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

If you think it is @Jon66 then report it!

How odd.
I like to think I would say: “if you can only afford exactly 4 chairs then you can’t afford me” and then flounce out.
I’m slightly worried that I might’ve sat in the wet chair rather than making a fuss trying to stop being such a people pleaser but it’s a long battle

Rumbelina - re the drink question, I hope I'd have replied 'an emetic'! But I might have giggled nervously and said either a cuppa or a spritzer I'm afraid.
Originalfoolgirl WTAF??

I went to an interview where the interviewer didn't greet me, didn't shake my hand, sat sideways and gave no eye contact throughout. He let people come in and out and ask non urgent questions. I got the job and turned it down. He is looking for someone to fill a vacancy, I am looking for a boss who isn't an arse! The interview goes both ways.

I wouldn't have sat in a puddle of suspicious water either.

I have quite literally written the recruitment manual for a massive blue chip company where line managers who arent HR specialists recruit their own staff. They go on a day long course with an exam and ore-course work and regularly (annually and ad hoc) have to refresh their recruitment training.
In order to be fair for each candidate you have to interview using the same (or similar) competency based questions folowing a framework. This means you can easily compare and contrast candidates across days/interviewers. It also means interviewers are much less likely to go off piste (pardon the pub!) and ask questions that are illegal and could create difficulties for the company.
Absolutely every care is taken to support candidates regardless as to the level of their employment. If we had feedback from a candidate suggesting anything even approaching this has taken place then all those concerned would certainly be asked about it and probably have their 'license' to recruit revoked.

I've heard of similar - panel members are on a raised platform. Three chairs are provided on the side of the interviewee. If you have initiative you stack them up so that you can maintain eye contact during the interview rather than be looked down upon.
It's simply about showing initiative.

How on earth do you climb onto a stack of 3 chairs? In interview clothes?

'If you were a drink what sort of drink would you be?'

Tea - I'm perfect in every situation and drunk an awful lot.

(It's a bloody stupid question for an interview, though.)

@angelikacpickles you don't! You walk out, tell all the other oppressed workers it's a complete arse-ache and invite them all down the pub for lunch!!!!

It's a shame you didn't have spare tissues in your bag, as a mum you have to prepare for any sort of accident so you should always have it. I wonder how the next candidate reacted?....

I don't think, from what the OP has written, that she was being interviewed for the position of 'mum'

What a stupidly, crass thing to say

That sceams harassment to me, and you were absolutely right to walk out. If they treat you like that at interview, they’re only going to be worse later. Talk about testing boundaries.

No way should the interviewee have to dab away at a chair to dry it. Anyone in the company is better placed to deal with it, and it is their responsibility to do so, not the interviewee's. Do not whip out your tissues, or your compact dryer or even that spare nappy (which might actually be the best way of dealing with it) or anything else you carry in your capacious bag out of the habit of running after your children.

If the company play silly buggers you do not want the job no matter how much you want it! You will be miserable as sin there inside of a month.

OP, as someone pointed out upthread, companies have to be internet savvy, knowing that whatever they do can wind up on SM, putting off further potential emplyees and leaving their reputation plummetting. How do you feel about naming and shaming?

I once was interviewed by a organisation, who'd had some high-up in the Civil Service foisted on them for a sabbatical. He took over the interview process and devised a lunatic thing where all second-call candidates were present and had to pretend they were all friends having lunch together discussing the state of the world. It was nuts. 3 of 5 of us walked out. The one who was offered the job (one of the two who stayed and subjected herself to it) turned it down . Complaints were made.

I have quite literally written the recruitment manual for a massive blue chip company where line managers who arent HR specialists recruit their own staff. They go on a day long course with an exam and ore-course work and regularly (annually and ad hoc) have to refresh their recruitment training.
In order to be fair for each candidate you have to interview using the same (or similar) competency based questions folowing a framework. This means you can easily compare and contrast candidates across days/interviewers. It also means interviewers are much less likely to go off piste (pardon the pub!) and ask questions that are illegal and could create difficulties for the company.
Absolutely every care is taken to support candidates regardless as to the level of their employment. If we had feedback from a candidate suggesting anything even approaching this has taken place then all those concerned would certainly be asked about it and probably have their 'license' to recruit revoked

Exactly. This 100%.

If this is a big organisation they would/should have structured recruitment processes in place.

Expecting a candidate to sit in a wet chair is not one of them.

I would definitely send emails and shame them. Companies have no business doing “tests” like this and trying to mess with people’s heads or humiliate them. It’s totally unacceptable and they should be named and shamed for this.

Bit odd. But I think I would have just told them I was just going to go and get another chair from somewhere. Decide to use the interview for practice and then based my decision whether to accept on how they were in the rest of the interview.

It is possible that they wanted to see what YOU were going to do to actually resolve the unexpected situation, not just give up and walk out. A think on your feet thing. And also how to deal with someone who is rude (perhaps they were acting “rude” by not offering you a chair).

Could also have been a test to see you would be prepared to do anything to appease a client. (I wouldn’t but I’m
Sure some would)

If you were a drink what sort of drink would you be?'

Tea - I'm perfect in every situation and drunk an awful lot.

Or my alternative answer would be:

"I'm not everyone's cuppa but I'm drunk a lot"

Thanks so much everyone, sorry - not been around much

Naming and shaming not really my style but email ready to go tomorrow. I think I need to sleep on it tonight before sending. Initially took approach of sending a complaint but not sure what can be gained by that. I would most definitely not be interested in a second chance interview if offered.

Have definitely taken on board lots of your suggestions though - thanks for that

Will let you know if I hear anything back.

It's simply designed to whittle down who can cope with something a little unexpected and find a solution and who can't.

If the interview panel aren’t intelligent enough to do this by asking provoking questions and actually, you know, interviewing candidates then that shows more about the company than the interviewee.

You did the right thing op.

That was supposed to be bold, not strikethrough 🙄

Recently I've been involved in carrying out lots of interviews at work. If we'd ever accidentally offered a candidate a wet chair, it would have been embarrassing for us and of course we would have found a new one! Having said that, a higher manager who sometimes gets involved does tend to be rude and aggressive during interviews, and I can sort of imagine him playing a trick like that as a 'test'. Then the other people I work with would agree that it was a valid test to see how people coped under pressure, or some such bollocks.

That manager isn't well liked.

Agree @LadyIrisBarclay not necessarily a complaint but certainly important to highlight the awkwardness/difficulty of the situation and requesting some kind of explanation!

At one time, you would go for an interview and be offered a job.

Now there’s hoops to jump through - sometimes literally!

Maddest thing ever!

Well done for walking out.

"The business just wants to hire the best people with the best skills for that company and hire people who can think outside the box"

I think these kinds of bizarre tests are old hat, cliched and ridiculous, so do not indicate a company which does much thinking outside the so-called box.

I've been mulling this over all day and I still can't fathom what the 'correct' response would have been. I think politely pointing out the problem and making a perfectly reasonable and achievable request for another chair would have been right. It's the simplest solution, why would you expect row the chicken over, then the corn but row the chicken back......??

I've heard of similar - panel members are on a raised platform. Three chairs are provided on the side of the interviewee. If you have initiative you stack them up so that you can maintain eye contact during the interview rather than be looked down upon.
It's simply about showing initiative.
I can't see why people think this is designed to humiliate anyone.
The business just wants to hire the best people with the best skills for that company and hire people who can think outside the box.

Not seeing how it's thinking outside the box if there is a "correct" solution they've already come up with.