What are your good and/or funny job interview moments?
Posted by Random_Nobody1991@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 47 comments
I'm in that very fortunate position where I have a job interview today which I'm relatively relaxed about (I like my current job, so not bummed if I don't get it) and I'd be interested in hearing about any positive or amusing job interview stories. One of mine was in a successful interview where I not only answered the question I'd been asked, but also unintentionally answered the next question as well.
boredathome1962@reddit
I got stuck in the basement of an office block in Bristol after the interview. I was in a daze from the questions and pressed the bottom lift button, emerging into a basement, the doors shut so I pressed the button on the wall, and it was broken. I walked round, no other exits. press - press - press... nothing, no light, nothing. I banged on the doors and shouted. Nothing. Half an hour passed, and eventually I used my pocket knife to undo the lift button cover and found there was a loose screw on the switch.. Wrapping my knife in my handkerchief as the best I could do to insulate it, I pushed the wire in and tightened it. And the lift came! To cap it all, the ground floor was empty, no one there, completely shut for lunch. And the doors were locked. I went out through a fire escape not caring if it set an alarm. Best news was that the very next day I was told that I got the job!
sarahbee126@reddit
Not having a stairs coming from the basement seems like a safety concern!
OnceMoreOntoTheBrie@reddit
Which company was this in??
boredathome1962@reddit
Civil Service Selection Board. Probably long gone, I was a direct graduate entrant EO.
Sin_nombre__@reddit
You got the job, despite carrying a knife to the interview.
Nervous-Economy8119@reddit
Maybe the knife was the reason they got it. Would you say no to them?
boredathome1962@reddit
The only blood on my knife has been my own, from accidents.
boredathome1962@reddit
A Swiss army knife, I have carried and used one every day since I was a boy. I'm old, it didn't cause any issues back in the 1980s.
Girl-Milky@reddit
Was in an interview for a huge organisation. One of the interviewers asked me if I've worked in a big company before, which I had, it was on my CV. He then said to me oh we have over 3000 employees to which I responded 'oh, well I don't need to know them all by name do I?' and I laughed. He just looked at me and said 'oh yes, well I guess that's true' no emotion. Knew it wasn't the right place for me then and there
sarahbee126@reddit
Him not laughing at your joke doesn't mean no one who worked there had a sense of humor. I have a strong sense of humor but sometimes when I'm busy I didn't laugh at jokes even though I got them. I think you were too quick to judge based on one interaction, but I wasn't there.
pencilrain99@reddit
When I was 19/20 I went for an interview , it was a woman in her late 50s doing the interview as soon as I sat down she began rubbing my leg with her foot under the desk. Being a little bit flustered I fucked up every question asked but she gave me the job anyway. No idea what the.moral of the story is but it was an unusual experience
sarahbee126@reddit
I would have moved my leg. Maybe she thought it was a table leg?
MidfieldGeneralKeane@reddit
Lol I had a similar thing happen to me when I was around 22, this older woman in her 40s had a low cut top on and a leather skirt with leather boots. I got the feeling she kinda liked me a bit, kept smiling a lot and biting her lip now and she did have this sexy voice as well. I was really turned on but also felt a bit uncomfortable because I wasn't sure whether I should have been enjoying getting a hard on and losing all my thoughts on the job or what. I didn't get the job, all I got was a boner that I managed to hide just about 😂
Sszaj@reddit
Which company was this?
pencilrain99@reddit
It was an agency to work in a factory cant remember which one it was nearly 30 years ago
Sszaj@reddit
Oh I'm probably too late then.
pencilrain99@reddit
Yeah she's either dead or sexually harassing her carers these days
Trax-M@reddit
At the job interview the two managers doing the interview were escorting me from the reception area to a office on our way there there was this other employee and just as we were walking by he said to someone else "I wish I had some dental floss I have something stucking between my teeth". I am the type of person who has floss, tide to go pens, multi tool etc, so I reached into my coat pocket and produced a pack of floss and offered him the pack, he and the managers looked at me like I pulled a rabbit out of my ass, he took the floss and we proceeded with the interview about 5 minutes in the guy I gave the floss too walked in, he was the two manager's supervisor , and he thanked me and I introduced myself and said jokingly "I see I am needed around here." we all chuckled. long story short, I got the job.
Independent-Try4352@reddit
Whilst unemployed, a recruitment agency set me up with an interview a fair distance away. Horrendous commute to the interview, but a jobs a job.
The interviewers had obviously read the 'Bumper Book of Management Buzzwords'. After struggling to explain how I would 'maximize asset uptime', I was then asked: “How would you facilitate clear wall communication between stakeholders”.
At that point I said “Look, I appreciate the interview, but I really don't think this job is for me. Thanks for your time, but we may as well finish now”, then walked out.
Had a call from the agency the next day “It looks like the interview went well, could you go back for a second interview?”
Er…No
I shudder to think how all the other interviews went.
worldworn@reddit
Turned up at an interview, feeling pretty nervous. Got there a little early and was waiting the long wait.
I'm in my own world when someone calls out my name, and it's a guy I've worked with for years and on great terms with. He greats me positively and tells me another guy I also knew worked here.
I get into the interview, and it quicky gets to the team currently in the company and who I would be working with.
I say something like "oh would that be (guy I know), I was just catching up with him.".
Turns out the guy interviewing me, knew him very well and it was a massive foot in the door. Pretty much disarmed him completely and did more for me than any of my answers would .
I got an offer for the job, but ended up with a better offer somewhere else.
kylehyde84@reddit
My ex wife was nervous about going for an interview, we sat in the car park and I suggested she go in for it, built up her confidence etc.
Long story short, she got the job and five years later I found out she was shagging the MD 🤷😂 that's what you get for being supportive haha
That_Northern_bloke@reddit
In my old job I interviewed for two seasonal education staff, and as part of the interview we had then do a task which was explain about two object as they would to a reception (4-5) class. So there's me and my boss pretending to be 4 and 5 years old, not exactly a challenge, and one of the people we interviewed chose a picture of a Blue tit. For context, we worked on a nature reserve and all our education workshops revolved around nature. Anyway, the woman starts going through the task and makes the comment 'this is called a Blue tit, yes you can giggle at the name'. Bearing in mind this was as if she was presenting to a Reception class, it was all I could do to not fail here on the spot. The worrying thing was, she apparently had several years of teaching experience prior.
Fudball1@reddit
Interviewed a girl for a post, and when she took off her coat, she had forgotten to button up her blouse. She was sitting with her whole bra on show. She definitely wasn't trying to charm me with her feminine wiles because it was a faded grey (previously white) bra. Nothing sexy. When my female co-interviewer alerted her, she was mortified and mumbled something about being at the gym earlier while hastily buttoning herself up. We were howling with laughter when she left!
tumblingnebulas@reddit
I was interviewing candidates for a hotel housekeeping position. In answer to 'how do you resolve conflict amongst colleagues?' one person explained how they had punched their previous manager during a disagreement over the rota. I thought that maybe she was just airing something that she feared we'd find out in a reference and would go on to explain how she'd grown since then, but no - she stood by her decision and said that she would not do anything differently in future.
I declined to hire her.
swapacoinforafish@reddit
I did a group interview at River Island back when I was first looking for work, so I was about 16 or 17, looking for a Saturday job. They split us off into groups of 3 and asked us to come up with a look for a different celebrity and we were assigned Cheryl Cole. I think the other girls did the jacket and shoes and I did the bottoms, so we submitted a look with these harem style trousers with the big slit down the middle. But I was told when the looks were being reviewed that this wasn't a good choice for Cheryl, she was really only known for wearing pencil skirts etc, it's doesn't suit her style and she would never wear those. I didn't end up getting the job, which I wasn't sad about. Well fast forward a couple of months and her video for Fight For This Love was released and what do you know, she's wearing those exact trousers (probably not from RI though!) and wore them when touring singing that song. Yes I am still bitter about it.
Pleasant-chamoix-653@reddit
I did a group interview there too outside Leeds. Staff were really stuck up and kept harping on about Ben the owner's son. Had my interview in a cold damp stairwell with no eye contact
swapacoinforafish@reddit
Yeah I had a one-on-one section in a cold, dimly-lit stairwell. Asking me to describe 3 times when I've gone above and beyond for someone in my life. Bb I'm 16. This is River Island...what do you want from me?
Pleasant-chamoix-653@reddit
They wanted the hot ones lbh
Esqulax@reddit
2-part interview for an 'IT Hero' (Yeah, that's what the ad said).
Turns out the company grew pretty quickly over a short amount of time - Moved to a bigger premises etc, and their 'IT guy' was someone who already worked there doing something else who was just into computers.
Anyhow, first part was a written quiz asking some fairly basic IT questions, second part was a 'practical'.
First one: The computer on the table here isn't working. Can you fix it?
The question I immediately ask - 'Is it plugged in?' and the guy shrugged. Turns out, that was the 'trick'. The power cable went into one of those floor hatches with the sockets inside.
My next question was... 'Really?'.
He said that other candidates were opening the thing up, taking out the graphics card and all sorts.
Second one: Here is an old router, we don't know the password. Can you reset it?
I was sat at a computer, connected up the router, pushed the reset button - Nothing. So... I googled it. Turns out on this specific model you needed to press it for exactly 7 seconds or something.
Apparently other candidates struggled for ages with it, assuming that they were 'under test conditions'.
For me, it was more of a chat between geeks rather than him grilling me for questions - I guess thats more testament to how this guy ran the interview rather than me being great though.
Second stage was a standard sit-down talk with the CFO. At the time, I thought I'd tanked it, but did get a job offer - But turned it down as it wasn't paid as well as it needed to be for the sheer amount of work that needed to be done, plus it was just on the outside of the M25, and close enough to London that local rent prices were insane
Pleasant-chamoix-653@reddit
First office job. My dad waited outside in the car park on a nice summer's day. Building was like a primary school appearance. Nice path and garden and ducks outside.
One of the managers who worked there pulled up in a car and smiled which was a good sign.
Interviewer walked me into the office afterwards and showed me my seat which in hindsight was a sign I would get it, It was a six month temp and I really enjoyed it.
yasssqueen20@reddit
Turned out I was wearing nearly the same coloured blazer as two of the interviews , so that helped a bit small talk wise!
Beige blazer for the win
Revolutionary_Oil897@reddit
Not me, but a friend of mine was somewhat in a similar situation. He had a job offer from a place that was suitable, but had an upcoming interview with someone else. The first question: If you were an animal, what sort of animal would you be? He stood up and told them that he doesn't want to work for them.
Western_Squirrel_700@reddit
Hats off for his reaction... I've sat through too many knowing they're assholes I will never work with.
Medium_Click1145@reddit
When I was 19 I had dozens of interviews for office jobs; very formal, I was very inexperienced, I didn't get any of them and messed most of them up.
Then I saw an ad for a junior reporter at a small newspaper. I'd done some work experience on a newspaper and my English was good, so I went for it, expecting nothing.
I was shown into the editorial room where the young editor and his deputy were playing cricket with rolled up copies of their newspaper and smoking cigarettes. I was quite hot back then and the deputy's eyes lit up. They took me across the road for a pub lunch (I remember I had sizzling steak) and asked uncomplicated questions about my life so far. They were both very funny guys and we really got on. At the end they said, 'you can start tomorrow.'
I said 'Really? I got the job?' They said no one else had applied for it, I had a car and at worst, I'd be fun to have around.
I wish all interviews could be like that one.
tradandtea123@reddit
Went for a job interview at Nissan in 2001 for a basic data entry job. Man and woman interviewing me, basic questions for 10 minutes and then they looked at each other shrugged and said to me we'll take you on if you want the job but we don't want to go back to work yet so we're going to sit here and stretch out the interview. The woman picked up a magazine and flicked through it whilst the man talked to me about walking and mountain biking which I had mentioned as interests at the bottom of the application.
Wonderful_Affect_664@reddit
I went for a job interview that a recruiter had set me up for in a town I didn’t know at all. I took an early train which was significantly delayed so I phoned the recruiter to say I was going to be late for the interview and to tell the people who were interviewing me.
I finally turn up at their offices, after taking a taxi bc I didn’t want to be any more late, only to be told by the receptionist that the guy who was interviewing me was at a funeral that morning! They eventually re-arranged the interview for that afternoon so I got back on the train for a couple of hours shopping.
They did offer me the job but the commute was a beast so I didn’t take it.
GuybrushFunkwood@reddit
I once had a young woman rock up fresh out of university for a senior logistics manager role get pissy and throw an empty water cup at me because she assumed (wrongly) her degree in media studies was worth the paper it was printed on. Obviously the cup travelled all on 3ft and when she got up to flounce out the room shouting “I’ll see you in court” she opened the door to quick and twatted herself in the side of the head (all on camera) …. Also on camera was me pissing myself laughing trying to shout the receptionist who was a first aider.
Sin_nombre__@reddit
How did she get the interview? Did you tell her in the interview she wasn't qualified?
GuybrushFunkwood@reddit
Absolutely no idea how she slipped through the HR net. Zero experience yet talking like the job was a done deal because of her degree. Hopefully the rather big clonk to the side of her head knocked some sense in.
Minimum_Reception_22@reddit
When I was running pubs I’d see hundreds of CVs, and always felt for youngsters just starting out who are trying to think of experiences/skills they can put down. Two that stand out, “the ability to walk, stand or sit for a long period of time,” and “high level of obedience.” I think both of them turned out to be pretty good Barstaff.
crgoodw@reddit
Had an interview roughly 10 years ago with both of the company owners / directors.
One of which was very austere, very severe and didn't even look up from his laptop as I answered questions. Just rapped away on the keyboard answering emails, occasionally throwing a comment or question. It was pretty rude, especially since my first couple of rounds with the office manager had been great, we had loads on common.
The other director was more laid back and we got on pretty well - so well in fact, that he revealed that Mr Rude Email dude once upon a time used to drive the little kids train at a nearby zoo, with a little zebra uniform and everything. Even sent me pictures on his phone of this guy in a little hat and uniform at one point, about 3 months in when I asked.
Mr Rude Email was an absolute nightmare to work for, was not afraid to scream and throw shit when he didn't get his way, and ran the place on intimidation tactics.
Kept that gem of a photo all the way up until I left, when Mr Rude Email threatened legal action for me actually working my contract notice period and called me 'unprofessional' for not wanting to work an extra unpaid 3 weeks as they hadn't bothered to figure out how integral my role was and hadn't lined up a replacement. I sent the photo to everyone in the company.
DameKumquat@reddit
During an interview I felt something wet on my ear. Interviewer was laughing.
Turned round and a horse had stuck its head through the open window and was licking me.
It was a Veterinary College so a horse being on site wasn't surprising.
Proper_Smoke_2476@reddit
Had an interview for a company that builds various industrial components, many for drilling oil.
Had a blowout tearing down the motorway, quite a bad one, sent me across three lanes. Turned up to the interview on time (just), covered in oil. Tried to make a gag about getting in character for the interview, did terribly in the coding test they gave me, and was scared of driving for months after.
conspiracyfetard89@reddit
They asked if I was a dog or a cat person, and I replied that I was neither as I was a normal human person.
I thought they were asking if I were a furry or something.
Suspicious_Field_429@reddit
The interview for my present job was a bit strange, it was an area manager and a (female) manager from HR Turns out the area manager was ex RN as I was and the HR manager I thought I didn't know had actually changed her name several years ago and when she told me her previous name, it dawned on me that I had went to school with her 😂
crazysheeplady08@reddit
Did an interview at my old work the other day. Trying to pretend like they didn't know me was the funniest thing. Eneded up me just telling them what I've done since I was away basically and me catching up on the office gossip
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