Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
RidingWindhorses · 21/02/2018 21:14

I'm sure it wasn't a test.

I think they didn't believe you and thought you were timewasting.

I would have shown them the chair. What could they say? We want you to sit in the damp patch?

NapQueen · 21/02/2018 21:15

Bloody hell thats bonkers!!!!

RidingWindhorses · 21/02/2018 21:15

Don't send that, they'll just think you're a twat. ^

MaryPoppinsStoleMyHandbag · 21/02/2018 21:16

I don’t think it was a test but they sound like wankers who you’re better off not working for. I work in HR and if a candidate said the chair was wet I’d apologise and get them another one, even if it involved getting one from another room, not expect them to fecking sit in it.

Pengggwn · 21/02/2018 21:16

RidingWindhorses

Probably. I wouldn't care.

Original poster
LadyIrisBarclay · 21/02/2018 21:17

Pengggwn - that is brilliant!!

I might pinch that if you don't mind Grin

Yes to previous suggestion of Glassdoor too. I had already checked them out on there and they seem to have good reviews so this is a bit mystifying.

OP posts:
Qvar · 21/02/2018 21:17

Personally have insisted that if the interview was to continue, it would be standing, or I would wander the building to find another chair as I am SURE someone will provide me with one within a few minutes ...

There is no fucking way, not a fucking chance, I would let someone bully me into sitting on a wet chair.

my second choice would be to do as you did, and leave.

MaryPoppinsStoleMyHandbag · 21/02/2018 21:17

But yeah, don’t send them an email or call them out on social media about it, just count it as a lucky escape.

RidingWindhorses · 21/02/2018 21:18

I work in HR and if a candidate said the chair was wet I’d apologise and get them another one, even if it involved getting one from another room, not expect them to fecking sit in it.

That's why I think they didn't believe her.

apacketofcrisps · 21/02/2018 21:18

I wouldn’t send that email, it sounds off. Could it have been sweat?

Pengggwn · 21/02/2018 21:18
Grin

Perhaps one for your head? But hope it made you feel a bit better.

Qvar · 21/02/2018 21:19

I do think it was a test, but I don't think it was a test of what OP would put up with

I think it was a test of what you would do to solve the problem in the face of truculence, given that the role was client management.

Riverside2 · 21/02/2018 21:20

I'd have walked out
I'd send an email
You don't want to work for them whether it was a test or bad attitude.

Original poster
LadyIrisBarclay · 21/02/2018 21:20

RidingWindHorses - they could see it was wet. The PA lady definitely could. Everyone stood up to shake my hand and she was still standing as I pointed out the wet patch. She could easy see it.

It was sodden to the touch, not just merely damp.

OP posts:
ShapelyBingoWing · 21/02/2018 21:20

LadyIrisBarclay I have a very small amount of experience in hiring for that kind of role coincidentally. I honestly don't see where the scope or necessity would be to add in a 'test'. They're just rude, whether they'd managed to fill the position already or not. I'd shame the living shit out of them on social media.

NewYearNewMe18 · 21/02/2018 21:20

Did you go through an agency? have you give feed back?

Original poster
LadyIrisBarclay · 21/02/2018 21:22

Not through an agency unfortunately

OP posts:
PattiStanger · 21/02/2018 21:23

I wouldn't send that email, if it was a test you didn't pass and if it wasn't they will think you're mad to send a sarcastic email.

Put it down to experience but have no shame in telling everyone you know about it including the name of the company so they can be warned if they are going for an interview there

RidingWindhorses · 21/02/2018 21:25

If they rationally couldn't think of a way that it had got wet they could dismiss it as impossible or a trick of the light etc, the previous person didn't comment etc.

Original poster
LadyIrisBarclay · 21/02/2018 21:25

You are all correct of course to advise against complaining or posting on social media. It's cathartic to imagine doing it however ....

OP posts:
ForestFrump · 21/02/2018 21:26

I've heard of something similar to this many years ago.
I barely recall a colleague telling me she attended an interview. Walked into room with a panel of interviewers Sat behind big desk. They gestured for her to sit down but there was no chair for her so she said but there's no chair- they all laughed, said she was correct and that it was a test to see reaction!! She said the only alternative to not saying "but there's no chair" was to either sit on the desk or floor or just stand there.
Apparently at the point they all laughed someone brought a chair in for her!
It was all very bizarre. I remember her telling us all in the office and everyone asking her to explain it again because no one understood the point of it at all!!

This was mid 1990's.

JaneEyre70 · 21/02/2018 21:26

I'd write to their CEO and HR dept. That's appalling.

Coyoacan · 21/02/2018 21:27

Don't send that, they'll just think you're a twat

I don't know whether you should send that or not, but personally I don't care what genuine twats think of me.

JMAngel1 · 21/02/2018 21:27

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

NapQueen · 21/02/2018 21:27

Any decent employer would be shocked and a little embarassed to offer an interviewee a sodden chair.