Job interview and Work: Whut?

Whut?

By what did you say? - 15/06/2016 13:25

Today, I went for a job interview. The woman interviewing me had such a thick accent that I had to keep asking her to repeat herself. She got so frustrated that she ended the interview super early. I don't think I got the job. FML

I agree, your life sucks 13 594

You deserved it 1 207

When Christmas Ends Badly…
Rather than debating politics with Uncle Roger for the umpteenth time, share the best Christmas FMLs to finally have a good family meal! More…

Previous FML Next FML

Same thing different taste

By NoJob - 24/09/2016 06:41 - United Kingdom - Middlesbrough

Today, I had my first interview. Everything was going well until I made him repeat his name numerous times, as I couldn't understand what he was saying due to his thick accent. FML

I agree, your life sucks 11 034

You deserved it 1 259

Did I stutter?

By Ally - 20/05/2022 14:00

Today, I had a job interview. I have a speech impediment and as much as I tried to keep it under control, it came out during the interview. I could tell the interviewers were trying to hold in their laughter. They ended the interview after 5 agonizing minutes, saying they’ll contact me. I left in tears. FML

I agree, your life sucks 1 183

You deserved it 100

By ugh - 21/01/2014 18:55 - Japan - Tokyo

Today, I went to an important job interview. I was really anxious but tried to soldier on anyway. When I was called in, my nerves got so bad that I reverted to speaking my second language. Not first, second. I'm pretty sure I'm not getting the job. FML

I agree, your life sucks 42 454

You deserved it 6 029

Toxic workplace goals!

By Anonymous - 22/04/2013 23:37 - Australia - Mona Vale

Today, I walked out of a job interview feeling confident because I'd really hit it off with the interviewer. He called me an hour later to tell me that I didn't get the job, since he was afraid we'd "get along too well and never get any work done." FML

I agree, your life sucks 56 846

You deserved it 3 737

By phishy - 05/03/2015 22:26 - United States - Georgetown

Today, I got a call from a potential employer. Unfortunately, I couldn't understand the man due to his incoherent mumbling. I had to decline the job after asking him to repeat everything he said, over and over again. I still don't know exactly which job I declined. FML

I agree, your life sucks 28 226

You deserved it 2 491

By Anonymous - 25/11/2018 13:00 - United States - Seattle

Today, I had a job interview. I got there as quick as I could, having to travel two hours into a city I'd never been to. When I arrived, they told me I was turned down for being too late. They'd rescheduled the interview an hour earlier and I wasn't notified of the change. FML

I agree, your life sucks 3 676

You deserved it 199

M. Night Shyamalanadingdong

By Anonymous - 30/06/2020 05:02

Today, I went to the bathroom after a terrible job interview. My interviewer walked in with another guy, talking about my interview, saying he was obviously going to hire the other guy because my odd-sounding name was too hard to pronounce, yet alone spell in multiple emails. FML

I agree, your life sucks 2 550

You deserved it 166

In the bag!

By hiccups - 16/05/2021 14:02

Today, I had a job interview. I thought it was going pretty well, until I got the hiccups. The interviewer immediately said, "Yeah, I think we’re done here," and sent me away. FML

I agree, your life sucks 1 082

You deserved it 84

By Jobless - 07/09/2010 23:27 - Canada

Today, I had a job interview. The moment I walked into the room, the interviewer said, "OK, I will interview you, but there is no way I'm hiring you." FML

I agree, your life sucks 32 245

You deserved it 4 208

By RIP job - 28/09/2016 04:26 - Australia

Today, I had a job interview for an amazing opportunity. Too bad my nerves made me forget what the role was and where it was, mid-interview. FML

I agree, your life sucks 12 220

You deserved it 1 549

Tripartita 44

Monday 8 August 2016 7:06

I've been there, OP. The trick is to affect an accent of your own until you're able to get her to ask you to repeat yourself as often as you ask her.

_Adog2645 24

Monday 8 August 2016 7:04

I always feel quite embarrassed when I have to ask the Indian subway employees to repeat themselves multiple times. I couldn't even imagine how bad that situation must have been.

Comments

fhksuaifk 16

Monday 8 August 2016 8:15

I used to work with a bunch of Hispanic dudes. I couldn't understand a damn thing they said

smallandroid 26

Monday 8 August 2016 8:19

This same thing happened to me at my most recent job interview. Not only did one of my interviewers have a thick accent, but she was also talking to me over video chat. Thankfully though, it was a panel of interviewers so one of the others was able to repeat her questions if I asked. I felt really bad about it... (I did end up getting the job, after a 3 month search!)

Vitani_Verci 24

Monday 8 August 2016 8:21

I'm sorry OP. :( I'm foreign living in the U.S and I get a lot of people asking me to repeat myself. This has never bothered me but I guess on some level I can see how it could be frustrating. However I do think that is unprofessional on her side because you not being able to understand her accent (doesn't in my opinion) have anything to do with how you work or the potential you have.

iluvpeanutbutter 22

Monday 8 August 2016 21:15

It does if it's a PA type of position, or something where they'll be working closely together. OP may also not have phrased his requests for repetition well, and the interviewer may have thought he was rude.

rmsutton 20

Monday 8 August 2016 12:55

The same thing happened when I interviewed for my job in the IT department of an insurance company. Thankfully, they had teams of 2 or 3 doing the interviews (3 for the initial webcam interview, 2 for each of the in-person interviews), and for the webcam interview there were 2 people I could understand and 1 with a very thick Indian accent, and for the technical interview there was the same Indian guy and someone I could understand, so whenever I'd ask what the Indian man said, someone I could understand (who had been working with Indians for years and had grown accustomed to the accent) would repeat it so they didn't have to repeat it 1001 times. Very effective system, in my opinion. I've since grown accustomed to Indian accents and have very little trouble understanding them myself now.

Kramer1998 20

Monday 8 August 2016 16:55

Not your fault op, heck i have an accent (southern us) and a lisp, so i would have understood people misunderstanding me. Unfortunately some people aren't reasonable, good luck on the search!

Colon_Man 17

Monday 8 August 2016 19:19

Accents and low talkers - my two weaknesses. I spent most of my life in loud shops with air compressors and tools and grinders, etc beating away and then some Florida guy comes over and whisper talks (the closer I lean in the quieter they get). And, then, when we're really close, he whispers, "Hail Hydra."