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Original poster

This was a test wasn't it?

542 replies

LadyIrisBarclay · 21/02/2018 20:55

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 Grin

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 Sad - 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 Sad

OP posts:
CountFosco · 23/02/2018 12:37

People actually have to jump through a hoop at an interview?

If you were a circus performer it might be an entirely acceptable part of an interview.

YesILikeItToo · 23/02/2018 12:44

Just like that ‘if you were a drink what sort of drink would you be?’ question - could be useful if the role involved appearing on panel shows or participating in other sorts of improvisation.

lljkk · 23/02/2018 12:55

Destroying a notebook would violate my ecofreak principles.

HobnobBob · 23/02/2018 13:10

Why should the OP have put the notebook on the chair? They should have just found another chair.

MamehaSan · 23/02/2018 13:34

I'm still astounded that people think that "mopping up the puddle" (regardless of whether the tissues came from OP's cavernous handbag, the loos or wherever) would then enable OP to sit down and start the interview! If a cushioned seat is soaked (OP said she pressed it and fluid bubbled up) then dabbing at it with a tissue isn't going to do much! I certainly wouldn't want to sit on it! Maybe fair enough if it was a plastic chair, but that's not the impression I got.

Original poster
LadyIrisBarclay · 23/02/2018 14:10

BevBrook

Thank you for that link Grin

I have Greg-envy though as he at least had a dry chair to sit on Grin

OP posts:
MrsJoshDun · 23/02/2018 15:31

Can’t wait to hear what their response to this is.

Well done for walking out. I’d probably have sat in the piss because I’m a doormat!

GnotherGnu · 23/02/2018 15:48

I once went to an interview where, as a preliminary, they asked me to write down my 20 greatest achievements to date. As I was 21 and fresh out of university, I had limited material to choose from. I was severely tempted to write something like "1. Passed English Language GCSE. 2. Passed English Literature GCSE. 3. Passed Maths GCSE ...." all the way down to "20. Filled in this wanky list."

diddl · 23/02/2018 17:10

Doubtless if you used the notebook they'd then ask you to make a list!

Jux · 23/02/2018 17:54

You can't sit on a stack of chairs, it's totally unbalanced and would be very dangerous. Perhaps that company wanted to cause injury to someone so they could pay compensation and write it off against tax?

Fucking stupid whatever, anyway.

JessieMcJessie · 23/02/2018 18:11

Chair stacking “test” sounds like an urban myth.

Beetlejizz · 23/02/2018 18:18

It does but I know shit like that was popular for a while in the 90s. It could just be something that happened once or twice 25 years ago and the story has mushroomed ever since.

lljkk · 23/02/2018 19:30

this thread has been good for me. Although I still think employers who play these silly games can go stuff themselves, I also believe in making the most of any opportunity that comes along. So having given up on the interview, I'd stick around to answer (and ask!) questions, to have better insight into what kind of stupid employer does this silly crap so they can be avoided in future.

frasier · 23/02/2018 19:38

Discussed this at lunch today. Best answer was take out phone, take a photo of the chair, say basically what you said, leave the room.

It's a photo of a chair, can't be classified surely? But it might make them wonder where you were going to post it...

frasier · 23/02/2018 19:49

Yeah, chair stacking sounds like an urban myth, like the setting fire to the newspaper one (interviewer just sits on a chair reading a newspaper and when candidate walks in, lowers paper, says "impress me" and goes back to reading. Candidate takes out lighter and sets fire to the paper).

YesILikeItToo · 23/02/2018 20:27

Chair stacking is probably a test of gullibility. Spread a rumour, see who stacks the chairs...

slashdragon · 23/02/2018 20:41

OP I hope you will let us know if you hear back from the email.

You did the right thing to walk out.

SherbrookeFosterer · 23/02/2018 20:55

You did the right thing.

Stay strong, who would want to work with people like that?

They are clearly dreadful.

hophap · 23/02/2018 20:56

Just to prepare I’ve had some mental interviews followed up by even crazier feedback

The one where the previous guy who was leaving as ‘his commute was too great’ grabbed me and pointed out the window at his house, then they ate lunch in front of me at around 1:30. They emailed me to tell me after I walked out that they wouldn’t have hired me anyway as they didn’t think I fit (duh)

The one where they were introduction adverse and asked unrelated questions and left me alone for ages. She pretty much hounded me after I ignored her calls to tell me I was professional and all the asides they said about me. Eg when you’re back was turned to the board Dave was actually pulling faces because of how you come across- did you know?

The school where I left because of how a child was treated in an observation lesson and it was ignored when I raised it (really, it was way way way outside how any child should experience school)- they emailed I didn’t fit their ethos for success (clearly neither did the nine year old sadly)

The more bat shit the interview, the more batshit the feedback I’ve found

The headteacher who hired me after two min because her cockapoodle liked me turned out to be one hell of a learning curve...

Fengshui · 24/02/2018 10:31

I just find the whole concept of 'tests' in a professional environment really bizarre. Surely you want to be a professional organisation who treats people professionally, not running about devising ridiculous tests that smack of a college hazing ritual?

Mind you.... I've had some right shockers of employers in my time. A test like that could have swerved a useful purpose in identifying them in advance!

Fengshui · 24/02/2018 10:31

*served

grumpymacgrumpface · 24/02/2018 11:15

The trouble with people saying what they would have done in this situation is that, of course, they've had time to think about it.
However, what I would like to have done if it were me is gone ahead with the interview standing up, totally wowed them, then told them where they could stick their job and why when the inevitable offer came.

ralfeesmum · 24/02/2018 11:20

They wanted to find out just how much of a doormat you were prepared to be.

Sod them! They probably all had pompous delusions about being Mister Alan Sugar (sorry, I don't think his attitude makes him worthy of being Sir.)

greenmagpie · 24/02/2018 11:21

,bevbrook "that was the real test" is a catchphrase in our house thanks to that sketch Grin

Hygge · 24/02/2018 11:21

My first job was as admin for a company that was really shitty to most of it's employees.

One of the directors was a nasty piece of work, to this day I still hate him.

He once deliberately took my chair from my desk to use in a meeting, expecting me to stand up behind my desk for a couple of hours while typing on the computer and answering the phone.

He used to have tantrums and throw things in the office, he took every opportunity to humiliate people, and he's exactly the sort of wanker who would think a wet chair at an interview was a good way to test people so he could enjoy upsetting them.

I think regardless of what was going on with the chair, you've had a lucky escape from that company OP.