"Trick"question in interview

[AmandaBuffamonteezi]

I had an interview today for a nursery manager role. They literally called me at 2:30 and asked if I could come in at 4. I was able to as I finished work at 3:30 but explained I'd be coming straight from work, so would obviously not be dressed for interview or have anything with me which they said was fine.

Luckily I was able to grab 5 minutes to research the company and realised that the nursery was new and has not been inspected by Ofsted.

At the interview I was asked what I knew about the company and I managed to string a few things together that I'd read online. The interviewer then asked if I'd read their ofsted report and when I said no she looked at me with raised eyebrows and then said "Oh, did you not prepare fully for the interview?" and then I carried on saying that there wasn't a report yet.

She then laughed and said that it was a trick question but I'd be surprised at how many people say they have and then try to make stuff up and how it's a good way to see what people are really like. Both the deputy manager and the area manager who were interviewing me were laughing giving examples of how funny it was seeing interviewers get all tongue tied and clearly making stuff up.

I was a bit shocked that they'd do this but also at how rude she was knowing that I'd literally come from work.

I've just had an email inviting me to a second interview but I kind of feel like I wouldn't enjoy working with these women. Am I being a bit sensitive in thinking they were just being mean about the others?

Unprofessional as 😂

I'd expect you to read up on the company when you applied, so coming straight from work would not be an excuse.

I don't see any issue with the question, and they make a good point about catching out liars.

Wow what a response! I’d be worried if a company called and suddenly asked to interview me with little notice (applied or head hunted) we give plenty of notice to candidates so they can put measures in place! However, I certainly would not challenge if they had no time to research the company based on a few hours notice and came straight from work. Automatically screams unprofessional to me.

As for the question - honestly they’ve took their lack of professionalism to the next level. I have a sneaky feeling they were probably trying to build rapport with you but still I interview a lot in my current role and train managers, I’d be mortified if I come across this! The point of interviewers is to make their candidate feel relaxed and at ease (as best as they can be!) it’s a false and nervous environment for the candidate anyway - why add to this?

Well done OP you handled the situation great, if you’re still looking for another role - best of luck!

a misfired joke perhaps?
and they headhunted you?

at least you told them op and they will learn from this

I wouldn't want to work with them, doesn't seem like they are taking the interview process seriously and don't appear professional.

I like how you tackled this - fair play. Probably worth a chat with them like you say in the future and see if they have taken things on board and improved how they interact.
I always think that in an interview its as important for a candidate to 'interview' the company as it is for them to interview the candidates. I know sometimes a job isn't a luxury but I wouldn't jump ship to a job without feeling I understood the culture as well as lots of details of the job and spent some time with the person that would be my immediate line manager.

It’s good you were honest and it sounds like she took the feedback on the chin. Perhaps they are inexperienced interviewers, I’m sure you’ve given them something to think about.

Too many companies forget that an interview goes both ways, they are interviewing you, but you are checking them out too.

I’ve declined two jobs after meeting the boss at interview stage.

One guy who asked me at the interview if I could handle “male banter”.

One woman who was deeply unpleasant and rude about her colleagues during the interview.

Ugh the "interview trick" - awful. I once worked for an entrepreneur type who thought it would be great to do this type of thing. I disagreed but he did it anyway. All the candidates were totally nonplussed by his "trick question" because it was pointless and stupid. At least it totally failed to help him pick anyone!

You handled it brilliantly OP, but I'd avoid them too. And tell them why.

Wow! How unprofessional. I wonder if they have ever worked in nurseries. I ‘m a nursery nurse and cannot imagine anyone who is a professional behaving like this. You were brave and honest telling her why you didn’t want to continue well done.
I wouldn’t want to work for them. At least you have made one of them think.

They sound rather nasty and unprofessional. You handled it well OP, kudos for letting them know why you declined a second interview.

I think it's poor form. In that circumstance, if I'd researched like the OP and seen there was no OFSTED report, my thought process would be something like this.

Interviewer: "Have you read our OFSTED report?"

Me: [thinks] What? Their website said they didn't have one! Oh, F* I must have looked at an out of date website! I'm such an idiot. If I say the website said there wasn't one yet, they'll think I'm useless with technology because I couldn't find the report. But if I say I haven't read it, they'll think I just didn't bother to do my research. I can't lie and say I've read it because they'll then catch me out by asking questions. What on earth can I say?

Result - I'd sit there like rabbit caught in headlights, looking like an idiot.

Given the short notice you could have just said crisply that you only had short notice so hadn't had a chance to look it up.

I dunno, it's not so terrible to make sure that people confess their limitations. If anything, your trick question has reminded me how important it is to be honest in job interviews (I had one recently & was trying to both spin & be honest about what I didn''t know).

Laughter: I can't get a feel from what OP said, about how nasty that truly was.

A lucky escape.

I’m finding the whole calling you asking you to come to an interview 90 mins later odd anyway. It all seems very unprofessional.

That phone call sounds absolutely lovely.