Weird job interview?

[pineapplepenny]

I went for an interview on Monday. It was a panel of three. One of the panel was the person l'd be job sharing with. The same role, same hours - same wages. The two main interviewers asked relevant questions and were extremely 'nice'
Anyway, the job sharing interviewer was gruff and appeared to not want to be there. All the panel obviously had questions , they then asked if she did. She noticed my youngest daughter is still of primary school age- she asked : " What will you do if she gets sick?"
I explained l'd obviously need to take care of her , alternating with my DH. She isn't very tiny, and l explained by her age they tend to have built up more immunity.
Anyway, l was then told the role really depended on personality and how the two 'job sharers' would get on?
This person has only been doing the job 5 months , and the other two actual managers seemed quite in awe of her.
Am l missing something? I don't think she should have been 'interviewing' me. My credentials are not up for her scrutiny are they, if she liked me?
I just found the whole thing unusual.
If this is normal ( and l've not come across it ) l'd be happy to be corrected!

It's still,illegal, even if she asked everyone. Acting illegally on a fair basis is still illegal!

I know it wasn't addressed in the right way, but it is important to understand if a person applying for a job is going to be reliable

Not having children is no proof of reliability. Any more than having children suggests your attendance is likely to be spiky.
Op could easily have her mother living down the road, happy to fill in for any childcare that's needed.

Answering "tell us about yourself" by talking about your children would never be a good answer, regardless of possible unreliability IMO. They want to know what you go out of your way to get involved in, sport, charity work, creative projects etc. Even in caring roles your family being your life isn't going to impress anyone.

Oh... I missed that bit. She didn't actually raise the subject of your children at all, op; you did - when asked to talk about yourself?
.
Why?

I know it wasn't addressed in the right way, but it is important to understand if a person applying for a job is going to be reliable

What bollocks. Asking about reliability is only a useful question if you ask it of everyone, children or not and regardless of their personal set-up – anyone could go under a bus/be suddenly bereaved/pull a sickie because they have a hangover.

I have 2 DCs, and when they are sick DH and i work together to sort out childcare. Occasionally it means emergency leave but tbh it is only every few months.

I have a colleague who is early 30's with no DCs. She is the most unreliable person i have worked with, calls in with-a hangover sick or last minute annual leave regularly. Slopes in just after 10am (once was late for a presentation she was delivering stating 'oh sorry i am late - i am not a morning person ahahaaaa).

I know which one i would rather employ.

Flogging - no she did.
The only thing l mentioned about having children was that l had them.
Their ages. :)

To clarify. The tell us about yourself was on the application.
As l mentioned . I only touched on it.
Mainly as to give them some idea of my age, the post would need a mature person. My eldest is 18z

I think you had a lucky escape there, OP. She doesn't sound like a good jobshare companion!

Is she worried she'll have to work extra days to cover you if you're off with your child? Only logical explanation I can come up with.

I can't imagine what her concerns were really ? :)
I think l did have a lucky escape. Although l do think her questioning didn't help. It would have made the others wonder. They didn't even mention it previously.