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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

New job is making me stand in front of the entire department and say a 'fun fact' about myself - AIBU?

418 replies

thisisnotforme · 14/10/2021 19:22

I started a new job recently, I've mainly been working remotely so have only met a handful of colleagues.

There is a big departmental in-person meeting next week, I am already dreading going to it because I'm really nervous to meet people in real life, even though I have been speaking to them on Teams I'm still nervous.

Today I got an email that they are going to use that meeting to introduce me to the team and they want to stand up in front of everyone and say a fun fact about myself.

I'm really shy and this is literally my worst nightmare.

OP posts:

TasteTheMeatNotTheHeat · 15/10/2021 03:31

I don't think this is an extroverts vs introverts thing.

I'm quite extroverted so standing up and introducing myself wouldn't massively bother me, but being told I have to give a "fun fact" about myself is horrendously cringey and I wouldn't want to do it. Forced fun is one of the worst things about work.

ilovesooty · 15/10/2021 03:33

Just say something bland and innocuous. Don't try to be witty or funny or refuse to do it. You'll draw unwelcome attention to yourself. It takes a matter of seconds and at least they haven't sprung it on you. It takes seconds and it's basic - no one will be expecting anything memorable.

As for it being everyone's worst nightmare - it's routine stuff.

Kokeshi123 · 15/10/2021 03:57

Just invent an unusual hobby you used to have. "As a teenager I used to design and make board games, and in fact I belonged to a club at university where we used to do this. Geeky, huh?" The end.

I do think people here are overreacting a bit.

PhilCornwall1 · 15/10/2021 04:08

Just make shit up, but make sure it's ridiculous.

RainbowMum11 · 15/10/2021 04:28

Oh goodness, I hate this type of thing.
Hmm, a 'fun' fact - sod that!

BasiliskStare · 15/10/2021 04:56

@thisisnotforme - Yes yes - the famous actress nearly knocking the drink out of hand - better if you can name her - sounds perfect - don't have to reveal much but everyone will think it is amusing.

Similarly - I once bumped into Martin Clunes' trolley in Waitrose & when I saw it was he instead of saying sorry I just said Oh Hello. - I'd be happy to use that - your near miss with the actress and the glass sounds perfect.

I had not appreciated you were the only one doing but previous comments still stand - Say it , smile broadly - say lovely to meet you all or look forward to meeting you all and sit down or say thank you then it's over.

All best wishes

SeaRabbit · 15/10/2021 05:06

Don't say you're nervous, and practice saying what you are going to say out loud, not just in your head.

Take it slow, and don't forget to practice a smile.

Honestly, you will be fine and it's normal to be apprehensive.

Cocogreen · 15/10/2021 05:09

Just tell the drink knocking thing, you'll be fine.
You'll be speaking for 30 seconds if that and then it's done.
Some of the commenters in this thread are carrying on like it's an hour long presentation.
Good luck!

la709 · 15/10/2021 05:11

@DadDadDad forced icebreakers and general chitchat at the start of a meeting are different things, forcing someone to share “fun” facts when they are clearly uncomfortable is not humanising

GinJeanie · 15/10/2021 05:12

I really feel for you - that sucks! I hope you find a way through it. I'd be tempted to make something up tbh.
I remember a rather painful interview a few years back when I was asked to tell my favourite joke to the interview panel. Wtaf? Not sure whether they were trying to work out if potential colleagues had a good sense of humour but jeez!

TarpaulinEyes · 15/10/2021 05:15

Most people make something up. Once you understand the game it's easy. Say you've got a tattoo, piercing, smirk and sit down. Anyone asks for more detail, just tell them you can't say what or where.

I did a training course where we were all told to arrange ourselves in order of our ages. I was one of the oldest and didn't appreciate people having to know that. I mentioned it in the after course feedback as being an inappropriate exercise.

Aprilx · 15/10/2021 05:21

It is going to be hard going through a working life and never speaking in front of a group. Public speaking doesn’t come to many naturally it needs practice. Use this as an opportunity for a practice and don’t over focus on the fun fact, nobody is that bothered about it anyway, but they will be otherwise interested in your introduction.

stayathomer · 15/10/2021 05:30

I was once at a training session where we had to come up with 3 lines on a certain topic. At the end the trainer asked who could relay the people' who went before them's lines. Everyone looked terrified. He said it's generally the thing that people are so nervous and or busy trying to work out what they're going to say that they hear nothing. I know it doesn't help much but everyone will have been there. There's some good replies here, the 'my name is X and I hate fun facts' may not be good though as sometimes then they try to drag your actual fun fact out of you and it can be painful!!!

stakhanovite · 15/10/2021 06:17

You could do a little google research and say that you share a birthday with x famous person, or mention something that happened the day you were born ( there's lots of 'on this day/ in this year info out there)

AICM · 15/10/2021 06:20

I can not stand being forced to join in with somebodyel else's idea of a fun activity.

ilovesooty · 15/10/2021 06:24

@stakhanovite

Good suggestion.

onelittlefrog · 15/10/2021 06:35

It's just an icebreaker. I get that people don't like standing up in front of others (I don't either particularly), but you're an adult. If you're enough of a grown-up to hold down a paid job then I'm sure you can handle introducing yourself to a group of people. You're letting your nerves get the better of you.

If this becomes a regular thing then I would complain, as I don't like "enforced fun", but honestly one tiny icebreaker like this is really not a big deal.

onelittlefrog · 15/10/2021 06:37

@TasteTheMeatNotTheHeat

I don't think this is an extroverts vs introverts thing.

I agree. I'm an introvert and tbh I would just get on with this. Although I probably wouldn't do this if I were running the session, I can see the purpose for it.

Kissmycousinkate · 15/10/2021 06:42

@marly11

Give them one 'fun' fact and two 'fun' lies and tell them their fun will be they can work out the true fact. Then the challenge can be on them rather than you.

Brilliant suggestion

SixTwirlingTutus · 15/10/2021 06:42

We had a compulsory team building thing with a brought in fancy company once. The ice breaker was 'tell us what attracted you most about working for X company'.

So people wittered on utter rubbish like 'The vision of the company inspires me' and the suck up 'I always wanted to worjk for such an inspriing team' and all other sorts of wankery. When it came to me I had a complete sort of brain fart and said 'because i applied for 36 other jobs before I got this one'.

Moonshine86 · 15/10/2021 06:45

I would politely make it clear that you won’t be doing it! I wouldn’t like this at all!

somewhereoverthechipshop · 15/10/2021 06:51

If you think this is bad, 20 years ago when I was a student I had a group interview for a Christmas job at Argos. We were all split into two teams, asked to create a new Argos uniform out of toilet rolls silver foil and sticky tape, then model it in front of the other people. No word of a lie. So think yourself lucky 😂

FrankGrillosFloof · 15/10/2021 07:07

I think your fact about the drink is perfect - just use artistic licence and say that she knocked it and it went flying all over Daniel Craig (or whoever) who then had to strip off… and just tail off, staring lustfully into the middle distance, making everyone as uncomfortable as you

Pinklioness · 15/10/2021 07:12

@earsup

Oh..this is so 90's....didnt think anyone still did all that crap....we had to once face a chair and pretend it was our inner child or some similar crap....most of us just laughed and went out for ciggie...it was a teacher training event day....all of them were just awful...just big money for some slimey consultant type...!!

That's just appalling. My friend had to pretend she was a tree, growing from a seed, doing the actions and everything, in front of a load of adults. No words.

DrGoogleSaysSo · 15/10/2021 07:13

Nothing you come up with can be worse than the fun facts of Only Connect contestants in the beginning of the show

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