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It seems like even in the best job interview scenario, anything can go wrong at any time. This is because we’re at our most vulnerable, desperate to make a good first impression, and even more desperate to get that job.
No wonder job interviews are also the subject of some of the most entertaining and painfully funny (to look back at after many years) stories. So when someone asked “What's the biggest mistake you made on your first job interview?” people delivered honest responses, and it turned out to be one hell of a read.
Scroll down, upvote your favorite entries, and hopefully after you’re done with this post, you'll feel slightly better if your interview just went sour. After all, it can always be much worse!
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Not exactly a mistake, but I went to the counter of the store and asked if they were hiring. They said they were and gave me an on the spot interview right there in the middle of the store with my mom standing right with me (I was 16 and she had given me a ride to the store). My mom proceeded to answer every question for me and kept talking me up. I ended up getting the job and worked there for over 2 years, so thanks mom lol
#2
"What position are you interested in taking in our school?"
"Defence against Dark Arts"
#3
Interviewed at a bank. Was going perfectly despite how nervous I was, and I was probably in with a great chance. Then as a final question, the panel asked me "why should we hire you?" And I word-vomit replied "Because I probably won't steal your money!"
I was not hired.
To find out what common mistakes people make at job interviews and how to avoid them, Bored Panda reached out to Dawn Moss, the founder of “Your Interview Coach” who has been helping both candidates and hiring managers through recruitment and selection process since 2013.
“The two biggest mistakes candidates make are not preparing enough or practicing the answers,” she said and added that “It sounds simple.” As for preparation, “they don’t prepare enough specific examples to demonstrate the key behaviors they need for that job.”
It turns out, that candidates tend to talk generally about their experience, instead of sharing real examples of where they have applied their knowledge and skills to good effect. “They also don’t give enough thought to the common questions that are still asked during interviews,” she added.
#4
The interviewer asked if I had any convictions.
I sat there and thought for a moment and said, "Well I guess I'm passionate about saving the environment."
He was very confused and said, "What are your talking about? I'm asking if you have been convicted of any crimes..."
I did not get that job.
#5
At the end of my job interview, I asked a few questions about the position, the people involved, and other general questions. For my last question I decided to switch it up and I asked something along the lines of "if you could have any job and make any amount of money you want, what would it be?"
Interviewer A answers. Interviewer B answers. Interviewer C answers. Interviewer D answers and uses something very similar to what I was prepared to say. Interviewer E answers.
I finally answer and since Interviewer D used what I was prepared to say I decided to wing it. I said "Well since I love pizza, I'd travel the world, and eat pizza in different countries." I wanted to smack myself.
Dawn gave an example of a very common question asked at a job interview: “For example, tell me about yourself, what do you bring to the job, or why should we hire you?” In practice, this is often a missed opportunity. “The confident candidate doesn’t feel they need to practice. However, they may not share the right information during an interview,” Dawn explained.
Moreover, “if the candidate is confident, they may talk too much and there’s also a risk of going off track or not answering the question at all.”
“Conversely, candidates that lack confidence or get a little nervous will not talk enough and by default the recruiter will not have enough information to assess their capability,” Dawn explained and urged that it’s very important that all candidates practice talking through their answers.
#7
I was interviewing to be a dishwasher at a restaurant. The chef, who was the interviewer, asked me why I wanted this job. The real reason was the reason any high-school kid wants a job: money. I panicked though. I thought that was an inappropriate answer. So instead I started spewing all of this nonsense about dishes being my favourite household chore. He laughed in my face. I got the job, though :)!
#8
"Why should we hire you instead of anyone else?"
"I don't even know who else you are interviewing with, how could I know that I'm better than them?"
Led to a really awkward silence.
#9
The interviewer asked if I had any "salary requirements."
I said, "I do. But it doesn't matter, because I understand from employees I know who work here that your pay standards are much lower than most workers' expectations."
According to Dawn, confidence comes from preparation and practice. “Preparation is key to feeling confident you can demonstrate the requirements for the job. Preparing and practicing before the interview will also keep you focused on the information you want to share during an interview and help you avoid saying things you don’t want to share or talk about during an interview.”
When it comes to nerves going through the roof in a job interview, Dawn explained that being nervous is totally natural. “It shows you are genuinely interested in the job and shows the interview is important.” As an ex-recruiter, it was Dawn’s job to build rapport and settle a candidate before steaming in with the questions.
#10
Asked about my hobbies talked about sewing and reading. Guy pushed a little more,asked if there was anything else. I was confused why he would push at this question and said no. I was interviewing at a [freaking] video store, the correct answer is watching Movies dumbass. I will never let myself live that one down.
#11
Oh god, I still cringe at this.
Interviewer: "We expect our employees to be punctual."
Me: "Well, I am somewhat of a grammar Nazi."
Interviewer: wtf look
In my defense, I was 17 and stupid.
#12
Said “Well, thanks for coming in.” I was the one who had come in.
Another great tip from the interview coach is to be aware of the dialogue in your head. “What are you saying to yourself? Self-talk is underrated and underestimated. It can make all the difference before an interview. If you are thinking to yourself, this is a waste of time, I’m going to get another rejection, it’s likely to affect your interview performance. It may even show in your body language, posture, eye contact, attitude, tone, etc.”
Dawn also confirmed that a bad interview experience can knock the confidence of even the most confident person. “I worked with one lady who’d been out of the job market for several years bringing up her family. She’d received one rejection and hadn’t applied for any further jobs."
#13
My first ever internship interview.
Me: Hi, how are you?
Him: Good, and you?
Me: I'm doing well, how are you?
It still keeps me up at night.
#14
Asked about a time I had to make a compromise and, not drawing on any past experiences beyond an hour ago, I cited the time I had to give the last blue Jolly Rancher to my girlfriend even though it's my favorite flavor. Still got the job but wow
Marcellus II 3 years ago
Now I'm intrigued both by what a 'jolly rancher' is, and what on God's green earth a 'blue raspberry' is!?!
Jo Johannsen 3 years ago
A Jolly Rancher is a tooth/crown remover disguised as candy. They MUST. NOT. BE. CHEWED.
Load More Replies...
#15
Okay, this is embarrassing but when I was a teenager I was able to get an interview to work at a major coffee chain that offered good benefits and I really wanted the job. I had one job until this point and didn't have a lot of experience with job interviews so I googled up some tips to help me with that. One of the things that I read was the importance of maintaining very good eye contact lest the interviewer thought that you were disinterested or bored. I maintained very good eye contact. It was too good. That guy must have thought that I was some sort of psychopath because I would not break eye contact at all. It was as if we were having a staring contest that he lost several times but that I would not let up on. I had to wait a few more years before I was able to get a job with that company.
Deutschland Mädchen 3 years ago
"So, why do you want to work here?" *creepy wide-eyed stare* "Ummm ok.... you can go."
For anyone who feels knocked down after an unsuccessful job interview, Dawn advises looking at it from a constructive, positive perspective. “Try to think of every interview as gaining more and more experience and an opportunity to improve on your interview skills. Reflect on your performance objectively. Don’t change who you are, be yourself.”
After all, “remember if you get poor feedback, it’s one person’s opinion, for that specific job and that company. It’s not necessarily personal,” Dawn said and reminded everyone that “It’s important to keep applying, and be persistent and consistent. Keep on keeping on.”
#16
Interviewing for a part time job at Kmart as a summer gig in college.
HR Director: "So everything looks good. If you ever need a job reference or a letter of recommendation, come see me at the end of your employment here and we'all see what we can do!"
Me: "Oh that won't be necessary, I have references from real jobs already."
I still got the job but holy s**t.
Marcellus II 3 years ago
Why antagonize someone offering you help, whether you need it or not! Ouch!!
#17
I freaked out and forgot how old I was. Turns out I was fourteen. Fourteen and absolutely terrified. And no, I didn't get the job.
#18
The interviewer asked if I smoked and I replied "Smoke what?" Immediately lost my chances at getting the job.
#19
I wore a rival companies shirt to the interview without realizing...oops.
Calypso poet 3 years ago
Not a big deal. I was interviewing at a competing car dealership on my lunch break and immediately after work so I had no time to change shirts. You just make sure to tell any customers who notice that your other job sucks😂
#20
My first big-boy interview at a financial advisory firm couldn't have been worse. To start, I had hair down to the middle of my back which I had just put up in a bun, and a patchy beard. I walk into the office to meet with the well-groomed, cologne-wearing, every-fashion-accessory-available-wearing salesman who would interview me. He asked me, "How would you describe a sunset to someone who was born blind?" My response was, "Yellow... Wait a minute.....orange. [Damn]. They're blind."
After the interview was over, he said that I looked like a drug dealer.
#21
when asked why I wanted to work for McDonald's, I said that I wanted money mainly
I didn't get the job
Raena Celis 3 years ago
That's probably the only reason anyone would work there, so I don't understand why you weren't hired.
#22
This wasn't at the interview, but in my email applying for the job. It was right after college and I really didn't know what I was doing, so I just had my resume saved on my desktop under "resume."
I finished writing my cover letter, I attached my resume...or so I thought. I had accidentally misclicked when attaching and I attached this gif instead.
I had already clicked send before I realized my mistake, but luckily I was using gmail and was quick enough to be able to unsend it and attach the right file.
#23
First time I was honest about why I was leaving my old job and the reason was negative. Next time I had a story about how -while I loved my current job- the new job gave an additional positive push to my career path. You have to bend the truth for sure.
White Paper Tsuru 3 years ago
Lol! A positive push in my desired career path... which is employed. Honestly? Employed is the career path at the moment.
#24
Dominos Manager: "why do you want a job here"
Me: "It's close to my house, and I like pizza"
...I got the job.
April Caron 3 years ago
I don’t hear an interview mistake… I hear, “I’m dependable” and “I like your product.”
#25
I was offered the possibility to get an apprenticeship as a software engineer when I was 16. That was a pretty great chance and I wanted everything to be perfect. It was about 32°C (90°F) that day and their office was in middle of nowhere.
I planned to go there by bus but I missed it, so I had to take a really slow, weird train which stopped near there and had to walk to the office building.
Since I was really late already (I would've been 20 minutes early with the bus), I ran there. So I arrived there 10 minutes late and was sweaty. I was also dripping with sweat through the whole interview.
Still got the job, somehow.
Ivana 3 years ago
Things happen. Had someone show up late to an interview and they called saying they were going to be late and explained why. They came in, looking like they ran the rest of the way and after I got them some water and let them calm down a bit they preformed really well in the interview. Glad I gave them the time to chat and relax with some water first. Turned out to be a great employee who later left when they got a fantastic offer else where and I couldn't be more proud. Good managers should be reasonable enough to know when something just went wrong rather than when someone just didn't care enough.
#26
Was sexist. I was interviewed by two female engineers, who didn't really introduce themselves beyond their name, so partway through the interview I asked them if they're the HR reps.
They forgave me and I passed but it was dumb of me, I wouldn't have asked a pair of men that.
#27
This one still haunts me.
It was for a job a trampoline jump house where you pay to jump. My gf and I both applied and both got interviews. I was about 17 or 18 at the time and I believe this was my first one on one interview, only one I've ever done was a group interview.
I felt, and still do, that I was doing so well throughout it all. But towards the end of it, the interviewer asked how would I describe myself in (or "with" can't remember the word) 5 words. It took me a few seconds to think of something, and then I said it. "I am a good worker". There was a weird look on her face and she said," that's it?" In a concerned and I'm waiting for more type of look. I said yes and we finished up the interview.
It wasn't until on the ride home I started to realize my mistake and asked my gf what she said, and behold, she said 5 different adjectives instead of a 5 word sentence. I still felt confident about the interview, but later that week I was with her when she got the call about getting the job and I was excited to get mine soon after. No call :(
Tiny Dynamine 3 years ago
Questions like that are bloody stupid. There's nothing natural about them. It's like saying where do you see yourself in 5 years? Who knows? I might have been killed in a road accident by then, eh?
#28
My first interview was a disaster!
Interviewer says: "I see you've put down that you can speak German on your CV, can you say something to me?"
I reply: "Oh, I can't actually speak German, I just put that on there."
Interviewer asks: "Tell me about a time you had to work under pressure."
I say: "This one time I had an assignment for uni that was 50% of my grade, and I should have spent the last three months on it. I couldn't be bothered and spent most of that time out drinking and did the whole thing in 3 hours the morning it was due."
Interviewer asks: "Why do you want this job?"
I say: "If Im honest, its just because I'm broke and I need money."
By some miracle I got the job though, so I guess I was the only guy to show up or something.
#29
Was honest and said I was using it as a temporary stepstone to a better job.
Calypso poet 3 years ago
Nothing wrong with being honest and letting your future boss know your expectations. I still have the thank you note a young college grad sent me after she started her 'real job' at a bank. She was on the shy side but I wanted her as a bartender/waitress because I knew she would be a hard worker and honest. My hires had to be approved by the area supervisor and owners son. That meant they wanted sexy. I wanted competent. People are always looking for the best options. That's why bosses fire people 😂
#30
I had had several jobs before my first actual interview but my first interview was for a job selling hot dogs. I was asked what my biggest weaknesses were and stupid teenage me listed actual weaknesses like being lazy and not really caring about anything. I wasn't very smart back then.
I didn't get the job but found an article in some magazine(this was before the internet was used by regular people) shortly after that that gave me the right answers to that question.
What do you think ?
Mimi M 3 years ago
I had 'pubic' on my CV for the longest time. Yeah, it was supposed to be 'public'. Oh well - if I didn't catch it, maybe they didn't either.
littlesaresare 3 years ago
When I was handing out resumes for my first job as a teenager, it was many dozens of resumes later that someone pointed out I'd written my date of birth as that year. I was pretty big for a three-month-old. 😅
Load More Replies...
Bobby 3 years ago
Worked at a place that went out of business. The owner tried to hook people up with interviews and referrals with businesses he was friends with. I went to one and the guy asked me why I left my previous job... uh you already know it went out of business. Then his partner asks how they know I can be reliable. I say I have a family to support that means the world to me. He says I have one too but I need to know this job is more important than your family. I walked out without another word
Jo Choto 3 years ago
I will never understand why some of the shittiest jobs out there have these complex and convoluted interviewing processes. If you can show that you are reliable and you don't have a criminal record, that's about it. What the hell else do they think you owe them?
Death Metal Kitty 3 years ago
Because 90% of them will have decided within the first 2-3 minutes if they're going to hire you. The questions are there to look like the interview means anything. Other times, they might be on a fence, so the question helps... but these are the in the minority.
Load More Replies...
jk nbt 3 years ago
a good interviewer will recognize that they are dealing with someone who is new to the trade/business/industry/service etc... Yes, newbies goof up like in this blog. A good interviewer will allow for that and show grace. That is how these people got work anyway. What the employer gets is youth, energy, and a trainable, teachable blank slate. There are advantages to hiring new new newbie type people.
Carol Emory 3 years ago
A friend of mine said her son went to a pizza place for an interview. He had to wait a while because it was the lunch rush and the manager was back making pizza in the kitchen. When she finished, she came out and asked him what he thought the job involved. His answer "Making pizzas so you can have the free time to be the manager." He got the job on the spot.
Scott Totten 3 years ago
My first interview after retiring from the military was for and electronics technician position in a very large, well known datacenter in Las Vegas. During the interview one of the interviewers asked me what the device was called that turns alternating current into direct current. My mind blanked and I could not, for the life of me, remember the word rectifier. I opened my folder, pulled out a pencil and a blank sheet of paper and , while explaining how a full wave bridge rectifier worked I drew an electrical schematic for one and passed it across the table to the guy, while saying, "However, I am kind of nervous, as this is my first interview in more than 20 years, and I cannot for the life of me remember what the thing is called." He looked at it, said, "This is very good and that was a great way to showcase your skills but unfortunately you didn't answer the question I asked." Since I retired from the Air Force, that is the only interview I have gone to which I did not get an offer.
Albino 3 years ago
I was interviewed for a teaching position. After giving me a shi tload of crap (preparing a series of lessons in a subject I didn't study) and more weird questions than I dare to remember (I do remember them asking for a weakness though and I told them it takes me a while to get going in the morning so I usually get up extra early to be fit when work started (they did some frenetic writing at that point) they asked me the final question "Why do you want to work for us?" By that point I was beyond wanting that job. "I applied because it said you were looking for teachers for X and Y, which I studied, but you haven't asked anything about that, so I guess I'm not qualified or got invited to the wrong interview, and given the subjects the other applicants studied they probably feel the same way. This answer made sure I didn't get the job plus it cost me my chance of getting an engineer's degree, but I couldn't have done the job they were trying to fill so I collected all the bravery I had
Mary Bricklin 3 years ago
My first job was as a server at Steak N Shake. I don't know how I managed to get it though because my answers in the interview all consisted of 'answer, uh... continues answer' then I was asked the dreaded question: why do you want to work here? I kid you not, I rambled on and on about autism and wanting to break out of the stereotypical role that are applied to autistics. I was newly diagnosed and honestly had no idea what I was even saying. The interviewer - who was the manager - had to interrupt me to get me to shut up.
Mimi M 3 years ago
I had 'pubic' on my CV for the longest time. Yeah, it was supposed to be 'public'. Oh well - if I didn't catch it, maybe they didn't either.
littlesaresare 3 years ago
When I was handing out resumes for my first job as a teenager, it was many dozens of resumes later that someone pointed out I'd written my date of birth as that year. I was pretty big for a three-month-old. 😅
Load More Replies... Bobby 3 years ago
Worked at a place that went out of business. The owner tried to hook people up with interviews and referrals with businesses he was friends with. I went to one and the guy asked me why I left my previous job... uh you already know it went out of business. Then his partner asks how they know I can be reliable. I say I have a family to support that means the world to me. He says I have one too but I need to know this job is more important than your family. I walked out without another word
Jo Choto 3 years ago
I will never understand why some of the shittiest jobs out there have these complex and convoluted interviewing processes. If you can show that you are reliable and you don't have a criminal record, that's about it. What the hell else do they think you owe them?
Death Metal Kitty 3 years ago
Because 90% of them will have decided within the first 2-3 minutes if they're going to hire you. The questions are there to look like the interview means anything. Other times, they might be on a fence, so the question helps... but these are the in the minority.
Load More Replies... jk nbt 3 years ago
a good interviewer will recognize that they are dealing with someone who is new to the trade/business/industry/service etc... Yes, newbies goof up like in this blog. A good interviewer will allow for that and show grace. That is how these people got work anyway. What the employer gets is youth, energy, and a trainable, teachable blank slate. There are advantages to hiring new new newbie type people.
Carol Emory 3 years ago
A friend of mine said her son went to a pizza place for an interview. He had to wait a while because it was the lunch rush and the manager was back making pizza in the kitchen. When she finished, she came out and asked him what he thought the job involved. His answer "Making pizzas so you can have the free time to be the manager." He got the job on the spot.
Scott Totten 3 years ago
My first interview after retiring from the military was for and electronics technician position in a very large, well known datacenter in Las Vegas. During the interview one of the interviewers asked me what the device was called that turns alternating current into direct current. My mind blanked and I could not, for the life of me, remember the word rectifier. I opened my folder, pulled out a pencil and a blank sheet of paper and , while explaining how a full wave bridge rectifier worked I drew an electrical schematic for one and passed it across the table to the guy, while saying, "However, I am kind of nervous, as this is my first interview in more than 20 years, and I cannot for the life of me remember what the thing is called." He looked at it, said, "This is very good and that was a great way to showcase your skills but unfortunately you didn't answer the question I asked." Since I retired from the Air Force, that is the only interview I have gone to which I did not get an offer.
Albino 3 years ago
I was interviewed for a teaching position. After giving me a shi tload of crap (preparing a series of lessons in a subject I didn't study) and more weird questions than I dare to remember (I do remember them asking for a weakness though and I told them it takes me a while to get going in the morning so I usually get up extra early to be fit when work started (they did some frenetic writing at that point) they asked me the final question "Why do you want to work for us?" By that point I was beyond wanting that job. "I applied because it said you were looking for teachers for X and Y, which I studied, but you haven't asked anything about that, so I guess I'm not qualified or got invited to the wrong interview, and given the subjects the other applicants studied they probably feel the same way. This answer made sure I didn't get the job plus it cost me my chance of getting an engineer's degree, but I couldn't have done the job they were trying to fill so I collected all the bravery I had
Mary Bricklin 3 years ago
My first job was as a server at Steak N Shake. I don't know how I managed to get it though because my answers in the interview all consisted of 'answer, uh... continues answer' then I was asked the dreaded question: why do you want to work here? I kid you not, I rambled on and on about autism and wanting to break out of the stereotypical role that are applied to autistics. I was newly diagnosed and honestly had no idea what I was even saying. The interviewer - who was the manager - had to interrupt me to get me to shut up.
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