Choking/saying stupid things on interviews? ( not necesarily med school)

[ponybreeder4]

So anyone else say stupid things during/ after interviews? I said hope to see you "guys" later to my elderly gentleman interviewers. : /

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[pianola]

So anyone else say stupid things during/ after interviews? I said hope to see you "guys" later to my elderly gentleman interviewers. : /

In my interview today, I got the question "Where do you see yourself in twenty years?"

My genius line?

"I want to be....[long pause]....uh, happy, I suppose. {insert apologetic, explanatory ramble here}"

EDIT: My interviewers cracked up when I said that. Whoopsy daisy.

 

[Green Grass]

During one of my interviews we were discussing the amount of paperwork that doctors have to do. When the interview was over, he told me was going to finish up his notes on me and that I could go back to the waiting room. He kind of said it in a "I'm tired of doing these things kind of way" so I said, "Oh you know this is the best paperwork you will do all day." I was referring to this paperwork being better than his doctoring paperwork. He kind of gave me a weird look, we shook hands and I left.

I told my mom on the way home that he gave me an awkward look when I was leaving and she told me to tell her what I said. I told her and she told me how incredibly cocky it sounded. I didn't realize it at the time, but I still feel like an idiot about it.

 

[Green Grass]

In my interview today, I got the question "Where do you see yourself in twenty years?"

My genius line?

"I want to be....[long pause]....uh, happy, I suppose. {insert apologetic, explanatory ramble here}"

EDIT: My interviewers cracked up when I said that. Whoopsy daisy.

haha, they need a little fun during their day.

 

[nick_carraway]

I think this is where practicing comes in. You don't even need to practice in an interview-setting, necessarily. Next time you're with some friends, just practice thinking while you're speaking so you don't talk yourself into a dead end.

Also, it helps if you don't see the interview as some high-stress, high-stakes event. Just see it as someone wanting to have a conversation about the choices you've made. Sure, you'll meet some hardcore interviewers but that's when thinking while talking comes in handy.

 

[Lacheln]

When I was interviewing for my 2nd post-college job I said:

"I'm really excited to be interviewing for company X because...."

but I was interviewing at company Y. Oops.

 

[redbull928]

Once I wanted to say something profound (but I was also very, very nervous) so I said something along the lines of "We're all like streetlights and with only one we can't see outside but with all of us we can" and realized how lame I sounded and quickly apologized. I still feel like an idiot.

 

[roseglass6370]

Once I wanted to say something profound (but I was also very, very nervous) so I said something along the lines of "We're all like streetlights and with only one we can't see outside but with all of us we can" and realized how lame I sounded and quickly apologized. I still feel like an idiot.

This gave me a good laugh! I say stupid stuff like this alllll the time. My friends are relentless about making fun of me for it.

I still have yet to master the art of "thinking while speaking."

 

[HPMMajor]

Interviewer at Non-Profit Company: "Is there anything you don't like doing"
Me: Nervously right away "Dancing!" (then letting out a long sigh)

 

[ButImLETired]

During my committee interview, my professor asked "What do you think makes you interesting or different?" I could have come up with a thousand answers to that question that would have been smarter than "Well, I don't like ANY cheese. At all. Even cheesy stories. And actual cheese."

Kid you not. Thankfully it didn't count (and he thought I was funny), but ouch.

 

[zpiff]

During my committee interview, my professor asked "What do you think makes you interesting or different?" I could have come up with a thousand answers to that question that would have been smarter than "Well, I don't like ANY cheese. At all. Even cheesy stories. And actual cheese."

Kid you not. Thankfully it didn't count (and he thought I was funny), but ouch.

How can you not like cheese??? 😱 I heart cheese...

 

[Bacchus]

Interviewer at Non-Profit Company: "Is there anything you don't like doing"
Me: Nervously right away "Dancing!" (then letting out a long sigh)

You could have spun this. I honestly see nothing wrong with your answer.

 

[Lacheln]

"Well, I don't like ANY cheese. At all. Even cheesy stories. And actual cheese."

I'm sorry. It's been a good run, but we can't be friends anymore.

 

[nick_carraway]

During my committee interview, my professor asked "What do you think makes you interesting or different?" I could have come up with a thousand answers to that question that would have been smarter than "Well, I don't like ANY cheese. At all. Even cheesy stories. And actual cheese."

Kid you not. Thankfully it didn't count (and he thought I was funny), but ouch.

Reminds me of my committee interview. Near the end, I was asked what kind of people I don't get along with and having had a recent falling out with a roommate who lied to me about breaking glass on the carpet when my cat was wandering around downstairs, I replied "stupid people."

I tried to save myself, but decided there was no use.

Luckily, he tried to help me out and agreed that people don't use common sense any more or don't take advantage of their full potential.

To this day, I'm afraid that he referring to me.

 

[engineeredout]

Interview for an IT internship:

What is DNS? Domain Name Server

...

...

Well as you said, it stands for Domain Name Server

Yes...

It is the sever responsible for handling the domain name

The guy probably thought I got my IT certification out of a cereal box.

 

[ButImLETired]

How can you not like cheese??? 😱 I heart cheese...

I'm sorry. It's been a good run, but we can't be friends anymore.

I know, I know...it's weird...this is why it was the first thing that came to me! Cause no matter how totally strange I may be, it's the one thing people focus on!

I'm sorry...I'll go hide in my friendless, cheeseless hole now...

 

[Narmerguy]

I hate chocolate?

 

[mdmdt]

During my committee interview, my professor asked "What do you think makes you interesting or different?" I could have come up with a thousand answers to that question that would have been smarter than "Well, I don't like ANY cheese. At all. Even cheesy stories. And actual cheese."

Kid you not. Thankfully it didn't count (and he thought I was funny), but ouch.

I'm not a huge fan of cheese either, though in certain forms it's okay (on pizza for example, but I usually end up picking a lot off anyway). So your hole may be cheeseless but it's not friendless

 

[nick_carraway]

I'm not a huge fan of cheese either, though in certain forms it's okay (on pizza for example, but I usually end up picking a lot off anyway). So your hole may be cheeseless but it's not friendless

You pick off cheese on pizza? You can't even taste the cheese on pizza. AND everything delicious is attached to the aforementioned cheese.

You're just left with bread, for the love of God. BREAD is what're you're eating.

 

[LossForWords]

At an interview at School X:

He: So, based on your application, I'm guessing that School Y is really your top choice, right?

Me: Well, I'm pretty torn. I'm kinda hoping one of you all rejects me so that decision can be made for me.



Now I can laugh at it a little, but I'm still pretty embarassed about it...

 

[m015094]

I actually got parts of some of my interviews on film:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8mFr2DTuBo

 

[FrickenhugeMD]

Interview at X school:

Interviewer (Head of psychiatry residency program): If I could give you a magical wand that you could use to change anything about yourself, what would you change?

Me: Well, I think being able to fly would be pretty cool

Int: Like airplanes?

Me: No

Int: ......so like superman.....?

Me: yeah, that would be pretty awesome

Int:......What would you use your powers for? good? traveling?

Me: I dont know, just fly around and travel I guess. Either way would work for me.


I wonder how she thought about me after that.... still got accepted though 😛

 

[URHere]

Interviewer: So...what are three words that you would use to describe yourself?

Me: *abnormally long pause*

Me: ...Decisive?

I think I managed to save this one, but I still don't understand why I thought it would be a good idea to say that I was decisive after such an obvious bout of INDECISION.

Sigh.