Favourite Awkward Interview Moments

Applying to College
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<p>I was inspired by a post on another thread, and think we should share our awkward interview moments (if you have any, maybe it's just me). You know, those moments where you just go, "Wait, did I really say that?" and you cringe on the inside, hoping your interviewer didn't notice. </p>

<p>Anyway, I'll start it off. This is during my Swarthmore interview.</p>

<p>At the very end of the interview, as I was getting up to leave, my interviewer remarked, "Sorry, I obviously made you talk too much because you barely drank anything!"</p>

<p>So the Italian soda I ordered was HUGE, and of course I barely made a dent in it. I don't think I talked that much. Anyway, I didn't want her to feel bad about not letting me drink (didn't want her to feel bad, ha. I should have just said "Oh it's okay." Silly me, overthinking everything)! So I replied, "Oh no, I don't really like cold drinks."</p>

<p>BUT THEN! Okay, I must think differently during interviews or something (seriously). So I'm thinking - but wait! I don't want her to think that I don't like cold drinks and that I only like hot drinks! This is so tragic! What should I do!</p>

<p>So I add in like 2 seconds later, "Well, I don't really like hot drinks either..."</p>

<p>She looks at me strangely. I realize what I have just said. Now she thinks I don't like hot drinks OR cold drinks when I really like both! Ah! It was tramautizing. </p>

<p>There was an awkward silence, until she finally said:</p>

<p>"So...you like...lukewarm drinks."</p>

<p>I died a little bit on the inside, but nodded vigorously. Then she gave me a REALLY strange look and I grinned sheepishly.</p>

<p>SO TRAGIC! It was devastating. So I'm obviously not getting into Swarthmore because of that. I can just see her writing on her interview report: "likes lukewarm drinks." Then the admissions people will read it and it'll come down to the final decision, and they'll decide that they don't really want people who like lukewarm drinks. Then my application will be tossed out the window.</p>

<p>Oh, and another one: if your interviewer is kind enough to take you out for lunch (TGI Fridays! I like Rice :)), do NOT order anything that you need to eat with your hands. In fact, plan ahead what you're going to order. I didn't, and ended up ordering a sandwich because the waiter came back too fast (!!!). </p>

<p>Our conversations were then:
Her: So what do you like to do in your spare time?
Me: <em>mouth and hands full</em> Mmmmsdfkjletklusieghkjsdhkgs.</p>

<p>Terrible, just terrible. I have plenty more (oh yes), but if somebody else wants to take the spotlight for now...</p>

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<p>lol, I don't think they would reject you because of that. Some people actually like lukewarm drinks, and it might help you stand out a little bit, lol.</p>

3

<p>LOL, It's good experience for future job interview. I usually eat before I get to the interview and only order something just for the sake of ordering something. Something that I can take small bytes without getting a mouthful that I can talk. Something that is not too yummy that I focus on the food and not the interview.</p>

4

<p>I guess it is just me that has these moments, then.</p>

5

<p>that made me laugh out loud.</p>

6

<p>I have red hair. It was a little bit more red when I was younger, but my hair is still apparently red. Red enough that I get the nicknames associated with being a "Day Walker."</p>

<p>Anyways, when I was being interviewed by Jim Kolbe (former US Rep.-AZ), I brought a picture that I got to take with him when I was in 3th grade... he had visited our class for something. </p>

<p>He was like, "when did your hair turn brown?" And his aide just kinda looked at him awkwardly, and said, "umm.. his hair is still red." And we all kinda had a really awkward three way argument about the color of my hair.</p>

<p>Hmmmmm....</p>

<p>Whatever, I got the gig!</p>

<p>EDIT: The gig was Congressional Page.</p>

7

<p>
[quote]
guess it is just me that has these moments, then.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>No, You are not the only one. I have years of interview experience and I know myself well enough to avoid these things. I tend to get real sleepy when I eat a big meal.</p>

8

<p>Well, when I was interviewing at Brandeis the admissions counselor asked me what I did in my spare time. I couldn't think of a "good" answer, so I told him the truth, that I play video games with my friends (mainly super smash bros melee). As I was saying that I realized it probably sounded pretty lame, but then he told me how he plays it too and we talked about it for a little while.</p>

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<p>LOL this is exactly what I want. A post dedicated to the awkwardness of interviews. Props to you, tako! Your thread made me laugh outloud.</p>

<p>I described this on my previous post, but my awkward moment was with my Whitman college interview, when I showed the interviewer my sketchbook. I had forgotten that I had drawn some pretty weird cartoon stuff, like a guy with a towl wrapped around his waist going 'Mmmm I like showers!' I think I pretty much made myself look like a pervert. An anime-obsessed pervert or something.</p>

10

<p>I had my UChicago interview...and I brought up the different houses, particularly the shirts they sell. He asked me what I thought of them, and I over enthusiastically said "I LOVE THEM, especially the one about nothing goes down on people in Chicago besides their GPA." He looked like he was about to spit his coffee out from laughing. In a panic, I tried changing the subject and asked if he thought that Chicago was haughty as I've heard people say....great subject to change it to, huh?</p>

<p>But the interview went well...I think. Hopefully.</p>

11

<p>Haha, sounds awesome, Optimization!</p>

<p>My own awkward interview story is from my Tufts interview. About a day after I opened an account in mid-September of my senior year, I get an enthusiastic call from an alumna, inviting me to her apartment for an interview.</p>

<p>Her apartment was the most palacial apartment I've ever seen-- and I've seen quite a few-- and not only was there a grand piano right off the entryway and everything, but there were Chuck Close pieces and other amazing art lining the halls. What weirded me out the most was that she approached me almost with a hug and a kiss, and immediately welcomed me into her parlor room, where she had a teaset lined up for me. (I kid you not).</p>

<p>"So," she starts in. "What makes Tufts your top choice school, so much so that you are applying here Early Decision?"</p>

<p>"Uhhhh..." I said. "Tufts isn't my top choice school, but..."</p>

<p>Thankfully the interview went well after that first misunderstanding, and I knew enough about Tufts after a great visit and a lot of online research that I felt comfortable talking about the school with relative detail. I guess I could have lied and said I was an ED applicant, but I felt very odd putting myself in that position, especially when I was a considering Tufts for regular.</p>

<p>Tufts eventually had the last laugh-- I never completed my application, and in the spring of my senior year I got an official rejection letter from them. I help a school keep its applications high and its admittance rate low, they give me Oolong Tea and a chance to see a private art collection. It's a good deal for both of us!</p>

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<p>Hahaha, I hate it when they ask you what you are applying! The Whitman interviewer started to talk about how I should think about applying Early and do an overnight visit, and I was like 'ummm yes...I will think about that...'.</p>

<p>Another awkward thing for me is when they ask me what other schools I am applying to. At this point, my mind goes "Oh no! I can't mention other colleges!!!" so I casually say something like 'oh, you know...schools here and there' or something.</p>

<p>Should I just be more open and say 'I am looking at so and so, and I'm applying Early to blah college?'</p>

13

<p>At my Bryn Mawr interview, my interviewer kept asking "what's unique and odd about you?" After the first few answers (she wouldn't get off the subject! it was like she wanted me to admit that I was a complete mental case), I started talking about my synaesthesia out of desperation. "What's that?" she asked. "I taste words," I said. </p>

<p>Awkwardness commenced. Then, I ended up waiting with her for another hour until my parents came back. We talked about really random stuff, like croquet and costume parties. It was just...a very odd day.</p>

14

<p>when I was nervous at my Georgetown Interview, I kept going on... and said the phrase "and stuff like that" at least 5 times in 30 minutes. I counted. I could consciously hear myself saying it, but I somehow couldn't keep myself from saying it also. It almost made me laugh out loud in the middle of my interview... but otherwise it went well, I think. We talked about the nicely coordinated table/chair that the interviewer's co-worker refurbished. Kind-of odd, yes, but there were no really awkward moments as we both kept on talking...</p>

15

<p>For my princeton interview, the woman asked me "So, why do you want to go to Harvard?"</p>

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<p>@lostinbalt: wow...that's pretty awkward...so she new you were going to apply to harvard O_O</p>

<p>I have yet to have an interview ( I know, I'm running a bit late) but my first one with MIT is this Sunday. I'll let you guys know if anything awkward arises :D</p>

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<p>If people ask where you are applying, I wouldn't give particular names, but rather features...</p>

<p>"Oh, I'm apply to schools with a lot of school spirit and a great pre-med program"</p>

<p>"I'm applying to schools near a city with a good school newspaper"</p>

<p>"I'm applying to midsize schools that are kinda geeky"</p>

<p>"I'm applying to schools I think will give me a great education" (you can say that instead of drop the H bomb)</p>

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<p>Chicago interviewer (German prof): Hey, I remember you! I interviewed you for a German competition.
Me: <em>acts like I remember</em>
Interviewer: Do you mind if we do the interview in German?
Me: :eek:</p>

<p>Duke interviewer: Hey, glad you could make the interview!
Me: I've been looking foward to it! <em>drinks water nervously</em>
Woman walks up: Hello, are you [warblersrule]?
Interviewer: Oh, sorry. I forgot to mention that my wife will be interviewing you too!
Me: :eek:</p>

<p>NC State interviewer: So, what makes you a good match for the program?
Me: Well, I love biology, and I work at an animal hospital. I've taken all the advanced science classes at my school, AND I'm in IB!
Interviewer: What's IB?
Me: You don't know what IB is?!?!?
Interviewer: ....
Me: :o</p>

<p>Yale interviewer: So, how have you demonstrated leadership?
Me: <em>lists examples</em> I brought a couple pictures of my Eagle project. It was very difficult and time-consuming.
Interviewer: Yeah, yeah. <em>scribbles something</em>
Me: You didn't look at them!
Interviewer: <em>stares at me</em>
Me: :o</p>

<p>Luckily interviews apparently don't count for much. :rolleyes:</p>

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<p>Food at interviews or other situations where you are being watched can be tricky. Many years ago I was invited to a scholarship luncheon. I got the prime seat next to one of the interviewers/selectors. I bit into a cherry tomato in my salad and squirted it right on her white blazer. Nice, huh. Well, at least I knew what to say when saw her again at the interview. Even though it was another apology for the tomato stain still on her blazer.</p>

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<p>Decades ago when I was interviewing for law firm clerkships, my friends and I had all sorts of food rules...I never wanted to order anything that would be outrageous, hard to eat, or that would attract attention. At one interview luncheon I ordered one course more than everyone else ordered (they always make the woman order first!) and I swear that that is what kept me from getting an offer.</p>