What's the stupidest thing you've said in an interview?

dukedalton

I have to confess, part of the reason I'm asking is because I want to feel a bit better after making a right howler in an interview recently.

I was being interviewed for a teaching position and was asked how my students had got on in the project they had to submit as part of their Leaving Cert. For a reason I haven't yet fathomed, I blurted out "they all got As"- the problem being as I'm no longer at the school I couldn't possibly have known that. Suffices to say I didn't get the job.

So, come on, show me I'm not alone in being a complete pillock....

hansfrei

Asked the interviewer if she wanted her fudge packed

AnonoBoy

Told the interviewer how difficult it was to survive on a salary of 100,000 punts and the trials and tribulations of trying to run three houses.

Legs.Eleven

Told the interviewer I'd taught in Shanghai (I hadn't but had no teaching experience at that stage and had to invent some)....and so had she. When she asked me questions about the place I nervously answered them all with a "Ye-e-e-e-h". Scarla! She cut the interview short and obviously I didn't get the job.

AnonoBoy

hansfrei wrote: »

Asked the interviewer if she wanted her fudge packed

Did you get the job in the fudge factory in the end?

Ghost Buster

I turned up a day early. Didnt get to say much after that. Strangely short interview.

sbsquarepants

AnonoBoy wrote: »

Did you get the job in the fudge factory in the end?

They were looking for a fudge un-packer, that's why it was a stupid thing to say:D

Gerry91

Applied for a few recently, one lad rang me back the next morning, completely on the spot- don't agree with doing that but whatever-and asked me to tell him about the company. Unfortunately I just blanked and had to ask him what company it was . Anyhow, throughout it I stuttered way too much and basically was a bag of nerves

I often look back on it now and just laugh, that's all ya can do

Wasn't ideal that I had no time to prepare myself for doing such an interview. Applying for too many jobs at once was my downfall too as I got confused between companies

Anyhow I just learned from the experience and would be much more competent now. Not a fan of phone interviews but a lot of jobs do require regular phone communication so they're good for assessing candidates in that sense

I find with interviews, a lot of it is just about getting used to them and getting practice. Learn from your mistakes and try and improve with each one

I'm sure if you asked any interviewers they'll say they have gotten some pretty stupid and/or hilarious responses plenty over the years. You're never the only one remember that

hansfrei

AnonoBoy wrote: »

Did you get the job in the fudge factory in the end?

Yes. Didn't get to pack her fudge though.

Menas

I travelled from Dublin to cork for an interview many years ago. The plan was to pull in to a hotel in cork and get changed from my casual clothes to my suit and then to go to the interview.
But on doing this I discovered that I had left my shoes on the driveway at home.

Went to the interview regardless. Wearing a suit and a pair of converse runners I looked like Rab C Nesbitt.

Did not get the job.

titan18

Only had the being asked about stuff on CVs and having no idea what they were.

I am pie

Years ago, whilst in college, applied for a supermarket shelf packing job p/t. Spent the entire night beforehand drinking, turned up in a heap and when asked for a reference I asked who they wanted a reference from. They mentioned a teacher or a priest, managed to blurt out "wouldn't be no teacher or preacher man giving me no reference lady" in my best John Wayne accent. Thought I was magic, surprisingly they were less impressed.

whiskeyman

Trigger Happy wrote: »

Went to the interview regardless. Wearing a suit and a pair of converse runners I looked like Rab C Nesbitt.

Did not get the job.

Wouldnt have affected you if it were in advertising / morkeshing / IT / digital

Gerry91

I am pie wrote: »

Years ago, whilst in college, applied for a supermarket shelf packing job p/t. Spent the entire night beforehand drinking, turned up in a heap and when asked for a reference I asked who they wanted a reference from. They mentioned a teacher or a priest, managed to blurt out "wouldn't be no teacher or preacher man giving me no reference lady" in my best John Wayne accent. Thought I was magic, surprisingly they were less impressed.

I must ask though, what on earth use is a reference from a teacher or priest?

What can they say- "John is a great lad..."

kfallon

I did it!

castletownman

I once told an interviewer that I refuse to work in an office that has been used before.

Strangely, not the worst thing I've ever done in an interview though

I am pie

Gerry91 wrote: »

I must ask though, what on earth use is a reference from a teacher or priest?

What can they say- "John is a great lad..."

I suppose it's the best they can hope for when your 18 and looking for your first job? Dunno...they can hardly ask your ma if you will be a good lad.

sbsquarepants

titan18 wrote: »

Only had the being asked about stuff on CVs and having no idea what they were.

The job i'm in now (i'm here years btw) after about 3 years working, we're rearranging the office and the boss finds my cv that I applied for the job with - "what was the name of the last place you worked in before here?" "eh, it was, eh, give me a minute it will come to me....". He just laughed it off. Moral of the story - To be a good liar, you need a good memory.:)

sbsquarepants

Gerry91 wrote: »

I must ask though, what on earth use is a reference from a teacher or priest?

What can they say- "John is a great lad..."

......Very discreet.
Signed Fr Murphy

whomitconcerns

Interviewer: So Mr Griffin, where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Peter:

(in head) "Dont say doing your wife..dont say doing your wife...dont say doing your wife"
(out loud) "doing your.......son?"

Muise...

Not exactly an interview as I'd already been commissioned. I was a bit starstruck by the sexy curator of a big art exhibition.

Him: I really love your idea.

Me: Oh, I haven't done it yet.

*slinks off thinking "I carried a watermelon..."

WindSock

Yeah I've played a few blinders over the years in interviews. From "Oh I am going away for 2 months a couple of weeks", to "I don't really see myself working in this sort of business in the future" and my personal favourite, after cracking a few successful jokes and feeling a bit more confident with how things are going "Well I have to say, I can't really multi-task too well".

Needless to say, from then onwards I just stick on a big pointy dunce hat whenever I get called in for interviews and conduct them while I face the corner of the office. It's much easier for all of us this way.

Gerry91

I am pie wrote: »

I suppose it's the best they can hope for when your 18 and looking for your first job? Dunno...they can hardly ask your ma if you will be a good lad.

Ya I suppose nowadays it's uncommon enough to get straight into a job in a supermarket or whatever without any bit of experience- well it was in a place I worked a few years ago, it was a new store and only a handful had never worked in a supermarket before, but they had worked in newsagents, other stores or whatever

I guess My point is though, they're obviously going to speak favourably of you, even if in truth you weren't necessarily the hardest worker

sbsquarepants

Muise... wrote: »

Not exactly an interview as I'd already been commissioned. I was a bit starstruck by the sexy curator of a big art exhibition.

Him: I really love your idea.

Me: Oh, I haven't done it yet.

*slinks off thinking "I carried a watermelon..."

When I started going out with my current girlfriend she was forever quoting dirty dancing, trouble was i'd never seen it and didn't have a clue what she was on about. I remember her saying that to me one day about something or other, absolutely baffled by her nonsensical outburst I said "what the fúck were you doing with a watermelon?" - she just pissed herself laughing which just confused me even more.
I've only seen the film about a year ago - it's beyond terrible!

JoeA3

Friend of mine did an interview a few years ago for a major international IT company and following a fairly rigorous and lengthy technical interview, the HR woman took her turn to grill him...

She asks him - "How do you cope under pressure?"

Answer - "I drink a lot".


He got the job.

Gerry91

WindSock wrote: »

Yeah I've played a few blinders over the years in interviews. From "Oh I am going away for 2 months a couple of weeks", to "I don't really see myself working in this sort of business in the future" and my personal favourite, after cracking a few successful jokes and feeling a bit more confident with how things are going "Well I have to say, I can't really multi-task too well".

Needless to say, from then onwards I just stick on a big pointy dunce hat whenever I get called in for interviews and conduct them while I face the corner of the office. It's much easier for all of us this way.

I've heard similar from a few people alright. Definitely is common I'd say!

brandon_flowers

Interviewer: What if any weakness do you have?
Me: Honesty
.
.
.
Interviewer: Honesty is not really a weakness
Me: I don't give a **** what you think

Ardeehey

In an interview with a big American bank I mentioned that I could be fairly anal about numbers, then in my mind I though that sounded bad...so I followed up with...."Not that I like being anal, I hate anal things."

At that point I had to laugh, thankfully as did the others...didn't get offered the job!

ART6

Long, long ago now, but on leaving school my parents insisted that I applied for a job as an apprentice draughtsman at a motor parts manufacturer. The interview went quite well until the big cheese asked "Why do you want to work for our company?"

"I don't." I said. "I want to go to sea."

After a silence he grinned. "Well for once an honest answer. Go for it boy, and if you don't succeed come back and see me."

I never did.

The Backwards Man

When asked how I react in an emrrgency situation, I told of the time there was a gas leak at where I previously worked and how I safely evacuated everyone and contacted the emergency services and so on.

All going good until I happened to let slip that the gas leak was caused by me driving into the tank with a forklift.

Chara1001

Had an interview a couple of years ago, (my field of work is tiny so i don't want to say exactly what the interview was for)
I had to do a practical test first, very easy problem, sorted it millions of times but was so nervous that I physically couldn't do it and instead broke one of the tools they gave me to sort it. So the lady comes over after 30 mins, i was just apologizing as i just didn't do it at all.
So then there was the panel interview, and i was in such a state that i blanked. Utterly.
To most of their questions and all of their technical questions i answered 'i dunno'. They were cringing for me, dying for me to get a question right.
A few months later (i actually did manage to get a job in the area after that mess) I saw the interviewers at a conference and hid.

syklops

Gerry91 wrote: »

I must ask though, what on earth use is a reference from a teacher or priest?

What can they say- "John has a great lad..."

FYP.

Gerry91

syklops wrote: »

FYP.

Took me a minute to see that, well played!

cupcake83

I work in healthcare and went to an interview for a position in the brain injury unit. The human resources part went really well , the lady who was to be the boss the head nurse asked me a few questions and at one point I just blurt out "omg I am having the biggest brain fart right now" ... They totally hired me!

titan18

sbsquarepants wrote: »

The job i'm in now (i'm here years btw) after about 3 years working, we're rearranging the office and the boss finds my cv that I applied for the job with - "what was the name of the last place you worked in before here?" "eh, it was, eh, give me a minute it will come to me....". He just laughed it off. Moral of the story - To be a good liar, you need a good memory.:)

I actually had done the stuff on my CV, they weren't lies, I just had no idea what they were. They still hired me for some reason

ldxo15wus6fpgm

Interview for my first proper job, in retail at age 16/17. Job was customer services etc.

Interviewer: What is your biggest weakness?

Me: I guess I'm not really good with people...

Her face said it all. I still got the job though!

Pumpkinseeds

I had to do an unplanned telephone interview with a hack journalist. I was totally unprepared and winging it by the seat of my pants, Bitch totally misquoted me and caused a lot of trouble, good thing I already had the job;)

wp_rathead

when I was like 16 I went for interview to work in Five Star hotel, just as a food runner..


Interviewer: What do you know about HOTEL X?

Me: ..oh.. well I know it is a 5 star.. and... um.. that I prob could never afford to stay here..?

Interviewer: *spent 3 mins scribbling down note beside what I could see is just a box she had to tick*

...somehow got the job though as thought I'd blown it

Delta Kilo

My Dad was involved in recruiting new entry level people to the place he works years ago.

One applicant came in and they asked him, why do you want to work at X?

He said, I dont, my mother filled out the application for me because they want me to settle into a good career.

Interviewer: Well, there isnt much point in interviewing you then.

Applicant: Well, if its ok would you mind keeping me here a few minutes because my mother is outside waiting for me and she will know I just turfed it in if I come out straight away.

Interviewer: What career do you want to do?

Applicant: I want to be a singer. I love music.

Interviewer: OK, sing us a song so.

And he did, and my Dad said he was very good. Left on his merry way then.

Stheno

I was interviewing for a job in the public sector, and we asked each candidate what there opinions were of working in the public sector.

One particularly stupid individual replied "short hours, lots of holidays, no urgency to get any work done"

I kid you not.

Celly Smunt

Stheno wrote: »

I was interviewing for a job in the public sector, and we asked each candidate what there opinions were of working in the public sector.

One particularly stupid individual replied "short hours, lots of holidays, no urgency to get any work done"

I kid you not.

Bit hypocritical not giving him the job in fairness.

Tramps Like Us

Gerry91 wrote: »

I must ask though, what on earth use is a reference from a teacher or priest?

What can they say- "John is a great lad..."

I have a Bishop as my reference, it goes down fantastically and employers are well impressed - although they have never rang him to ask about me, the fact that he agreed to be a reference seems good enough