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I was once asked why I wanted the job. It was on the phone and I couldn’t remember what the job actually was as had applied for a few different ones. It was too late to ask now so I just said ‘to be honest it’s for the money’ haha went the whole interview without knowing what the job was and got offered the position at the end!
If you want money your motivated to do the job well to be able to keep it this is probably a bit better than a hiring a retiree or bored housewife who doesn't actually need money. I will never understand how this is an unacceptable answer really
If they want someone to do whatever they are told no matter how stupid then a middle-aged millionnaire is probably the wrong choice. But if they are into stupid they need to change management before hiring.
One of my old managers once asked me why I came to work. Apparently "to get paid" wasn't the answer he was after.
His idea of it was some to further the business corporate bs. No, you pay me, I work. You don't pay me, I don't work. Seems pretty simple. Loyalty gets you nowhere.
I interview fairly often in my role and that's my favourite answer. We only work because we need money. No matter how much i love the job and the company (I do), but if I didn't need money i wouldn't be there. We all know that, be honest and don't give me job interview BS
My pet hate is the 'what is your biggest weakness' question. I'd heard that fucking question at least 3 times already that week. In a moment of exasperation, I just said
Cheese.Cant get enough of the stuff.
Awkward silence .
Still ended up being offered the job
Ny favourite was always::
Them: "what's your biggest weakness?"
Interviewee: "I'm very direct, I always speak my mind"
Them: "I wouldn't consider that a weakness"
Interviewee: "I don't give a shit what you think"
I had an interview last week and I said
“ my biggest weakness is I’m blunt and direct which can rub people the wrong way, I also will question you on everything to understand a process fully so I can learn faster but it’s annoying as hell for you “
Somehow they offered me the job
I was scratching both arms loads at a job interview for a support worker in 2016. Manager asked why am I scratching. I said I went camping with friends the previous Saturday, had too much to drink and set fire to my left arm and got sunburned on my right.
He was laughing hysterically, I got the job!
for me it was the "why do you want to work for us."
I answered that "I didn't."
Which surprised them.... LOL
I then had to lead in to the longer story of how I enjoyed my current job, but because they were in the process of downsizing. I, as last in would be first out.
I got the job and now 35years later am still here
Same. My mom had a friend who knew a guy looking to hire. They kept bugging me to interview with him, but I wasn't interested. Finally, I went, to get them to leave me alone. When he asked me why I wanted the job, I told him I didn't and I told him I was only there so my mom and her friend would stop bugging me. He offered me the job and I took it.
So we met in a restaurant to do the interview.
The two guys doing the interview were there before me and I was nervous so when I came and sat down I asked them if they had a drink. They both said no so I said something like, "No problem, I'll just go to the bar."
Went to the bar and got three pints.
Brought them back to the table and they both explained they were driving so they weren't drinking.
So I did the interview making my way through all three pints, while they just watched.
Haha, nailed the interview though!
I know a guy who had an interview in a cafe/bar at lunchtime, the interviewer asked if he wanted a drink. "Sure, a lager would be great, cheers". Interviewer goes "I actually meant more like a tea or soft drink."
He didn't get the job.
i was applying for a software engineering job and i remember getting pretty snippy with this recruiter and eventually hung up on her, cus she essentially called me , to read my cv out to me, and then complained about how I didn't meet the job description... and it was for pretty bullshit stuff, like, "oh but you dont have any algorithms experience written down on here" and i was like "ofc i have algorithms experience ive been a software engineer for 4 years, that's like a bus driver who doesnt know traffic laws"
somehow got a second interview, and then a third but I rejected the third because the 22 year old "buisness manager" interviewed me in a fur coat, whilst also being an asshole.
I put on my CV I was interested in non-league football and had a season ticket to sound edgy (sounded better than I watch Match of the Day in my pants while eating pizza every so often) . Interviewer was a big local non-league football fan, asked me the team I supported - and what league they were in these days. I had no clue. Straight off the bat, first question, I was very flustered and he knew. This was the first interview of my life too.
I managed to recover with some decent answers to other questions, and he fortunately took a gamble on me.
I think everyone in their early job search days adds as many qualifications as they can and add hobbies and interests to fill the CV up. Oh and references too.
I read something in the newspaper from a university interviewer of potential undergraduates ..
Someone had listed a hobby in complete ignorance just because a teacher had provided a list of hobbies and said put one of these in the CV.
I was asked in a second round interview that the guy you work with is a major buyer for b and q and a massive football fan. Who do you support?
No one i replied.
I'm guessing the hot blonde got it 😄
If you give the job to anyone else, you're making a huge mistake.
Fuck, my younger self in 1999 was either uber confident, cocky as fuck, or both.
I got the job, and was told that saying that swung it for me.
Kind of cheating here because I don't know if I would have got the job or not, but I was invited to the next stage before politely declining the role.
It was what my main "flaw" was and I replied with "my inability to answer stock interview questions"
You remind me of a text I got from my then 11 year old daughter when I was shopping.
"Dad. I'd like some cock".
I almost fell over laughing in aldi. She has dyslexia, and this is the funniest text I've ever received.
Was being interviewed by the CEO for the head of finance role.
I ended up telling him a terrible joke about introverted accountants and discussing which brand of spiced rum I preferred.
He rang me up personally and offered me the job as soon as I got home
I refused the job.
Seriously. This was footlocker. I went in for a supervisor role and they were only offering minimum wage. I said no as I'd expect more than minimum wage as the people I'd be supervising would be on it.
I said in that case I'll decline the role and end the interview to save wasting anyone's time.
I get a call a month later asking me why I haven't turned up to my shift.
Lol pretty bad to offer a new job at that.
Been on one where my trainer was paid less. The manager sent out a company org chart in the first week with everyone's position and salary.
Recently left one where I was significantly overperforming my admin role close to nmw, and managing the third person in my team in practice since our manager WFH. When she got made permanent I asked her the rate. She was paid the same as me even though i taught her the job, she was pt, inexperienced, the role didn't have any inherent direct revenue. That was a major catalyst to leave.
Also I could run all three roles at a push whereas my manager struggled to do her own and didn't have a clue what I did or how
The question I was asked for a job as a career coach was about what types of retraining I would not recommend. I said "those helicopter flying courses in America as they were just jollys to spend the retraining grant" The guy in charge of the interview panel had done exactly that with his retraining grant and he still gave me the job!
I went for an interview at a bakery and the owner asked me- "why do you want to work here?" I wasn't sure what to say so I just blurted out- "because I like cakes", and grinned at his blank reaction.
I was interviewer for this one.
I asked them “tell me about a time you had to deal with a stressful or risky situation. What was it and what have your learnt from it.”
The answer was her younger brother set fire to some carrots that he was cooking.
She put the fire out. The learning was that he was no longer allowed to cook.
She got the job.
Can I ask, if an interviewer asks that question, is it ok to answer with a personal experience like the one you mentioned or should it be something linked with a work experience?
As someone who's hired a number of people over the years, I'd usually be looking for a work based answer. The dynamics and how you handle those relationships, are different between work and home.
Though saying that, if you've got a good and relevant personal experience, it's not anything that would get you marked down.
You can use relevant experience. When interviewing carers they often cite looking after family as experience of care work . It does kinda depend on the job and how relevant it is.
Depends on how experienced you are? For more junior roles, it’s perfectly valid and I’ve accepted those answered when conducting interviews. If you have a work experience one, always use that but in a pickle, any will do.
Depends on the interviewer. Ideally I look for work examples, but she was young and had limited work experiences to draw on.
Plus with that question I was looking for how she would react in an unexpected situation.
And when I am interviewing, part of what I look for is how she would fit in with the team, not just can she answer the set questions. The way she answers is as important as what she answers.
When I was younger I walked into my local blockbuster video to ask if they had any jobs
Turns out the district manager was in that day and asked me what my reason for coming in and asking was .
I told him it was because the shop seemed to be shut a lot when it should be open so they just be short staffed , the knobhead behind the counter gave me absolute daggers Hahahah
Don’t worry he was a fundamentalist Christian with views from the 1800’s … we didn’t gel
Went for a job in a call centre as the money was good and it was inbound calls only.
"How would you deal with someone who is abusive towards you (on the phone)?"
"I'd politely ask them to stop being abusive so that I could actually help them with the issue that they have called in about."
"They won't listen to you and continue to be abusive. How do you respond?"
"I will tell them to stop being abusive in order for me to be able to assist them. Otherwise, I will terminate the call."
"They maintain the abuse."
"Then I hang up."
"You can not just cut a customer off..."
"Are you telling me you are OK with customers abusing people who work here?"
I got the job but quit 5months later and was escorted off the premises!
Why did I quit? Many reasons, really. The main factors were ridiculous targets, pressure to upsell (which I was assured in the recruitment process wasn't going to be required), poor management, awful technology.... I lack the ability to keep my mouth shut and had been stating the obvious for a few months, Manager was a prick saying he didn't care as he'd be promoted soon. Told me it wasn't like I was gonna quit or anything....
I messed up in that question too (yet still got the job!)
I went into depth about how I struggled with attention to detail and the mistakes I was making in my current role, and the interviewer responded, "you do know that having an eye for detail is a key aspect of this job?"
My experience over 16 years ago,
Them: sell me this pen?
Me: why sell you a pen when this job, position isn’t about pens. this is a waste of my time, thanks..
Them: right ok, we’d like to offer you the job, when can you start the job.
Did the job for 8 months before I was let go due to closure of store. I was agency employed.
Years back I was creating a CV at work and checking it over before sending it to potential employers I quickly nipped to the vending machine, returned and sent out the CV en mass over the next few days
I got an interview and successfully got the job when at the end the interviewer asked why I wrote I was gay and loved the backstreet boys.
I then realised that my pal at work had added some funny parts when I was at the vending machine and hadn't noticed
I was asked “what makes you a great candidate for this role” I replied, quite brazenly… “I’m your man for the job, hire me you’ll find out”
No idea why I said that, but I got the job. I put it down to confidence / being a bullshiter. If you’ve got a loud mouth and can make friends easy and “fit in” your hired
Got interviewed with a black eye.
“So what happened with the eye”
“Got started on for flirting with someone’s girlfriend, thought I was Mike Tyson due to drink, turns out I’m not”
They laughed and I still got the job
Interview for a position tutoring early undergrad maths. One HR person, one maths postgrad. I was walking them through a question, doing a power series. 'Hang on, what's seven squared,' I said. Postgrad shrugged. I wrote down 42. Postgrad nodded, yeah, yeah it is, next part of the question. HR person horrified. Got the job.
I had a maths student friend in uni and I was always surprised by his inability to do the most basic mental arithmetic. We would watch countdown and I would somehow smoke him in the maths rounds despite being a humanities student. He was smart it just didn't work like that for him, for some reason.
I'm a maths student and am the same in that I can't do arithmetic to save my life. I can't even count haha. I think arithmetic skills probably peak in secondary school, maybe around year 8/9 so being 12-14
When I was learning A Level maths, I was always humoured by how the tutors would know all the crazy rules, algebra, calculus etc. by heart then spend an hour figuring out 6 x 5.
I guess you forget the simple stuff.
Something like, "I'm only here to see what interviews are like these days since I haven't interviewed in about 5 years. I'm looking to progress in my own own company, but there's a recruitment freeze on so here I am."
I was offered more money, more annual leave, less travel and a better pension, so I went with it.
My brother in law told the interviewer he has “incredible libido” when trying to explain that he doesn’t get lethargic easily, and therefore would be able to keep up.
For context, this was a job to look after disabled adults in a kind of daycare setting.
Anyway he’s been loving the job for 2 years now.
They asked why I wanted to work for sky and I said because I used to watch it as a child & I enjoyed the channels. The woman repeated my answer while trying her best not to laugh. All my answers were absolutely terrible but I still got the job
I went to an interview after a night shift once, I finished work at 7am, interview was at 9am, so as you can imagine I turn up absolutely exhausted with a STRONG coffee in hand, go into the interview, I’m chilled in the chair, sipping on my coffee as I answer questions and it gets to a question of my background (ex-military) and why I wanted to leave my current job.
Of course I’m tired and I guess I let my guard down and I was honest. I said I left the military as I got sick of being sent to countries to be shot at by people who look the same as the friendlies, and I wanted to leave my current job because my old boss had left and the new one who came in was younger than me, fresh out of college with barely any hair on his balls who’s the nephew of a higher up, and frankly it’s insulting the way the little prick tries to speak to me and the people I manage.
Guy looked at me, didn’t say a word in what felt like forever and then said, “well… at least I know you’re honest” and I was offered the job the next day 😂
Interviewer asked me how I overcame a problem at work. I gave an answer about when a previous colleague decided that he wouldn't talk to me. I explained that I asked my line manager for advice but then I went on to say that I thought the person had mental health issues! Interviewer asked me how it was resolved in the end and I said we went for a pint 😂😂😂
I interviewed someone for my dads business a while back that turned up like that, and although that wasn’t great, the boyfriend literally outside the office window watching us both and scowling at me for being male in her presence was probably worse.
I did feel really awful for her, but at the same time, answering “dunno, like maybe” to any and all questions wasn’t great either.
Seen loads of those casual. They normally get the jobs too because the company is so desperate.
I did see one man who looked very tired and depressed. Looked close to retirement and clothes very baggy. He got on site to argue it and say it was an age issue but really it was his performance in interview. And for me I could tell from his clothes he was depressed
"Seen loads of those casual. They normally get the jobs too because the company is so desperate.
I did see one man who looked very tired and depressed. Looked close to retirement and clothes very baggy. He got on site to argue it and say it was an age issue but really it was his performance in interview. And for me I could tell from his clothes he was depressed"
Depression would fit the disability descriptor under the Equality Act. You're admitting to Disablity discrimination. Vile.
Not something I said, but I once was intending to show up 12 hours late to an interview. Helped that I had email correspondence confirming 8pm because I thought it was weird but I had to hightail it there as fast as I could 😅
Not something I said, but got an interview as a nightclub barman the next day, whilst I was there drinking.
Had to stop the interview to go and puke in the bogs, in no way do I see this as a crowning glory, more they'd take on anyone.
For a standard desk job where do you see yourself in 5/10 years I said “Sat on a beach drinking cocktails” got a call an hour later and gave me the position! And another I did actually use “money” for why do you want to work for us.
They asked why I wanted the job. I didn't want the job but there wasn't much else going. I said "mainly because I have bills to pay so I need the money" and somehow I still got hired, absolutely hated it and I left a few months later for something else
I have cried in 3 different interviews and got the job on 2 occasions! The crying in the 2 successful interviews was in response to "what go you interested in doing this for a living?" And explaining the circumstances. (Thankfully just the odd tear, nothing major).
The 3rd time, they asked me to run through a case scenario which was actually very close to something happening in my personal life at the time. I fucking BAWLED my eyes out. Though they gave the job internally so Im not entirely convinced the crying was the sole reason. I do think they were probably embarassed for me .
IDGAF tho, as if i had taken that last job I probably wouldnt be in the great role i am in now.
Not me - but a good friend was asked if he would be happy to travel for work. He said 'yeah that's fine, I'm just not allowed within 100m of any schools.'
I hasten to add that wasn't true! And he got the job.
Many years ago I was interviewing for receptionist at a hotel . Now in interviews I'm generally freaked out with nerves. At the point have you anything to ask? I told him I wouldn't work there if they had a dirty kitchen. Ha I got the job !
At this point I'd decided the company wasn't for me, when asked "Why should we hire you?"
I responded with "because you need me".
Called me up a few hours later to offer the job. I didn't take it.
MD: Can you see yourself in a management position?
Me: Yeah, I love telling people what to do!
They laughed and I got the job.
Another one for an engineering consultancy that did some defence work, when asked about my ethics I said "I don't have a CND sign tattooed on my arse"
I did not get that job.
I said as a teenager I was arrested and convicted to community service for hacking into Interpol out of curiosity...
It was a security engineer role, I got the job
Why do you want this job? I went though a nasty divorce and want something easy whilst I continue my bender, also admitted to being drunk and continued to be drunk throughout employment there, got promoted which says a lot about catering
Funnily enough ever since I left school those are the only 'interviews' I've ever passed. They'd basically already decided to take me on so none of the whole interview process bullshit was really necessary
Interviewed for La Senza when I was 17 (lingerie store - basically Boux Avenue). When asked why do I want to work here, I answered “cheap underwear” followed by “haha just kidding”. I still got the job lol.
When I made this joke (about a less exciting book store), the guy just stayed stone-faced and scribbled it down.  I wanted to say "wait, that was a joke, stop writing" but knew that would make it worse and go a bit Peep Show.
I was applying for a graduate position in game development. They asked me what my weakest area of development was, and I half jokingly said "probably UI" - I had just gone over my code test and pointed out a UI error id noticed after submission.
I'd forgotten that UI was the primary thing listed as a requirement for the role.
But hey, now I'm great at UI!
I got a job in Starbucks after saying I don’t like coffee. Ended up being there for 8 years and becoming their barista trainer from South West London down to Cornwall. It also gave me a crippling caffeine addiction.
Years ago when I was a student looking for my first graduate job I was once asked why I had so much volunteer experience. I shrugged and said “well it’s better than doing nothing sitting at home staring at the wall.”
I used to work for a place that had a bar and bowling, I already worked the bowling part and had been helping out on the bar for about a year and a permanent position opens up, I sit down for the interview with my manager and his replacement everything is going well until.
Q, what do you do if you are held up.
A, pull down the shutter, close the door and pull the shotgun from under the bar.
Q, where do you see yourself in five years.
A, I have two plans in my five year goals 1st I'm going to be managing this place or il be so good at my job that when I leave it will have to close.
I left, it closed down and has been flattened I'm not saying I'm the reason but I did tell them.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Don't say doing your wife, don't say doing your wife....doing your kid?
Bonus points if you know what show that's from 😂
Had an interview for a new cinema that was opening in my area around 2001. We had a group interview where we had to review the last film we'd seen for the first time. Mine was "Fight Club" and in describing Meatloaf's character I used the phrase "bitch tits".
I've worked in data for the past 10 years. The interviewer asked if I worked with qualitative data, I brain farted and said, "Stupid question, but what is qualitative data again?"
I did my interview remotely, my husband overheard and has been teasing me about it ever since.
Fuck my life… this was me as a 20 odd year old little tit was asked if I had any holidays and I said well I’m going away for Christmas and intend to spend a lot of time in the jacuzzi with dirty girls hahaha!
Not a job, but when I went for a scholarship interview at City of London school, I'd said I was interested in going into the law. The head teacher asked me what made me interested in the law, my response was 'I'm just really interested in soliciting'. Realised immediately, looked down, looked at her with clear fuck what have I said eyes, and she knew I knew, I then gave my actual reasons for interest in the law. Never became a solicitor or went into soliciting. I DID get in with scholarship (but didn't wanna go to a private or only girls schools), so my eye gestures must have shown I knew what I'd said...
I got asked about why I think I'd be a good fit for the role on a telephone interview. I tried to say "I'm a great verbal communicator", tripped over the word communicator and said something like "comuncitater". Then I panicked and spent the next few minutes unable to communicate. Still got through to the next round and got the job.
>What's your interest in this industry
"To be honest I have had no real prior interest beyond using the service but I think I have the right transferable skills"
I was put on the spot but didn't want to dig myself into a hole by lying and was convinced I wouldn't get offered it anyway. At that moment I was convinced I had fucked it. A couple of days later I got offered the job.
Turns out some (not all) managers are hesitant to recruit people with existing interest as they are of the opinion it is better to recruit people they can train from scratch. Experience and transferable skills are good but generally they look down on amateur enthusiasts.
Not me personally but my brother interviewed for a job at Hollister. They asked him to describe Hollister in three words. He answered "it smells great".
I mean technically it was three words but I still laugh everytime I think about it.
Just realised I have my own example.
I had to do an interview with my KFC. I didn't want to so, when I was asked to give an example of bad customer service, I proceeded to tell my story of going into that very KFC and getting the wrong order, and then being told by the server/manager I was wrong.
The same guy who once tried to split a long line by asking "is anybody ordering chicken?"... in a KFC...
Got offered the job and rejected it.
My sister’s first interview out of school and she had really worked hard to prepare, with practice questions and mock interviews, really nervous but as prepared as a teen could be. The interviewer says ‘oh I like your perfume, what is it? And she just goes ‘I WAS NOT PREPARED FOR THAT QUESTION MAY I USE YOUR FACILITIES’
I'm female working in a heavily male dominated industry. Interviewing for a Business Development Manager role in my early 30's, one of the interviewers pointed out that the industry is very competitive and I'll be sent to a number of large events, eg. conferences, exhibitions etc. He asked how I'll be the one who gets noticed and remembered? I asked him to imagine he's at one of these events, and looking around the place at the sea of men in grey suits, and then I walk in the room. I asked him, who are you going to notice and remember? They didn't know how to react at first, and then the other guy burst out laughing. It was true! And I got the job 😄
Casually admitted to losing my shit and having an argument with another member of staff. Span into how despite that, I’m incredibly professional and now on good terms with said member of staff.
I got the job still.
I said I'm very lazy and have no interest in repetitive tasks so am always looking for ways to make things more efficient and automate as much as I can.
My boss said he was ready to end the interview at the beginning of the sentence, but the second part got me the job. He also advised that I shouldn't ever use the word lazy again - I like efficiency and productivity. Yes boss.
I was 19 in an interview for McDonald's. I'd left my job 2 weeks prior and the interviewer asked, "why do you want to work here?" My reply, "I don't but I've been applying everywhere so if I don't get the job I'll probably just kill myself." The room went silent for a few uncomfortable seconds as I processed just how terrible a statement that was to make then he asked me when could I start?
Not sure it counts as the worst but previously posted in this sub
https://www.reddit.com/r/UKJobs/s/UqpU4aA1Br
I was asked in an interview “where would you like to be in 3 years” - I said “on a beach surrounded by a bunch of attractive women in bikinis. Actually I would like to be there now but sadly I have to work for a living”. I got the job.
Applied for a load of apprenticeships and got interviews, I was asked if I knew what the company initials stood for - I did not. Still got offered the job!
I was interviewing for the school I’m at now, and the school I was at, at the time, was essentially a prison (overseas, extremely expensive, only really took kids that got kicked out of public school, which here is a fucking achievement).
Interview went great, aced it throughout, but the tail end of the interview she started asking extremely pointed questions, like, would you be willing to teach a more fixed curriculum etc.
I thought it was odd she was so familiar with my school, and I kinda guessed she probably used to work there. Let the golden rule of “never shit talk your employer in an interview” slip given if I praised an obviously atrocious school it would reflect badly.
Sat for about 20 minutes bitching about all the lack of safeguarding, terrible standard of education and other issues. And lo and behold, yep. She worked there along with 4 other new colleagues, we sometimes reminisce about the bad times, like cleaners making chlorine gas and the school bribing the kids to shut the fuck up with grade scores.
Good times.
Basically told the boss I was high.
My friend set me up with an interview kinda informally. She texted me about it in the evening. Sorta hey come in Tuesday and talk to manager.
I forgot. So Tuesday she calls me like where are you, did you forget ? So I said shit yeh give me like 15 mins I'll be there. I jump in the car and go.
She calls me again as I'm driving laughing saying I texted you and you forgot I said when did you text me ? She says Saturday night.
I say Ahhh well there's the problem I was high then so you're gonna have to take that up with high cupcake coz I wasn't there. I was on speakerphone ! She says cupcake you're on speaker phone ( litterally all the staff and manager are there). I said does that mean I didn't get the job ? She said no it's cool come in.
Turns out the boss lady smokes too and it's not a problem I got the job.
Why do I want the job? Because it would halve my commute.
Honestly was surprised to have been offered the interview. Even more surprised when I got the job!
Not the worst thing, but I got irritated at how crap the questions were in the interview. I said "if you really want to test my knowledge then ask me questions where the answer can't be taken from the name" e.g. "What does move machine in Y mean?" Well it means move machine in Y
Went for a bar job and turned up for the interview absolutely wasted. Had the group interview and we were then shown around the club.
Suddenly the interviewer hands some notes out to us and asks us to pass them around and find the fake.
As soon as the fake touched my hands I handed it to the manager proclaiming it was the fake.
Turns out being blind drunk but still able to interview and spot a fake instantly are good traits.
“This job isn’t for me, I’m going to leave.”
They talked me into staying and I had to hide the fact I’d got the job from the other candidates. To be fair I was very happy working there. 😬
Got asked how do you deal with an uncomfortable work colleague & i replied “some times if both fire then no good, one water the other fire then it will become good & so i am willing to be water sometimes”
Heck it was my first job interview after uni & i was nervous as fuck.
I remember this lad who was on benefits but forced to go for an interview as a deliveroo bicycle delivery person. He turned up on the shittest bike and then ran a red light and crashed in to a hedge..... He didn't get the job but still....he's still got that free paper coming in
I actually had an interview on Monday and they asked how I dealt with stress.
I deadpan said "I drink" before cracking a smile and continuing onto my real answer. I hope I get the job, it seems like a good outfit but that comment might have gone very wrong.
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I was once asked why I wanted the job. It was on the phone and I couldn’t remember what the job actually was as had applied for a few different ones. It was too late to ask now so I just said ‘to be honest it’s for the money’ haha went the whole interview without knowing what the job was and got offered the position at the end!
Another fun question to answer in that interview was ‘what makes you good for the role’
"my ability to deflect difficult questions by telling rambling stories that don't go anywhere, which reminds me of a time....."
That's amazing lol
I did this and he actually liked my honesty and I got the job
If you want money your motivated to do the job well to be able to keep it this is probably a bit better than a hiring a retiree or bored housewife who doesn't actually need money. I will never understand how this is an unacceptable answer really
If they want someone to do whatever they are told no matter how stupid then a middle-aged millionnaire is probably the wrong choice. But if they are into stupid they need to change management before hiring.
One of my old managers once asked me why I came to work. Apparently "to get paid" wasn't the answer he was after. His idea of it was some to further the business corporate bs. No, you pay me, I work. You don't pay me, I don't work. Seems pretty simple. Loyalty gets you nowhere.
lol. Well done! What was the job?
I think this actually works for many sales jobs. As they want people who just will do anything to make money.
I interview fairly often in my role and that's my favourite answer. We only work because we need money. No matter how much i love the job and the company (I do), but if I didn't need money i wouldn't be there. We all know that, be honest and don't give me job interview BS
My pet hate is the 'what is your biggest weakness' question. I'd heard that fucking question at least 3 times already that week. In a moment of exasperation, I just said Cheese.Cant get enough of the stuff. Awkward silence . Still ended up being offered the job
Ny favourite was always:: Them: "what's your biggest weakness?" Interviewee: "I'm very direct, I always speak my mind" Them: "I wouldn't consider that a weakness" Interviewee: "I don't give a shit what you think"
Fuck this gave me a chuckle
I had an interview last week and I said “ my biggest weakness is I’m blunt and direct which can rub people the wrong way, I also will question you on everything to understand a process fully so I can learn faster but it’s annoying as hell for you “ Somehow they offered me the job
Haha! I'm definitely finding a way to use this in some way or another!
In the section where we have asked for your biggest weakness you have written "eczema".
Ben n Jerry's for me...
What flavour though
Phish food. Always.
Excellent choice !
I was scratching both arms loads at a job interview for a support worker in 2016. Manager asked why am I scratching. I said I went camping with friends the previous Saturday, had too much to drink and set fire to my left arm and got sunburned on my right. He was laughing hysterically, I got the job!
I'd hire you.
And that's how you got your username.
I wish 🤣🤣
Username checks out.
You're fired.
In answer to the question , describe your working style... "having a laugh while getting the job done... Sue me" In the style of David Brent
Brentmeister General
for me it was the "why do you want to work for us." I answered that "I didn't." Which surprised them.... LOL I then had to lead in to the longer story of how I enjoyed my current job, but because they were in the process of downsizing. I, as last in would be first out. I got the job and now 35years later am still here
Do you want the job yet?
Looking forward to my retirement LOL
Same. My mom had a friend who knew a guy looking to hire. They kept bugging me to interview with him, but I wasn't interested. Finally, I went, to get them to leave me alone. When he asked me why I wanted the job, I told him I didn't and I told him I was only there so my mom and her friend would stop bugging me. He offered me the job and I took it.
So we met in a restaurant to do the interview. The two guys doing the interview were there before me and I was nervous so when I came and sat down I asked them if they had a drink. They both said no so I said something like, "No problem, I'll just go to the bar." Went to the bar and got three pints. Brought them back to the table and they both explained they were driving so they weren't drinking. So I did the interview making my way through all three pints, while they just watched. Haha, nailed the interview though!
I know a guy who had an interview in a cafe/bar at lunchtime, the interviewer asked if he wanted a drink. "Sure, a lager would be great, cheers". Interviewer goes "I actually meant more like a tea or soft drink." He didn't get the job.
>He didn't get the job. He should have ordered three pints!
This really tickled me for some reason, love it!
i was applying for a software engineering job and i remember getting pretty snippy with this recruiter and eventually hung up on her, cus she essentially called me , to read my cv out to me, and then complained about how I didn't meet the job description... and it was for pretty bullshit stuff, like, "oh but you dont have any algorithms experience written down on here" and i was like "ofc i have algorithms experience ive been a software engineer for 4 years, that's like a bus driver who doesnt know traffic laws" somehow got a second interview, and then a third but I rejected the third because the 22 year old "buisness manager" interviewed me in a fur coat, whilst also being an asshole.
To be fair, many bus drivers drive like they don't know traffic laws...
I see you're familiar with Scotland...
England is my experience. I'm guessing it's at least UK wide though!
Ex was a bus driver in England. Drove like his bollocks were on fire most of the time.
Tbf I have been interviewed by people so you I own shoes older than them.
I put on my CV I was interested in non-league football and had a season ticket to sound edgy (sounded better than I watch Match of the Day in my pants while eating pizza every so often) . Interviewer was a big local non-league football fan, asked me the team I supported - and what league they were in these days. I had no clue. Straight off the bat, first question, I was very flustered and he knew. This was the first interview of my life too. I managed to recover with some decent answers to other questions, and he fortunately took a gamble on me.
You put “season ticket holder of non league club” on your CV?
I think everyone in their early job search days adds as many qualifications as they can and add hobbies and interests to fill the CV up. Oh and references too.
References in big letters, with extra line spacing, that and the fact you got 100% attendance in year 5
I read something in the newspaper from a university interviewer of potential undergraduates .. Someone had listed a hobby in complete ignorance just because a teacher had provided a list of hobbies and said put one of these in the CV.
Yeah but when you're at the point of having to make up your hobbies so that you seem normal maybe you need to re-evaluate your life
Hobbies Season ticket to Sound Edgy (sonic installation art) Fabricating _curricula vitae_ (for self and friends)
I would've thought the "Hobbies" section would be the place to put "Season ticket to sound 'edgy'".
Did you ever get taken to a match afterwards?
I was asked in a second round interview that the guy you work with is a major buyer for b and q and a massive football fan. Who do you support? No one i replied. I'm guessing the hot blonde got it 😄
I would have said “whoever he supports”
I gave a list of the restaurants I'd worked at that had mysteriously caught fire within months of me starting
If you give the job to anyone else, you're making a huge mistake. Fuck, my younger self in 1999 was either uber confident, cocky as fuck, or both. I got the job, and was told that saying that swung it for me.
That sounds like a threat. I like it.
Kind of cheating here because I don't know if I would have got the job or not, but I was invited to the next stage before politely declining the role. It was what my main "flaw" was and I replied with "my inability to answer stock interview questions"
When applying for a cooks job on my C.V I wrote at one point I love cocking instead of cooking still got the job
You remind me of a text I got from my then 11 year old daughter when I was shopping. "Dad. I'd like some cock". I almost fell over laughing in aldi. She has dyslexia, and this is the funniest text I've ever received.
What did she mean to ask for?
\*Presses buzzer\* Is it coke, Des?
It certainly was.
Coke :)
Was being interviewed by the CEO for the head of finance role. I ended up telling him a terrible joke about introverted accountants and discussing which brand of spiced rum I preferred. He rang me up personally and offered me the job as soon as I got home
I refused the job. Seriously. This was footlocker. I went in for a supervisor role and they were only offering minimum wage. I said no as I'd expect more than minimum wage as the people I'd be supervising would be on it. I said in that case I'll decline the role and end the interview to save wasting anyone's time. I get a call a month later asking me why I haven't turned up to my shift.
Lol pretty bad to offer a new job at that. Been on one where my trainer was paid less. The manager sent out a company org chart in the first week with everyone's position and salary. Recently left one where I was significantly overperforming my admin role close to nmw, and managing the third person in my team in practice since our manager WFH. When she got made permanent I asked her the rate. She was paid the same as me even though i taught her the job, she was pt, inexperienced, the role didn't have any inherent direct revenue. That was a major catalyst to leave. Also I could run all three roles at a push whereas my manager struggled to do her own and didn't have a clue what I did or how
The question I was asked for a job as a career coach was about what types of retraining I would not recommend. I said "those helicopter flying courses in America as they were just jollys to spend the retraining grant" The guy in charge of the interview panel had done exactly that with his retraining grant and he still gave me the job!
Like your honesty
I went for an interview at a bakery and the owner asked me- "why do you want to work here?" I wasn't sure what to say so I just blurted out- "because I like cakes", and grinned at his blank reaction.
That's solid reasoning tbf
I was interviewer for this one. I asked them “tell me about a time you had to deal with a stressful or risky situation. What was it and what have your learnt from it.” The answer was her younger brother set fire to some carrots that he was cooking. She put the fire out. The learning was that he was no longer allowed to cook. She got the job.
Carrots do not strike me as a very flammable food her bro must have been really going for it
Can I ask, if an interviewer asks that question, is it ok to answer with a personal experience like the one you mentioned or should it be something linked with a work experience?
As someone who's hired a number of people over the years, I'd usually be looking for a work based answer. The dynamics and how you handle those relationships, are different between work and home. Though saying that, if you've got a good and relevant personal experience, it's not anything that would get you marked down.
You can use relevant experience. When interviewing carers they often cite looking after family as experience of care work . It does kinda depend on the job and how relevant it is.
Depends on how experienced you are? For more junior roles, it’s perfectly valid and I’ve accepted those answered when conducting interviews. If you have a work experience one, always use that but in a pickle, any will do.
Depends on the interviewer. Ideally I look for work examples, but she was young and had limited work experiences to draw on. Plus with that question I was looking for how she would react in an unexpected situation. And when I am interviewing, part of what I look for is how she would fit in with the team, not just can she answer the set questions. The way she answers is as important as what she answers.
When I was younger I walked into my local blockbuster video to ask if they had any jobs Turns out the district manager was in that day and asked me what my reason for coming in and asking was . I told him it was because the shop seemed to be shut a lot when it should be open so they just be short staffed , the knobhead behind the counter gave me absolute daggers Hahahah Don’t worry he was a fundamentalist Christian with views from the 1800’s … we didn’t gel
Went for a job in a call centre as the money was good and it was inbound calls only. "How would you deal with someone who is abusive towards you (on the phone)?" "I'd politely ask them to stop being abusive so that I could actually help them with the issue that they have called in about." "They won't listen to you and continue to be abusive. How do you respond?" "I will tell them to stop being abusive in order for me to be able to assist them. Otherwise, I will terminate the call." "They maintain the abuse." "Then I hang up." "You can not just cut a customer off..." "Are you telling me you are OK with customers abusing people who work here?" I got the job but quit 5months later and was escorted off the premises!
More please. Why?
Why did I quit? Many reasons, really. The main factors were ridiculous targets, pressure to upsell (which I was assured in the recruitment process wasn't going to be required), poor management, awful technology.... I lack the ability to keep my mouth shut and had been stating the obvious for a few months, Manager was a prick saying he didn't care as he'd be promoted soon. Told me it wasn't like I was gonna quit or anything....
Ahh... Hope your current work is better.
He asked what my weaknesses were and I said I was clumsy. He offered me a better role with more routes to progression. Said he liked my honesty.
I messed up in that question too (yet still got the job!) I went into depth about how I struggled with attention to detail and the mistakes I was making in my current role, and the interviewer responded, "you do know that having an eye for detail is a key aspect of this job?"
My experience over 16 years ago, Them: sell me this pen? Me: why sell you a pen when this job, position isn’t about pens. this is a waste of my time, thanks.. Them: right ok, we’d like to offer you the job, when can you start the job. Did the job for 8 months before I was let go due to closure of store. I was agency employed.
Lol
"Do you have any criminal convictions?" "No, it's quite laughable because I left such an easy to follow trail to the crime as well"
I got asked this in a recent interview and my response was ‘no, I’ve not been caught’ 😂
I was asked “why do you want this job?” And I replied “because it’s [insert industry]. Thought that since the opportunity was there, I’d go for it.”
That's not bad to be honest. I said the same for financial services. It's an honest pragmatic answer
Told my interviewer I was pretty lazy. They just laughed and said that's fine.
Ha, amazing, any jobs going at the moment?
No the business had to shut down because no one was doing any work.
Years back I was creating a CV at work and checking it over before sending it to potential employers I quickly nipped to the vending machine, returned and sent out the CV en mass over the next few days I got an interview and successfully got the job when at the end the interviewer asked why I wrote I was gay and loved the backstreet boys. I then realised that my pal at work had added some funny parts when I was at the vending machine and hadn't noticed
I love this one
Not something I said but I turned up 4 hours late
Were you told the wrong time?
No. Road closure, then car broke down, then got lost! They took it in good spirit. I missed half the stuff I should have done at the test centre
I was asked “what makes you a great candidate for this role” I replied, quite brazenly… “I’m your man for the job, hire me you’ll find out” No idea why I said that, but I got the job. I put it down to confidence / being a bullshiter. If you’ve got a loud mouth and can make friends easy and “fit in” your hired
Got interviewed with a black eye. “So what happened with the eye” “Got started on for flirting with someone’s girlfriend, thought I was Mike Tyson due to drink, turns out I’m not” They laughed and I still got the job
“Can you tell us what your understanding is of the role of a care coordinator” Total mind blank “Well, a care coordinator would coordinate… the care…”
First interview - Teamwork Making the tea and helping out? Didn't get it :(
First interview - Teamwork Making the tea and helping out? Didn't get it :(
Interview for a position tutoring early undergrad maths. One HR person, one maths postgrad. I was walking them through a question, doing a power series. 'Hang on, what's seven squared,' I said. Postgrad shrugged. I wrote down 42. Postgrad nodded, yeah, yeah it is, next part of the question. HR person horrified. Got the job.
I had a maths student friend in uni and I was always surprised by his inability to do the most basic mental arithmetic. We would watch countdown and I would somehow smoke him in the maths rounds despite being a humanities student. He was smart it just didn't work like that for him, for some reason.
I'm a maths student and am the same in that I can't do arithmetic to save my life. I can't even count haha. I think arithmetic skills probably peak in secondary school, maybe around year 8/9 so being 12-14
You should meet most engineers! the amount of shit necessary to keep people alive which is worked out by people counting on fingers is slightly scary!
When I was learning A Level maths, I was always humoured by how the tutors would know all the crazy rules, algebra, calculus etc. by heart then spend an hour figuring out 6 x 5. I guess you forget the simple stuff.
Something like, "I'm only here to see what interviews are like these days since I haven't interviewed in about 5 years. I'm looking to progress in my own own company, but there's a recruitment freeze on so here I am." I was offered more money, more annual leave, less travel and a better pension, so I went with it.
My brother in law told the interviewer he has “incredible libido” when trying to explain that he doesn’t get lethargic easily, and therefore would be able to keep up. For context, this was a job to look after disabled adults in a kind of daycare setting. Anyway he’s been loving the job for 2 years now.
They asked why I wanted to work for sky and I said because I used to watch it as a child & I enjoyed the channels. The woman repeated my answer while trying her best not to laugh. All my answers were absolutely terrible but I still got the job
I swore twice and made silly jokes while answering technical questions and the panel just laughed. 19 year old me was a lucky little shit.
I went to an interview after a night shift once, I finished work at 7am, interview was at 9am, so as you can imagine I turn up absolutely exhausted with a STRONG coffee in hand, go into the interview, I’m chilled in the chair, sipping on my coffee as I answer questions and it gets to a question of my background (ex-military) and why I wanted to leave my current job. Of course I’m tired and I guess I let my guard down and I was honest. I said I left the military as I got sick of being sent to countries to be shot at by people who look the same as the friendlies, and I wanted to leave my current job because my old boss had left and the new one who came in was younger than me, fresh out of college with barely any hair on his balls who’s the nephew of a higher up, and frankly it’s insulting the way the little prick tries to speak to me and the people I manage. Guy looked at me, didn’t say a word in what felt like forever and then said, “well… at least I know you’re honest” and I was offered the job the next day 😂
Interviewer asked me how I overcame a problem at work. I gave an answer about when a previous colleague decided that he wouldn't talk to me. I explained that I asked my line manager for advice but then I went on to say that I thought the person had mental health issues! Interviewer asked me how it was resolved in the end and I said we went for a pint 😂😂😂
Interview went super well. I built rapport so high that stage 2 and 3 I asked them where do I sign? I got the job
I showed up to the job interview in a t-shirt and shorts. Does that count?
I saw a girl turn up in a full tracksuit once . She got offered the job but never turned up for it.
I interviewed someone for my dads business a while back that turned up like that, and although that wasn’t great, the boyfriend literally outside the office window watching us both and scowling at me for being male in her presence was probably worse. I did feel really awful for her, but at the same time, answering “dunno, like maybe” to any and all questions wasn’t great either.
I foolishly wore a suit to an interview for a reasonably low-level position. I didn't get the job as I was 'too managerial'... ffs.
Seen loads of those casual. They normally get the jobs too because the company is so desperate. I did see one man who looked very tired and depressed. Looked close to retirement and clothes very baggy. He got on site to argue it and say it was an age issue but really it was his performance in interview. And for me I could tell from his clothes he was depressed
"Seen loads of those casual. They normally get the jobs too because the company is so desperate. I did see one man who looked very tired and depressed. Looked close to retirement and clothes very baggy. He got on site to argue it and say it was an age issue but really it was his performance in interview. And for me I could tell from his clothes he was depressed" Depression would fit the disability descriptor under the Equality Act. You're admitting to Disablity discrimination. Vile.
Not something I said, but I once was intending to show up 12 hours late to an interview. Helped that I had email correspondence confirming 8pm because I thought it was weird but I had to hightail it there as fast as I could 😅
Not something I said, but got an interview as a nightclub barman the next day, whilst I was there drinking. Had to stop the interview to go and puke in the bogs, in no way do I see this as a crowning glory, more they'd take on anyone.
For a standard desk job where do you see yourself in 5/10 years I said “Sat on a beach drinking cocktails” got a call an hour later and gave me the position! And another I did actually use “money” for why do you want to work for us.
They asked why I wanted the job. I didn't want the job but there wasn't much else going. I said "mainly because I have bills to pay so I need the money" and somehow I still got hired, absolutely hated it and I left a few months later for something else
I answered that old "5 years from now" cliche with "On a 70-ft yacht in the Virgin Islands" Got the job. Still no yacht, though :(
I have cried in 3 different interviews and got the job on 2 occasions! The crying in the 2 successful interviews was in response to "what go you interested in doing this for a living?" And explaining the circumstances. (Thankfully just the odd tear, nothing major). The 3rd time, they asked me to run through a case scenario which was actually very close to something happening in my personal life at the time. I fucking BAWLED my eyes out. Though they gave the job internally so Im not entirely convinced the crying was the sole reason. I do think they were probably embarassed for me . IDGAF tho, as if i had taken that last job I probably wouldnt be in the great role i am in now.
Thanks for giving them a great story to tell for the rest of their life
Not me - but a good friend was asked if he would be happy to travel for work. He said 'yeah that's fine, I'm just not allowed within 100m of any schools.' I hasten to add that wasn't true! And he got the job.
Many years ago I was interviewing for receptionist at a hotel . Now in interviews I'm generally freaked out with nerves. At the point have you anything to ask? I told him I wouldn't work there if they had a dirty kitchen. Ha I got the job !
At this point I'd decided the company wasn't for me, when asked "Why should we hire you?" I responded with "because you need me". Called me up a few hours later to offer the job. I didn't take it.
MD: Can you see yourself in a management position? Me: Yeah, I love telling people what to do! They laughed and I got the job. Another one for an engineering consultancy that did some defence work, when asked about my ethics I said "I don't have a CND sign tattooed on my arse" I did not get that job.
I said as a teenager I was arrested and convicted to community service for hacking into Interpol out of curiosity... It was a security engineer role, I got the job
Why do you want this job? I went though a nasty divorce and want something easy whilst I continue my bender, also admitted to being drunk and continued to be drunk throughout employment there, got promoted which says a lot about catering
"You got any experience in this sort of job?" "No, not really..." "Oh, well you'll pick it up it's easy." They were desperate for staff.
Once got shown my desk and the office in the interview. They must have decided I'd get it beforehand
Funnily enough ever since I left school those are the only 'interviews' I've ever passed. They'd basically already decided to take me on so none of the whole interview process bullshit was really necessary
Interviewed for La Senza when I was 17 (lingerie store - basically Boux Avenue). When asked why do I want to work here, I answered “cheap underwear” followed by “haha just kidding”. I still got the job lol.
When I made this joke (about a less exciting book store), the guy just stayed stone-faced and scribbled it down.  I wanted to say "wait, that was a joke, stop writing" but knew that would make it worse and go a bit Peep Show.
I was applying for a graduate position in game development. They asked me what my weakest area of development was, and I half jokingly said "probably UI" - I had just gone over my code test and pointed out a UI error id noticed after submission. I'd forgotten that UI was the primary thing listed as a requirement for the role. But hey, now I'm great at UI!
I got a job in Starbucks after saying I don’t like coffee. Ended up being there for 8 years and becoming their barista trainer from South West London down to Cornwall. It also gave me a crippling caffeine addiction.
"tell me about yourself" me: "well, I'm shy" still got the job lol
'So it's closer to where you live. Is that the only reason you want to work here?' 'Yeah pretty much'
Years ago when I was a student looking for my first graduate job I was once asked why I had so much volunteer experience. I shrugged and said “well it’s better than doing nothing sitting at home staring at the wall.”
I used to work for a place that had a bar and bowling, I already worked the bowling part and had been helping out on the bar for about a year and a permanent position opens up, I sit down for the interview with my manager and his replacement everything is going well until. Q, what do you do if you are held up. A, pull down the shutter, close the door and pull the shotgun from under the bar. Q, where do you see yourself in five years. A, I have two plans in my five year goals 1st I'm going to be managing this place or il be so good at my job that when I leave it will have to close. I left, it closed down and has been flattened I'm not saying I'm the reason but I did tell them.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Don't say doing your wife, don't say doing your wife....doing your kid? Bonus points if you know what show that's from 😂
Sounds like a family guy line
Peep show.
Had an interview for a new cinema that was opening in my area around 2001. We had a group interview where we had to review the last film we'd seen for the first time. Mine was "Fight Club" and in describing Meatloaf's character I used the phrase "bitch tits".
You should have said you weren't allowed to talk about it.
Mentioned I’d been off my nut at a rave the day before and got the job 🤣
Fuck off🤣 what job?
Sports distribution
I've worked in data for the past 10 years. The interviewer asked if I worked with qualitative data, I brain farted and said, "Stupid question, but what is qualitative data again?" I did my interview remotely, my husband overheard and has been teasing me about it ever since.
Fuck my life… this was me as a 20 odd year old little tit was asked if I had any holidays and I said well I’m going away for Christmas and intend to spend a lot of time in the jacuzzi with dirty girls hahaha!
Not a job, but when I went for a scholarship interview at City of London school, I'd said I was interested in going into the law. The head teacher asked me what made me interested in the law, my response was 'I'm just really interested in soliciting'. Realised immediately, looked down, looked at her with clear fuck what have I said eyes, and she knew I knew, I then gave my actual reasons for interest in the law. Never became a solicitor or went into soliciting. I DID get in with scholarship (but didn't wanna go to a private or only girls schools), so my eye gestures must have shown I knew what I'd said...
I got asked about why I think I'd be a good fit for the role on a telephone interview. I tried to say "I'm a great verbal communicator", tripped over the word communicator and said something like "comuncitater". Then I panicked and spent the next few minutes unable to communicate. Still got through to the next round and got the job.
>What's your interest in this industry "To be honest I have had no real prior interest beyond using the service but I think I have the right transferable skills" I was put on the spot but didn't want to dig myself into a hole by lying and was convinced I wouldn't get offered it anyway. At that moment I was convinced I had fucked it. A couple of days later I got offered the job. Turns out some (not all) managers are hesitant to recruit people with existing interest as they are of the opinion it is better to recruit people they can train from scratch. Experience and transferable skills are good but generally they look down on amateur enthusiasts.
Not me personally but my brother interviewed for a job at Hollister. They asked him to describe Hollister in three words. He answered "it smells great". I mean technically it was three words but I still laugh everytime I think about it.
"to be honest I just don't like clients"
Just realised I have my own example. I had to do an interview with my KFC. I didn't want to so, when I was asked to give an example of bad customer service, I proceeded to tell my story of going into that very KFC and getting the wrong order, and then being told by the server/manager I was wrong. The same guy who once tried to split a long line by asking "is anybody ordering chicken?"... in a KFC... Got offered the job and rejected it.
My sister’s first interview out of school and she had really worked hard to prepare, with practice questions and mock interviews, really nervous but as prepared as a teen could be. The interviewer says ‘oh I like your perfume, what is it? And she just goes ‘I WAS NOT PREPARED FOR THAT QUESTION MAY I USE YOUR FACILITIES’
I'm female working in a heavily male dominated industry. Interviewing for a Business Development Manager role in my early 30's, one of the interviewers pointed out that the industry is very competitive and I'll be sent to a number of large events, eg. conferences, exhibitions etc. He asked how I'll be the one who gets noticed and remembered? I asked him to imagine he's at one of these events, and looking around the place at the sea of men in grey suits, and then I walk in the room. I asked him, who are you going to notice and remember? They didn't know how to react at first, and then the other guy burst out laughing. It was true! And I got the job 😄
I explicitly told the director who was hiring me that i would most likely be late on a regular basis and they still hired me
Casually admitted to losing my shit and having an argument with another member of staff. Span into how despite that, I’m incredibly professional and now on good terms with said member of staff. I got the job still.
I said I'm very lazy and have no interest in repetitive tasks so am always looking for ways to make things more efficient and automate as much as I can. My boss said he was ready to end the interview at the beginning of the sentence, but the second part got me the job. He also advised that I shouldn't ever use the word lazy again - I like efficiency and productivity. Yes boss.
I was 19 in an interview for McDonald's. I'd left my job 2 weeks prior and the interviewer asked, "why do you want to work here?" My reply, "I don't but I've been applying everywhere so if I don't get the job I'll probably just kill myself." The room went silent for a few uncomfortable seconds as I processed just how terrible a statement that was to make then he asked me when could I start?
Not sure it counts as the worst but previously posted in this sub https://www.reddit.com/r/UKJobs/s/UqpU4aA1Br I was asked in an interview “where would you like to be in 3 years” - I said “on a beach surrounded by a bunch of attractive women in bikinis. Actually I would like to be there now but sadly I have to work for a living”. I got the job.
\*Looks at who posted that question you replied to\* I see I have a literal follower
😆
In your Job
Gimme a hell yeah
Applied for a load of apprenticeships and got interviews, I was asked if I knew what the company initials stood for - I did not. Still got offered the job!
*at the end of the day you're their bitch so just get on with the work"
One interviewer asked "What gets you out of bed in the morning?" My immediate response was "Breakfast, or my alarm."
I was interviewing for the school I’m at now, and the school I was at, at the time, was essentially a prison (overseas, extremely expensive, only really took kids that got kicked out of public school, which here is a fucking achievement). Interview went great, aced it throughout, but the tail end of the interview she started asking extremely pointed questions, like, would you be willing to teach a more fixed curriculum etc. I thought it was odd she was so familiar with my school, and I kinda guessed she probably used to work there. Let the golden rule of “never shit talk your employer in an interview” slip given if I praised an obviously atrocious school it would reflect badly. Sat for about 20 minutes bitching about all the lack of safeguarding, terrible standard of education and other issues. And lo and behold, yep. She worked there along with 4 other new colleagues, we sometimes reminisce about the bad times, like cleaners making chlorine gas and the school bribing the kids to shut the fuck up with grade scores. Good times.
Basically told the boss I was high. My friend set me up with an interview kinda informally. She texted me about it in the evening. Sorta hey come in Tuesday and talk to manager. I forgot. So Tuesday she calls me like where are you, did you forget ? So I said shit yeh give me like 15 mins I'll be there. I jump in the car and go. She calls me again as I'm driving laughing saying I texted you and you forgot I said when did you text me ? She says Saturday night. I say Ahhh well there's the problem I was high then so you're gonna have to take that up with high cupcake coz I wasn't there. I was on speakerphone ! She says cupcake you're on speaker phone ( litterally all the staff and manager are there). I said does that mean I didn't get the job ? She said no it's cool come in. Turns out the boss lady smokes too and it's not a problem I got the job.
I was asked why I wanted the job, I answered “The money’s good” I still go the job…
Why do I want the job? Because it would halve my commute. Honestly was surprised to have been offered the interview. Even more surprised when I got the job!
Not the worst thing, but I got irritated at how crap the questions were in the interview. I said "if you really want to test my knowledge then ask me questions where the answer can't be taken from the name" e.g. "What does move machine in Y mean?" Well it means move machine in Y
"What would you do in a performance review if someone wanted to just do their job and not progress?" "Nothing - not everyone is management material"
“People often say that I am both the smartest and dumbest person they know”. Still got the job.
Went for a bar job and turned up for the interview absolutely wasted. Had the group interview and we were then shown around the club. Suddenly the interviewer hands some notes out to us and asks us to pass them around and find the fake. As soon as the fake touched my hands I handed it to the manager proclaiming it was the fake. Turns out being blind drunk but still able to interview and spot a fake instantly are good traits.
Group interview.... "any hobbies, anyone?" Before my brain engaged I shouted "masturbating and drinking alone!"
“This job isn’t for me, I’m going to leave.” They talked me into staying and I had to hide the fact I’d got the job from the other candidates. To be fair I was very happy working there. 😬
The first answer😂😂😂
“Would you like to see my elephant impression?” 🤣
Got asked how do you deal with an uncomfortable work colleague & i replied “some times if both fire then no good, one water the other fire then it will become good & so i am willing to be water sometimes” Heck it was my first job interview after uni & i was nervous as fuck.
I turned up a day late and still got the job. I got the day wrong..... Completely. Still got the job though. Somehow
I remember this lad who was on benefits but forced to go for an interview as a deliveroo bicycle delivery person. He turned up on the shittest bike and then ran a red light and crashed in to a hedge..... He didn't get the job but still....he's still got that free paper coming in
I actually had an interview on Monday and they asked how I dealt with stress. I deadpan said "I drink" before cracking a smile and continuing onto my real answer. I hope I get the job, it seems like a good outfit but that comment might have gone very wrong.