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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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 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:

TheSunIsStillShining · 07/02/2022 20:18

look on the bright side: It's not that bad... you had everything else nailed. You actually have a chance,

Here's 2 stories to cheer you up.
I moved here for a job, but decided not to extend contract after 6 months, so started interviews. I am bilingual hungarian/english. I speak some german, but more kitchen german than anything else.
Went to an interview with a design agency and the interviewer had a german name. From that point on half the words came to me in german. He didn't speak german and I looked like an idiot and kept searching for the most basic words. This was a client facing role of course.

Another interview few years later ... went well, panel of 4 ppl, 2 never said a word, totally forgot their names too. Going out I walked into the door frame. You know, when you turn and the bloody thing teleports there. swore slightly in hungarian under my nose. Then got told off by the 4th man that it is not professional to "swear as a soda carriage driver". In perfect hungarian. Using the perfect hungarian phrase for it.

Tunnocks34 · 07/02/2022 20:24

Yes, once in a teacher interview I had to teach a lesson, I ended up doing area of rectangles/squares and I drew a square on the board, labelled it square and gave it the measurements 6m and 4m 😳. I have an a level and a degree in maths.

GrumpyTerrier · 07/02/2022 20:44

I did this once. They'd asked me what I could use ie spreadsheets, Word etc. I kept saying 'I can do databases, ie Excel'. They asked me again which program I used for databases, obviously to see if I would correct my mistake and I said Excel again! Then afterwards I realised. Nerves just got the better of me. The annoying thing was that I could use both Excel and Access! But I sounded like I was lying.

MrsTerryPratchett · 07/02/2022 20:46

@Tunnocks34

I'm sorry but I'd pay money for a video of that!

pitterpatterrain · 07/02/2022 20:50

Ah. I must admit it made me think of the candidate when I asked him at the end of the interview if he had any questions for me (about the role / company) he started asking whether he could get a higher salary offer as he was having his first DC and was planning for private school …

He didn’t get the job

Hayisforhorse · 07/02/2022 20:57

If it's public sector then there's usually a strict scoring system, which can mean they have to mark you down on that. OTOH if you scored overall high marks then you could still be ok if the other candidates scored less.

It sounds like they liked you and wanted to give you that chance. It might be worth emailing and giving the correct answer. If I wasn't using a strict scoring system and you were otherwise great then I might give you the benefit of the doubt. Having had Covid brain myself I can completely see why you struggled today.

I interviewed someone who said my profession's equivalent of 'I want to work in your butchers, but I don't like or approve of meat', or 'yes I'd love to be a teacher, I dislike children'. It's a bit of a niche job so can't give the real example, but it was truly jaw droopingly bad, and they did genuinely want the job. It cannot be worse than that interview. As a PP said it rendered them unappointable immediately.

Isonthecase · 07/02/2022 21:07

Just email them and say the correct answer, covid is a great reason to have struggled!

kleew1 · 07/02/2022 21:11

I did this during an interview, no excuse. And it was an economic answer to be given with a business/finance consultant mind. My answer was to do free parking and put furniture shops into city centres as people don't want to buy furniture online so that would create footfall and offer free coffee.

Still cringe. Hopefully this makes you feel better.

FaoinDrualus · 07/02/2022 21:32

I interviewed someone who was doing well, good answers to the tecnical questions, had relevant experiance. Got to the part where I explained we were a global department, meetings with the US could be quite late, would that be a problem for him.
He said that was fine, he liked working with Americans ... and then went on to say that he didnt like working with French people, he found them arrogant.
When he left myself and my - very obviously French from her name and accent - co-interviewer, were looking at each other going what the fuck?!
We did not hire him!

chillied · 07/02/2022 21:40

OP the panel may discuss this tomorrow, e.g. along the lines of, why didn't she know, if she did then we would appoint etc. So email them, and then there is the sliver of a chance that that discussion might go in your favour.

And if not then you will have salvaged some professional pride, cos they'll know you do know, even if there rules don't allow it to be taken into account.

pinkpirlie · 07/02/2022 21:44

I once had a candidate when asked about a difficult conversation they had had and how they handled it, went on to tell me about a conversation with their current manager who wanted to know why they were always absent from their desk!!
It seriously couldn't get worse than that

Undecidedandtorn · 07/02/2022 21:49

I threw up in a bin in the corner of the room once during an interview so at least you didn't do that. I interviewed a candidate once who said to the first question "I don't have any experience of that" but answered every other question brilliantly. When I rang to offer her the job she was amazed!

Glorieta · 07/02/2022 21:50

I interviewed someone once who had been asked to deliver a 10 minute presentation on a topic relevant to the post with follow up questions.
When politely invited to use the laptop and screen to present they stated that they hadn't had time prep a presentation last night as they'd been on the phone to their mum (even though they had a week's notice of interview) then proceeded to tell us all the reasons why their mum thought they were suitable for the job. Bty they were in their 40s!

Another applicant kept referring to a group of our more challenging service users as "wee buggers".

A different interview day one candidate spent a good 15 minutes sniping with our interview panel chair (he was being a bit awkward) and stated they weren't that bothered about the job if he (the chair) was going to be "a goady fucker".

None were deemed appointable and the chair got a telling off for being too combative aka goady fucker

CorsicaDreaming · 07/02/2022 21:55

@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.

I agree with the several posters who say you should just email and say you realised you gave the wrong answer and should have said X - and perhaps even better if you can say 'and as you can see from x y z in my CV I have relevant experience of this issue. '

You can't lose anything as far as I can see - if they are planning to give you the job anyway, a polite formal email at arms length like this isn't going to stop them giving you the job.

But if they are unsure due to that one factor it may swing it in your favour.

But I'd do it as soon as you can as in my place they tend to meet and offer v quickly after the interview takes place.

cuno · 07/02/2022 21:56

I think it depends on the question. I used to recruit for a care home, one woman I interviewed she was answering questions fine but when it came to questions about abuse it all fell apart and she couldn't answer at all. She couldn't explain or name types of abuse, she couldn't give examples of signs of abuse, she couldn't tell me what she would do if she thought someone was being abused. I tried rewording the questions and put forward scenarios but it was no use. On paper she was otherwise good, and she did well in the rest of the interview, but I just could not take on anyone who was that absolutely clueless about identifying and responding to abuse. To me it showed a complete lack of common sense that you can't even teach, and it would make for a safeguarding disaster. Maybe she actually did know the stuff and went away kicking herself, but it wasn't a risk I was willing to take. Some people haven't known the nuts and bolts of things like DoLS, mental capacity act, care act etc, BUT those things are easily learned and I took those staff on and they were fantastic. So it really does depend on the question!

Beanybob · 07/02/2022 21:58

Once on a panel we were discussing confidentiality and handling sensitive information with a candidate who took great pains to assure us that if they were talking about any clients or cases in the pub with friends they would be sure to change the names of those involved. Good to know (!)

Nothing to lose by emailing in! I'd do it tonight before they start/continue deliberating tomorrow.

NarcissistsEyebrows · 07/02/2022 22:00

I agree with pp to definitely email. You've got nothing to loose, and if you're keen then there us no harm in showing them.

Making the point that you know you messed up, you had covid brain freeze, and if you had made a mistake in a work situation you'd ensure you followed up to correct your mistake and so you're doing the same here.
It can only go in your favour

Toddlerteaplease · 07/02/2022 22:01

I got asked why I'd applied for a job. (Promotion on my own ward) and I said because my then manager told me too. My new manager thought it was hilarious and it still makes her laugh. (Didn't get it as other people did better)

PeakyBlender · 07/02/2022 22:03

I would email too. Good luck

CorsicaDreaming · 07/02/2022 22:04

@Glorieta

I interviewed someone once who had been asked to deliver a 10 minute presentation on a topic relevant to the post with follow up questions. When politely invited to use the laptop and screen to present they stated that they hadn't had time prep a presentation last night as they'd been on the phone to their mum (even though they had a week's notice of interview) then proceeded to tell us all the reasons why their mum thought they were suitable for the job. Bty they were in their 40s!

Another applicant kept referring to a group of our more challenging service users as "wee buggers".

None were deemed appointable and the chair got a telling off for being too combative aka goady fucker

@Glorieta - that made me laugh out loud. I'd love to work where you work ! 😂

2018SoFarSoGreat · 07/02/2022 22:42

Covid Fog Brain. Totally a thing, and you suffered from it during the interview. Assuming that they know you have it currently, email and tell them the real answer, and how your Covid Fog refused to let you see it at the time.

Nothing ventured and all that!

bridgetreilly · 07/02/2022 22:55

It depends on the question. One time I was on a panel interviewing for the youth worker, and the most experienced candidate gave a wrong answer to the safeguarding question. We tried to give him another chance but it didn’t help. In that situation one wrong question absolutely ruled him out. Other questions wouldn’t have been treated in quite the same way.

Mermaidwaves · 07/02/2022 23:05

@Undecidedandtorn

I'm so sorry but throwing up during the interview has really made me

Did you get the job?

HaveringWavering · 07/02/2022 23:22

On the one hand you say your Covid is symptomless, but now you are blaming Covid fog brain? I had a false sense of security when I first tested positive, but it hit me about 24 hours later. Perhaps you could explain that when you agreed to the interview you thought you were OK but with hindsight you were not. However whether you get the job or not will depend on how the other candidates were I suppose. Good luck.

FedUpOfLighteningCrotch · 07/02/2022 23:52

I had an interview where the company director asked “if I offered you the job today would you take it?”

My brains said “don’t act too keen” (wtf?!)

So I said “hmmm.. well I guess so”

He was quite taken aback and said “you don’t seem so sure, why the hesitation?”

I apologised and told them exactly that, my brain told me to act cool 🤣

I got the job.

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