This was a test wasn't it?

[LadyIrisBarclay]

And I obviously failed?

Had an interview for a job today. Really, really wanted it as it's my dream role and I so desperately need to get away from current organisation and arse of a boss

It was interview panel of 3 which I had kind of expected but I know my nerves got the better of me.

Anyway, I walked into the boardroom and the 3 interviewers were sat on opposite side of boardroom table. It was quite formal and I was trying not to hyperventilate

On my side of the table there was just one chair plus a notepad and pencil and carafe and glass of water. So this was obviously where I was supposed to sit.

I walked in and we all shook hands and then the lady (possibly a PA?) invited me to take a seat - but here's where it all went tit's up!

My chair had a very large and noticeable wet patch on it. I have no idea what it was, possibly water or a spilt cup of tea? I touched it with my fingers and it was very damp.

So I pointed it out to the panel in a casual way, didn't want to make a fuss but just said 'oh dear, something has been spilt on this chair and it's still very damp'. I was assuming someone would offer to go and get another for me as there were no other chairs in the room other than the three they were sitting on.

But no-one offered so I asked whether a replacement could be found. I was told that none were available and the Manager then just asked whether I was ready to get started with the interview??????

I said that yes I was but I couldn't sit in the chair provided, I was really trying to keep it light and breezy, the manager just said that no other chairs were available. This is the UK HQ of a large global organisation in a state of the art building covering 5 floors. Of course there were other fucking chairs available??

I could feel tears building up at this point as there was no way I was going to humiliate myself by having a wet patch on my skirt after the interview.

So I walked out - I can't remember now what I said but managed to keep it fairly polite still.

What the actual fuck was I supposed to do? Was this a test?

I have read about organisations such as Apple and Google asking really wanky questions at interviews that I just think is a pile of shite. This was a large organisation in the Financial Services sector though.

It did occur to me afterwards that maybe it was a test and I was supposed to show my initiative by using the notepad they'd provided to cover up the wet patch?

I can't be doing with such arsery though - so very fucking upset this evening

I have been for an interview where they used similar weird tactics.

When I left the interview I had a mixture of relief whilst also breaking into tears as soon as I got back to the car.

I made sure the recruitment company who has put me forward knew exactly what had happened and they were shocked to say the least and I received an apology.

Apparently they wanted to offer me the job and thought I was a good candidate but I would never work for such a company after an interview like that

Good for you OP, I would of done the same and left, but before walking out I would of asked one of the three panel if they would like to swap chairs with me so they cld sit on the wet patch as they didn’t seem bothered by it.... bet they wouldn’t give up thier chairs!

Onwards and upwards there will be a perfect job for you somewhere! Good luck - I wld definitely ask for feed back from the interview and respond with your feed back.

“ What about the bloke who will be moving from the London office to head up manchester, will he be getting a relocation allowance ?"

Oh Lord, please give me the confidence of a mediocre white man.

If this was a test, it strikes me as discriminatory. One answer is to sit on the desk - which you're much more likely to do if you're wearing trousers. Sure women do wear trousers to interviews but they also wear skirts sometimes. Men rarely wear skirts.

Another option is to stand, or wander around the building finding a chair. These are easier if you have no mobility issues.

I think it must have been a test! How ridiculous, you did right walking out and keeping your dignity. Please keep us updated op if you get any feedback as to what the situation really was all about!

@Charolais I think the OP has more than enough respect. She walked out of a situation she was uncomfortable with. Stop your passive aggressive attempts to shame her.

I'd be more likely to phone and try to speak to someone more senior in hr or client management.
I really wouldn't! The switchboard at any largish company is never going to just put you through to anyone at all senior, coz you rang to complain about a job interview!
A well written actual letter in the post, after you've mulled it over for s couple of days, is more likely to be properly considered.

Worth thinking what you'd do in a real work situation like that as others have said - my vote would be for turning the chair round and half sitting on the top of the back (also has the benefit that you'd be slightly looking down on them !).
I still think it may have been accidental and them being poor at adapting to a change in what happens when you walk in...but if that's the case, it suggests the culture would be very fixed, and new ideas wouldn't be welcome - so another bullet worth dodging!

This is so bizarre. I’d love an update OP if you ever find out what’s going on.

Either they are completely clueless or it was a test.

I think that higher up need to be informed in a very factual, calm way. They might be horrified that they have lost very good candidates, through this. I would make it clear that you are no longer an option though.

The ONLY reason why I assumed the only other female present was a PA was because I am pretty sure that this was how she was introduced to me.

I wear a digital hearing aid which massively helps but I do have to concentrate furiously on conversations with other people and I have to watch their faces closely. It's harder to concentrate when there is more than one person talking to me.

In all probability, she was introduced very clearly as the PA but I often don't 100% trust my own hearing. I know exactly who the other two panelists were but there was a question mark (for me) with regards to her role.

She could have been the CEO of the entire global operation for all I know but she was still happy for me to sit in a wet pissy chair.

The chair wasn't damp - is was sodden. When I pressed my finger to the fabric you could see the liquid pressing through. It covered pretty much the entire width of the chair and the front 2/3 res?

They were definitely aware it was wet.

Also, just to be clear up, I didn't cry. No tears fell from my eyes. Sorry to disappoint [hmmm]

Thanks for all the lovely messages by the way, it has helped me to see this for what it is. I haven't interviewed for many years so just wondered whether this sort of arsery was now the 'thing' at interviews. I'm relived to hear it isn't.

Xmas - do you think I don't know that you won't get put through to a senior member of staff straight away? My post didn't say or intimate that you would. I assumed that the contributors on this thread would be intelligent enough to do the rest of the thinking for themselves....brief explanation to whoeverever answers about who you'd like to speak to and why (interview feedback, not wet chair). You still might not get put through but you could request a call back. Before you say it, yes, I do know that some companies no longer have switchboards or receptionists answering phones, in which case, it's next to impossible to speak to someone without a direct number.

Thank you for the update LadyIris

Would love to you tell us, if you ever think about how you would handle a meeting with a truculent client

I don’t know if I’m being paranoid but I wonder whether they treated the male candidates this way?

What you should have done was perch yourself on the edge of their table and interviewed them. In the style of Kirsty Wark

I love this suggestion

Unfortunately I was wearing a skirt and heels for the first time in years and I have the coordination of a drunk at the best of times

FinallyHere - without giving too much away, the clients are not members of the public. So day to day dealings would tend to be more professional.

I would never attempt to humiliate though

Should have taken a picture and outed them! Ridiculous behaviour from grown adults. You wouldn't want to work there, believe me!

But how the hell were you supposed to give a coherent interview whilst sitting on a notepad if that was their idea? And how would you have taken notes - should you have needed to?

Stolen from another thread.......use their emails to sign up to spam and reserve items in argos.

Did you sniff your finger OP after pressing it into the wet patch?

I would of.

I would of have. They would never give me a job.

There was fashion for this kind of wankery in the early 90s (along with outward bound worm eating courses and all sorts of other post 80s bullshit).

I interview at a senior level for a global org, like a PP I expect to reject 90% after the filter but its important that all feel respected and have the opportunity to demonstrate their worth.

Follow up but keep it completely factual and non emotive. Ask if this was intentional and how it aligns with their stated objective of respect for the individual (or whatever they have - all big companies have these objectives).

I would feel no need to hide it but if telling people keep it absolutely fact based. I would certainly feed this back to an agency if I'd used one.

Good for you, OP. Rather than being upset, you should be very proud of yourself. Plenty of people would not have had the gumption and dignity to walk out.

Good for you OP, you did exactly the right thing.

I would contact their HR to feedback and complain (and take great pleasure in asking when they intend to reschedule, and then turning it down )

I think the only other thing you could have said is 'shall we all stand?'

Ugh, how unpleasant. If it was a test, what makes it even more ill-conceived is the fact that a considerable number of people would sit down without looking at the chair first. So then you have tested half of your candidates for their ability to stand up to difficult clients without antagonising them or whatever, and the other half for their ability to deal with the embarrassment of unexpectedly finding themselves with a wet bottom. Which seem to me like very different traits.

Unless the number one criterion for working there is the ability to inspect any surface before you sit on it. Perhaps one of their clients is an incorrigible practical joker with a particular penchant for whoppee cushions.

Did you email them to ask WTF all that was about? You were dead right to walk out though.