To think I should have let him fail the interview?

[TheMessyCleaner]

I had an interview for a cleaning job this morning. There was one other candidate, a man in his forties; English wasn't his first language. He was late for the interview but as they weren't on time calling us in no one noticed.
We spoke for quite a while and I really hoped that he did alright as he needed the job. We were then left alone to do an English and maths exam. He looked really stressed and asked me what to do. I tried to help him by reading the questions, he still looked confused. Anyway I ended up helping him so much that he ended up passing me the pen and test. I refused to actually write the answers for him but I did tell him if he was wrong if he directly asked me.
When we were called in for the interview, the interviewer said 'messy, you first, sorry mr X I know you arrived first, but messys name is first on my list.' The other man didn't correct him, even though I was there ten minutes before him.
Now I just have a horrible feeling that I might have done myself out of a job. I was trying to be helpful but I basically gave the man a lot of insight into the job whilst we were waiting as I had researched where the job was and what we were doing and he hadn't. Then there was the test, and them thinking I was late.

One in a medium secure unit on Sunday and Saturday mornings.

I was born to a loving parent, well off family, in the U.K, never had to learn another language. I have another part time job and I could probably find another one quite easily if I don't get this one

Unless you found out his life story then how do you know that some of these things are not also true of him?

I think you might well have done yourself out of a job there, OP!

I think I just feel guilty that I've had every advantage in this life, I was born to a loving parent, well off family, in the U.K, never had to learn another language. I have another part time job and I could probably find another one quite easily if I don't get this one (although I really would like it as it's £18 per hour!)

...

There is kind and then there is naive and gullible....

English tests are usually done to ensure person will be able to understand health and safety and so will not become a risk to themselves and others.

I chatted to him, he care from Somalia and had no education until he was 11.

He could read English and understand it, but come on why does anyone need to know the spelling differences between 'immediately' 'immediatally ' and 'imediatelly' that was genuinely one of the questions!

I chatted to him, he care from Somalia and had no education until he was 11.

So that means you think he deserves the job over you? You sounds like a bit of a doormat to be honest.

Crikey, OP. That's pretty bonkers behaviour from you!

You're obviously very kind, and I would also have happily helped the other candidate if it was a question such as 'do they want us to answer the questions in pen or pencil... how long do we have...' or something else innocuous. But you've gone waaaay too far here.

why does anyone need to know the spelling differences between 'immediately' 'immediatally ' and 'imediatelly'

Well even though I posted at the beginning of the thread saying I cant believe you had to do an English and maths test. Even I know that being able to recognise the word immediately is pretty crucial in an environment where chemicals might be spilt.

I assume the question asked which spelling was correct, so if he needed help on that I wouldn't assume he could read English well enough to use chemicals.

So if he could read why did you read the questions to him?
They wouldn't have been looking at his grammar but his comprehension

I might be a doormat but that's another negative about being massively overqualified for the jobs available in this country. I feel guilty when I get given a part time job in a sweet shop when there was a 17 year old who wanted the money for their first car. I feel bad when I get an NHS healthcare assistant job over someone who really wants to get out of their £8 per hour private nursing home.
Let's blame Blair that he let millions of us get degrees but didn't focus on teaching other young people about interviews and answering questions eloquently. Why is no one guiding these young people and telling them it is bloody ridiculous to wear a tank top with your tattooed tits showing when you want a job in a hospital? And this is coming from someone with tattoos on her tatas

OP, if this is real then I applaud you for doing a kind thing. However I have suspicions that it is designed to be a political thread....

Op, this is on you. Why would you feel guilty that you got a degree which is hard work and so can get better jobs?😮
Or basically giving up interview because you feel guilty that someone else had worse life? There are BILLIONS of people who have in a different ways worse life than you. Are you going to screw yourself over every time you meet one?

You go, do your thing and if you think that something needs to change support local charity which helps people with interviews or education.

OP if you feel that everyone else deserves the jobs you go for more than you do why bother applying. Honestly you sound like a complete twit!

Why is no one guiding these young people and telling them it is bloody ridiculous to wear a tank top with your tattooed tits showing when you want a job in a hospital?

That's kind of a job for the people who decided to make them....

You sound like a nice person OP

@ContessaLovesTheSunshine no politics coming from my end (or my front.)

When she was 15, my stepdaughter had classes at school where they role played job interviews and talked about things like personal presentation, researching the company and being on time for an interview.

What exactly more do you think Blair should have done?

Weirdest thread and weirdest behaviour I've heard in a while. There is being kind. Then there is being plain strange out of some kind of .... I don't know, white guilt?

17-year-olds leaving education now would not have had their secondary education under Blair. So I don't see what relevance he has to do with interview standards.

Why would you do that? I get you wanted to be helpful, but you practically did the test for him! A complete stranger! And then shared what you knew about the company?

If his English was so poor, I would imagine that would be picked up by the interviewer.

Lesson for next time though, stick to conversation about the traffic and the weather!

I would have helped him the same as you did.

When will you know if you've been successful?

I think there’s a good chance you’ll get the job OP.... as a person with a vagina it seems obvious that you are eminently more qualified as a cleaner than a person with a penis.

And anyone out of work now or when Blair was in power has the opportunity to gain interview skills

So you think you are over qualified for the jobs you are applying for - it does sound as though you are.

So why are you applying for them?