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.

[olderthanyouthink]

😂

Maybe it's less bad that you said Nigerian rather than black?

You should work where I do, we say stuff that makes us sound racist and 99.9% we are taking the piss out of each other. Though somebody said half caste yesterday and had to be corrected (to me but not about me, I'm mixed race).

[DevelopingDetritus]

Do you think if you'd mentioned your Grandma it might have helped a little, maybe.

[Yolandafarthing]

To be fair you were right!!

[originalbiglymavis]

I know a dutch family at football. The mum was telling me how blunt the duch are and how she has to dial it down at work as she was really offending people by 'telling the truth'. I hadn't noticed that about the dutch tbh.

[alltogethernow123]

Is it racist for me to think Australians are very forward and direct in business dealings?

[Judydreamsofhorses]

I will never forget the time when my Nigerian colleague (male) once said to another (female British) colleague "Colleague Name, it is true that you are really putting on weight. You are getting very fat." I was so stunned I can remember it word for word. She might have gone from a 12 to pushing a 14, but was in no way fat.

[highinthesky]

^^ Ha, ha, this is the kind of thing my mum would say to me! She's not Nigerian, just v direct. I'm happy that we can speak our minds to each other without causing resentment or upset, she's always been like that and at 70 ain't gonna change.

[Iris65]

[rightsofwomen]

For my own peace of mind I would want to contact them and admit to my blinding bit of bad interviewing!
Don't try and dig yourself out of the hole unless they engage you in some discussion. If they've already made their minds up then you only need to apologise, but if they give you a chance to say more then explain your own background.

You didn't really want to work there anyway, did you?!

[RhodaBorrocks]

The last Nigerian chap I worked with was honest but he also had a brilliant sense of humor which he used to mitigate his bluntness.

He introduced himself to us in a meeting on his first day by saying:

"Please call me X. My full name is Y but it is completely unpronounceable. Let me tell you, if you are Nigerian and even other Nigerians can't pronounce your name - you know you're in trouble!"

I don't think you were racist at all. You could have saved it by mentioning cultural norms and values and saying how some can be an asset in the workplace but others not so much - but a good interviewer perhaps would have seen your intended meaning and inferred that you were not being racist but instead accepting of cultural diversity until it becomes disruptive.

[Iris65]

I know a dutch family at football. The mum was telling me how blunt the duch are and how she has to dial it down at work as she was really offending people by 'telling the truth'. I hadn't noticed that about the dutch tbh.

My DP is Dutch and his perspective is that the British avoid talking directly and honestly which is very different to the Netherlands. Having done some research and spent some time with his family, this does seem to be a real cultural difference.

[JayHooooo]

I just want to die. This is th worst but I always just talk rubbish in interviews!

[August1984]

Beelands that made me cry laughing. I wouldn't contact them, maybe no one noticed Lesson learned and its FIA Friday so drink some wine and pretend it never happened

[JangleJem]

When do you find out if you got the job?Hope they put you out of your misery soon!

[August1984]

Propranol works wonders for job interviews and presentations by the way. I'm a serious blusher, even at 32.

[Mazanna123]

I'm half Nigerian and have just roared with laughter. It's not racist it's just stating a cultural difference. When visiting Nigeria, I take it as a given that everyone will comment on any weight gain and ask when I'm having more children as two is clearly not enough! I would say that the woman you described doesn't sound typical as she was insulting people. Mentioning weight gain is not seen as insulting in Nigeria. Talking about peoples performance etc in a rude way would be. Nigerians constantly stereotype themselves so if there had been a Nigerian on the panel they could have explained where you were coming from - if it were clear you too were part Nigerian. Good luck!

[WanderingTrolley1]

Ooops.

[JayHooooo]

I'm already prescribed propranolol. If I didn't have it I wouldn't even be able to go to interviews.

But while it stops me showing physical symptoms of nerves is doesn't affect the fact I feel nervous and talk nonesense 😂

[Squills]

I'd give them a call and explain the background as to why you made the comment - you have nothing to loose!

Good luck!

[Wonderflonium]

Ahhhhhh shit.

Once I buggered up a job interview in reception trying to make conversation while I was waiting. The receptionist had some weighing scales on her desk and I just blurted out
"What do you weigh?"
Shocked face.
"Oh, post... you weigh post on those scales."

FML

[ClaryIsTheBest]

Shoot!! Idk.

I don't think it's racist.

I have made similar comments about Italians... Or comments about how "friendly and helpful" the English are. Is it racist? Nope.

However, if you look white? It does sound kind of dodgy. I don't think you're going to get the job, sorry

[DevelopingDetritus]

Lots of people get nervous in interviews, it's natural. I waffle about crap.
Onward and upward!

[Trainspotting1984]

What's the point in telling OP she should have / you hope she told the interviewer she's a quarter Nigerian. The interview is over! All you're doing is making her feel worse

[LateDad]

But your comment wasn't racist - it was cultural and that's a big difference. It was a generalisation, which might be a problem, but cultural differences are real and they do need sensitive handling - just as you did in your example.

I've worked with a number of African people and they are generally less full of shit more direct than Americans and Europeans.

[Verbena37]

Even though your comment came out in the wrong way, I totally understand what you meant by it and I'm not sure if you added anything after saying that but I would have perhaps said about the quite literal, honest personality of some Nigerian people....including your own family, who are Nigerian.

Of course you weren't being racist.....it's a fact that some cultures around the world are more honestly forthright in their speech than others. That isn't a bad thing....just a different thing.

You could always email the company and explain.