Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to ask if if you had an interview candidate who said something incredibly stupid

83 replies

saltedhotchoc · 07/02/2022 19:11

would it negate the rest of the interview?

Totally frazzled. Had important interview, was supposed to be in person but am COVID+ (symptomless) so we had to do online. DD9 not ill, but very worried about being ill as she also tested positive so being very clingy. Had a million one tech issues including my laptop going stone cold dead whilst I was introducing myself and I had to run and get my husbands iPad.

Interview went perfectly, everyone nodding happily as I answer, until we get to one question where I give the wrong answer. Interview asks me again, as he clearly wants to give me a chance to get it right. I get it wrong. We move onto further questions, and a different panel member butts in a asks me again, saying just want to give you a chance to redeem yourself (in friendly way), I give the wrong answer Blush Every question after that went well, but I felt like I was on autopilot.

It is something very very basic, they had praised my skills in this area based on my existing work, but it was like my brain was broken, I knew the answer but was saying it wrong. I am mortified. I feel not only have I wrecked my chances, but made a total idiot out of myself in front five very important people in my field.

AGH. I keep muttering IDIOT to myself which I know isn't helpful but I cannot believe my brain.

The worst thing is I think the panel genuinely wanted to hire me and I've made it impossible to do that, and it's going to so embarassing explaining to people why.

OP posts:
Original poster
saltedhotchoc · 07/02/2022 19:12

So many typos and I didn't mean to enable voting but ah well

OP posts:
Palegreenstars · 07/02/2022 19:14

I’d email them - the worst they can do is ignore it. Don’t focus on explaining yourself just answer the Q correctly.

ForensicFlossy · 07/02/2022 19:17

Completely agree with @Palegreenstars it can't do any harm.

HerRoyalNotness · 07/02/2022 19:18

Oh I really feel for you. I’m hopeless at interviews ans my mind goes completely blank!
I was really nervous at one interview ans didn’t get the job. The following interview with the same dept manager as the first but different interviewers, I was less nervous and got the job. I had to use examples from volunteering for a sports club to answer their questions which was rubbish but they seemed to accept it (eg name a time when you made a mistake and tell us what happened type questions)

MrsTerryPratchett · 07/02/2022 19:19

We use points. If it was close a wrong answer might push someone else higher. You wouldn't 'fail' but they might get more points.

Golden golden rule. Do not ignore if they ask the same question. Breathe, think, wrote it down the give yourself time. Ask to come back to it. Don't give the same answer.

CrinklyCraggy · 07/02/2022 19:21

I think it sounds like they were willing you to do well. It will depend how good the other candidates are. If someone got a perfect score you won't win, but normally one poor answer wouldn't ruin an interview.

How important was the aspect that was being asked about? Did you give 3 different wrong answers?

Original poster
saltedhotchoc · 07/02/2022 19:27

@CrinklyCraggy

I think it sounds like they were willing you to do well. It will depend how good the other candidates are. If someone got a perfect score you won't win, but normally one poor answer wouldn't ruin an interview.

How important was the aspect that was being asked about? Did you give 3 different wrong answers?

No I kept giving the same wrong answer because I literally couldn't think Blush

Hard to explain without being outing, but there was one correct answer, and it was just a very basic question in a series of similar questions and I was being stupid.

I think it was hard for them to understand how on earth I'd answered all the other questions fine, have many qualifications/existing work which uses these skills but was somehow getting it wrong. I'm hoping they realised it was a stupid under pressure mistake, but maybe they just think I'm an idiot...

OP posts:
Original poster
saltedhotchoc · 07/02/2022 19:28

@Palegreenstars

I’d email them - the worst they can do is ignore it. Don’t focus on explaining yourself just answer the Q correctly.
Thank you, I want to do this, but also I think it could be a bit unprofessional?
OP posts:
UndertheCedartree · 07/02/2022 19:28

Sometimes the brain does let us down!

When doing my nursing degree, I was doing a Viva (oral exam). I was given a scenario and was asked what I would do first - I began to explain the assessment I would do on my patient. We would have to give a rationale for everything so I went to say the name of the organisation that gave the guidelines I was following. And my mind went blank. I knew this off by heart but I sat there for what seemed an hour umming and ashing!

I agree, email showing you do know the answer. It can't hurt. Good luck!

Clymene · 07/02/2022 19:28

I'd email them. What have you got to lose?

Original poster
saltedhotchoc · 07/02/2022 19:29

@MrsTerryPratchett

We use points. If it was close a wrong answer might push someone else higher. You wouldn't 'fail' but they might get more points.

Golden golden rule. Do not ignore if they ask the same question. Breathe, think, wrote it down the give yourself time. Ask to come back to it. Don't give the same answer.

Yes I imagine they use points too, and I suppose it depends on whether others gave them a perfect score on everything.

AGH.

Totally - and I knew I was wrong, can't believe myself!

OP posts:
Imsittinginthekitchensink · 07/02/2022 19:31

I interviewed recently and a candidate gave such an alarmingly bad response to a question that she rendered herself unappointable immediately. Otherwise as pp says, it goes on a points basis in our place and you just will have got a bad score for that question.

MrsTerryPratchett · 07/02/2022 19:32

@Imsittinginthekitchensink

I interviewed recently and a candidate gave such an alarmingly bad response to a question that she rendered herself unappointable immediately. Otherwise as pp says, it goes on a points basis in our place and you just will have got a bad score for that question.
That's different. If it was safety or equality stuff, we wouldn't be hiring. Like the man who repeatedly referred to me as 'dear' after being asked not to. Hmm
Merryoldgoat · 07/02/2022 19:35

@Imsittinginthekitchensink

I want to know what they said!!

Merryoldgoat · 07/02/2022 19:36

@MrsTerryPratchett

Bloody hell - really?! Some people just astonish.

CorrBlimeyGG · 07/02/2022 19:39

Is there anything in your application that shows you know the right answer? When I've interviewed, I'd look at the application in this scenario, and try to find something to justify meeting that descriptor from there.

neverbeenskiing · 07/02/2022 19:40

I agree with PP you have nothing to lose by emailing them.

If it makes you feel any better, OP I once interviewed a woman who thought it was appropriate to get her phone out and show us a picture of her cats midway through the interview.

YanTanTetheraPetheraPimp · 07/02/2022 19:41

I interviewed a man for a senior position, he started by slamming an A4 lever arch file full of paperwork on the table and saying that these were all the jobs he’d applied for.
Then he said he hadn’t told his wife or children he was at the interview (he lived at least 200 miles away), they’d have to put up with moving when he got this job 😳
It didn’t get any better.
I honestly couldn’t believe my ears, and he was very unpleasant when I phoned him later to say that he hadn’t been successful!

RedChapter · 07/02/2022 19:42

I'd echo that it's worth emailing them. I've interviewed people for years, points based and have occasionally had someone really nervous for example but o can see their experience would be valuable. So I've given a second chance.
You have covid, you think you have no symptoms but brain freeze might just be the one symptom you haven't realised. Not as an excuse but worth a bash. Good luck!

Snakeplisskensmum · 07/02/2022 19:44

Definitely email, admit nerves got the better of you as you want the job so much. I did this when I completely cocked up a presentation. The fact that I acknowledged my mistakes went in my favour as I was seen as someone humble 🤷‍♀️

Original poster
saltedhotchoc · 07/02/2022 19:44

@CorrBlimeyGG

Is there anything in your application that shows you know the right answer? When I've interviewed, I'd look at the application in this scenario, and try to find something to justify meeting that descriptor from there.
Yes all of it Blush

I can't in my COVID addled brain think of an example, but the questions were designed to test skills that I am really experienced in, and I was probably expected to score highest out of their candidates, and they had previously complemented me on my expertise in it

Sort of like a doctor forgetting what goes into calculating BMI?

OP posts:
Original poster
saltedhotchoc · 07/02/2022 19:45

@YanTanTetheraPetheraPimp

I interviewed a man for a senior position, he started by slamming an A4 lever arch file full of paperwork on the table and saying that these were all the jobs he’d applied for. Then he said he hadn’t told his wife or children he was at the interview (he lived at least 200 miles away), they’d have to put up with moving when he got this job 😳 It didn’t get any better. I honestly couldn’t believe my ears, and he was very unpleasant when I phoned him later to say that he hadn’t been successful!
Well at least I know I didn't do this Grin
OP posts:
Original poster
saltedhotchoc · 07/02/2022 19:45

@Imsittinginthekitchensink

I interviewed recently and a candidate gave such an alarmingly bad response to a question that she rendered herself unappointable immediately. Otherwise as pp says, it goes on a points basis in our place and you just will have got a bad score for that question.
Oh gosh, I am worried I am that candidate
OP posts:
MyBoysHaveDogsNames · 07/02/2022 19:50

I once interviewed someone who started speaking with a Jamaican accent. She wasn't Jamaican That was weird.

vickyc90 · 07/02/2022 20:06

Good luck OP if you don't have to get a minimum score on every question you might still be the highest scoring

Swipe left for the next trending thread