Hard Life Lessons
My Nephew Farted In A Job Interview
Then panicked because he did not know what to do
“Thinking, not for the first time, that life should come with a trapdoor. Just a little exit hatch you could disappear through when you’d utterly and completely mortified yourself. Or when you had spontaneous zit eruptions.” ― Michele Jaffe, Prom Nights from Hell
I have a nephew who is a together young man. He graduated college a semester early in December. He will start a Master’s program in August. In the meantime, he is looking for a job. Luckily, in his profession, accounting, there are positions where he can work full-time for six months. However, he must win those positions. Interviewing is stressful for anyone but is really tough for him. He is a hardcore introvert.
He was in an intense one-on-one interview when his stomach started feeling weird. Thinking he could make it to the end of that session, he squeezed his cheeks together and held on. The session did not end immediately. In fact, the interviewer settled in and kept asking questions.
Eventually, he let loose with a quiet, slow leak. He said it smelled like something had died in the room. Since there were only two people, the other person knew he had released gas.
He said nothing. Just sat there trying to answer questions, embarrassed, until the interview quickly ended. He did not make it to the second round of interviews. He asked me what he should have done.
I told him the right thing would have been to request to go to the restroom when he first knew he had an issue. It would interrupt the interview, but was the safest course of action. If you don’t make it and let go around another human, then say “Excuse me.”
Acknowledge that you were the person who released gas. Apologize and ask to go to the restroom. This allows the person to escape the bad-smelling room. And gives you time to recover some modicum of dignity.
I never let loose in an interview, but I had my menstrual cycle start unexpectedly. I had to stop the interview to go to the ladies’ room to address the situation immediately, which I did.
When I returned, I apologized and told the interviewer I must have eaten something which did not agree with me. I thanked him for being gracious enough to allow me to stop in the middle. Then we resumed the interview. I eventually claimed that position.
Imagine the follow-up HR conversations for both situations. In one case, the interviewee looks rude; in the other, they do their best in the moment. Which impression do you want to leave with the interviewer? Which person would you like to work for you?
The key is that we are all human. Every human on the planet generates waste. Solid waste, liquid waste, and gaseous waste. Flatulence occurs within everyone every day.
Unfortunately, inconvenient timing of events is just part of life. Deal with it. This type of situation is where you show you have home training. Admit the problem. Say sorry and address the consequences with grace.
Either you will get the job or not. Forgive your body. Do your best, be polite, and let it roll.
More From Toni Crowe
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