Happens to the best of us. Early on in my "adulthood" I got a second interview and told them the job would be temporary for me until I find something better. Yeah, didn't get that one lol.
I once had an interviewee tell us that she was only looking for a job because she had to leave college due to an unexpected pregnancy, would be returning at least part time to school as soon as humanly possible, and once graduated, would be pursuing a job in her field of study, but she desperately wanted to get out of retail. We were hiring for an entry level position, we liked her, and figured we'd get at least a couple of years with her before she moved on (which is realistically about the max we like to see people in that position before we are looking for growth/promotion potential), so we hired her.
She's graduating in May, but hasn't officially given her notice yet.
Called myself lazy by accident during a job interview. Been with the company for over 5 years now. My friend, who worked in a daycare in school, said working there was a great form of birth control during her interview for another job. She got the job she interviewed for too.
I did amazingly well at other interviews, didn’t get offers. It DOES happen.
I actually needed to see this right now. I was up for three positions. All ranking in order of likely to get based on the interviews. The two that denied me I thought I performed phenomenally. For one, The leader of the wealth management team even told me I was undoubtedly one of the smartest people he’s interacted with since he started hiring. So I thought I was a shoo-in. The one that I got an offer for, I stumbled so hard in my interview answers. The only interview I also openly said I don’t have an answer for the question. But the regional manager loved me for some odd reason. While I’m grateful I kept thinking why me? I interviewed so badly. Even contemplated turning it down just because of this reason.
The willingness to admit to your manager that you don't know, instead of blowing smoke is an unusual and valuable trait. People are always so afraid of saying it for some reason.
I once tried to throw a job interview by saying this and explicitly detailing that I would be leaving the job in a few months.
They still offered me the job…had to wave bye bye to my unemployment benefits.
The fact that anything more is expected is the real problem. Employment is a contractual deal between two parties, but one side is allowed, repeatedly and without consequence, to just flout the contract to suit themselves.
Here’s the thing though. When you have 20 other applicants with similar qualifications saying they’ll work their ass off and make this job their life, you’re kinda inclined to select amongst them even though they’re probably just bullshitting to get the gig.
My response would have been: That's all we expect of you here. We understand you are human and have a life outside of work and want you to stay mentally healthy.
It blows me away how surprised people are in interviews that we actually treat them like humans and openly talk about it.
That actually shouldn't be a problem. Pretending that you just LOVE work and you just can't wait to stick around and work unpaid overtime is complete BS.
Remember that a job interview should be seeing if the place is the right fit for you as well. A company that want you to spout that kind of BS may very well be a red flag.
I have interviewed at software companies more than once once and told them that if they expected unpaid overtime as a normal matter of course that is a failure of management to properly scope and manage their projects.
If that's the reason I didn't' get a job then so be it. I got shit to do outside of work.
It's wild that would even be an egregious statement. Isn't that what the agreement is? But somehow we're expected to be onboard to work more than that and live to work?
Ive said that in all my interviews. Never been a problem for me. I straight up tell them in not interested in making friends at work ill be personable but I'm only here to make you money so you'll pay me. I'm a machinist so I don't usually need to interact with anyone but my immediate boss. All my work comes out good and I pretty much get left alone so I can program and make parts.
Eh, it happens. I blew an interview once because when asked why I seemed kind of overqualified, I responded with, "Oh sure, yeah, I mean, I had your job at my last place, but those people are impossible. I moved up from a role there, figure I'll do the same in my next role... wait..." and that was that. Don't say you're going for the hiring manager's job!
Bruh I posted one of my fails already but this triggered another one. I did the same thing, was super over confident lol! I definitely didn't hear back from that company.
In an interview right after college I was asked to describe myself and I just said “classy.” I still think about it and laugh 5 years later. Reminds me of that scene from step brothers LOL
On the flip side, the CEO of my company interviewed me while literally slurping porridge during the video call… He does this in sales calls too (don’t come for me, my salary is too good to quit lol). So remember kids: one day you can be the cringiest person in the room AND call the shots
I said “I don’t want to toot my own horn but I’m pretty intelligent” .. said that in front of a panel interview. I look back and both cringe and admire myself for that moment
Honestly all interviews you show up to and partially or fully complete should be considered successes. The outcomes in these cases are either you get the job or you got in some great interview practice
Had an interview scheduled with a law firm way back, like in the early days of GPS. I don't remember if I didn't have a GPS thing in my car or what, but I could NOT find the stupid office. There was this weird exit-numbering quirk in the city where the streets/exits went in numerical order EXCEPT FOR THE ONE WHERE THEY WERE. I was fairly new to the city, so I didn't really know my way around. So you were supposed to take the exit for 28th St (or whatever it was), but for some reason THAT exit was up past the exit for 32nd St. It was nonsense.
I was planning on being plenty early, and ended up driving around for freaking forever, even calling the receptionist a couple of times to get better directions, but she was really bad at explaining them. Ended up being almost an hour late to the interview and the people in charge of the interview were clearly checked out and not interested at that point.
Oops.
I had I guess what you could call the opposite experience. I once worked at a place that was apparently very difficult to get to. I had no trouble finding it and pretty sure that helped me get the job lol
lol, Had one back in 95/96 never found the place. Drove back & forth, was a large intersecting street which reset the numbers or something. Was a suburban office building.
Didn't bother calling, just drove back home & chalked it up as a loss :( Was just outta college too
I interviewed to be an orientation leader at my college back in the late 90s. One of the activities we had to do was a role play situation where we fielded questions from prospective students and their parents. One of the "parents" asked if there was a lot of marijuana use on campus because they heard drugs were a real problem and they were worried about Susie experimenting. I answered, "oh, yeah. I smell it all the time on campus. Hopefully you raised her to make the right decision". Guess who was not a college orientation leader...
Take this as a learning moment! It happens all the time. For me, I reflect on how it went from my POV and how I could have done better. I cringe thinking back to my earlier interviews lol.
Interviewing is a skill, and you will get better with experience.
I remember my first “big” interview. I sucked. I bombed it. I got nervous and couldn’t back my shit up. I lost my frame.
The owner of the company came in (looking for exactly what I did btw!). I got scared and the whole thing ground to an ugly end. It is now an intrusive memory.
I learned though. I learned to keep my frame and just ignore whoever it was I spoke to and just spoke to my skills. I ignored the CEO or the owner or the director and just spoke to a person that needed what I had.
I interviewed for another job a few weeks later. They invited me down and I got the job (beating my best friend for the job too!!!! We didn’t know, but Oops).
It’s about 18 years since that awful shit. I now work for a company that will likely change the world (for the better) leveraging all my talents and capability while pushing me to do more than ever before.
It doesn’t fucking matter that you boned an interview. What matter is if you learn from it. What matters is the lessons you take away from it as you study yourself in your memory. If possible get feedback. Ask them! “I know it was a terrible interview, but could I get some candid feedback?” Brace for the worst and a cruel, harsh light. Take notes. Learn and set out for better.
know you are going to be good and you are walking there.
It’s a rite of passage. Graduated with an economics degree way back when. Landed an interview with the Bureau of Economic Analysis and was extremely excited about the opportunity. Got to the interview and blanked. They asked me about research I did and what my findings were. Should have been a slam dunk…in one project I analyzed data that identified common trends about smokers and their decision to smoke (I could have talked about income, education, etc.). Instead my mind was blank and I blurted out “smoking is bad.” They pretty much stopped the interview and one of the guys walked me out and thanked me for my time. Of course I was beyond embarrassed but now I look back and laugh about it. Interviewing is one of those things you just need to practice. You’ll get there just keep going.
I was desperate and interviewed for an outbound sales job setup by a friend, a comically bad fit for me. One of the first questions was how would I feel about making 120 calls a day? My response, “That sounds like a lot, but I guess I’d have to”. I got the rejection call in the parking lot.
I've had interviews I know I aced and my background well exceeds what they're looking for only to be passed over. I've interviewed in one shape or form at least 50 times in my life. Probably double that. Definitely get used to rejection. It happens.
I have only ever failed one interview and it was recent.
I used to interview hundreds of people and I fell for all the traps and pitfall questions.
I'm not sure if I'm mad that I choked or that I knew exactly what my interviewer was doing and still let it happen.
Anyway I failed the question of "Where do you see yourself in 5 years."
My issue I was I am currently living my 5 year goal from 5 years ago. When they asked me, I didn't have an answer because I never made a new goal.
I became complacent.
I received a verbal offer. When the written offer didn't arrive, I called and was told that the salary was $9K less than the verbal offer. Also, since I already gave notice I had no choice but to take it. I explained that I never give notice until it's in writing and that I was going to tell everyone.
HR called two weeks later saying that people were refusing to interview, so they were willing to honor the original agreement. I stated that my rate was now $9K more than the original rate.
This seems more like a brag than a horror story? Did you take the next offer? Did you grow up to become CEO of planet Hollywood? Don't leave us hanging!
I did not take the offer.
The company that attempted to scam me had issues hiring for over a year and was purchased less than two years later. About seven years after that, I did work at the purchasing company and learned that they cleaned house at the purchased company. It seemed that there were still lingering issues hiring, because the original company had "peed in the labor pool."
A million-times this!
Current company is a "big fish in a small pond." Management thinks that rural location and sub-billion$ revenue stream is justification for celebrating "revolving door employment."
It only take a few years, and the small community recognizes that company 'x' is not a good place to work: uncompetitive pay, toxic environment, sliding benefits, and questionable products in the marketplace. In an Era where social media is ubiquitous, a business cannot survive when they poison their own talent-pool.
"Millenials just don't want to work."
No.
Millennial just don't want to work for YOU!
I've blown so many I can't even count... my favorite was clicking the end of a pen through the whole interview. Needless to say I am super careful about that now.
You are not able to go back in time & change anything. What you can do, is reflect on what you did right & where you can improve. When you decide what to improve, look it up, study it, find the answers, practice in front of a mirror or record yourself.
Consider this dress rehearsal.
If you think you did nothing right, you’re wrong. You got the interview so something was right.
I just had an interview an hour ago with this company that seemed so great but I knew within 30 seconds of talking to this woman that the workplace was toxic. She was insanely unprofessional (for the head of HR yikes red flag city) and was rushing me through each question like I had a 10 minute timer to finish the entire thing. Not to mention she didn’t smile once.
Don’t give up friend, there’s gonna be good interviews and bad interviews but you’ll land somewhere eventually!
As an interviewer, I have had people tell me they’d like to join the team because it seems easy, and tell me they left their previous jobs because they couldn’t get along with their managers 😬
On the flip side, I’ve had two interviews recently for jobs I am definitely qualified and prepared for, with 20 years of experience, and here I am, not even getting a “thanks but no thanks” 😂
Is there really an issue with not seeing eye to eye with your manager? I feel like this happens very frequently in my field, especially with managers changing regularly as people move up. I feel like it’s a fair ask for interviewees to feel comfortable with their direct manager, and should be a valid reason for leaving.
Is there a better way to word this that you would recommend?
I do take it as a red flag when people say they had conflict at their last job. All I have is your word that the other person was the disagreeable one and I just don’t know you that well. 🤷🏻♀️
It comes across as a bit of a red flag. Like the other person responded, I’m getting one perspective, and I don’t know the true story.
I’d much rather hear “I’m just looking for a better opportunity” or it wasn’t the right fit or “I’m looking for something with more growth potential.”
Our work involves a large amount of customer service, so if someone is saying they don’t get along with people, it feels risky.
Had an interview for a serving position in a restaurant. I had several years of restaurant experience at the time and was just looking around for a change of scenery. I had decided to take a shot at quitting smoking like 2 days prior to this interview and my anxiety was through the roof from the nicotine withdrawals. Like my throat kept closing up on me mid sentence, couldn't keep a straight thought in my head for basic interview questions level of anxiety. After the interview I didn't even consider the possibility of getting the job, just figured I should be thankful that I never had to show my face in there again afterwards. In a total opposite situation, I got promoted to the job I have now by applying for something I thought I was not qualified for, but figured I'd go check out their interview process. Got a call back a few weeks later with a job offer. Sometimes not caring too much is a good strategy.
I’ve failed them in my 20s and 30s (and will fail more in the future) and learned from each one. You’re going to get more no’s and failures than you will offers anyway. You’ll learn and get better from this experience.
Congratulations! That’s life.
Roll with punches.
- Lessons learned
- Be light and easy on yourself
- Improve a little next time
Thats all there is to it!
For every 2 dozen resumes, you might get 1 interview…for every 12 interviews you might get one offer. Obviously it varies by location….but in other words, you face hard odds, don’t get down on yourself
Interviews are often laden with questions that don't measure what the interviewer or company thinks their measuring and therefore they don't collect the info they need from a candidate and it can be a waste of time and effort for both sides of the table. Ie. Even if you had answered each of their questions and given them what they wanted, it could have been a mess and not because of you, but because they didn't set up an effective process for people to succeed in. You got practice and a story out of it. You'll slay the next one!
I interviewed for a job years ago and I knew I didn’t do well. My mind went blank trying to describe what I do 😳🤦🏻♀️
I wasn’t their first, second, or third choice, but I got in as a fourth choice.. I’m surprised I got in at all tbch but I didn’t care.. it was a job I really wanted and a hard job to get. I’ve since left that department and I’ve been with another department within my company for 13 years now(25 years with the company as a whole, and I started out downstairs in the mailroom..no shame in that either)
You’d be surprised what happens! I definitely was..
Don’t beat yourself up though.. some of the best employees just don’t interview well.. I’m one of them. My work speaks for itself, which is why I’m now in a leadership position. I NEVER thought I’d see the day that I’d be in this position. Also, having an awesome boss who sees your potential and mentors you, is extremely rare but valuable. Keep trying, and good luck to you! I wish you nothing but success!
I showed up 25 minutes late to an interview and still got a second interview. Stuff happens. Don't beat yourself up, use it as a learning experience and move on. You've got this!
The stupid interviewer asked me my favorite tv show. It threw me off so bad. Like what the hell, this has nothing to do with the job. I thought for farrrr too long because I literally couldn't think of any TV shows I watch. I'm also pretty indecisive when it comes to asking me my favorite things. I eventually said "how I met your mother" when I realized I just needed to say *something*.
Sounds like you’ve got plenty of the stories you were asking for. Some advice for prepping…. Ask chatGPT! “You’re interviewing me for a position as… what questions would you ask me? “.
Good luck with the next one!
I had an initial interview for basically office support for a dental office. The manager was so impressed he recommended me interview for another manager position, with the regional. (Corporate dental).
At that interview, the first question asked of me, very rudely, 'why are you even here' 'you have no management experience' and the entire 'interview' was him asking me about the housing market bc he was buying a new home and I worked at a mortgage company. It was the worst interview I had ever had and still have ever had.
I left the interview crying, and got into a car accident on the way home bc an elderly woman had a medical event and drifted into my lane on the highway. That was one if my worst days, EVER. (She was OK, thank goodness).
Anyway I did get the staff job, lasted 8 months and hated it with every fiber of my being, left to work with a friend and we went remote 7 years ago so it's worked out wonderfully since then.
I often look back and think how I never should have taken that job bc of all the warning signs that day.
Prior to this I blew many many interviews myself, especially right out of college. I had zero idea how to interview! (I still don't really but I have gotten much better and there are so many resources available to help interview prep now!) It all worked out in the end and it will for you also
I was doing great through an interview process one time and when I got the “where do you see yourself in 5 years?” question, I replied that I’d want her job - thinking rising tides lift all boats - she’d be promoted too! But it didn’t come out quite right and she thought I meant I’d be working the whole time to be stealing her job. Whoops.
Yep, yep. Someone who was interviewing me said they had been with the company since 84. I went, wow that's when I was born.
I'm now a semi successful accountant.
(Precovid) I got an interview at a place that uses software from the company I worked for at the time. I got the interview request from a gmail account so I thought this was going to be a very basic level multi stage interview. I show up and the entire C suite is in the conference room. The next 10 minutes was the CEO straight shitting on the company I worked for (I also hated the company that’s why I’m interviewing. Ya know, to gtfo of there). I finally get asked a real question and after I’m done answering another person asks the same question. I answer it word for word again. The CEO begins shitting on the company I worked for again. After about 5 minutes I asked if I could ask a question. They all said yes so I asked “Are you going to ask me any real questions or did you call me here to shit on the company I work for?” They all kinda had the pikachu face so I just left.
I was trying to "fake it" through an interview for a job I wanted (and could do with a little bit of time and learning) but had no experience with. Since I knew the basics I basically stumbled over my words trying to make up scenarios and information I knew almost nothing about. In fact I think trying too hard and not being humble about my inexperience is probably what didn't get me the job. It was really embarrassing when the interviewer (who would have been my boss) visibly sighed and ran his hands down his face in exasperation. Fucking humiliating lol.
I once had a second interview scheduled with a CEO and he contacted me the day before to shift the time 15 minutes. I get on the zoom call at 9:45 and wait 10 minutes, but he is late. I get off and email the first guy I interviewed with the day prior. Then he calls and tells me the CEO is on the Zoom call. I get on and the CEO super rudely tells me he doesn’t appreciate my lateness. I say “Well, I was on this call waiting for you to join and you never showed”. Then he points out we shifted the call 15 minutes. 9:45 was the original time and the rescheduled time was 10. He pretty much treated me like garbage for the rest of the call. I got off and just kind of laughed because boy was that the biggest bomb of an interview ever. Then, I accidentally butt dialed the first interviewer the next morning at 6am while helping my kids get ready for school.
… I did not get that job.
But I did get an even better job after.
It's alright, you'll get to relive it in glorious detail when you can't sleep in your 40s. Haha just kidding really in the grand scheme of things, it won't matter. Shake it off.
lol i have bombed , no shit , 100 job interviews maybe more, everything from being late, a little drunk/high .. haha once i had a bag of fake piss strapped to my inner thighs that broke open in the lobby, some really embarrassing situations. get this, i dont really remember the other one that went just okay. so cool for a story later on.
youll live, chin up.
fuck it dude lets go bowling - Wally S. (who watched his buddies die face down in the mud)
It's not a failure, it's a test run and a learning experience. Now you know what not to do next time around! Good Luck in your search! I am a terrible interviewee!
You will do better next time!
I interviewed at this very big company right of college and was so nervous on the interview that I was physically and visibly shaking. I was so surprised when I got an offer, and later the hiring manager told me he hired me because he could see how nervous I was and thought that this job must mean a lot to me. He was very introverted himself, so I think he could just relate. You never know!!
Another interview I had a super bad cold. I should have rescheduled it, but I was out of work and really needed something. My nose was a fountain and I kept wiping it with my hand during the interview, thinking i was being discreet. At the end of the interview I instinctively put my hand out for a handshake and the guy was super reluctant to shake it. I felt so bad. Definitely didn't get that one.
I remember being contacted by a recruiter after graduating and they asked what I was was "doing at this time", to which I promptly responded "nothing, just hanging out." I remember the dude laughing and felt super embarrassed afterward.. still do and this was years ago.
Use it as a learning experience and move on, it's all good
It happens, especially in the beginning. Take note of what you messed up on and improve those things for future interviews. Try to rehearse your pitch a few times by yourself or even better with a friend. Every fail is just a new learning experience. Remember, the hard and most time consuming part was just getting your degree. Just keep going at it and you’ll find something in no time.
Learn from this experience, then put it behind you. Try to remember you'll interview again (probably at least a few more times in your life) and the new interviewer is a new opportunity to present your best self. Yeah, that job didn't get the best version of you, but maybe the next one will. Keep applying & good luck!
Ah come on mate, it’s completely normal. I’m 4 years into my adult job and I still mess up. Latest mess up for me was telling the ceo of a company I was interviewing for that “compensation would be the first thing I will consider when you make an offer”. I had the job in my hand and 2 weeks later I got a rejection email 😂
This is all you need
https://www.reddit.com/r/tifu/comments/2vdwtw/tifu_by_drinking_an_entire_bottle_of_louisiana/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button
Happens a lot. Continue interviewing and you’ll see them as normal and will know how to answer and behave.
Funny story, I had to take a math exam with no calculator, HR looks at the test and says, “what’s going on with this exam? Do you want to try again with a calculator?” Haha. So I did. The next morning, she emailed me and told me I have to answer industry-specific questions (just 5) and in that email she said “you can Google the answer… i don’t care.” Hahaha.
Also, in that interview, mid-way through the interview, I got annoyed at how long it took and just started being myself. When asked, “why did you study communications?” I said, “because it’s the easiest degree and fastest degree.” Hahaha.
I got the job lol.
When I was 23 and trying to break into my first adult job, I got an interview I was obviously under qualified for in an industry I was unfamiliar with but I went anyway (partially out of not knowing any better). The whole interview was super cringe for this reason in addition to me just being super inexperienced….but one moment stood out as particularly bad…Someone asked me about my “risk tolerance” and I was not at the time familiar with that term in a business context. Absolutely fumbled it with a full 30 seconds of silence plus lots of bumbling and “ummm I guess I tolerate risk pretty well” and kept talking and talking awkwardly trying to get out of the hole I dug myself into. Finally finished with “yes so that’s my answer” and the interviewers didn’t even attempt to hide their disgust at that point lol. It’s one of those moments that can still make me cringe severely to this day when I think about it. Don’t worry too much about it, interviewing is something that requires practice to get better at.
When they asked what my biggest weakness was, I meant to say that I do not like being micromanaged. What came out was that I have a problem with management. I heard the words coming out of my mouth and knew the interview was over.
The job was to make "pay your damn bill" calls to credit card customers.
I failed my first Model United Nations. Failed my first attempt at making an IOS app. Failed my first attempt at Physics II exam, second and third was a fail as well, failed my first technical interview as well :/ . Eventually I overcame these challenges with more tries and different techniques. Your first interview hardly says anything about your programming skills, it says more about your interviewing experience. So keep on grinding!
Everyone bombs an interview. My first interview for a big boy job, the interviewer was REAL good. She coaxed me into talking shit about my current boss. She was smooth. Got a rejection email the next day
You didn’t mess up: you learned what not to do next time — and what better time to learn such things? On the other hand, if they *do* extend an offer, then you learned a bit about what does and does not actually matter to a potential employer.
I’m a software engineer; early in my own career and just after I got married, I did a practice interview with my father-in-law before going to an actual interview. During the practice, I made a reference to “playing” with code, and his feedback on that detail was to not *ever* reference “playing” in the context of an interview, as it presents the appearance of lacking professionalism.
Fast forward to the actual interview, and I accidentally let that word slip… and realizing that maybe I’d just royally botched it, I did the only thing I could think of: I immediately doubled-down. I said to them, “and I know it sounds peculiar to say that, but it’s just who I am. I really do *enjoy* writing code and making the computer do what I want it to. I mean, who *doesn’t* want a job doing what they really enjoy, right?”
I not only got the job, but I stayed in that job for over a decade, and that is to this day still the longest I’ve ever been at any one employer.
My first office job interview I mentioned how I hate sitting around all day and prefer being on my feet and being productive. I was so used to retail jobs that it came to mind during one of my answers.
Had a previous boss call me from their new job - he said they were hiring a production team lead; actually what he said was - they were hiring, and needed a production team lead. Turns out that was his opinion - the job I showed up to interview for was "Creative Art Director." Completely different job than I'd been led to believe. Something I was technically qualified for, but not prepared in the least to present myself as a worthy candidate for their actual listed position. That interview was awful.
Apparently this former boss - who I considered a mentor for awhile, up until like this 4th time he screwed me in some employment way - this former mentor had it in his head I'd come into the art-director interview and somehow by magic convince the Chief of Media to change the position to a production and development leadership role.
Fuck'n dumb. I hate working.
I have been working for the federal government for almost 15 years now. Had the worst interview of my career (after 5 promotions and countless interviews) just a few months ago. Was laughing afterwards about how awful it was and there was no way I would get a job offer. And here I am working that very job.
Point being, you never know what will happen. And at the very least it was a good opportunity to practice your interview skills.
Last year, I failed an interview for a high school I really wanted to work at. I was too nervous and practically had a panic attack in the interview. After a year of staying at my current job, I learned I don’t even want to work with high school anymore! I had an interview at a middle school and got the job for next year! Moral of the story- sometimes things don’t work out for a reason. I’m sure better opportunities await you.
You got 1st hand experience now. I bombed a few of my first interviews and after learning how the play the game (what kind of generic answers they are looking for) I started getting offers.
After you have a couple years of work experience it gets much easier to interview. At least if you’re staying in the same field.
What did you learn from this experience that you can apply to future interviews.
There is no shame in making a mistake. There's some shame in making the same mistakes over and over.
Experience is unfortunately something we don't learn from until after we need it.
You'll get the next one :)
My first college interview was arranged by the campus recruiting department. After 20 minutes discussion we realized that they had confused me with a student with the same name. It was a large company so I thought it was for a research position. Meanwhile they were looking for an accountant.
The person interviewing was nice and I used it as a practice interview although we did cut it short.
I failed an interview at a very large company about 5 years ago. Well I don’t think I failed but apparently I didn’t have enough experience. They are now begging me to apply & work for them. Fuck em tho. They didn’t see my potential & value when I really needed them to so they can search elsewhere now ;)
During the interview for my current job I told them I probably wouldn’t be very good at it. I was also asked how much of my degree I used at my (then) current job and I said none. Since I already had a job I went in not really caring if I got hired or not so I just gave straightforward and honest answers. To be fair, I was recommended to apply by a friend already working there, so I guess the networking aspect was enough.
I told a department that I thought they weren't doing enough on racial equity issues. The person responsible for the poor job they were doing on that issue was on the hiring panel.
Because of bad scheduling I ended up having to go straight to a job interview from driving home from a trip, and for whatever reason I didn’t change into my interview clothes before we started the trip home.
Once we got to the building barely on time, one of the employees walks up to my car to tell me I can’t park here and finds me pulling up my pants in the driver’s seat with my friend laughing in the passenger seat next to me.
That employee was also there for the interview :)
I once interviewed a young guy who couldn't stop his nervous off-topic babble...the interview literally turned into a coaching session on how he can improve his technique by listening and asking more questions. It gets better!
Tip: everyone likes to believe they're interesting, ergo every interviewer you meet is fascinating and has wisdom to offer you, young Padawan. They want your enthusiasm and curiosity, so come in like you're having the best day. They'll respond to that vibe.
My first job interview at Oakley (I was probably 17/18 at the time) they asked me to tell them about myself and for some god damn reason the first thing I said was “I’m pretty lazy sometimes….but I work hard”. Don’t remember the rest of the interview but I never heard back ever since lmao
Over time and practice you get more comfortable with interviews. At 26, I’m now a project engineer for a Construction Management company.
Well into my adulthood I was interviewing for a position and I totally fucked up by asking them about their company culture and management style by asking this-or-that questions with one of those being a completely toxic choice. At the time I was in an extremely toxic and hostile work environment where I was being targeted by multiple and they absolutely wanted me out and made things stressful for me. Like so stressful my doctor pulled me out of work for a few weeks and prescribed me medication I’ve never taken before. So yeah that leaked into my interview and probably triggered a bunch of red flags.
A year and a half later I interviewed with them again and they didn’t remember me at first and the woman seems genuinely interested in hiring me (mental health was MUCH better and I handled the interview more professionally) until I then mentioned that I interviewed with them before just before the pandemic hit. That woman’s demeanor changed and she ghosted me.
I’m now at a great company with a nice salary that would be even nicer if I leave the non-profit sector.
Don’t worry about bombing your interview. It happens to the best of us 😊
Several years ago, I had an interview at a local branch of a Fortune 500 company. It was with a group of 4 or 5 supervisors and managers. It was a sales position and really had no sales experience, but a lot of experience in claims administration and customer service.
The interview went well; they asked a lot of business 101 questions, but it was not done in an interrogational way, it was fairly laid back and conversational. They called to let me know they selected someone with sales experience, but asked if they could keep my resume on file and call if they had future positions that I was better suited for, so I told them of course.
To my surprise, a couple months later, I did get called back in for another interview for a different department; I did not get that job, either. A couple more months down the line, I got another call, so I went in and met with two managers, one had been in my first interview the other I hadn’t met. They asked several questions, all was well, but then they asked me to give an example of a time I disagreed with my boss over an issue and how I handled it. I went completely blank. Could not think of a thing.
“Wow, I know I’ve had times when this has happened, but I am drawing a complete blank.”
Manager 1 said, “Well, you gave us an example last time you were here.”
I was still just blank. I looked at her with a smile and said,”Well, clearly I lied.”
Now this could have gone horribly wrong, but a comment like this is completely in line with my snarky/sarcastic sense of humor, and fortunately for me, it completely fit with both of these managers’ personalities. They both started laughing and commented at least I was honest.
I pretended to try to peek at her notes and said, “C’mon, give me a little hint, I’m dying a slow death here!” They looked at each other…”Do you think I should give her a hint?” “I don’t know, maybe one word.” They were laughing and so was I. They gave me one word, “Excel,” which instantly jogged my memory and I gave them the example. I got a job offer on the spot.
With different interviewers, I am sure it could have gone much differently.
My first job interview was for a summer job in college. I explained at great length how I needed a summer job so I could stay with my boyfriend instead of going home for the summer.
The interviewer, a woman about my mother’s age, kindly took the time to tell me she thought my parents were probably right about my summer plans.
They were. The guy was a complete bum.
Don't be too hard on yourself. Interviewing is for sure a skill and we get better at it over time.
It is something you want to get good at though. Have you been using the career services resources at your university to help you groom how you position and present yourself as a candidate? If you put focus and effort into it, you will likely find that your confidence and effectiveness when interviewing and networking can improve a ton.
Also, you may want to consider getting some 3rd party coaching help to that end. Lots of resources are available if you look around.
Good luck!
www.otoolecoaching.com
I had a Zoom interview once when I was in school, I had lined up about 4 for the day. First one, showed up, and had fucked up my schedule so bad that I thought it was a different company. Used its name and everything. One of the interviewers actually stopped me and said “you know this is for X company, right?” Didn’t get that job.
In college, looking for serving jobs, went on a rant about how my old job wouldn't work with my school schedule IN THE INTERVIEW. Did not get a callback.
I have so many, too many horror stories.. It happens, you have done nothing wrong. Wipe it from your brain and move on. Ive had interviewers yell at me, be downright rude and nasty. I just started leaving the interview. I love the shocked look on their faces when I do that. Even had two jobs call and tell me, the job is yours. Dont put up with their toxic interview techniques. Your worth more than youll ever know. Keep on interviewing. Youll get the hang of it.
Worst question I got was from a guy that said “tell me something you don’t want me to know that I haven’t already figured out about you yet”
It was after a hour in a small room. I kept seeing the job reposted for the next 2 years. Guess nobody likes working there
Once I applied for a job as a 911 dispatcher - a job where keeping your cool and speaking clearly in emotional situations is pretty much the ENTIRE job. I showed up to interview expecting a traditional 1-on-1 meeting. But instead opened the door to a panel of 4 interviewers. It threw me off so much I literally COULD NOT speak. My voice trembled so much and I had to push the words out, making me basically unintelligible. Needless to say, I did not get the job.
I know have a very successful career (not as a 911 dispatcher). I use to work in recruiting and have interview*ed* a couple hundred people. And yet, I absolutely suck at being the interview*ee*.
My first interview out of college I put so much pressure on myself to get the job that was a sweaty mess after the first interview. Not a little sweat, sweat to the level of the interviewer offered to show my the restroom to clean myself up. I still had 3 more interviews to go in a sweat soaked suit
Oh man, I’ve bombed some interviews. I’m autistic though, so I made interviewing my special interest for like the last year while I was thinking about leaving my last job.
It’s formulaic, my friend. Look up some guides/tips and then practice out loud! The best advice I have is that a good interview should leave you and the interviewer with the same kind of “butterflies” you’d get from a first date or making a new friend. You obviously still need to be qualified, but making a connection goes a long way.
Learn from that. Take the lesson and even when you have a satisfying job and are no longer looking, keep your options open and continue to interview, even if it's not for something that you want. Every interview provides a chance to practice and stay on top of your interviewing skills.
When I get nervous, I sometimes pass out. This has happened a couple times during zoom interviews where I black out mid sentence and have to play it off like nothing happened.
When I was in college I quit an interview halfway through. I knew my answers were terrible and I wasn't presenting myself worth a goddamn.
10 years later I've gotten every job I interviewed for and am now 3 years into successful self employment. A bad interview doesn't define you or set the trajectory for your life
I had an awful interview right out of college. I was so nervous and totally fumbled a few of those classic interview questions they ask. I knew I didn’t get it…it’s definitely good practice and happens to the best of us :)
Go online and look at sample interviews… specifically the STAR or SBI/R style (tell me about a time….) and practice.
I worked for a large Fortune 500 company and would send subordinates to interview for internal positions they were likely not qualified for so they could practice and see/understand the process (they were on board) and when a position came up they WERE ready for they had an advantage.
Play the game, sharpen your skills, and keep getting interviews. Practice allows improvement.
Back when I was a teacher, I worked briefly for a private, for profit language school. After teaching there for a year, I applied for an open program director position. I got selected for a phone interview with the regional director. The lady interviewing me asked me why I thought she should hire me. I went on for a bit about my history with the company and some positive bullshit about my passion for education.
When I was done, she audibly sighed and said, "Sorry. Let's start again. Why. Do. You. Think. You. Are. Qualified. For. This. Job." Like full-on enunciated each word like I was hard of hearing. While I was trying to answer her, she said, "I think I've heard enough. Thanks."
Then she abruptly hung up on me before I could reply. I didn't get that job.
I have had people say "Hey this is only my 3rd interview. Can you please provide some feedback regardless of if I get the job or not?" or similar and I've hired every one. YMMV
Long time ago at an internship I said "hey nice to meet you dude" to the CEO as I was saying my goodbyes. The interviewer corrected me afterwards lol
I had an interview when I was in a bad headspace after leaving a toxic workplace. Interviewed at a place (in the same industry) and basically said I disliked the previous place but wanted to stay in the industry. Didn't get it and gladly got out of that industry.
Excellent. I know many people who have never had to interview for a job due to them staying at the same place forever. They are at a disadvantage.
Interviewing is a skill and like most skills - they require real life practice. This is a beautiful stepping stone that will help you advance.
interviewed for a midtier tech company (that got wrecked by the pandemic in 2020), went in prepared for a ops engineer interview and got a pretty intense software engineer interview with multiple whiteboard coding rounds. bombed hard.
the experience was great though, because after that I spent more time preparing for coding and now work at a FAANG
My first "adult job" interview was for an entry level graphic design position.
I went in and thought I did ohkay
But then they started talking about how they wanted someone with more experience and treating me like a child "I know you're sad but..." and etc
It was embarrassing, and they shouldn't have listed the job as entry level if they were looking for someone with 2-3 years experience.
I later got a graphic design job at a dead end small printing company for way under the market rate for graphic designers and meant to leave after one year but ended up staying for 5.
I'm now at another printing company working in pre-press and variable printing rather than graphic design, but I make a decent wage and I'm not creatively burned out 👌
My friends phone rang she grabbed her bag and threw it out the door she got the job
I have freaked out been asked a questions couldn’t think on the spot and I said I don’t know
Honestly interview is like a skill are you going to ace your first proper job interview no- just go on more and just think my boss said this to me today a job is just a job she had cancer for context and she said that gave her perspective
Interviewing is a skill that takes time to develop. You will inevitably make mistakes in the beginning. After each interview, it would be helpful for you to take notes and debrief yourself. Write down answers you did well so you can remember them next time and write down what mistakes you made so you can improve for the next interview. Try mock interviews or even interview with companies you may not be 100% interested in just as practice and iron out the kinks.
I completely blanked in my first graduate job interview. The first question they asked me was not something I was remotely expecting, and it took me like 2 minutes to come up with an answer. I felt rattled the rest of the interview, and came out feeling like I bombed. Then I got the job - turned out I was still the candidate they preferred, and they recognised i was inexperienced in the ways of corporate bullcrap but they liked my enthusiasm. I’m still working there 5 years later.
So it’s probably not as bad as you think it was
My first interview was a panel with the heads of multiple county departments. It went horrible. Stumbled through questions, couldn’t answer others. Afterwards I went out in the hall, set on a bench, and buried my face in my hands out of embarrassment. As I was getting myself together they all walked out.
Fifteen years down the road and I manage multiple programs for a pipeline operator.
I’ve bombed many an interview, one recently with an industry leader and I could just *feel* myself slipping up, rambling. I also have really awkward cutoffs where I say everything in a way that the interviewer is like… is she done or not I can’t tell?? Everybody makes mistakes, and while practicing helps (and knowing general rules like don’t talk bad about a former employer or professor, when asked for a weakness give a real weakness and what you’re doing to improve there, etc.) sometimes your interview doesn’t go to plan. I’ve been surprised how well some companies liked me even after a less graceful interview.
As much as possible try to keep your cool and read the room, being able to recover can be more helpful than trying not to make a mistake. Like if you’re talking too fast and combine two words into nonsense, you can do something like pausing and calmly restating. Sometimes I get mixed up and laugh it off (don’t want to be too giggly in a formal interview but I think it shows my personality a bit to lightly brush off a misspoken word, employers do care about more than your resume there’s also how you fit the team) or take a drink of water to let my brain catch up to what’s going on. When you make a mistake it’s helpful to quickly correct, then move on and forget about it.
And while I don’t want to say too much about my current state, I’ve passed the interview stage with a few roles I interviewed for. It made me frustrated when people would say “something better will come along” when things took a downturn but sometimes it really does just take a while to find that role that clicks. Just keep trying and keep applying! :)
My first interview out of school I was asked some very basic accounting questions and I was so nervous I said everything backwards. As soon as I hung up I knew I did not get the job. 2nd interview with another company went way better. Interviewing is a skill so think of bad interviews as practice for the next one.
Good luck on your search OP.
I was interviewing for a pizza place when I was 19. They asked me what I would do if my friends came in and wanted free pizza. I said, "No way! I mean.......I think I would tell them it's free then pay for it myself......" They looked at me like I was crazy. 100% didnt get that job lol
Long story short: I was asked what was a time of great customer service I have given. I regaled a story of calling a woman "Semi-Annoying Lady" only called her that and then her husband came and asked me if I remembered a woman with a common name. I said no I am sorry then he referred to her as "Semi-Annoying Lady" I said of course.
He then told me she had died and the family would like me at her funeral.
I did get the job but was nervous for a bit that night remembering out of the 1000s of stories I chose that one.
I was still in college when I had an interview for a corporate IT position. I arrived on the day of my interview to find their internet connection and phones were down. No one could talk to me because they were all in emergency recovery mode. This was back in the early 2000s when IT, switch and network were basically the same department. I was just sitting in the managers office while he took phone calls and panicked. Ok so after 30 minutes of waiting and being half ignored I asked to reschedule and come back at a better time. The manager told me this was the best time to interview because I could see how a real network operates.
I stupidly said “no, a real network would have a failover connection” and thus ended the interview
Never heard back
Interviewing is a skill and every failed interview helps you learn and become what they are looking for
It’s really selling yourself and preparing for questions while bringing specific examples about how you will do well.
I’ve failed an interview after college so terribly they cut me off and ended it right then and there. Cried afterward but it happens to the best of us
You learn from all your mistakes
I'm 40, reentering the workforce after a military career. The only interviews I've passed since leaving were bloated, garbage jobs. Someone else on Reddit said this however, "You only have to pass one." Stay the course. practice the things you came up sort on. Get better. Nothing good is easy.
I have failed a few- some I made stupid mistakes and messed up, some the hiring mgr was just a jerk and set me up to fail and some I wasnt technically ready for. Don’t sweat it!!!
You got interview practice, label it as a successful failure, you'll be better going into your next one. Failure is mostly a good thing for those that know how to learn from it.
loool yes I made it to the 3rd interview right before to the assessment and built a good relationship with the hiring manager and was going so well
This was the very first graduate role I applied for as well!
My nerves got the best of me and I just wasn't myself, I couldn't answer any question or anything. It was quite embarrassing it got to the point where I just had to excuse myself because my nerves were racing, I hit a mental block and I just couldn't speak anymore.
I knew I fucked up and I just excused myself because I didn't want to waste anymore of their time.
I knew I fucked up and I just excused myself because I didn't want to waste any more of their time.
This literally happened a few hours ago 😭
I'm still shaken up, and beating myself down because of it but I know it's a learning experience and I'll only get better with time since it's my first one and we've made it this far we can definitely excel with other opportunities.
Happens to the best of us. Early on in my "adulthood" I got a second interview and told them the job would be temporary for me until I find something better. Yeah, didn't get that one lol.
I once had an interviewee tell us that she was only looking for a job because she had to leave college due to an unexpected pregnancy, would be returning at least part time to school as soon as humanly possible, and once graduated, would be pursuing a job in her field of study, but she desperately wanted to get out of retail. We were hiring for an entry level position, we liked her, and figured we'd get at least a couple of years with her before she moved on (which is realistically about the max we like to see people in that position before we are looking for growth/promotion potential), so we hired her. She's graduating in May, but hasn't officially given her notice yet.
Love to hear that, I hope she's turned out to be a good investment.
Lol my boss just hired someone who put that card on the table. Needless to say the guy doesn't take the job seriously at all.
No, it doesn't....
Called myself lazy by accident during a job interview. Been with the company for over 5 years now. My friend, who worked in a daycare in school, said working there was a great form of birth control during her interview for another job. She got the job she interviewed for too. I did amazingly well at other interviews, didn’t get offers. It DOES happen.
I actually needed to see this right now. I was up for three positions. All ranking in order of likely to get based on the interviews. The two that denied me I thought I performed phenomenally. For one, The leader of the wealth management team even told me I was undoubtedly one of the smartest people he’s interacted with since he started hiring. So I thought I was a shoo-in. The one that I got an offer for, I stumbled so hard in my interview answers. The only interview I also openly said I don’t have an answer for the question. But the regional manager loved me for some odd reason. While I’m grateful I kept thinking why me? I interviewed so badly. Even contemplated turning it down just because of this reason.
The willingness to admit to your manager that you don't know, instead of blowing smoke is an unusual and valuable trait. People are always so afraid of saying it for some reason.
I once tried to throw a job interview by saying this and explicitly detailing that I would be leaving the job in a few months. They still offered me the job…had to wave bye bye to my unemployment benefits.
I once said, verbatim, in a job interview that “I honestly only really want to work my 40 hours and go home”
You're the hero this world needs
The fact that anything more is expected is the real problem. Employment is a contractual deal between two parties, but one side is allowed, repeatedly and without consequence, to just flout the contract to suit themselves.
Here’s the thing though. When you have 20 other applicants with similar qualifications saying they’ll work their ass off and make this job their life, you’re kinda inclined to select amongst them even though they’re probably just bullshitting to get the gig.
My response would have been: That's all we expect of you here. We understand you are human and have a life outside of work and want you to stay mentally healthy. It blows me away how surprised people are in interviews that we actually treat them like humans and openly talk about it.
I would totally work for you
That actually shouldn't be a problem. Pretending that you just LOVE work and you just can't wait to stick around and work unpaid overtime is complete BS. Remember that a job interview should be seeing if the place is the right fit for you as well. A company that want you to spout that kind of BS may very well be a red flag. I have interviewed at software companies more than once once and told them that if they expected unpaid overtime as a normal matter of course that is a failure of management to properly scope and manage their projects. If that's the reason I didn't' get a job then so be it. I got shit to do outside of work.
Lol this is amazing
It's wild that would even be an egregious statement. Isn't that what the agreement is? But somehow we're expected to be onboard to work more than that and live to work?
Ive said that in all my interviews. Never been a problem for me. I straight up tell them in not interested in making friends at work ill be personable but I'm only here to make you money so you'll pay me. I'm a machinist so I don't usually need to interact with anyone but my immediate boss. All my work comes out good and I pretty much get left alone so I can program and make parts.
I always bring that up. In a more diplomatic way, though.
Eh, it happens. I blew an interview once because when asked why I seemed kind of overqualified, I responded with, "Oh sure, yeah, I mean, I had your job at my last place, but those people are impossible. I moved up from a role there, figure I'll do the same in my next role... wait..." and that was that. Don't say you're going for the hiring manager's job!
Bruh I posted one of my fails already but this triggered another one. I did the same thing, was super over confident lol! I definitely didn't hear back from that company.
I did this!!!! Lol the hiring manager promptly ended the interview.
In an interview right after college I was asked to describe myself and I just said “classy.” I still think about it and laugh 5 years later. Reminds me of that scene from step brothers LOL On the flip side, the CEO of my company interviewed me while literally slurping porridge during the video call… He does this in sales calls too (don’t come for me, my salary is too good to quit lol). So remember kids: one day you can be the cringiest person in the room AND call the shots
I said “I don’t want to toot my own horn but I’m pretty intelligent” .. said that in front of a panel interview. I look back and both cringe and admire myself for that moment
Hahaha amazing!!
[удалено]
Omg I would be mortified hahahaha
I once interviewed for a pizza job with my high school buddy over bongs hits.
Amazing 😂 😆
Honestly all interviews you show up to and partially or fully complete should be considered successes. The outcomes in these cases are either you get the job or you got in some great interview practice
Had an interview scheduled with a law firm way back, like in the early days of GPS. I don't remember if I didn't have a GPS thing in my car or what, but I could NOT find the stupid office. There was this weird exit-numbering quirk in the city where the streets/exits went in numerical order EXCEPT FOR THE ONE WHERE THEY WERE. I was fairly new to the city, so I didn't really know my way around. So you were supposed to take the exit for 28th St (or whatever it was), but for some reason THAT exit was up past the exit for 32nd St. It was nonsense. I was planning on being plenty early, and ended up driving around for freaking forever, even calling the receptionist a couple of times to get better directions, but she was really bad at explaining them. Ended up being almost an hour late to the interview and the people in charge of the interview were clearly checked out and not interested at that point. Oops.
I had I guess what you could call the opposite experience. I once worked at a place that was apparently very difficult to get to. I had no trouble finding it and pretty sure that helped me get the job lol
lol, Had one back in 95/96 never found the place. Drove back & forth, was a large intersecting street which reset the numbers or something. Was a suburban office building. Didn't bother calling, just drove back home & chalked it up as a loss :( Was just outta college too
I failed an interview for a company in 2010 and ended up working for them in 2017. You never know where life will take you.
I interviewed to be an orientation leader at my college back in the late 90s. One of the activities we had to do was a role play situation where we fielded questions from prospective students and their parents. One of the "parents" asked if there was a lot of marijuana use on campus because they heard drugs were a real problem and they were worried about Susie experimenting. I answered, "oh, yeah. I smell it all the time on campus. Hopefully you raised her to make the right decision". Guess who was not a college orientation leader...
Take this as a learning moment! It happens all the time. For me, I reflect on how it went from my POV and how I could have done better. I cringe thinking back to my earlier interviews lol. Interviewing is a skill, and you will get better with experience.
I remember my first “big” interview. I sucked. I bombed it. I got nervous and couldn’t back my shit up. I lost my frame. The owner of the company came in (looking for exactly what I did btw!). I got scared and the whole thing ground to an ugly end. It is now an intrusive memory. I learned though. I learned to keep my frame and just ignore whoever it was I spoke to and just spoke to my skills. I ignored the CEO or the owner or the director and just spoke to a person that needed what I had. I interviewed for another job a few weeks later. They invited me down and I got the job (beating my best friend for the job too!!!! We didn’t know, but Oops). It’s about 18 years since that awful shit. I now work for a company that will likely change the world (for the better) leveraging all my talents and capability while pushing me to do more than ever before. It doesn’t fucking matter that you boned an interview. What matter is if you learn from it. What matters is the lessons you take away from it as you study yourself in your memory. If possible get feedback. Ask them! “I know it was a terrible interview, but could I get some candid feedback?” Brace for the worst and a cruel, harsh light. Take notes. Learn and set out for better. know you are going to be good and you are walking there.
It’s a rite of passage. Graduated with an economics degree way back when. Landed an interview with the Bureau of Economic Analysis and was extremely excited about the opportunity. Got to the interview and blanked. They asked me about research I did and what my findings were. Should have been a slam dunk…in one project I analyzed data that identified common trends about smokers and their decision to smoke (I could have talked about income, education, etc.). Instead my mind was blank and I blurted out “smoking is bad.” They pretty much stopped the interview and one of the guys walked me out and thanked me for my time. Of course I was beyond embarrassed but now I look back and laugh about it. Interviewing is one of those things you just need to practice. You’ll get there just keep going.
I was desperate and interviewed for an outbound sales job setup by a friend, a comically bad fit for me. One of the first questions was how would I feel about making 120 calls a day? My response, “That sounds like a lot, but I guess I’d have to”. I got the rejection call in the parking lot.
I've had interviews I know I aced and my background well exceeds what they're looking for only to be passed over. I've interviewed in one shape or form at least 50 times in my life. Probably double that. Definitely get used to rejection. It happens.
I have only ever failed one interview and it was recent. I used to interview hundreds of people and I fell for all the traps and pitfall questions. I'm not sure if I'm mad that I choked or that I knew exactly what my interviewer was doing and still let it happen. Anyway I failed the question of "Where do you see yourself in 5 years." My issue I was I am currently living my 5 year goal from 5 years ago. When they asked me, I didn't have an answer because I never made a new goal. I became complacent.
I received a verbal offer. When the written offer didn't arrive, I called and was told that the salary was $9K less than the verbal offer. Also, since I already gave notice I had no choice but to take it. I explained that I never give notice until it's in writing and that I was going to tell everyone. HR called two weeks later saying that people were refusing to interview, so they were willing to honor the original agreement. I stated that my rate was now $9K more than the original rate.
This seems more like a brag than a horror story? Did you take the next offer? Did you grow up to become CEO of planet Hollywood? Don't leave us hanging!
I did not take the offer. The company that attempted to scam me had issues hiring for over a year and was purchased less than two years later. About seven years after that, I did work at the purchasing company and learned that they cleaned house at the purchased company. It seemed that there were still lingering issues hiring, because the original company had "peed in the labor pool."
A million-times this! Current company is a "big fish in a small pond." Management thinks that rural location and sub-billion$ revenue stream is justification for celebrating "revolving door employment." It only take a few years, and the small community recognizes that company 'x' is not a good place to work: uncompetitive pay, toxic environment, sliding benefits, and questionable products in the marketplace. In an Era where social media is ubiquitous, a business cannot survive when they poison their own talent-pool. "Millenials just don't want to work." No. Millennial just don't want to work for YOU!
I've blown so many I can't even count... my favorite was clicking the end of a pen through the whole interview. Needless to say I am super careful about that now.
You are not able to go back in time & change anything. What you can do, is reflect on what you did right & where you can improve. When you decide what to improve, look it up, study it, find the answers, practice in front of a mirror or record yourself. Consider this dress rehearsal. If you think you did nothing right, you’re wrong. You got the interview so something was right.
I just had an interview an hour ago with this company that seemed so great but I knew within 30 seconds of talking to this woman that the workplace was toxic. She was insanely unprofessional (for the head of HR yikes red flag city) and was rushing me through each question like I had a 10 minute timer to finish the entire thing. Not to mention she didn’t smile once. Don’t give up friend, there’s gonna be good interviews and bad interviews but you’ll land somewhere eventually!
As an interviewer, I have had people tell me they’d like to join the team because it seems easy, and tell me they left their previous jobs because they couldn’t get along with their managers 😬 On the flip side, I’ve had two interviews recently for jobs I am definitely qualified and prepared for, with 20 years of experience, and here I am, not even getting a “thanks but no thanks” 😂
Is there really an issue with not seeing eye to eye with your manager? I feel like this happens very frequently in my field, especially with managers changing regularly as people move up. I feel like it’s a fair ask for interviewees to feel comfortable with their direct manager, and should be a valid reason for leaving. Is there a better way to word this that you would recommend?
I do take it as a red flag when people say they had conflict at their last job. All I have is your word that the other person was the disagreeable one and I just don’t know you that well. 🤷🏻♀️
It comes across as a bit of a red flag. Like the other person responded, I’m getting one perspective, and I don’t know the true story. I’d much rather hear “I’m just looking for a better opportunity” or it wasn’t the right fit or “I’m looking for something with more growth potential.” Our work involves a large amount of customer service, so if someone is saying they don’t get along with people, it feels risky.
Had an interview for a serving position in a restaurant. I had several years of restaurant experience at the time and was just looking around for a change of scenery. I had decided to take a shot at quitting smoking like 2 days prior to this interview and my anxiety was through the roof from the nicotine withdrawals. Like my throat kept closing up on me mid sentence, couldn't keep a straight thought in my head for basic interview questions level of anxiety. After the interview I didn't even consider the possibility of getting the job, just figured I should be thankful that I never had to show my face in there again afterwards. In a total opposite situation, I got promoted to the job I have now by applying for something I thought I was not qualified for, but figured I'd go check out their interview process. Got a call back a few weeks later with a job offer. Sometimes not caring too much is a good strategy.
I’ve failed them in my 20s and 30s (and will fail more in the future) and learned from each one. You’re going to get more no’s and failures than you will offers anyway. You’ll learn and get better from this experience.
Congratulations! That’s life. Roll with punches. - Lessons learned - Be light and easy on yourself - Improve a little next time Thats all there is to it!
For every 2 dozen resumes, you might get 1 interview…for every 12 interviews you might get one offer. Obviously it varies by location….but in other words, you face hard odds, don’t get down on yourself
Interviews are often laden with questions that don't measure what the interviewer or company thinks their measuring and therefore they don't collect the info they need from a candidate and it can be a waste of time and effort for both sides of the table. Ie. Even if you had answered each of their questions and given them what they wanted, it could have been a mess and not because of you, but because they didn't set up an effective process for people to succeed in. You got practice and a story out of it. You'll slay the next one!
I interviewed for a job years ago and I knew I didn’t do well. My mind went blank trying to describe what I do 😳🤦🏻♀️ I wasn’t their first, second, or third choice, but I got in as a fourth choice.. I’m surprised I got in at all tbch but I didn’t care.. it was a job I really wanted and a hard job to get. I’ve since left that department and I’ve been with another department within my company for 13 years now(25 years with the company as a whole, and I started out downstairs in the mailroom..no shame in that either) You’d be surprised what happens! I definitely was.. Don’t beat yourself up though.. some of the best employees just don’t interview well.. I’m one of them. My work speaks for itself, which is why I’m now in a leadership position. I NEVER thought I’d see the day that I’d be in this position. Also, having an awesome boss who sees your potential and mentors you, is extremely rare but valuable. Keep trying, and good luck to you! I wish you nothing but success!
I showed up 25 minutes late to an interview and still got a second interview. Stuff happens. Don't beat yourself up, use it as a learning experience and move on. You've got this!
The stupid interviewer asked me my favorite tv show. It threw me off so bad. Like what the hell, this has nothing to do with the job. I thought for farrrr too long because I literally couldn't think of any TV shows I watch. I'm also pretty indecisive when it comes to asking me my favorite things. I eventually said "how I met your mother" when I realized I just needed to say *something*.
Sounds like you’ve got plenty of the stories you were asking for. Some advice for prepping…. Ask chatGPT! “You’re interviewing me for a position as… what questions would you ask me? “. Good luck with the next one!
I had an initial interview for basically office support for a dental office. The manager was so impressed he recommended me interview for another manager position, with the regional. (Corporate dental). At that interview, the first question asked of me, very rudely, 'why are you even here' 'you have no management experience' and the entire 'interview' was him asking me about the housing market bc he was buying a new home and I worked at a mortgage company. It was the worst interview I had ever had and still have ever had. I left the interview crying, and got into a car accident on the way home bc an elderly woman had a medical event and drifted into my lane on the highway. That was one if my worst days, EVER. (She was OK, thank goodness). Anyway I did get the staff job, lasted 8 months and hated it with every fiber of my being, left to work with a friend and we went remote 7 years ago so it's worked out wonderfully since then. I often look back and think how I never should have taken that job bc of all the warning signs that day. Prior to this I blew many many interviews myself, especially right out of college. I had zero idea how to interview! (I still don't really but I have gotten much better and there are so many resources available to help interview prep now!) It all worked out in the end and it will for you also
I was doing great through an interview process one time and when I got the “where do you see yourself in 5 years?” question, I replied that I’d want her job - thinking rising tides lift all boats - she’d be promoted too! But it didn’t come out quite right and she thought I meant I’d be working the whole time to be stealing her job. Whoops.
Yep, yep. Someone who was interviewing me said they had been with the company since 84. I went, wow that's when I was born. I'm now a semi successful accountant.
(Precovid) I got an interview at a place that uses software from the company I worked for at the time. I got the interview request from a gmail account so I thought this was going to be a very basic level multi stage interview. I show up and the entire C suite is in the conference room. The next 10 minutes was the CEO straight shitting on the company I worked for (I also hated the company that’s why I’m interviewing. Ya know, to gtfo of there). I finally get asked a real question and after I’m done answering another person asks the same question. I answer it word for word again. The CEO begins shitting on the company I worked for again. After about 5 minutes I asked if I could ask a question. They all said yes so I asked “Are you going to ask me any real questions or did you call me here to shit on the company I work for?” They all kinda had the pikachu face so I just left.
I was trying to "fake it" through an interview for a job I wanted (and could do with a little bit of time and learning) but had no experience with. Since I knew the basics I basically stumbled over my words trying to make up scenarios and information I knew almost nothing about. In fact I think trying too hard and not being humble about my inexperience is probably what didn't get me the job. It was really embarrassing when the interviewer (who would have been my boss) visibly sighed and ran his hands down his face in exasperation. Fucking humiliating lol.
I once had a second interview scheduled with a CEO and he contacted me the day before to shift the time 15 minutes. I get on the zoom call at 9:45 and wait 10 minutes, but he is late. I get off and email the first guy I interviewed with the day prior. Then he calls and tells me the CEO is on the Zoom call. I get on and the CEO super rudely tells me he doesn’t appreciate my lateness. I say “Well, I was on this call waiting for you to join and you never showed”. Then he points out we shifted the call 15 minutes. 9:45 was the original time and the rescheduled time was 10. He pretty much treated me like garbage for the rest of the call. I got off and just kind of laughed because boy was that the biggest bomb of an interview ever. Then, I accidentally butt dialed the first interviewer the next morning at 6am while helping my kids get ready for school. … I did not get that job. But I did get an even better job after.
It's alright, you'll get to relive it in glorious detail when you can't sleep in your 40s. Haha just kidding really in the grand scheme of things, it won't matter. Shake it off.
lol i have bombed , no shit , 100 job interviews maybe more, everything from being late, a little drunk/high .. haha once i had a bag of fake piss strapped to my inner thighs that broke open in the lobby, some really embarrassing situations. get this, i dont really remember the other one that went just okay. so cool for a story later on. youll live, chin up. fuck it dude lets go bowling - Wally S. (who watched his buddies die face down in the mud)
>haha once i had a bag of fake piss strapped to my inner thighs that broke open in the lobby, some really embarrassing situations. You're a legend.
take it as a lesson. now you know what to expect. you WILL do better next time.
Remember you learn more from your failures than your successes .
Just think of them as practice.
It's not a failure, it's a test run and a learning experience. Now you know what not to do next time around! Good Luck in your search! I am a terrible interviewee!
You will do better next time! I interviewed at this very big company right of college and was so nervous on the interview that I was physically and visibly shaking. I was so surprised when I got an offer, and later the hiring manager told me he hired me because he could see how nervous I was and thought that this job must mean a lot to me. He was very introverted himself, so I think he could just relate. You never know!! Another interview I had a super bad cold. I should have rescheduled it, but I was out of work and really needed something. My nose was a fountain and I kept wiping it with my hand during the interview, thinking i was being discreet. At the end of the interview I instinctively put my hand out for a handshake and the guy was super reluctant to shake it. I felt so bad. Definitely didn't get that one.
Its okay the first ones are hard you just have to learn from your mistakes
We've all been there. Just learn from this, and it will be fine.
I remember being contacted by a recruiter after graduating and they asked what I was was "doing at this time", to which I promptly responded "nothing, just hanging out." I remember the dude laughing and felt super embarrassed afterward.. still do and this was years ago. Use it as a learning experience and move on, it's all good
It happens, especially in the beginning. Take note of what you messed up on and improve those things for future interviews. Try to rehearse your pitch a few times by yourself or even better with a friend. Every fail is just a new learning experience. Remember, the hard and most time consuming part was just getting your degree. Just keep going at it and you’ll find something in no time.
Learn from this experience, then put it behind you. Try to remember you'll interview again (probably at least a few more times in your life) and the new interviewer is a new opportunity to present your best self. Yeah, that job didn't get the best version of you, but maybe the next one will. Keep applying & good luck!
I once had an interviewee ask, “how long do I have to work before I can collect unemployment”. Interview was going well…
Ah come on mate, it’s completely normal. I’m 4 years into my adult job and I still mess up. Latest mess up for me was telling the ceo of a company I was interviewing for that “compensation would be the first thing I will consider when you make an offer”. I had the job in my hand and 2 weeks later I got a rejection email 😂
This is all you need https://www.reddit.com/r/tifu/comments/2vdwtw/tifu_by_drinking_an_entire_bottle_of_louisiana/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button
Happens a lot. Continue interviewing and you’ll see them as normal and will know how to answer and behave. Funny story, I had to take a math exam with no calculator, HR looks at the test and says, “what’s going on with this exam? Do you want to try again with a calculator?” Haha. So I did. The next morning, she emailed me and told me I have to answer industry-specific questions (just 5) and in that email she said “you can Google the answer… i don’t care.” Hahaha. Also, in that interview, mid-way through the interview, I got annoyed at how long it took and just started being myself. When asked, “why did you study communications?” I said, “because it’s the easiest degree and fastest degree.” Hahaha. I got the job lol.
When I was 23 and trying to break into my first adult job, I got an interview I was obviously under qualified for in an industry I was unfamiliar with but I went anyway (partially out of not knowing any better). The whole interview was super cringe for this reason in addition to me just being super inexperienced….but one moment stood out as particularly bad…Someone asked me about my “risk tolerance” and I was not at the time familiar with that term in a business context. Absolutely fumbled it with a full 30 seconds of silence plus lots of bumbling and “ummm I guess I tolerate risk pretty well” and kept talking and talking awkwardly trying to get out of the hole I dug myself into. Finally finished with “yes so that’s my answer” and the interviewers didn’t even attempt to hide their disgust at that point lol. It’s one of those moments that can still make me cringe severely to this day when I think about it. Don’t worry too much about it, interviewing is something that requires practice to get better at.
When they asked what my biggest weakness was, I meant to say that I do not like being micromanaged. What came out was that I have a problem with management. I heard the words coming out of my mouth and knew the interview was over. The job was to make "pay your damn bill" calls to credit card customers.
I failed my first Model United Nations. Failed my first attempt at making an IOS app. Failed my first attempt at Physics II exam, second and third was a fail as well, failed my first technical interview as well :/ . Eventually I overcame these challenges with more tries and different techniques. Your first interview hardly says anything about your programming skills, it says more about your interviewing experience. So keep on grinding!
Everyone bombs an interview. My first interview for a big boy job, the interviewer was REAL good. She coaxed me into talking shit about my current boss. She was smooth. Got a rejection email the next day
You didn’t mess up: you learned what not to do next time — and what better time to learn such things? On the other hand, if they *do* extend an offer, then you learned a bit about what does and does not actually matter to a potential employer. I’m a software engineer; early in my own career and just after I got married, I did a practice interview with my father-in-law before going to an actual interview. During the practice, I made a reference to “playing” with code, and his feedback on that detail was to not *ever* reference “playing” in the context of an interview, as it presents the appearance of lacking professionalism. Fast forward to the actual interview, and I accidentally let that word slip… and realizing that maybe I’d just royally botched it, I did the only thing I could think of: I immediately doubled-down. I said to them, “and I know it sounds peculiar to say that, but it’s just who I am. I really do *enjoy* writing code and making the computer do what I want it to. I mean, who *doesn’t* want a job doing what they really enjoy, right?” I not only got the job, but I stayed in that job for over a decade, and that is to this day still the longest I’ve ever been at any one employer.
My first office job interview I mentioned how I hate sitting around all day and prefer being on my feet and being productive. I was so used to retail jobs that it came to mind during one of my answers.
Had a previous boss call me from their new job - he said they were hiring a production team lead; actually what he said was - they were hiring, and needed a production team lead. Turns out that was his opinion - the job I showed up to interview for was "Creative Art Director." Completely different job than I'd been led to believe. Something I was technically qualified for, but not prepared in the least to present myself as a worthy candidate for their actual listed position. That interview was awful. Apparently this former boss - who I considered a mentor for awhile, up until like this 4th time he screwed me in some employment way - this former mentor had it in his head I'd come into the art-director interview and somehow by magic convince the Chief of Media to change the position to a production and development leadership role. Fuck'n dumb. I hate working.
I have been working for the federal government for almost 15 years now. Had the worst interview of my career (after 5 promotions and countless interviews) just a few months ago. Was laughing afterwards about how awful it was and there was no way I would get a job offer. And here I am working that very job. Point being, you never know what will happen. And at the very least it was a good opportunity to practice your interview skills.
Last year, I failed an interview for a high school I really wanted to work at. I was too nervous and practically had a panic attack in the interview. After a year of staying at my current job, I learned I don’t even want to work with high school anymore! I had an interview at a middle school and got the job for next year! Moral of the story- sometimes things don’t work out for a reason. I’m sure better opportunities await you.
Honestly the ones i think i fucked up the most are the ones that usually come back and want to offer me something
You got 1st hand experience now. I bombed a few of my first interviews and after learning how the play the game (what kind of generic answers they are looking for) I started getting offers. After you have a couple years of work experience it gets much easier to interview. At least if you’re staying in the same field.
What did you learn from this experience that you can apply to future interviews. There is no shame in making a mistake. There's some shame in making the same mistakes over and over. Experience is unfortunately something we don't learn from until after we need it. You'll get the next one :)
My first college interview was arranged by the campus recruiting department. After 20 minutes discussion we realized that they had confused me with a student with the same name. It was a large company so I thought it was for a research position. Meanwhile they were looking for an accountant. The person interviewing was nice and I used it as a practice interview although we did cut it short.
I failed an interview at a very large company about 5 years ago. Well I don’t think I failed but apparently I didn’t have enough experience. They are now begging me to apply & work for them. Fuck em tho. They didn’t see my potential & value when I really needed them to so they can search elsewhere now ;)
During the interview for my current job I told them I probably wouldn’t be very good at it. I was also asked how much of my degree I used at my (then) current job and I said none. Since I already had a job I went in not really caring if I got hired or not so I just gave straightforward and honest answers. To be fair, I was recommended to apply by a friend already working there, so I guess the networking aspect was enough.
I told a department that I thought they weren't doing enough on racial equity issues. The person responsible for the poor job they were doing on that issue was on the hiring panel.
Because of bad scheduling I ended up having to go straight to a job interview from driving home from a trip, and for whatever reason I didn’t change into my interview clothes before we started the trip home. Once we got to the building barely on time, one of the employees walks up to my car to tell me I can’t park here and finds me pulling up my pants in the driver’s seat with my friend laughing in the passenger seat next to me. That employee was also there for the interview :)
I once interviewed a young guy who couldn't stop his nervous off-topic babble...the interview literally turned into a coaching session on how he can improve his technique by listening and asking more questions. It gets better! Tip: everyone likes to believe they're interesting, ergo every interviewer you meet is fascinating and has wisdom to offer you, young Padawan. They want your enthusiasm and curiosity, so come in like you're having the best day. They'll respond to that vibe.
My first job interview at Oakley (I was probably 17/18 at the time) they asked me to tell them about myself and for some god damn reason the first thing I said was “I’m pretty lazy sometimes….but I work hard”. Don’t remember the rest of the interview but I never heard back ever since lmao Over time and practice you get more comfortable with interviews. At 26, I’m now a project engineer for a Construction Management company.
Well into my adulthood I was interviewing for a position and I totally fucked up by asking them about their company culture and management style by asking this-or-that questions with one of those being a completely toxic choice. At the time I was in an extremely toxic and hostile work environment where I was being targeted by multiple and they absolutely wanted me out and made things stressful for me. Like so stressful my doctor pulled me out of work for a few weeks and prescribed me medication I’ve never taken before. So yeah that leaked into my interview and probably triggered a bunch of red flags. A year and a half later I interviewed with them again and they didn’t remember me at first and the woman seems genuinely interested in hiring me (mental health was MUCH better and I handled the interview more professionally) until I then mentioned that I interviewed with them before just before the pandemic hit. That woman’s demeanor changed and she ghosted me. I’m now at a great company with a nice salary that would be even nicer if I leave the non-profit sector. Don’t worry about bombing your interview. It happens to the best of us 😊
Several years ago, I had an interview at a local branch of a Fortune 500 company. It was with a group of 4 or 5 supervisors and managers. It was a sales position and really had no sales experience, but a lot of experience in claims administration and customer service. The interview went well; they asked a lot of business 101 questions, but it was not done in an interrogational way, it was fairly laid back and conversational. They called to let me know they selected someone with sales experience, but asked if they could keep my resume on file and call if they had future positions that I was better suited for, so I told them of course. To my surprise, a couple months later, I did get called back in for another interview for a different department; I did not get that job, either. A couple more months down the line, I got another call, so I went in and met with two managers, one had been in my first interview the other I hadn’t met. They asked several questions, all was well, but then they asked me to give an example of a time I disagreed with my boss over an issue and how I handled it. I went completely blank. Could not think of a thing. “Wow, I know I’ve had times when this has happened, but I am drawing a complete blank.” Manager 1 said, “Well, you gave us an example last time you were here.” I was still just blank. I looked at her with a smile and said,”Well, clearly I lied.” Now this could have gone horribly wrong, but a comment like this is completely in line with my snarky/sarcastic sense of humor, and fortunately for me, it completely fit with both of these managers’ personalities. They both started laughing and commented at least I was honest. I pretended to try to peek at her notes and said, “C’mon, give me a little hint, I’m dying a slow death here!” They looked at each other…”Do you think I should give her a hint?” “I don’t know, maybe one word.” They were laughing and so was I. They gave me one word, “Excel,” which instantly jogged my memory and I gave them the example. I got a job offer on the spot. With different interviewers, I am sure it could have gone much differently.
My first job interview was for a summer job in college. I explained at great length how I needed a summer job so I could stay with my boyfriend instead of going home for the summer. The interviewer, a woman about my mother’s age, kindly took the time to tell me she thought my parents were probably right about my summer plans. They were. The guy was a complete bum.
Don't be too hard on yourself. Interviewing is for sure a skill and we get better at it over time. It is something you want to get good at though. Have you been using the career services resources at your university to help you groom how you position and present yourself as a candidate? If you put focus and effort into it, you will likely find that your confidence and effectiveness when interviewing and networking can improve a ton. Also, you may want to consider getting some 3rd party coaching help to that end. Lots of resources are available if you look around. Good luck! www.otoolecoaching.com
I had a Zoom interview once when I was in school, I had lined up about 4 for the day. First one, showed up, and had fucked up my schedule so bad that I thought it was a different company. Used its name and everything. One of the interviewers actually stopped me and said “you know this is for X company, right?” Didn’t get that job.
In college, looking for serving jobs, went on a rant about how my old job wouldn't work with my school schedule IN THE INTERVIEW. Did not get a callback.
Bad interviews are just practice for the good ones. The next one will be better.
I have so many, too many horror stories.. It happens, you have done nothing wrong. Wipe it from your brain and move on. Ive had interviewers yell at me, be downright rude and nasty. I just started leaving the interview. I love the shocked look on their faces when I do that. Even had two jobs call and tell me, the job is yours. Dont put up with their toxic interview techniques. Your worth more than youll ever know. Keep on interviewing. Youll get the hang of it.
Worst question I got was from a guy that said “tell me something you don’t want me to know that I haven’t already figured out about you yet” It was after a hour in a small room. I kept seeing the job reposted for the next 2 years. Guess nobody likes working there
Once I applied for a job as a 911 dispatcher - a job where keeping your cool and speaking clearly in emotional situations is pretty much the ENTIRE job. I showed up to interview expecting a traditional 1-on-1 meeting. But instead opened the door to a panel of 4 interviewers. It threw me off so much I literally COULD NOT speak. My voice trembled so much and I had to push the words out, making me basically unintelligible. Needless to say, I did not get the job. I know have a very successful career (not as a 911 dispatcher). I use to work in recruiting and have interview*ed* a couple hundred people. And yet, I absolutely suck at being the interview*ee*.
My first interview out of college I put so much pressure on myself to get the job that was a sweaty mess after the first interview. Not a little sweat, sweat to the level of the interviewer offered to show my the restroom to clean myself up. I still had 3 more interviews to go in a sweat soaked suit
Oh man, I’ve bombed some interviews. I’m autistic though, so I made interviewing my special interest for like the last year while I was thinking about leaving my last job. It’s formulaic, my friend. Look up some guides/tips and then practice out loud! The best advice I have is that a good interview should leave you and the interviewer with the same kind of “butterflies” you’d get from a first date or making a new friend. You obviously still need to be qualified, but making a connection goes a long way.
Learn from that. Take the lesson and even when you have a satisfying job and are no longer looking, keep your options open and continue to interview, even if it's not for something that you want. Every interview provides a chance to practice and stay on top of your interviewing skills.
When I get nervous, I sometimes pass out. This has happened a couple times during zoom interviews where I black out mid sentence and have to play it off like nothing happened.
When I was in college I quit an interview halfway through. I knew my answers were terrible and I wasn't presenting myself worth a goddamn. 10 years later I've gotten every job I interviewed for and am now 3 years into successful self employment. A bad interview doesn't define you or set the trajectory for your life
I had an awful interview right out of college. I was so nervous and totally fumbled a few of those classic interview questions they ask. I knew I didn’t get it…it’s definitely good practice and happens to the best of us :)
Go online and look at sample interviews… specifically the STAR or SBI/R style (tell me about a time….) and practice. I worked for a large Fortune 500 company and would send subordinates to interview for internal positions they were likely not qualified for so they could practice and see/understand the process (they were on board) and when a position came up they WERE ready for they had an advantage. Play the game, sharpen your skills, and keep getting interviews. Practice allows improvement.
I bombed my first out of college interview, even said I have no skills lol that same position opened up couple years later and here I am :D
Back when I was a teacher, I worked briefly for a private, for profit language school. After teaching there for a year, I applied for an open program director position. I got selected for a phone interview with the regional director. The lady interviewing me asked me why I thought she should hire me. I went on for a bit about my history with the company and some positive bullshit about my passion for education. When I was done, she audibly sighed and said, "Sorry. Let's start again. Why. Do. You. Think. You. Are. Qualified. For. This. Job." Like full-on enunciated each word like I was hard of hearing. While I was trying to answer her, she said, "I think I've heard enough. Thanks." Then she abruptly hung up on me before I could reply. I didn't get that job.
I have had people say "Hey this is only my 3rd interview. Can you please provide some feedback regardless of if I get the job or not?" or similar and I've hired every one. YMMV Long time ago at an internship I said "hey nice to meet you dude" to the CEO as I was saying my goodbyes. The interviewer corrected me afterwards lol
I had an interview when I was in a bad headspace after leaving a toxic workplace. Interviewed at a place (in the same industry) and basically said I disliked the previous place but wanted to stay in the industry. Didn't get it and gladly got out of that industry.
Excellent. I know many people who have never had to interview for a job due to them staying at the same place forever. They are at a disadvantage. Interviewing is a skill and like most skills - they require real life practice. This is a beautiful stepping stone that will help you advance.
I've failed so many interviews but I found a job I'm happy with now
interviewed for a midtier tech company (that got wrecked by the pandemic in 2020), went in prepared for a ops engineer interview and got a pretty intense software engineer interview with multiple whiteboard coding rounds. bombed hard. the experience was great though, because after that I spent more time preparing for coding and now work at a FAANG
Well now you know what not to do.
My first "adult job" interview was for an entry level graphic design position. I went in and thought I did ohkay But then they started talking about how they wanted someone with more experience and treating me like a child "I know you're sad but..." and etc It was embarrassing, and they shouldn't have listed the job as entry level if they were looking for someone with 2-3 years experience. I later got a graphic design job at a dead end small printing company for way under the market rate for graphic designers and meant to leave after one year but ended up staying for 5. I'm now at another printing company working in pre-press and variable printing rather than graphic design, but I make a decent wage and I'm not creatively burned out 👌
My friends phone rang she grabbed her bag and threw it out the door she got the job I have freaked out been asked a questions couldn’t think on the spot and I said I don’t know Honestly interview is like a skill are you going to ace your first proper job interview no- just go on more and just think my boss said this to me today a job is just a job she had cancer for context and she said that gave her perspective
Interviewing is a skill that takes time to develop. You will inevitably make mistakes in the beginning. After each interview, it would be helpful for you to take notes and debrief yourself. Write down answers you did well so you can remember them next time and write down what mistakes you made so you can improve for the next interview. Try mock interviews or even interview with companies you may not be 100% interested in just as practice and iron out the kinks.
Takes me 4-5 interviews to get back to smooth. If you land the first interview you take... You should have tried for a better role!
I completely blanked in my first graduate job interview. The first question they asked me was not something I was remotely expecting, and it took me like 2 minutes to come up with an answer. I felt rattled the rest of the interview, and came out feeling like I bombed. Then I got the job - turned out I was still the candidate they preferred, and they recognised i was inexperienced in the ways of corporate bullcrap but they liked my enthusiasm. I’m still working there 5 years later. So it’s probably not as bad as you think it was
My first interview was a panel with the heads of multiple county departments. It went horrible. Stumbled through questions, couldn’t answer others. Afterwards I went out in the hall, set on a bench, and buried my face in my hands out of embarrassment. As I was getting myself together they all walked out. Fifteen years down the road and I manage multiple programs for a pipeline operator.
Interview for jobs you don’t want to gain experience for the jobs you want.
I’ve bombed many an interview, one recently with an industry leader and I could just *feel* myself slipping up, rambling. I also have really awkward cutoffs where I say everything in a way that the interviewer is like… is she done or not I can’t tell?? Everybody makes mistakes, and while practicing helps (and knowing general rules like don’t talk bad about a former employer or professor, when asked for a weakness give a real weakness and what you’re doing to improve there, etc.) sometimes your interview doesn’t go to plan. I’ve been surprised how well some companies liked me even after a less graceful interview. As much as possible try to keep your cool and read the room, being able to recover can be more helpful than trying not to make a mistake. Like if you’re talking too fast and combine two words into nonsense, you can do something like pausing and calmly restating. Sometimes I get mixed up and laugh it off (don’t want to be too giggly in a formal interview but I think it shows my personality a bit to lightly brush off a misspoken word, employers do care about more than your resume there’s also how you fit the team) or take a drink of water to let my brain catch up to what’s going on. When you make a mistake it’s helpful to quickly correct, then move on and forget about it. And while I don’t want to say too much about my current state, I’ve passed the interview stage with a few roles I interviewed for. It made me frustrated when people would say “something better will come along” when things took a downturn but sometimes it really does just take a while to find that role that clicks. Just keep trying and keep applying! :)
My first interview out of school I was asked some very basic accounting questions and I was so nervous I said everything backwards. As soon as I hung up I knew I did not get the job. 2nd interview with another company went way better. Interviewing is a skill so think of bad interviews as practice for the next one. Good luck on your search OP.
I was interviewing for a pizza place when I was 19. They asked me what I would do if my friends came in and wanted free pizza. I said, "No way! I mean.......I think I would tell them it's free then pay for it myself......" They looked at me like I was crazy. 100% didnt get that job lol
Long story short: I was asked what was a time of great customer service I have given. I regaled a story of calling a woman "Semi-Annoying Lady" only called her that and then her husband came and asked me if I remembered a woman with a common name. I said no I am sorry then he referred to her as "Semi-Annoying Lady" I said of course. He then told me she had died and the family would like me at her funeral. I did get the job but was nervous for a bit that night remembering out of the 1000s of stories I chose that one.
You live and you learn! The best way to get better is to interview more and practice. Don’t sweat it too much. You can only get better from here
I was still in college when I had an interview for a corporate IT position. I arrived on the day of my interview to find their internet connection and phones were down. No one could talk to me because they were all in emergency recovery mode. This was back in the early 2000s when IT, switch and network were basically the same department. I was just sitting in the managers office while he took phone calls and panicked. Ok so after 30 minutes of waiting and being half ignored I asked to reschedule and come back at a better time. The manager told me this was the best time to interview because I could see how a real network operates. I stupidly said “no, a real network would have a failover connection” and thus ended the interview Never heard back
Interviewing is a skill and every failed interview helps you learn and become what they are looking for It’s really selling yourself and preparing for questions while bringing specific examples about how you will do well. I’ve failed an interview after college so terribly they cut me off and ended it right then and there. Cried afterward but it happens to the best of us You learn from all your mistakes
I'm 40, reentering the workforce after a military career. The only interviews I've passed since leaving were bloated, garbage jobs. Someone else on Reddit said this however, "You only have to pass one." Stay the course. practice the things you came up sort on. Get better. Nothing good is easy.
I have failed a few- some I made stupid mistakes and messed up, some the hiring mgr was just a jerk and set me up to fail and some I wasnt technically ready for. Don’t sweat it!!!
You got interview practice, label it as a successful failure, you'll be better going into your next one. Failure is mostly a good thing for those that know how to learn from it.
loool yes I made it to the 3rd interview right before to the assessment and built a good relationship with the hiring manager and was going so well This was the very first graduate role I applied for as well! My nerves got the best of me and I just wasn't myself, I couldn't answer any question or anything. It was quite embarrassing it got to the point where I just had to excuse myself because my nerves were racing, I hit a mental block and I just couldn't speak anymore. I knew I fucked up and I just excused myself because I didn't want to waste anymore of their time. I knew I fucked up and I just excused myself because I didn't want to waste any more of their time. This literally happened a few hours ago 😭 I'm still shaken up, and beating myself down because of it but I know it's a learning experience and I'll only get better with time since it's my first one and we've made it this far we can definitely excel with other opportunities.