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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:
HobnobBob · 21/02/2018 21:58

People really think she should have sat on a wet chair?

DinkyDaisy · 21/02/2018 21:58

Arseholes of the highest order. You are well out of it the absolute knobheads.
If they said you had passed the test I think you should say that unfortunately, they did not pass your test.
You behaved in a dignified, human manner. They did not, They should be [but won't be] ashamed of themselves.

rothbury · 21/02/2018 21:59

Incredibly wanky. Lucky escape OP.

fannyanddick · 21/02/2018 21:59

How utterly bizarre.

CountFosco · 21/02/2018 21:59

Absolutely give feedback both to the HR department directly and on social media (Glassdoor or Indeed). A good HR department will respond to both.

Agree with everyone else that you've dodged a bullet. And as for the poster who seems to think being a client manager requires you to put up with shit treatment, no that is not the case. Clients should be told if their behaviour is rude and unacceptable and a good company will protect their staff from this.

Pengggwn · 21/02/2018 21:59

MrsJBaptiste

Of course it was worth it. Imagine if a) she'd sat in the wet patch and then been turned down for a job because she was so yellow-bellied she was prepared to sit in a pool of someone else's wee? What would that do to her self-esteem? or b) she'd got the job, and ended up working for the horrible fuckers? What would she be expected to do to please a client, if she was expected to sit in the wet patch in order to impress her new boss?

Never compromise on being treated with basic respect.

Riverside2 · 21/02/2018 22:01

Yes op they can shove it
That's why I think you should email them now
It's not like you're going to work for them under any circumstances

Still can't get over posters who think "I am SO BUSY AND IMPORTANT, I can't fulfil the basic standards of a dry chair for interview".

peachgreen · 21/02/2018 22:01

Good grief, imagine working somewhere populated by such assholes? Lucky escape OP. Bet they all post inspirational motivations on LinkedIn all day. Bleaugh.

gingergenius · 21/02/2018 22:02

Ok @MrsJBaptiste then you're welcome to sit in as many wet patches as you want. The OP didn't. I'm sure she'll have other interviews where she is treated with more respect and a lot less wankery.

HermionesRightHook · 21/02/2018 22:03

Sounds like a stupid test to me: they spoil their own property and piss off good candidates.

I actually like tests in interviews - properly set up competency based tests that the candidate knows about ahead of time. e.g. if you were going to be a teacher you'd expect an observed teaching session to be part of the interview.

But this is just stupid. Were they trying to see if you'd negotiate for a chair or something? Arseholes - it's like those stupid 'sell me this pencil!' questions. Employers that pull this sort of bollocks are not my cup of tea.

And if it wasn't a test then they're showing utter contempt for the whole interview process and for you - as if you wouldn't have already got a chair for the next candidate if someone had spilt their water. I recruit as an extra on top of my role and we treat all candidates with respect and if we want to know how they handle difficult situations we ask them a competency and experience based question about it.

Original poster
LadyIrisBarclay · 21/02/2018 22:03

MrsJBaptiste

Well clearly prior to being interviewed I thought it was my dream job.

Experience on the day clearly demonstrated otherwise. I am not now and hope never to be so desperate for employment, that I would sit on a probable patch of another persons piss.

OP posts:
pasturesgreen · 21/02/2018 22:04

Count your blessings, OP, you had a lucky escape today! I admire you having the guts to walk out, you don't want to work for a bunch of twats anyway.

doesthislookoddtoyou · 21/02/2018 22:05

that is brilliant!!I might pinch that if you don't mind grin

Its not brilliant and if you want to get any job in the industry I would not send something so ridiculous.

Flowerfae · 21/02/2018 22:05

I wouldn't want to work for someone who treats potential employee's like that, it sounds like you have had a lucky escape.

MrsJBaptiste · 21/02/2018 22:06

Fair enough, probably just a spilt glass of water from another nervy candidate though

Winteriscoming18 · 21/02/2018 22:06

You did the right thing op x

Madonnasmum · 21/02/2018 22:06

Feedback on Glass door too. They sound like a bunch of morons. Sounds like you've had a lucky escape.

Pengggwn · 21/02/2018 22:06

I also think a UK FS organisation would be very unlikely to organise the sort of funky interview process you'd expect to get at a two-man band Internet start-up. I think they were just dicks.

HappenedForAReisling · 21/02/2018 22:08

I'm sorry but I have no idea what your issue is? The panel just wanted to get on with the interview - you sound like seriously high maintenance and that they seriously missed a bullet.

Yeah, the OP was so unreasonable to not want to sit on a wet chair and look like she'd pissed herself when she stood up. Hmm

Original poster
LadyIrisBarclay · 21/02/2018 22:08

Fair enough, probably just a spilt glass of water from another nervy candidate though

Possibly ... my skirt is dry clean only though Wink

OP posts:
Pengggwn · 21/02/2018 22:08

doesthislookoddtoyou

Why, what are they going to do, send it round to everyone they know and publicise their own rudeness and total lack of professionalism? Hardly!

Plus, it was a joke, and the OP knows it was a joke.

giraffesatthezoo · 21/02/2018 22:09

I wouldn't send that email, but I would write to complain. It seems quite discriminatory on a number of grounds- if you had difficulty standing, would you have felt you had to disclose it? If you were from a different cultural background, it could have thrown you even more. If you were male and not wearing a skirt/wearing darker fabric, you might have been ok with it.

I would email asking if they could please provide an explanation for the disrespect with which you were treated.

I've been on tons of panels, and would never treat anyone like that. Agree you dodged a bullet.

Troels · 21/02/2018 22:09

I think you did the right thing walking out. I also think the email should be sent. They had no manners and were out of line to expect you to sit on a wet chair.

feelingfree17 · 21/02/2018 22:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Etymology23 · 21/02/2018 22:11

I have been so busy I have barely had time to eat never mind actually have a life outside of work - and I can still find time to make an interviewee comfortable! Employers want to get the best out of people, if their version of the best is someone who has such low expectations for a job that those expectations don’t include being treated with courtesy and respect then they will not be an employer you wish to work for.

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