Have you ever drank before a job interview?

pgj2015

I just remembered I sometimes used to have a couple of pints before interviews 😅 I'm not sure why, I actually liked interviews and didn't do it over nerves or anything.

I'm not even a drinker really, only drank around 3 times last year. these were graduate jobs and I was offered the job after some of them.

Scipri0

No. I would never even think of it because even if you're drunk they might still smell it off you and it wouldn't be a good look.

pgj2015

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120746616#Comment_120746616

I always had mints or chewing gum. id say it would be an awful look lol such a piss take really, I wouldnt hire someone who had a few pints before a job interview.

HBC08

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058301861/have-you-ever-drank-before-a-job-interview

You only drank about 3 times a year but drank on more than one occasion before a job interview?

That's fairly weird.

pgj2015

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120746638#Comment_120746638

3 times last year. the interviews were back around 2013.

wotzgoingon

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120746638#Comment_120746638

I gathered from the OP that he was younger when he drank before the interviews. And then last year was years later.

HBC08

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120746647#Comment_120746647

OK I get you now but what does that have to do with how much or often you drank 10 years ago?

It doesn't have any context or relevance.

Anyway back on topic I never deliberately drank before an interview but I'm guessing I wouldn't have passed a breathalyser (from the night before) in a lot of them.

pgj2015

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120746664#Comment_120746664

Because its strange to me that I drank before them as I wasn't even a big drinker back then and I doubt its a normal thing to do before a job interview.

Most stupid thing anyone could do. I know an end-stage-alcoholic (read morning drinker, regular seizures on withdrawal) who held down a responsible job, blew it away, especially since lockdown as he has zero self-discipline and highly chaotic, has appeared drunk on job videos, kept having to change jobs. Although in a highly sought after specialist area where there’s an acute shortage he can’t get past any interviewer. Either drink, hungover or memory-damaged from extreme alcohol abuse. This guy has phoned me ten sheets to the wind totally unaware of his extreme slurring, and then forgetting he phoned me whilst p1ssed.

Forget alcohol and trying to get a job, believe me, you are not worth it.

Benmann

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058301861/have-you-ever-drank-before-a-job-interview

Did you get any of the jobs and did the interviewer notice?

pgj2015

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120746778#Comment_120746778

yeah I got offered a few of them, they definitely didn't notice.

igCorcaigh

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120746633#Comment_120746633

Never use mints or chewing gum when turning up for anything important. It's such a giveaway.

I also, no matter how nervous, would never have a smoke before an interview. Not even tea or coffee. Brush your teeth well that morning, and don't even use mouthwash.

pgj2015

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120747003#Comment_120747003

lol I wasn't chewing gum or eating mints during the interview, and im sure lots of people would have minty breath for interviews?

cj maxx

Yes . Because I thought back then I couldn’t join that company because of where I’m from . Stupidly , as it is now. I went out the night before and said I didn’t want the job .

Pauliedragon

An old boss of mine used to do interviews at the pub over pints. His theory was people were more honest after a pint or 2.

pgj2015

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120747063#Comment_120747063

What if they didn't drink?

wotzgoingon

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120747063#Comment_120747063

I went to an interview like that. He got me and himself a pint so I downed it. He said wow, what's going on. I said I have a hell of a thirst. I ordered a second for me and him even though he was still on the first. I downed the second. Ordered another for myself and none for him as he still had half a pint and a full pint. Downed the third. And repeat three more times. I said to him I could drink you under the table. He shook my hand and said you're hired.

Photobox

Not quite just before an interview but I remember many years ago going on a major session the night before an interview. No doubt I stank of booze at the interview. I did get the job though.

JupiterKid

Drinking for "Dutch Courage" before a job interview is very ill advised. I turned to drink to quell feelings of intense panic and anxiety after a mental health breakdown and ended up an alcoholic as a result.

Even in my worst drinking days - and they were pretty bad - I don't think I'd turn up to a job interview under the influence. It's not a clever thing to do.

Christ no. Although I did go to a recruitment evening for a company opening a new office locally (not a large event so it wasn't anonymous, we got name tags and many of us had already submitted applications, then received invitations to the event) and I took way too much advantage of the free booze, so got plastered. And obviously no further in my application.

Pauliedragon

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120747136#Comment_120747136

He didn't trust anyone who didn't drink alcohol. He was a strange fella to put it mildly.

magicbastarder

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120747063#Comment_120747063

i used to work on a team where at least two of the members were interviewed over pints. not sure if HR would allow that now.

Sugarlumps

Did it once and would do it again, crushed the interview, calmed the nerves. And no, you couldn’t smell it off me as I had brushed my teeth before I left.

corner of hells

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OwDmg74rhCw

How bout doing your interview this way ?

circadian

You'd be surprised how often people roll into interviews after a couple of pints. I've been through several recruitment processes over the years from junior positions to management and each time there was at least one person who smelled of booze, either from the night before or as some sort of dutch courage.

o1s1n

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120748282#Comment_120748282

I love how confident you are that brushing your teeth completely gets rid of the smell of booze. Absolutely guarantees it 100%, no way of anyone smelling anything, not at all. It's such a bulletproof tactic they should include it on the toothpaste box as a selling point.

'Job interview? Need to drink beforehand? Don't sweat it, Colgate has you covered 100%!'

shane b

Not directly before an interview but I went clubbing with mates the night before an interview for a summer job when i was about 20. I had 4 or 5 drinks which was about 1 drink per hour. Next morning I got suited and booted, arrived in time etc. The interview went ok in my mind but looking back I reckon the smell of my breath and the red eyes must have been a give away.

I applied to the same company for jobs over the following 10 years and never heard back from any application. There was even a 3 month work placement as part of a course I was doing several years later and of the 8 applicants, I was the only one not selected for placement.

Aglomerado

Never! Not even one. Afterwards, absolutely. Last several job interviews I had were in Dublin so I'd usually go for a few afterwards in porterhouse or somewhere like that.

newmember2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120747136#Comment_120747136

Can't be trusted

amacca

I drank before a big public debate and won it..(couple of shorts with mixers)

The position I had to argue was dogshit and I needed something to settle the nerves but apparently vodka is persuasive to an audience.

Didn't feel the need ever again, felt it was like my one time get out of jail free card....could have gone horribly wrong I suppose.

brokenbad

Drank a bottle of this stuff once to settle the nerves before a second round interview - it worked as i was offered the job!

tmh106

Never did this before any interview, but I did interview someone who came to the interview with a strong smell of alcohol on her breath. HR person picked it up too. She would not have been offered the job anyway (better candidates for the role) but even if she had been the best candidate, she would not have been offered the role because she turned up smelling of alcohol.

facehugger99

I feel like it's time to crack out this anecdote again...

When I graduated from college, I went to London with friends for 6 months. Spent most of the time there doing casual work, but we had a great time.

So we were coming back to Ireland and I was looking for a 'proper' job in my industry. Spotted an advertisement, sent in my CV and got called for interview.

The only problem was they wanted to do the interview on the morning I was flying back from London. They were based out near the airport so I was thinking that it would work out perfect to go straight there when I got back into Dublin.

Of course, on our last night in London we hit the town. My earlier promises to myself to take it easy went out the window after a couple of pints. 6 hours later I'm E'd off my head in a club with my GF saying that we need to get going if we're going to make our flight. To this day I still wonder why we hadn't organised our packing before heading out - I'm putting it down to being young and stupid.

We dash back to our apartment and frantically pack our stuff. I realise I have nothing remotely appropriate to wear to the interview.

We head out to the airport, on route I stop in a cheap menswear store and, in a very flustered state, buy, what I later realise are, an incredibly ill matched shirt and trousers. They also don't match the shoes I have. Not only that, they're about 2 sizes too big and I've no belt. I should mention, that the extent of this only hits me when I get changed for the interview in the toilets of Dublin airport. My GF bursts out laughing when I emerge.

I'm also at this stage, in the jaws of the comedown from hell. I can't remember when I've last eaten, I haven't slept for 36 hours.

My sister meets me at the airport to drive me over to the interview. She bursts out laughing when she sees me too.

I walk into reception feeling like a complete spa. I kinda have to hold my trousers up by hand to stop them falling down. The secretary looks at me initially as if I'm some escaped lunatic but I explain I'm here for the interview.

There's two guys interviewing me and the first question they ask is the kind of simple question a first year on my college course would know. Obviously designed to put me at my ease.

My mind goes, quite literally, blank. I know I know the answer but I can't bring it to mind. After 30 seconds I have to say 'sorry I just can't recall that'. I can see the two of them exchanging a glance wondering 'WTF' as one of them explains the answer to me, like you would to a dimwit.

My already fragile confidence nosedives completely.

I try not to remember the rest of the interview. They keep it mercifully short. I can barely string 2words together and I just want to stand up and say 'listen, this has been a terrible mistake, can we just finish up'.

I leave, still holding up my trousers, desperately trying to preserve what little dignity remains.

'How'd it go?' my sister asks brightly when I get in the car.

'Just drive' I say.

Obviously I don't get the job, and despite working in a small industry, never bumped into the 2 guys again thank Christ.

pawdee

I had an "interview" for a labouring job back in the late 80s in London. It took place in the basement bar (if I remember correctly) of The Spinning Wheel Pub in Northfields (now a Sainsbury's). I drank before, during and after that interview.

pgj2015

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120749721#Comment_120749721

Did you not think of just skipping the interview? no way would I have went near it.

niallpatrick

Never before or after in a local pub, straight home. Having a car motorbike and LGV license plus reach truck counter balance forklift 7 tonne and teleporter licenses put me from a decent candidate to top 3, whiff of drink I wouldn't have lasted longer than the initial handshake.

If you don't drink and drive even after one beer why ruin a chance at employment by having a drink before the interview?

pgj2015

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120774515#Comment_120774515

I think I probably did it because I knew deep down an office job wasnt for me and so I didnt really care about getting the jobs or not.

Baasterd

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120747136#Comment_120747136

Can't trust that lot 😉

Baasterd

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120747166#Comment_120747166

What was the job?

wotzgoingon

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120774939#Comment_120774939

Plasterer.

I known one severe alcoholic I have witnessed drinking during a sensitive type job, lost said job, lost at least one subsequent job, has been unemployed since. If you need drink before a job interview you have serious problems.

pgj2015

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120775074#Comment_120775074

If you need it during the interview you have serious issues.

Before is ok if you can handle your drink. 😂

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120775093#Comment_120775093

for some very nervous people (in interviews) who otherwise generally perform very well a doctor can prescribe the smallest dose of Valium for an important interview, that’s not a problem. Many people get a tablet for very occasional use such as a bad bereavement etc.

pgj2015

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120775118#Comment_120775118

Who is very nervous?

Andrea B.

I know my dad had a few vodkas before his matric Uni exams. Guess it was high pressure, strange town and all that. He got on well.

o1s1n

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120775118#Comment_120775118

Beta blockers are another great one. No withdrawals, can use them as a one off before a stressful event to calm nerves as a bit of a 'get out of jail free card', non addictive, don't cloud your mind or anything. You actually wouldn't know you'd taken anything - it just completely stops any sense of adrenaline rushing to your heart so it's impossible to have a high heart rate. As a result you're naturally just not nervous in the slightest, no sweat, no shakes, completely calm. it's fairly amazing.

Great for public speaking, driving tests, performing on stage, interviews etc.

The one down side is they can cause a bit of light headedness if someone has low blood pressure.

Grayson

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120775118#Comment_120775118

I've always hated flying so I always have a couple of them just in case. They're very small dosage.

Hoop66

I drank during a job interview. I didn't know this was going to happen though.

Went for a job with Shepherd Neame brewery based in Kent. When I arrived for the interview the IT manager said "It's nearly lunchtime, shall we go to the pub?". I wasn't sure if this was a test - being a brewery it could be "he wouldn't come to the pub, don't give him a job"! The pub was part of the brewery, so was literally next door.

Interviewer sank 5 pints, I had 2. Worked for them for 3 years, in one of the best working environments I've ever been in. They all liked a pint but knew their limits. Fairly substantial limits for some of them...

pgj2015

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120780687#Comment_120780687

I thought you meant a test, as in if you were mad for pints, they wouldn't offer you the job as you would be testing the product constantly.

B.A._Baracus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120746616#Comment_120746616

Was gonna say the same. Even with a breath mint, if you come off as having a few then you've defeated the purpose of going to the interview. Might as well stayed at home.

tmh106

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120776733#Comment_120776733

There was a snooker player (Bill Werbeniuk) who consumed a several pints of lager before his matches and drank around a pint per frame during the matches. Apparently he had been advised by doctors to drink alcohol to counteract a tremor he had (if I recall correctly). Late in his career he also started taking beta blockers.