iVillage logo
Search iVillage
Pregnancy
Parenting
Health
Diet & Fitness
Beauty & Fashion
Relationships
Home & Garden
Food & Drink
Work & Money
Entertainment
Horoscopes
Travel
Work & Money 
  |  Experts  |  Workplace Rights - Rachel Lewis  |  How do I deal with a bad interview?
Advertisement
Topics
Succeeding & Surviving
Finding a Job
Community
Computers and Internet
Money
Office Culture
Starting a business
Work-Life Balance
iVillage shopping

Hot stuff
Calling 18-28 year olds
The urban girl's guide
Home study with ICS
Make extra cash!
Beat the credit crunch
Put work to bed
Try our Mensa workout
Competitions
Special offers
Newsletters
sign up for FREE!




 
Promotions

How do I deal with a bad interview?

by Work Rights Expert, Rachel Lewis

question
Hi,
I applied for a part time job going at a nearby supermarket, to see me through the first term of college. The manager was busy sorting out the air con and I had to wait 20 minutes standing in the shop. Everyone looked at me and I felt my confidence drain away.

He didn't just ask me general questions but was extremely nosey. Is this normal? He asked me lots of personal questions, such as: Who am I living with? What/how am I living? Where else did I apply for work? Have I been turned down by other places? If so why, etc? Why am I living here? Why don't I have a car or take driving lessons? Do I have a boyfriend? Why aren't I married with kids? I wanted to tell him to stop because I became really nervous.

He wasn't exactly friendly, I'll put it that he seemed like a "policeman" interviewing me. He made me feel like I'd done something wrong. I cut my hands with my fingernails during this interview because I sat there scratching them out of tense nerves. Now this letter has come through and I wonder why I didn't get the job, perhaps I said something I shouldn't have? This has upset me so much I'm too scared to face another interview again.

Peaches

answer
Hi Peaches

This guy sounds downright weird, and there's no way he should have made you feel like this - his questions are inappropriate, intrusive and at times unlawful (asking why you're not married with kids sounds like blatant sex discrimination to me).

I can totally see that his behaviour must have battered your confidence, but the problem is definitely, definitely his, not yours. Try, if you can, not to let it affect your going forwards - remember most interviewers are way more professional.

If it would make you feel better, you could write back to him telling him how his questioning made you feel - and also indicating that he's lucky not to be on the receiving end of a sex discrimination act questionnaire.

Good luck - and I really hope you can put this behind you
Rachel

Live Q&A on Ask The Expert
Employment lawyer Rachel Lewis advises on your work-related issues

Delicious     Digg     reddit     Facebook     StumbleUpon