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

For what it’s worth OP, I work around lots of people of all different ethnicities, faiths, backgrounds and cultures. I do treat everyone fairly and also make sure I’m open minded and considerate to others. There has to be extra though for people of different backgrounds to your own too though, especially around food / drink, special times in the year (such as colleagues who may be fasting), prayer (we have colleagues who leave to pray at certain times of the day), cultural expectations (some who like to kiss on cheeks, others who prefer you not to be so close) and so on. I find just being open, kind and thoughtful goes a long way. Asking questions to build relationships and sharing your own culture too where appropriate. My colleague likes to bring in traditional food his wife cooks for us to try which is a lovely thing to do. We organise work outings somewhere appropriate for everyone (not drinking alcohol in a club) for example.

@StealthPolarBear

[quote Unsure33]@Circumlocutious

Yes that’s why I was asking we may have unintentionally offended a member of staff with a Christmas hamper gift as they do not celebrate Christmas . We just did exactly the same for every member of staff .

But the same could be said for vegan as well ?[/quote]
Yeah, it’s not always easy to judge. I don’t it’s realistic (or desirable) to say you’ll never offend anyone ever. In that specific case, I wouldn’t find it offensive in the slightest, but there might be a small minority who do. I think it’s enough to say that you’re adaptable and sensitive to potential differences.

Actually don’t think the question is that weird... would have been better phrased as could you talk through a time you’ve worked in a team with people of different backgrounds?

That’s what they’re trying to find out. Can you fit in with a wide range of people. Strange wording though!

It’s an oddly worded question but it’s essentially asking about equality and diversity. I would have mentioned in my answer:

• Talked a bit about my own personal commitment to equality and diversity in my role as a manager/team member/whatever the job role I currently do is.

-I would have talked about awareness of equality and diversity legislation and how this can be applied in practice in the work place. -talked about the importance of fostering good relationships with people I work with - both colleagues and customers or whatever. -I would have given an example of how I do this in my current role, eg being really aware of individual needs and sensitivities and the ability to adapt this to each person/situation as needed etc.

Your answers sound good op you may have done better than you thought! They're more competency based questions to get an idea how you have or would react in a similar scenario. Fingers crossed for you! I got yet another rejection today after having a second interview, spent time doing application and 2 interviews for them to then get a shitty generic email, you have been unsuccessful. I'm distraught.

I had a telephone call recently which the interviewer apologised for not being video conference. I can’t remember my exact words but I made some quip about me not being able to see him in his pants or naked.... I was mortified, it was out of my mouth before it was in my head.

I still got the job