To ask for your interview fuck ups

[Biggybigbiggles]

I have two interviews on Monday, my first in 12 years and I'm shitting it. I have horrible imposter syndrome!

Can you regale me with your funny interview fuck ups so I can cheer myself up should I make a tit of myself?

I read on one of these threads years ago someone tripped over a potato at an interview. Countless posters asked why there was a potato in the room but the question was never answered. I think about it every time I have an interview now!

My worst was probably my most recent one, the interviewer was really down to earth and approachable, I ended up massively oversharing details of my life. I haven't heard back from them weeks later on so I'm going to guess I haven't got that one!

My interview for my current role went horribly. I was asked about the MSc I was studying at the time, and how it had changed my practice (it was for an advanced practice clinical role). I broke down in tears saying the MSc had basically made me question if ever known in my job and that I didn't think I'd be able to assess a big standard simple ankle sprain.....I was very surprised when they offered me the job at the end of the interview 😱

About 6 years ago I had an interview at a HE college. There was a written task and a group task too. I did my best, although I hate interviews. I was relieved that I was told that I was through to the second round. At this point, another successful candidate, much younger and very beautiful and seemingly confident, told me, politely, that I had my blouse on inside out. I did. I don’t know how it happened! Or why! Argh! I’d gone through at least a couple of hours and surely everyone my at have seen. I had to go to the loo and put it the right way. Honestly I felt like the biggest twat ever. Perhaps I am or was. Needless to say the next part didn’t go well for me. My daughter is starting here in September and my husband’s a governor. Oh well!!

I was prepping in the car beforehand & managed to leave my glasses in my car. Couldn't see to read a A4 Spreadsheet they asked me to complete. Decided to be honest & say I couldn't read it rather than try & wing it. I got the job!! Apparently they liked my honesty 😂

I applied for a job doing something that I was already very experienced in, but it was an essential requirement that you could speak a specific second language (I can’t, not even a tiny bit).

Managed to get an interview. Chatting with the other candidate while waiting I realised she was fluent in the other language but had never done the job before.

Went into interview, and when asked about language fluency confidently told them that I didn’t speak the language at all, but could do the rest of the job immediately without training; and asked them to consider whether they wanted someone who was fluent and inexperienced, or someone who could hit the ground running and then learn the language.

Must have made a good impression as they offered me the job; on the condition that I take steps to begin learning the language. I accepted over the phone; spent the night on duo-lingo trying to get started then panicked that I would never be able to reach an adequate level of fluency and sent an email to withdraw my acceptance.

I went for a job at a supermarket in my 20s. The three men interviewing me asked if I had children and what would I do with them if they were ill.

I asked them the same question. They looked really embarrassed and then I proceeded to give them 1 10 minute lecture on equality and discrimination in the workplace. They actually offered me the job! I told them I didn't want it (in not very polite terms).

I was interviewing quite recently a young man who basically gave me his life story when I asked him about his strengths and weaknesses. Including his addiction to cocaine and nightly binge drinking. He said the job would be a chance to leave all this behind.

Turned up hungover and told them! No, I didn't get the job and I must have reeked of alcohol. Not my finest hour

I once made a career mis-step into a role I absolutely hated with loads of travel I hadn't expected. Started interviewing after a couple of weeks. One screening call they ask why I was job hunting so quickly and I said "there's so much travel with the job which I wasn't expecting, and I'm running out of dog sitting favours with friends and family". Which, is fine, except I don't have a dog and I don't know why I needed to qualify my original (totally ok) reason.

I thought, no biggie, I'll not be speaking to the HR person again. She told the interviewer. We spent 15 minutes discussing my lovely three year old shiba inu called Holly. Why I didn't just say a Labrador or something I don't know. The second interview with the big boss we also spent 20 minutes talking about our pet dogs.

They offered me the job, I turned it down. I didn't want to have to get a dog!

I was the interviewer. Woman turned up with 2 massive tesco carrier bags of shopping. Seemed a bit wacky, but capable. As she turned to leave I noticed 2 velcro rollers in the back of her hair that she must have forgotten to remove.

We gave her the job and she became one of the best friends I've ever had.

Civil service board interview. Very smart intimidating panel on one side of a long desk. Me in a chair in front of them .fluffed it from the start and it just got worse. Drawing to a close they asked me if I had any questions for them I replied, ' yes, can I go now please'. Got the next job I went for there as I knew what to expect.

In 1976 for one of my first teaching jobs I was interviewed at the school in the Head Master's office by his nibs himself - nobody else present. It was 11am and he poured himself a large sherry and then one for me. I was so nervous I drank it all! He pulled out a packet of Benson & Hedges and offered me one. I hardly smoked but took it anyway and he lit it for me. Obviously I coughed and spluttered until I could barely speak.

He then asked if I was engaged or thinking about getting engaged as in his experience, engaged ladies tended to leave as soon as they got married to start a family. I wasn't.

He then walked me around the school (me staggering and wheezing) and offered me the job. With a slur, I croakily accepted!

Applied for a permanent job, and was asked if I'd consider doing an immediate start as an interim.
At the interview for the permanent role, big song and dance about treating me the same as other candidates, but every question I answered I was then asked to give an example of where I'd done it in that organisation (I'd been there about six weeks at that point) the interview ran over to such an extent that I wasn't given the opportunity to ask any questions to the interview panel.
I emailed the Chief Exec immediately afterwards, made a formal complaint and said I was withdrawing the process. Chief Exec had a row with the Trustees, and said that either the trustee that had lead the interview resigned, or she would.
Trustee resigned.
I still didn't want the job.

After finishing my degree and moving back in with my parents I just wanted to work while applying for career jobs. Had an interview at a big store, all went well, they even said I was overqualified but I reassured them I've always loved my jobs and don't care about such stuff, just wanted to earn to contribute to my family home. Was signed up there and then, walked out happy...into a cupboard and not the exit door! So embarrassing lol 😆 stepping a few feet into it and realising, hey no I'm not overqualified! Directions have always been a problem for me, I just can't seem to navigate them at all. Hope they found it amusing, started the next day and nothing was said!

Hopefully this will help to alleviate any fears, you can still get a job even when being a clown! Xx

Wait...she didn't realise it was the original? 🤣🤣

A friend once was doing the interview and kept looking at the woman and thinking there was something wrong and couldn't quite place it - until half way through when she realised the candidate had only used make up on one eye - eye shadow, eye liner and mascara done beautifully on one eye - and nothing on the other

I lied about a new hobby as I didn’t think drinking wine and watching MAFS was going to cut it so I panicked and said I was learning to surf 🤦🏻‍♀️ of course the interviewer was an avid surfer and started chatting about board types! I did get the job though.

Now I interview people my worst one was when I happened to be in the front office when the candidate got there and he blanked me and didn’t say hello as he’d assumed I was the receptionist. His face when he sat down to be interviewed by me!! 😂 People that treat our staff like that are not welcome!

Also read one where someone used a presentation for the job that she found on the internet. The interview asked her if she’d written it herself and the candidate said yes. The interview said “no you didn’t because I made that”! 😂

Applied for an admin job. They asked me why I left last job (manager/team leader) and I rambled on about not liking being in charge or being a manager, how I didn’t like too much responsibility. Turned out the admin job they advertised was bullshit and they actually wanted me as an office manager, leading a full office with many people. They never called me back 🤔

I flew all the way to Switzerland for an interview- first had a telephone interview, had the job spec etc.

When I got there the interview panel were there to interview for a completely different job. They had no knowledge about the role I had applied for. They apologised, the interview lasted about 5 minutes and I went straight back to the airport.

They did pay for my flights though but otherwise a complete wasted trip.

No , she nodded in a pleased way ! 🤣🤣🤣

Honestly - I was being interviewed by somebody who was my sons age - around about 30. (Me being mid 50s) I was asked the question where do you see yourself in 5 years time.... Fatal question tbh - well retired! I knew from the outset I had no f*ing chance on this job but was forced by circumstances to apply. The look on her face was really quite amusing! (For the record I did get another job which I did for another 3 years before being offered voluntary redundancy)

This happened to me ! Except it was a hospital car park and loads of ambulances were coming and going. I completely zoned out and had to ask the interview to repeat the question!
I got the job surprisingly.

A friend had an interview with her blouse undone (not intentional!). One of the panel followed her out to tell her after the interview was completed. She apologised for not telling her sooner but didn't want to put her off. The panel was one woman and two blokes. She got the job.

Went for a job interview a long drive away. Got there to discover I had not packed my interview suit shoes- I had packed one blue low heel shoe and one black high heel shoe, fortunately one left and right foot.
was an interesting half day of interviews, but I did get the job.

Someone I interviewed was in an uber that was hit by a lorry on the way to the interview. He still got the job!
whatever you do just don’t arrive ridiculously early. The amount of people that arrive 30 or more minutes early is more than you’d think. It just comes across as entitled. Good luck @Biggybigbiggles

Graduate job for a big bank it was an assessment day and I finished the presentation bit. I was so relieved it was over that I forgot the glass door was sliding as opposed to push and walked straight into it.

Still got the job mind.