Did I blow my job interview?
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Anonymous
| Today was my third and final interview for a position that I am interested in. Prior to this interview I have had two separate phone interviews with a panel of three people (the same three people conducted both phone interviews). Today I was required to give a 5 minute presentation to about twenty people, three of whom were the phone interview panel. After my presentation, which I thought went extremely well, the three people on the phone interview panel left the room for me to talk with the remaining 16 staff members who currently do what I would be doing if I got the position. At first the interview went very well. . .they asked me questions and I asked them questions. I felt very comfortable with them. Then, one lady asked me if the hours (9-6) worked for me. I answered "well, to be honest they are not ideal for me. I have two small children and I would get less family time with them because I would get home late". The mood sort of changed after I said that (maybe it was my imagination because I immediately felt like an idiot). I should find out tomorrow if I got the job, however, just curious if you think I blew my chances with my response. |
Anonymous
Yes, I think that was a bad answer. The hours are pretty typical, what were you hoping for? If you had a more specific suggestion (e.g., if at all possible, I would prefer to start at 8 and stay until 5), that would be ok, but I would not have gone into detail as to why. |
Anonymous
| Yeah that's pretty bad. It is almost the equivalent of saying "this job doesn't really fit with what I'm looking for" |
Anonymous
| OP here, thanks, PP! I agree it was a bad answer! I feel like I worked so hard to get to this point and the job was in reach. . .but I blew it. |
Anonymous
|
Yep, you totally blew it. You let them know work would not be your priority.
You should have said yes or "I'm more used to 8-5, but sure, 9-6 works too." |
Anonymous
Don't beat yourself up. What is done is done. |
Anonymous
| Heh heh. You said blow _job. Heh. |
Anonymous
| Good luck op! Come back and tell us what happens!! |
Anonymous
| It was a dumb answer but I don't think the managers even care what happened during that phase of the interview . They set that part up for your benefit, not theirs. |
Anonymous
| It's ok, OP, you knew it was a bad answer but shit happens sometimes. Don't beat yourself up about it. I've certainly said stupider things in interviews. I also think if I were in an "interview" with 16 people I would inevitably lose my cool and say something profoundly stupid. That you only made one slip up is better than I would have done! Oh well. |
Anonymous
| Can you email the lead person and clarify the hours are okay with you? |
Anonymous
| Why would you say that? You knew it was a full time position, right? Did you expect 9-3? |
Anonymous
| Yep, OP, that was a really bad answer. But as others have said, it's done and if we Allstate around critiquing what we said in past conversations we'd drive ourselves nuts with regret. And if it makes you feel any better one bad answer shouldn't totally derail your prospects. I'm hiring an assistant right now and you'd be amazed at what bone headed things some applicants (ESP the kids I'm interviewing mostly just out of school) will say or do in an interview or application. So if you made it this far hopefully they will look beyond a single goof. |
Anonymous
|
sounds like you had the job and lost it with that comment. at least this was a valuable learning experience.
are you looking to work 25 hours a week or something? 9-6 isn't abnormal (shit, it's low for many people). |
Anonymous
that was my initial thought, but how does OP do this? "hey, that thing i said in the interview. i was totally kidding!" it's not going to come off genuine and s/he is just going to sound like a bullshit artist. the damage is done. having said that, the damage is done so give it a shot. |