural expression of emotion and directness but it's quite hard to discuss these without stereotyping a whole nation or ethnic group.

As you just found out.

Crossed fingers they understood it that way.