To think I've messed up interview ?

[andimtellingyou]

I had a interview today and literally none of the questions were anything I've studied.
It's a customer service based role so I spent days answering lots of different customer service questions.
I found out about the company and it's products etc etc
The questions were
How would you get to know someone from a different ethnic background.
Name a time you've explained something tricky to the customer ?
Sell me a product
I stuttered and talked rubbish
I won't have got the job

How would you get to know someone from a different ethnic background

Under what context is this relevant to the job? It's quite an odd question, to my mind at least.

Was your expecting those questions?
If not why not?

If yes Did you practice what you were going to say so much it was second nature.
Sometimes you get intimidated and brain freeze so you have to shake down and move on.
If you do get it well done.
If you don't, never mind. Get feed back if you can.

I think I answered the ethnic one wrong
I just said I take the time to get to know everyone exactly the same
I like to speak to someone 1 to 1 and really get to know them as i think it makes the team stronger blah blah
I just needed it up basically

My brain deffo freezed
I think I was overthinking it all

You may well have done better than you think.

Well, us ethnic people DO need special handshakes and drums when getting to know us.

Wtaf?!

God the question about getting to know someone from a different ethnic background is so strange. You answered in the same way I would have!

It was a customer service role and not 1 customer service question.
1 question was if you didn't finish all your work one day what would you say to your colleagues ?
I just said I would go in early the next day to complete work as I wouldn't want it to impact anyone else

"How would you get to know someone from a different ethnic background."

Er, the same fucking way I would get to know anyone else? What a fucking weird question. I would honestly be asking them why on earth they are asking that.

@andimtellingyou for the question regarding not finishing your work- I think for that question I would have said hand anything over that is urgent and cannot wait until the next day.

"How would you get to know someone from a different ethnic background."

I had similar , I said I would be respectful of other peoples backgrounds and religious beliefs

I did get the job and I believe the question will be applied more to various job interview . Lots of companies hiring new roles for diversity leads too .

I think the ethnic background one could be a reasonable question depending on the role.
In my area there are many older generation people, particularly women who don't speak English.
We often have campaigns ( in their own language to explain things eggs Covid, domestic violence support,) offer free classes, have an interpreter and so on.
If I was answering that question I would be saying that I would be looking at what their needs where and what our services offer. I would be asking is there anything in particular I could do to support them etc.
I would be saying that I would become aware of any customs and practices that I need to know about to make a person feel comfortable with me.

But being from a different ethnic background doesn’t mean ‘not British’, ‘not English speaking’ or anything else where it’s a given they might need different treatment.

I’m from a minority ethnic background. I’m British, I was born here, I have no religion and have no special ‘requirements’ when someone is trying to get to know me.

That is a weird question.... I wonder if they have had grievances/bullying complaints within the company so is a subtle way to find out if your racist?

I'm kicking myself now.
I loved the job as well
It was a video record one too

How would you get to know someone from a different ethnic background.

That is a very weird question!

I mean, these are customer service questions apart from the first one. Obviously we don't know what the role is but if it's a global company it may be about how diverse different teams are and making an effort to work together despite cultural and language differences.

I wouldn't kick yourself too prematurely! We are always harder on ourselves that's for sure

Actually I think all these questions are fine for a customer services role - the responses probably tell the interviewers more about the candidates than reciting information they could just swot up on. For example first question - response about respecting people as individuals vs a 'them & us' type reply or responding as if all people from different ethnic backgrounds are the same.

I think my anxiety got the best of me too.
That was my first interview in 7 years.
My mind went blank.

@Lovethewater spot on

I’m from a minority ethnic background. I’m British, I was born here, I have no religion and have no special ‘requirements’ when someone is trying to get to know me.
You may not but others do.
I don't think the question means getting to know your favourite music or best box set for a Saturday night in but looking at different needs and not to make assumptions that everyone thinks and feels the same way. For example food requirements could be an issue, whether someone requires halal food. Most of my Asian colleagues are strict about this but some aren't bothered by it. That could be an example
During Ramadan we are considerate in many different ways to colleagues fasting.
Incidents I am using the Asian culture as it is the most familiar to me.

@notacooldad the job I applied for is for a call centre.
I would just get to know someone exactly the same way as I would anyone.
I think that's what confused me as you don't really get time to talk to anyone anyway

You live and learn - don’t kick yourself too much. We’ve all done it.

Those questions might be obvious to some but when you’ve been out of the interview game for a while it’s impossible to think of everything. If you don’t get this one and in preparation for the next one you get, then perhaps get someone to brainstorm questions with you to come up with ones that you don’t. You could even post in Chat or the Employment threads.

@BlackCatsRule88 yeah that's a good idea,I've just wrote those questions in my notebook with suitable answers incase they ever come up again