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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Just had an awful interview

67 replies

PerfectParisian · 21/07/2017 13:56

The title pretty much sums it up. I don't feel like I answered any of their questions, and feel like I wasted their time.

Please cheer me up :) Any similar stories out there of tricky interview situations?

OP posts:
Pollypudding · 21/07/2017 15:06

Some of the PP experiences are hilarious/ horrendous. Is it possible to ask the panel for feedback for improvement if you don't get the job?

Original poster
PerfectParisian · 21/07/2017 15:09

Hopefully Polly :) I applied through a recruitment agency, so they've said that they'll contact the employer to find out about the outcome and feedback.

OP posts:
chipscheeseandcurrysauce · 21/07/2017 15:09

Basically every interview I've ever attended...

I've been to interviews where I've been really ill and refused glasses of water, had migraines, sucked at the video and answers part, group tasks where i was really shy and not very confident. I've only had one successful interview in my life and that was a couple of weeks ago, I found out I got the job 40 minutes afterwards!

FfionFlorist · 21/07/2017 15:11

I interviewed someone earlier today...I made her cry. I told her that I think she is over qualified for the role and that she is clearly doing an excellent job in her current role. She burst into tears and said her current manager has never said anything nice to her, never made her feel valued. We may give her the job. I suspect she left thinking she'd had a bad interview but she hadn't.

Kittychatcat · 21/07/2017 15:13

Years ago when equality laws barely existed, I was asked what my father did and was I planning to get married soon. (In those days it was assumed marriage happened before children) I replied that my father was pushing up daisies and I would only get married once my boyfriend had proved his fertility to me! Obviously, I didn't get the job but the look on that dinosaur's face during my answers made me feel so happy Smile

BestIsWest · 21/07/2017 15:15

I had an interview for a graduate trainee accountant job.

So, Best, why do you want to be an accountant?

Nothing, nada, not one word came out.

Did not get the job.

BestIsWest · 21/07/2017 15:19

On the other hand I once had a Civil Service board interview where I was asked all manner of things about current affairs. I was asked which newspapers I read - I think I answered 'The Guardian'. They went on to ask what I thought about a particular interview which had been in the Guardian that morning. Of course I hadn't read it and had to come clean. Felt very foolish.

I still got the job though.

alltouchedout · 21/07/2017 15:22

I thought I'd had an awful interview for the job I have now. I arrived late, having got lost, looking like shit, due to tramping around for 90 fucking minutes looking for the place, limping due to the giant blisters forming after said tramping. In the first task where we all worked independently then gave our responses publically, I gave an entirely different answer from everyone else and thought I must have the law wrong (turns out I didn't). In the panel interview I said "I don't know" to two questions, "that's a bit of a 'how long is a piece of string question really isn't it?'" to another, and when asked what future plans I had, said "well, not management", as if management was a fate worse than death, etc etc etc. I felt like a complete tit when I left. God knows why they employed me.

bigkidsdidit · 21/07/2017 15:23

I had one last year I still shudder about. One of the panel actually rolled their eyes at one point Shock . Even worse, it was internal so I have to see them all the time.

Pollaidh · 21/07/2017 15:47

I arrived about 2 hours late to a 2nd job interview, following major train issues, and also managed to spill an entire cup of coffee down my top during the train journey so looked a wreck. Still got the job despite gibbering madly in the interview (apparently I'd got highest marks in the entry exams and that must have taken me through).

Original poster
PerfectParisian · 21/07/2017 15:49

I just keep on cringing when I think of my interview answers. They just sounded so bland, wishy-washy and non-committal :(

OP posts:
nocampinghere · 21/07/2017 15:50

PerfectParisian

I would definitely feed back that one of the interviewers was very offputting and kept raising their eyebrow at your answers. He may have a hidden agenda (preferred other candidate, an internal candidate, a mate etc...). That would definitely throw me, raise it, fight for the job if you really want it. (maybe wait and hear first though!!)

WineIsMyMainVice · 21/07/2017 15:55

I had an interview last week where the first question was 'Do you have children?' I honestly wondered if it was a trick question as I work in HR! Then they asked me how old they are and if I have good childcare arrangements set up!!

Original poster
PerfectParisian · 21/07/2017 16:00

How do you answer a question like 'what would your ideal boss be like?' or 'how would your friends describe you'?!

Got asked both - my answers were awful.

OP posts:
coddiwomple · 21/07/2017 16:00

It also depends on the role. I had a couple of very unpleasant interviews, borderline - or not so borderline - rude panel and completely inappropriate questions. They just wanted to see how candidates handle pressure. Apart from the rudeness, it's quite common in some industries.

I also had an interview with a "gentleman" who turned out to be the boss from hell.

Sighsofthetimes · 21/07/2017 16:04

Years ago was interviewed for a role with a charity. I really wanted the job and was spot-on qualified.

All went well until the interviewer asked me the dreaded 'So, you have children. Who looks after them if you work full-time?' (was a long time ago).

I should have just replied 'None of your business,' or, 'my mum'. But I told the truth. We had a live out nanny, who was also a family friend.

His face changed as he put on a fake, sneery 'posh' voice and said: 'Oh, one has a nanny, does one?'

Knob!

Knew there and then I'd blown it. Only consolation was I found out the bloke they did give the position to only lasted six months. Wonder why?

coddiwomple · 21/07/2017 16:05

How do you answer a question like 'what would your ideal boss be like?' or 'how would your friends describe you'?!

completely depends on the role, each answer should just match (more or less) the role.
so, (obviously more subtle in real life), for a PA: you are the organised ones, planning all the friends outing and holidays
for a sales guy: fun, enthusiastic, team player always ready for a challenge

Same about the boss: role dependent, someone who is a role model, or someone who will encourage you to progress within the company. Throw a few compliment about your current boss to show how pleasant you are to work for...

it's all bollocks anyway but try to know what they are looking for and match as closely as possible.

BabsGanoush · 21/07/2017 16:12

Sighsofthetimes your reply should be "will you be asking the male applicants the same question?"

SpottedGingham · 21/07/2017 16:17

I had an interview where I was called in, introduced, sat down when invited and then was stared at by the panel. Not one word was said until the interviewer said, "thank you, we'll be in touch on Friday" and I was shown out. I think I was in there about 10 minutes in all.

They did offer me the job but by then I had already had a better offer so was able to refuse it.

thebigbluedustbin · 21/07/2017 16:20

How do you answer a question like 'what would your ideal boss be like?' or 'how would your friends describe you'?!

With carefully phrased honesty.

So for #1, my real answer would be "not a jerk, not a micromanager" and my interview answer would be "approachable and open to discussion, hands-off managerial style".

For #2, you want to pick the best qualities others see in you and turn them into worky-sounding positives. So things like diligent, meticulous, reliable, witty, loyal, learning-centred, independent etc. instead of (and this is based on what my friends would say about me, not a judgment on what I think yours would say about you) obsessive, good with secrets, sarcastic, nerd, quirky, unique, quiet.

thebigbluedustbin · 21/07/2017 16:22

FYI those questions are to see if you would be a good fit for the team. It's best to answer honestly because it's important for both you and the team that your working style and personality will fit with theirs. It's horrible to get stuck in a working environment that drags you down and stresses you because you don't fit in the position.

coddiwomple · 21/07/2017 16:25

Never forget that one of the person interviewing you my be leaving because they absolutely hate the place! They normally don't tell you that...

BatmansPrettierSidekick · 21/07/2017 16:25

Hi op

Don't let this experience discourage you. Get the book great answers to tough interview questions read it before any interview to get you in the zone. Then before any interview do lots of practice questions. Write down examples of achievements in current and previous roles and memorise or even take them in to refer to in an emergency. If you ever get really stuck just say 'I do apologise - I can't think of anything right now as I really want this job so I'm a but nervous- can you ask me that at the end?'

Talk with passion and conviction and research the company before hand, including preparing a couple of questions to ask the interviewer at the end.

This comes from the person that made the interviewer cry as I wanted the job that much and my passion for it came through (I got it) and for another job I spent the entire time so absorbed in answering the questions I didn't realise that my chin was two inches from the table and I was hunched over for the majority of the interview (I got the job too).

Good luck with the job search.

CesareBorgiasUnicornMask · 21/07/2017 16:28

My worst ever interview was for a place at Newcastle medical school. I'm coeliac and accidentally glutened myself an hour or so beforehand, so had a splitting headache, brain fog, and was sweating profusely and worried I'd have to make a dash for the loo at any moment. I'd also skidded across the iced-over car park and badly scraped my car on the way in, so was stressing and fuming about that. They gave me their nice easy opening question of 'Why did you decide to apply to Newcastle?', and I heard myself reply that I had no idea but it had seemed like a good idea at the time Confused. Things went downhill from there and mercifully I seem to have blanked most of it... Neither the rejection nor the speed with which I received it were a surprise.

Ookmybanana · 21/07/2017 16:28

I did an interview where I spilled water all
Over the place and my bra wire worked itself out of my bra and towards my face during questioning. I had to ask one of the interviewers to rephrase their question 3 times as I hadn't a clue what they were asking. It was a job I was already doing and was applying for a permanent role. I didn't get it. They kept me on and made me permanent later.