When preparing for a job interview, one expects to be bombarded with various questions. These queries usually help employers determine if the person is right for the job and get a better insight into their personality. However, answering them might be tricky for some, especially if they’re meant to push the interviewee off their tracks.
The poor people in this online thread were recently sharing the questions that led them to fail their job interview seconds into it. Scroll down to find the most unfortunate stories that serve as cautionary tales for anyone preparing for an interview.
While you're at it, don't forget to check out a conversation with hiring consultant and owner of Hire Possibilities Carolyn Illman, who kindly agreed to give some pointers on how to recover from fumbling a job interview question.
#1
Not me, but a friend. They got asked “how’s your grammar?” They HEARD “how’s your grandma?” So they answered “she’s fine, thanks…” in a very confused tone.
Thankfully the interviewers laughed, and they got the job.
Image credits: leeenielou
#2
About five minutes in & the third generic interview question I got asked:
“What would you say is your main weakness?”
Aaand I pulled out a pre-printed business card and handed it to him that just said:
‘I tend to over prepare’.
It’d got a good laugh at previous interviews and broke the ice, but this dude looked at me like I’d just slapped his mother and I got a “thanks for your time, we’ll be in touch”.
Image credits: Daedricbob
#3
“Do you have a driving licence and your own car?”
“Yes”
“Is it clean?”
“Er, yeah, I washed it the other day actually”
“I meant the licence…”.
Image credits: onebadlion
#4
Slept in for the interview, quickly cleaned up, got ready, shaved my face and rushed out the door into a taxi. Made it just in time.
Unfortunately, not passing a mirror on my way out did me a disservice. I sat down opposite the panel and they all had very strange expressions on their face.
I’d cut my neck quite badly while shaving and didn’t notice and apparently had touched the blood at some point and smeared it on my face too like some sort of lopsided war paint. Didn’t realise until I’d left the interview and saw my reflection in a shop window.
I did not get the job.
Image credits: Beneficial-Way4428
#5
Not me, but my mum often talks about the time she was interviewing for a grad job after a group exercise with the other applicants. The interviewer stated that she thought she came across as a bit defensive, and my mum replied with “no I’m not”.
#6
I was 18 and had applied to be a GP receptionist whilst trying to figure out what I wanted to do with life, had just dropped out of uni so was in a bad place.
I’d been plagued by spam calls in recent days, and I got a ‘no caller ID’ call and answered it with silence…there was also silence on the other end. After about 10 seconds I say “so are you going to say something? what do you want?” in an annoyed tone. Turns out it was the GP receptionist calling me to test my phone manner as a screening process. I didn’t get the job!
Image credits: TastyDragonfruit3000
#7
Was given the wrong directions to the place (I’d lived in the city about 2 days and it was an hours walk away roughly, in the days before smartphones too). Realised I was at the wrong place and knew I was screwed 10 mins before the interview. Phoned them and apologised, then made my way there over an hour late
Got the job anyway.
Image credits: Alanthedrum
#8
When I was a teen I was dropping CVs into various businesses, one of them the manager asked if I was free to have an interview there and then.
First question he asked was if I knew what they did as a company. I had literally no idea. Didn’t even know the company name.
It was a very short interview.
Image credits: GiffGiffGiff
#9
Aged 21 going for a summer sales job,
was asked how do you make a sale about the buyer?
‘well I like to personalise it, if the person is old, like you…..’
Never recovered.
I am now a systems architect, so i definitely failed upwards.
Image credits: Murky-Sun9552
#10
Had two interviews lined up…one in the AM and one in the PM at competing firms.
Only a special kind of idiot would get them mixed up…
Image credits: Coop3rman
#11
Was told I had a colourful CV. “Thanks, it’s just a Microsoft Word template”.
Image credits: leugeneskabs
#12
“How do you think you could successfully differentiate when working with people, based on different race, culture and genders?”
“Doesn’t bother me in the slightest that your black and a woman, happy to work for you”
“I’m talking about our customers not me”.
Image credits: zephyrthewonderdog
#13
When I was 19 I went for an interview for a retail job and had 2 interviewers, the assistant manager and one of the team leaders. I instantly recognised the team leader as a friend of a friend I’d seen around at several parties.
I proceeded to give him a warm greeting and conducted the remaining interview with the sort of familiarity you’d expect from someone you know. I was thinking the whole time I’ve got the job in the bag and how fortunate it was I knew the interviewer. About half way through though I realised he was looking at me like I’m a complete werido and I wasn’t sure why.
I ended up getting the job and about 6 weeks passed before I casually mentioned our mutual friend Adam, and he was like ‘Ahh you know Adam!’. Turns out the whole time he didn’t recognise me and thought I was gay for him.
Image credits: Streams0fDreams
#14
Not me but a friend who travelled to the interview in Germany by Lufthansa.
Interview hadn’t yet started : Which airline did you use ?
Answer : Luftwaffe.
Image credits: ItsReallyOnlyMe
#15
“To start with, are you okay to give your presentation?”
Turns out that “What presentation?” isn’t a very good response. Whoops!
Image credits: MrNutella1
#16
Went for an interview at a media company that focuses on kids.
Covered my background, good. Why did I want this role? Also good.
Then they asked me why I thought I was a good fit for the role.
Among other things, I told them I knew that audience well, having a four year old kid of my own.
I was 22 at the time. Saw the woman’s face turn to stone as she did the maths. Knew I wasn’t getting it.
Image credits: AndyVale
#17
Right at the start, by not showing up. Even though I’d spent hours preparing for the interview.
I’d applied to work for a British organisation with a base in Belgium.
The interview was via video link.
When they told me the time of the interview, I didn’t think to convert it to UK time.
So I showed up an hour late.
They weren’t impressed, and I didn’t get the job.
Image credits: David84874
#18
It was one of my first job interviews since I was only 18/19, but I asked them what the notice period was. The look on their faces was priceless and obviously I did not get the job.
Image credits: tigerspicelatte
#19
The building was confusing and I walked through the wrong door. The interviewer saw and told the receptionist “I definitely don’t want that one”.
I went and got very drunk in the pub opposite instead.
Image credits: Own_Air_5945
#20
So, for context, this was the third and final stage of an application for a high, but not director, level position.
First interview – with a (non managing) director (we’ll call them Bob for ease). Went really well. I am told this role is not a practical, day to day position and is more about strategy.
Second interview – Same non managing director as above, along with two other high level hires who I would be working with. Went really well. It is reinforced to me that the position isn’t a nitty gritty position but to take ownership of expansion.
Third interview – I am prepped as I am meeting the managing director & owner – we’ll call him Fred. I was asked to prepare an overview of my priorities for domestic expansion. Arrive at the meeting, met Bob who was very enthusiastic about me being there, but takes me to one side before we begin and says, “So, when you meet Fred, he’s very keen to hear about your strategy for international expansion…” **pause**, “… and I think we mentioned before that Fred can be very direct… ” **pause “**so just take 10 minutes and come up when ready”.
Fair enough I think, thinking on your feet etc is a good skill to display. So, came up with a quick pitch and went upstairs.
Fred comes in, says rather disparagingly, “oh, you’re looking very smart aren’t you?” to which I reply, “Well, you’ve got to make an effort!” So we’re 10 seconds in…
Fred sits down and asks, “So what do you understand about this role?”
“Well, as I understand from Bob, this is a strategic role rather than hands on…”
“No, that’s not correct at all. It’s very much hands on.”
Fred stands up and says, “Bob, can I have a quick word” and leaves the room with a very embarrassed Bob.
I sit there awkwardly for a few minutes. Bob comes in and sheepishly thanks me for my time.
I think I could have phrased “hands on” better, but still, Jesus Christ…
#21
When I was 18 and had little experience, I put in my CV that I was fluent in French, which is a lie. The person who interviewed me was Tunisian, and spoke fluent French. She spoke to me in French as she entered the room. The interview was over before she’d even sat down.
Image credits: JamDoughnutMan
#22
“Tell me how you got here today?” is very open to interpretation. I’d have done the same as you.
Image credits: mothzilla
#23
1. “Meet me in the Adam and Eve pub.” Went to the wrong Adam and Eve pub…
2. Pushed a pull door. Several times.
“I’m here for the interview.”
“There is no interview or job vacancy.”
“What about the sign that says help wanted.”
“No, there is no sign.”.
#24
Had a job interview at a place in the middle of nowhere (pre GPS on your phone). Had a quick look on the map before I left, got lost and ended up in a village with a very similiar name. Thought, sod it, I’m so late I might as well go home but on the way back found myself driving past the right place. Thought, sod it, and went in for the interview. Had a comment about ‘thought you weren’t coming’, went through with the interview…didn’t get it.
But….about a week later they got in touch and said the original person they offered it to had said no, so did I want the job. I said no (mostly based on the commute) and I judged them for offering the job to a candidate who turned up 45mins late for the interview.
Image credits: GSV_honestmistake
#25
Not sure if it’s “messed up” but after about 7 minutes in, it became quite clear the job was not what was advertised and I bluntly told them not to waste any more of my time if they weren’t interested in what I was actually here to interview for. I’ve also “failed” an interview before it even started, went down to London to interview for a new client (contract position) I signed myself in 30 minutes early, was told where everything would be. 45 minutes after the interview was supposed to start, I still hadn’t been called in, despite the fact that I could see the two interviewers sat in a glass office together for the duration. I dropped my expenses invoice with the receptionist and left, went to the cafe downstairs and got myself a coffee. Phone rang 5 minutes later and I told them they could either come downstairs and join me for coffee or put the phone down. I dragged the director of engineering down 8 floors, let him buy me another coffee and then told him I was no longer interested. I’ve had an argument in an interview before, which I’m fairly certain cost me the job. The “technical specialist” made a point that was demonstrably wrong, I thought it might be an attempt to catch me out, so I told him he was wrong, articulated why, and it descended into an argument from there. Didn’t get the job, but wasn’t too upset about it as I’d have been working for a weapons grade lemon. Worst in terms of time to failure was probably when I was 17 and was voluntold to go and interview for the local Waitrose. Told them I was only here because my mum nagged me into it, I had no interest in working for them and customer facing work was not my forte. Two and a half hours of group interview nonsense later I got to leave. If you ever get the opportunity, interview for some jobs you’re not interested in and see how far you can push being useless before they actually close the interview and tell you to go away. It’s quite entertaining. Every now and then you’ll still get a job offer, which is even more confusing.
Image credits: OrdoRidiculous
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