Did I blow my job interview?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can you email the lead person and clarify the hours are okay with you?

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.

I wouldn't. You never know why other people are thinking and your own recollection of the event might be different than theirs. Let it go.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I couldn't sleep last night because I am so upset with myself! I can't help thinking what the interview panel thought of me after I said that! Anyway, I have learned a big lesson - will never do that again.

[Anonymous]

Or maybe you don't really want the job because it's too many hours and keeps you from your family? That seems to be what was exactly asked and answered.

[Anonymous]

20 people? That alone is a red flag.

[Anonymous]

Do let us know what happens, OP -- fingers crossed for you -- it would be reassuring to hear that one slip-up doesn't kill off an otherwise promising set of interviews.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do let us know what happens, OP -- fingers crossed for you -- it would be reassuring to hear that one slip-up doesn't kill off an otherwise promising set of interviews.

I'm all for positive thinking, but OP said the hours didn't really work for her. So, if I were the company, I'd assume OP meant that the hours didn't really work for her.

[Anonymous]

For everyone giving OP a hard time about it: 9-6 is NOT the norm or standard in many places. In fact, I would have been caught off guard by those hours, too. In my industry, it's not the norm at all. Many people arrive as early as 7. We mandate core hours, and people flex around those. (Meaning you are required to be in the office between 10-4 and to work 8 hrs a day, but stay late/start early is up to you/your manager). Few people to be found at 6. I always think of 8-5 as standard.

However, it's never a good idea (as you know OP) to mention children in an interview. Harvard Business Review just this month wrote an article about how women are still penalized for that, and mostly by other women.

Never mention your children in any way/shape/form during an interview process.

GL, I hope you get the job!!

[Anonymous]

Are you sending thank you emails? I don't see what would be wrong with emailing your lead person/contact and thanking them for giving you the opportunity to give your presentation and then saying something to the effect of: I just want to reiterate how excited I am about this position and then say something about how you'd be a good fit for the company and how the position would be a good fit for you as well. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

There are no accidents, subconsciously you do not want the job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you sending thank you emails? I don't see what would be wrong with emailing your lead person/contact and thanking them for giving you the opportunity to give your presentation and then saying something to the effect of: I just want to reiterate how excited I am about this position and then say something about how you'd be a good fit for the company and how the position would be a good fit for you as well. Good luck.

+1. Send a thank you email that does not mention the blunder but reaffirms your interest in and fit for the position.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are no accidents, subconsciously you do not want the job.

I agree with this. Without meaning to, you said exactly what you felt -- the hours are going to interfere with your family life, and they won't work out for you. Thus, the job is not a good fit for you.

[Anonymous]

For the PP who mentioned not to talk about children in the interview, what do you do when the interviewer brings it up? I had an interview with the hiring manager who asked me how old my child was and then proceeded to talk about her daughter, all grown up now? DO you just answer with the truth?
I didn't get the job either...

[Anonymous]

I think you'll get the job, OP. Some may even have liked your honest! It wasn't a great move, but the fact that your presentation went well means a lot. Who's deciding, anyway? If it's the 3 that left, then you're fine.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

*honesty

[Anonymous]

My current boss mandates 9:30-6pm (for no reason and it's only for new employees). SO many people apply, get the job and think they can switch to normal hours like 8-4:30. They've either resigned or quit when they realized they couldn't. OP you may have dodged a bullet if you didn't want to work those hours.