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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU To Ask For Interview Stories?

48 replies

OverCapacity · 06/08/2018 21:46

I had an interview a few days ago and it went horribly... I completely butchered it. And I have no idea why I was such a bumbling mess.

I forget everything I had prepared and al the research on the company I’d done. I seemed to lose the ability to read my own notes and form coherent sentences. When asked why I believe I’m the ideal candidate I stuttered something along the lines of “I think, uh, well I’m... uh... I’m fun’ ... FUN?! Blush

It’s my dream job; a company I’d been looking to get into a foot in for years (but there was never an opening), a job that’s perfect and what I can do for a lot better pay, closer to my house, fantastic insentives...

I don’t even have the excuse that I lack interview experience either, normally I do really well but this time something went horrifically wrong. Just remembering the whole thing is making me cringe! If I get the job I will be highly surprised!

AIBU to ask you to share some interview-gone-wrong stories?

OP posts:
Bambamber · 06/08/2018 21:51

Many, many years ago when I was just a teen, I had a really good job opportunity that would have set me up really well. When asked if I knew what they did there, I turned around and said no. And when they asked me to tell them about myself it went along the lines of 'I live at home with my mum and dad and I like going to the pub with my mate's Blush. It's safe to say I never heard from them again

VladmirsPoutine · 06/08/2018 21:55

I still cringe about the time I was interviewed by two very senior and important trade lawyers in a global firm about a deal they were working on between a company based in Germany and another company based in China. They asked me what I could bring to the role; mind you it was not a role in lawyering but it mattered nonetheless. I told them that I had once been on a long-weekend to Dusseldorf and had always wanted to visit China. I still cringe whenever I remember that moment. They both paused and looked at each other - then looked at me, then back at each other. We all knew that it wasn't going anywhere and I certainly wasn't going to piggyback my way to China through them Blush

VladmirsPoutine · 06/08/2018 21:59

And there was the time I talked myself out of the job. They asked me why I was applying considering it was a much lower position and less money than I was on in my then current position. I told them that basically I'd burnt out and was tired of being so switched on all the time that I wanted something lower key that didn't involve "needing to use my brain." I could have articulated the above in a much better way but as I said; I was burnt out and couldn't think anymore. Suffice to say the interview was quickly terminated.

Trazey · 07/08/2018 04:38

I sneezed and some pee came out. I waited until the end of the interview which otherwise went well and then 'accidentally' spilt some water on my lap. I very apologetically offered to swap the seats around for the next candidate.

I got the job (deputy headmistress).

annastasiabeaverhausen · 07/08/2018 06:30

I interviewed for a job and just had a total brain freeze. I was interviewed by a panel of 3. One asked me a question along the lines of 'tell me about yourself' and I just sat there for what seemed like an hour and eventually said 'I like to read'. I barely spoke during the whole thing. It was so awkward.

There are other times I've gone in and completely nailed it and said all the right things, and I can't believe my brain has worked so well Grin

possumgoddess · 07/08/2018 21:39

I've had soooo many bad interviews! I'm so lucky that I got my start in my current organization by being the interviewee who turned up! (The other one didn't.....). However, my most memorable interview was when I went for a very junior level secretarial job and was interviewed by no less than SEVEN people, all sitting in a semi-circle with me in the middle. I didn't get it......

Disquieted1 · 07/08/2018 21:53

I was once interviewed by a really aggressive shit who leaned across the table, pointed at me and said: "What makes you think you're good enough to work for me?"

My response: "You can fuck right off off and stick your job up your arse."

Another time I was asked to do a joint exercise with other candidates to assess my suitability. Ridiculous. Not once in my thirty year career have I ever had to use castanets, but that's what they wanted me to do!
Told them to stick it as well. CFs who do they think they are?

LyndorCake · 07/08/2018 22:16

I had an interview for a fantastic job, my dream job. I was beyond excited for the interview, I dreamed about handing my notice in where I was, I bought a new interview outfit (spent days choosing the right clothes). Seems I hadn't read the interview invite properly. Where I thought it said "there will be a 20 minute presentation about X", it actually said "you will give a 20 minute presentation about X".
During the interview, it was going well until they "handed it over to me" for my presentation. I just froze. After what felt like a trillion years I FUCKING MADE IT UP!! No powerpoint, no knowledge on the topic, I actually drew pictures of the flip chart to explain my point. It was like the most painful and humiliating version of pictionary ever.

Somehow I didn't get the job...nor did they respond to my request for feeding (which I sent without even thinking)

annastasiabeaverhausen · 07/08/2018 22:46

@LyndorCake what were their expressions like? 😂

LyndorCake · 07/08/2018 22:51

Gobsmacked. It was a job at a northern university too so they give you panel interviews so in mine, for example, there were 5 people I think conducting the interview.
And because of the industry, I now know the lady who did get that job. She giggled when we met so clearly it got out there what I did.

feefeefee · 07/08/2018 23:04

I had been temping at a place for a couple of months, when a permanent role came up. I applied and was invited for interview.

At the appointed time, I stepped away from my desk and went to the office. The boss and deputy were there, and said to me "in the interests of equal opportunities we're going to pretend we don't know you. So, err (looking at application form), feefeefee, tell us about yourself and where you're currently working..."

I was so flummoxed at their pretence, that I went "but it's me, I work here, you know what I do" Confused... I didn't get the permanent job...

Smellbellina · 07/08/2018 23:12

I had an interview that first off I didn’t turn up to as I didn’t receive the notification l, they rang and rearranged a ridiculously early interview for the next day so hardly any time to prepare. I set off via the petrol station and my car refused to start after filling it up with petrol so I text to say I was running late. Finally my car came alive again and I got there on time but then couldn’t get in the building as reception was shut it was so early and when I asked staff going in for help they were really rude! So tried calling the interviewer, phone ran out of battery! Used my back up phone, no signal! Eventually I got a text through and they came down to let me in. By this time I was sweating like a pig. Went in to the interview room and may bag caught on a chair that fell over into other furniture which all ended up in a heap with me on the floor. By this point i’d lost the will to live. By this point i’d lost the will to live. Interview was awful I just repeated what was in my application, they pulled me up on it too but I just wanted to get out of there. The look of pity and confusion in their eyes was awful. Needless to say I didn’t get it! But, it has cured me of interview nerves, it could never be as bad as that and I survived! Have aced every interview since.

KeepServingTheDrinks · 07/08/2018 23:48

I cried. Like,actually cried real tears!

I was 20 and the interviewer asked - very innapropriately - "do you think you'll have children?"
And I burst into tears and said "Ive just been finished with,a nod no one else will ever want me again""

Bless him, he gave me the job and 30 years later, we still exchange Christmas cards!

Arkestra · 08/08/2018 00:10

In my interview I bullshitted about a mathematical model I didn't really know about. It was only after leaving the interview that I realised my interviewer was one of the 3 people who created the model. I still dream about this occasionally.

annastasiabeaverhausen · 08/08/2018 01:02

@LyndorCake I wish I could see that presentation 

@feefeefee I feel like that was a fair a response, you were meant to tell them you were working at their company like they didn't know 😂😂

annastasiabeaverhausen · 08/08/2018 01:03

A fair response from you I mean.

Ariela · 08/08/2018 01:10

I think the worst interview I ever went to was one set up by an employment agency. I told them I never wanted to work again for company x that I'd worked for before the firm I already worked for, but would be happy to speak to any of their rivals.
Was sent 200 miles to an interview at another branch of big employment agency, they couldn't say who it was for but it was a big player in my industry.

Walked in, saw their brochure and warning bells sounded. Asked receptionist who I was being interviewed for and she couldn't say.
Walked into interview room and straight away I asked who to was for and they really did not want to say but eventually after looking at each other for ages they admitted it was so I said sorry I do NOT want to work for Company x again and walked out. Big employment agency refused to pay my travel expenses, I was VERY cross.
Heard through the industry Company x wanted me back and it was all arranged with Big EA as they were sure they could tempt me with ££ - but in reality I did not want to work for Mr Arrogant at Company X who was a shite manager, no money would ever tempt me back! What a waste of a day!

KC225 · 08/08/2018 01:39

Years ago I was temping in an office for a couple of days and a colleague mentioned they looking to fill the post permanently and were interviewing that day. She made a call and I was told they could fiit me in. The departmental manager (I had not met him) came to get me - young, balding (relevant) but seemed friendly. We had to get into a lift, and he immediately looked at his reflection, stroked his bald patch and said 'Grass doesn't grow on a busy street'. For some reason I replied 'It doesn't grow in the desert either' and snorted with laughter. I can only blame nerves. The whole atmosphere changed. He looked furious. I only made things worse by trying to say 'Sorry, I don't know why I said that'. The actual interview was awful, he wouldn't look at me and barely uttered a word the other interviewer looked really confused.

When I told my colleague what I'd said she was aghast, apparently he was massively self conscious about his premature baldness. I was told by temp agency they thought I lacked social skills and was awkward.

mediumbrownmug · 08/08/2018 02:50

In my worst interview I was asked a series of questions about my previous experience, and had to answer "no" down the entire list, one at a time, as I'd actually I'd never actually done anything the job demanded. Humiliating, but my only defense is that the job description they'd advertised had made it seem like a better fit, and I really wanted to work with that company in some capacity.

When the interviewer asked about my weaknesses I blanked and couldn't come up with any, and basically blurted out that I had none (?!). The guy interviewing me insisted I must have something, so I panicked and came up with what was an obvious cop-out. Anyway, I got a handshake, and a promise that I'd hear back in two weeks one way or the other. Obviously two weeks went by, and then three, and it was never going to happen.

Then several weeks after the time-frame I'd been given, I got a call saying the job was mine. I can only assume the other candidate(s)? dropped out, but I was over the moon. Apparently, my cover letter was very good? I loved it there, though, and became quite good at my job. Grin

mediumbrownmug · 08/08/2018 02:53

Ugh, sorry about the typos!

annastasiabeaverhausen · 08/08/2018 06:03

@KC225 😂😂😂 that is gold

ZoeLa · 08/08/2018 06:25

During my first teaching interview, there were 8 people sitting in a horseshoe shape around me. One of the panel asked me a question- with such a strong accent ( not my home town) that I couldn’t understand him. So I asked him to repeat the question. Seven times. I have never known an awkward silence so bad.....

Original poster
OverCapacity · 16/08/2018 02:30

I’ve just noticed these! Loving the stories, it’s a while now since my interview disaster but I still cringe remembering my social awkwardness! Blush

@LyndorCake I feel your pain, I’ve done something similar expect there was no paper and I just gestured awkwardly... I didn’t get the job, not sure why Grin

OP posts:
CatRen27 · 16/08/2018 02:36

Poor you @op that sounds awful!

I had an interview once which was set up as an informal chat, but when the two senior interviewers arrived they asked if I'd seen the job description.. uhhh no you didn't send it or even mention it? So they decided to interview me for it anyway. Arrggghhhh! I never did get to see the jd. And didn't hear from them again!

GoatWithACoat · 16/08/2018 03:53

I once applied for a job because I hated my boss at the job I was currently in.

In the interview I was asked, “why do you want to leave your current job?” I don’t know why, but the question totally threw me. I couldn’t say “I hate my boss” and couldn’t make a lie up on the spot.

I still cringe when I remember the 4/5 times my mouth just opened and closed like a silent goldfish while the awkward silence filled the air.

Didn’t get the job.