… to ask for your most cringeworthy moment in an interview yet you still got the job?

[tympanic]

I’m plagued by the missteps I made at an interview last month. Plagued. The process has been put on hold for various reasons so I’m still waiting to hear if I’ve progressed to the next stage. Really, really want the job.

As time drags on I’m growing increasingly embarrassed by the dumb things I said in the interview. If anyone has any stories with a happy in spite of feeling they made a total fool of themselves I’d be very happy to hear them!

I’m not sure if I should stay away from this thread until I’ve had my interview… or whether to read the responses to avoid any mishaps!

*happy ending (that should read)

And by “happy ending” I mean you got the job not shagged the interviewer, so get your minds out of the gutter please.

My worst was when it was a really hot day, I was wearing a teeny tiny bra top (on the days I could get away with wearing them) and took a shirt to put over it before I went for my interview.

I, of course, forgot to put the shirt on, and just looked like I rocked up on beachwear for the job. Half way through I began to explain that I didn't normally dress like that for work, and said the word "boobs" for more than necessary for a job that doesn't involve dancing 🤣

Still got it (and then a year later married the guy who interviewed me, but that's a disaster for another day).

😂 Okay, so I did manage to put a top on for the interview so I’ll put that on the plus side.

Not really a disaster, but I was being interviewed for a PA job to a very senior manager. He asked how I would feel if he was busy, and he told me to piss off. I told him in no uncertain terms that I would never tolerate being spoken to like that by anybody. I got the job.

@tympanic

😂 Okay, so I did manage to put a top on for the interview so I’ll put that on the plus side.

😂😂 even the most basic tasks are a win if you post on MN.

I got lost… office was a new building so the postcode took me to the wrong place, realised that I had gone wrong, started walking to the right place when the heavens opened. Arrived 15 mins late, soaked to the bone, was flustered and flappy for a while. Got the job

Had an interview for a care position, which is not something I had ever done previously. Spend the entire interview referencing my “manhandling” training until the interviewers couldn’t contain their laughter and had to ask if I meant manual handling (I knew it was sounding right in my head!) anyway I feel like a right idiot although I was offered the job (I didn’t take it!)

I was recovering from a sick bug and felt very wobbly and clammy. I didn't have any memory of whether it had gone well or badly and was genuinely surprised that I got the job. Still there over 6 years later.

A few years before that I went for an interview and had a migraine on the day. That was awful. Struggled through it when really I should have just given up as I wasn't going to get it anyway.

Last week. Job interview for private company, previous civil servant. Every example used to demonstrate strict compliance and following of rules was met with shrieks of laughter, and questions about Wine Time Fridays and our bar fridge (neither of which occurred in the department I worked in!) It was pretty hard to stay on track, given all that, but this morning I received the job offer.

Good luck, OP

Looking at it from the other side I interviewed someone who repeatedly got the name of the company wrong (saying it's initials but in the wrong order, along the lines of going for a job at HSBC but referring to it as HBSC). I still gave them the job because they were the best candidate and were clearly just nervous.

This question was made for me. I had a group interview for home bargains when I was a teenager. People don't believe me but I'll never forget it as it was like a comedy sketch. They genuinely sat five of us in front of a desk in the back of office and just asked questions, they didn't even say who to answer first. It was this weird free for all. There was me, a Romanian man who didn't speak much English, this big old school goth fella who absolutely stank of BO, one smartly dressed woman and one other teenager. It mainly consisted of the smartly dressed woman answering properly, me and the other teenage sort of copying her answer very nervously, the goth guy rambling and sounding so uninterested, I remember he kept yawning and the Romanian kept getting confused and apologising for his English. They asked where we see ourselves in 5 years and the goth fella said something about being dead. It may not sound as funny repeating it, but it was hilarious more so for the fact we all got the job. They must of been completely bloody desperate. Weirdest interview of my life. I worked there for all of 3 hours

I interviewed someone who had baby sock on their top once. Their husband was waiting outside with their very small infant and she was popping out and breastfeeding throughout the day. She came back in for the final interview with baby sick on her top. She was also a very strong candidate and she was hired.

When I was 16 I wore a totally inappropriate mini skirt to an interview for my first job . They complimented me on my outfit but pointed out that my knickers were showing as I bent over. Literally my arse was hanging out. Being a massively confident 16 year old who thought I was brilliant I didn't particularly care, now it makes me cringe so badly. I must have looked a right twat. Anyway, got the job, learned to dress much more appropriately for work and all was good. I do miss 16 year old confidence though!

@lastqueenofscotland

I got lost… office was a new building so the postcode took me to the wrong place, realised that I had gone wrong, started walking to the right place when the heavens opened. Arrived 15 mins late, soaked to the bone, was flustered and flappy for a while. Got the job

Why am I getting “Bridget Jones” vibes…

@MorningStarling

Looking at it from the other side I interviewed someone who repeatedly got the name of the company wrong (saying it's initials but in the wrong order, along the lines of going for a job at HSBC but referring to it as HBSC). I still gave them the job because they were the best candidate and were clearly just nervous.

Bless you. I’m hoping my interviewer sees it like that. Appreciate your response!

I was asked what my hobbies were on a telephone interview I wasn’t expecting. I panicked and said ‘well I’m really into cats’

@KimmyKimdoo The world needs more people like you in it.

I had an interview when I was desperately broke, I mean, I had less than my bus fare home.
Anyway I'd gone for a day position and whilst there they offered me a job, when I was so excited he said, "so 4 nights on, 4 off okay?" And I burst into tears, I had a baby (single mum) and I cried saying, "but I've just spent my last 30 quid on these pants from next! Fucking next steve, just for you to ignore my working hour specification! I can't even return them Steve! I took the tag out!", anyway I became somewhat hysterical and poor steve drove me home, apologising for the position fuck up.
I cried home, not cute dainty tears but ugly panda eyes mess.
Anyway about 3 hours later he rang me saying that he'd managed to get me a 37 hour day contract if I wanted it, so I cried again, as I thanked him and he said, "can't let your lovely pants FROM NEXT go to waste, kid!" Nice guy.

Another interview the man took me into a basement and asked if I liked bondage and I asked was it part of the interview, he dead pan said yeah, then when I said no retracted the proffered position.

Had a few wild interviews tbh

I’ve posted about it loads of times. I was interviewing for a local government administration job. One of the interviewing panel asked me some questions about me as a person, then another member of the panel asked me if there were any new skills I would like to acquire. Obviously in relation to the job. I was still in the ‘talking about me as a person’ mode and declared that I would like to learn to make balloon animals from balloons.

I will never forget the looks in their faces. And I didn’t get the job.

@Lwren Umm… what did I just read? Bondage? Full story please!

Not a job interview but I know someone who farted in a university interview and still got offered a place

I was applying for a job with the NHS about 15 years ago. I had to get a blood test to see if I was immune to chicken pox, otherwise I'd need the vaccine. The blood test was right before the interview, and it was a hot day. I walked into the interview room and promptly fainted, splitting my head open on the corner of the desk. Absolutely mortified!!
I still got the job!

@Lwren

I had an interview when I was desperately broke, I mean, I had less than my bus fare home. Anyway I'd gone for a day position and whilst there they offered me a job, when I was so excited he said, "so 4 nights on, 4 off okay?" And I burst into tears, I had a baby (single mum) and I cried saying, "but I've just spent my last 30 quid on these pants from next! Fucking next steve, just for you to ignore my working hour specification! I can't even return them Steve! I took the tag out!", anyway I became somewhat hysterical and poor steve drove me home, apologising for the position fuck up. I cried home, not cute dainty tears but ugly panda eyes mess. Anyway about 3 hours later he rang me saying that he'd managed to get me a 37 hour day contract if I wanted it, so I cried again, as I thanked him and he said, "can't let your lovely pants FROM NEXT go to waste, kid!" Nice guy.

Another interview the man took me into a basement and asked if I liked bondage and I asked was it part of the interview, he dead pan said yeah, then when I said no retracted the proffered position.

Had a few wild interviews tbh

I bloody love Steve. What a kind man

I had a zoom interview for my current job in the height of lockdown. I had DS (2) at home with me. He spent the entire interview climbing into the chair behind me and sticking pencils in my very professional bun, I ended the interview looking like a peacock with a multitude of coloured pencils sticking out of my head. Oh and he threw a plastic triceratops at my head too and I wasn't focused so didn't dodge it quick enough.

Apparently I was offered the job because I remained incredibly calm under quite frustrating circumstances.

If he's home he'll often pop up when I'm in team meetings now as my colleagues love him. 😂