Accidentally asked about interviewer's first name?

[spirospero363]

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My faculty interviewer asked me at the beginning of the Zoom call how to pronounce my first name, and I explained. I then asked her how to pronounce her first name, kind of as a reflex as I felt that would be the polite thing to do. Is it bad that I asked how to pronounce her first name, although she is a doctor? I really didn't intend to be disrespectful or unprofessional in any way, but just was asking the question in return (her last name was easy to pronounce).

I am sorry if this is a supremely neurotic question; I've had too much time to think after interviews, and it's driving me a little crazy

 

[EdgeTrimmer]

It is neurotic question if you only asked how to pronounce and didn't address her by first name.

 

[spirospero363]

@EdgeTrimmer

Well I asked her, and then repeated after she said it to make sure I was pronouncing correctly (as she did the same for me, and I didn't think it through). I didn't start calling her by her first name but I still feel bad about potentially insulting her. I also addressed her as Dr. in my thank you email

 

[DNAJB6]

People understand you're under stress. I don't think it will be the end of the world.

 

[Deltasidearm]

No reason to worry about it now. Nothing you can do about the past. Just take the lesson and move on.

 

[r2med]

You asked, she explained, you repeated - that's it. Nothing to worry about. If you are worried, in your thank you email make a statement about it.

 

[r2med]

No reason to worry about it now. Nothing you can do about the past. Just take the lesson and move on.

Not sure what lesson? IMHO, I don't think it was bad at all that OP asked for it after the interviewer had already asked OP. It was part of a conversation. Even if OP had initiated without the other party, don't think it is wrong by any means. It might show politeness and curiosity, if anything.

 

[RJ McReady]

No reasonable human being on the planet would hold it against you if you asked them how to pronounce their first (or last) name

 

[deleted1075353]

lmao chill man. You're completely fine. I understand the overthinking but I PROMISE you no one cared. I say this both as someone who used my interviewers' first names in my med school interviews and as someone who has interviewed people for competitive jobs.

 

[Goro]

My faculty interviewer asked me at the beginning of the Zoom call how to pronounce my first name, and I explained. I then asked her how to pronounce her first name, kind of as a reflex as I felt that would be the polite thing to do. Is it bad that I asked how to pronounce her first name, although she is a doctor? I really didn't intend to be disrespectful or unprofessional in any way, but just was asking the question in return (her last name was easy to pronounce).

I am sorry if this is a supremely neurotic question; I've had too much time to think after interviews, and it's driving me a little crazy

It's OK. Xanax time for you

 

[xffan624]

No reasonable human being on the planet would hold it against you if you asked them how to pronounce their first (or last) name

That was my go to line when I realized I walked in to a pediatric patient room and realized I couldn't remember their name. Of course it sounds kind of stupid when the kid's name is "John" or "Robert".

 

[r2med]

That was my go to line when I realized I walked in to a pediatric patient room and realized I couldn't remember their name. Of course it sounds kind of stupid when the kid's name is "John" or "Robert".

Of course - the assumption in this OP's case was that both the interviewers and the OP's names were not easy to pronounce.

 

[deleted480308]

Duuuuuuude, relax

 

[Isoval]

Interviewers don’t care. They probably giggled and forgot about it.

 

[deleted1040417]

This is it. This being the factor that keeps you out. That'd be hilarious but unfortunate, but I highly doubt this is the thing that would keep you out of their medical school.