'Show up underdressed': 26 Ways to completely fumble an interview

Author image for Jesse Kessenheimer
Jesse Kessenheimer • Writer and Editor
Sep 14, 2023 8:00 PM EDT

Interviewing can be challenging, but with bills to pay and mouths to feed (ie: Me and my dog), you've gotta do your best to make a great first impression to score any job worthwhile. We've learned all about the 'tips for a successful job application', but what about the things to avoid? We've learned how to crush an interview, but how can we completely and utterly blow it? 

Reddit came through with some answers for us on the worst ways to throw an interview in the trash. The reason we're even asking ourselves this wasn't because we wanted to waste an interviewer's time or because someone was uninterested in a job and too socially awkward to decline via email. Folks online wanted to know the best ways to bomb an interview simply because it's hilarious. For some, it seemed like a great way to scam unemployment benefits; for others, this forum became the proving ground for the best ways to make a terrible first impression. 

Scroll onward to enjoy the cringiest, most uncomfortably awkward ways that people could ruin their chances in an interview, making all of us curious if this would actually work or if you could accidentally end up with a corner office for acting like a 'straight shooter'. For more terrible first impressions, read on about a guy who gives an atrocious tenant a raving referral after being disrespected by their new landlord over the phone.

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  • 01
    Font - r/AskReddit. Posted by u/discombobulatedfowl 44 minutes ago You're obligated to go to a job interview for a position you don't want, what's the best way of blowing the interview without being obvious about it?
    via discombobulatedfowl
  • 02
    Smile - hot-breadfruit_poop. 43 min. ago Show up underdressed and also start complaining about the hours
    via hot-breadfruit_poop
  • 03
    Smile - ThrashCreature. 17 min. ago Sounds like a straight shooter with upper management written all over him
    via TrashCreature
  • 04
    Human body - binglelemon 17 min. ago Fd around and....got the corner office.
    via binglelemon
  • 05
    Rectangle - midnightsonofabitch. 6 hr. ago The moment you sit down ask how many sick days you're technically allowed to take before they start deducting vacation days.
    via midnightsonofabitch
  • 06
    Font - rotzverpopelt. 5 hr. ago Or completely overdressed and start taking about the pay. Like you're applying as roofer? Come in a smoking and start negotiating your signing bonus 58 Reply Share tenakee_me 5 hr. ago Cocktail dress or full tailcoat tuxedo
    via rotzverpopelt
  • 07
    Font - bubblypersona. 6 hr. ago Try to sell them something. Cosmetics, Tupperware, "vitamins" doesn't really matter what.
    via bubblypersona
  • 08
    Font - Blatteleus 3 hr. ago Or show up super drunk and ask if they wanna do re. 9 ↓ Reply Share nytechill 3 hr. ago "Are drugs and alcohol allowed every day or just on Fridays?"
    via Blattelus
  • 09
    Rectangle - ButtholeQuiver. 6 hr. ago I would say get some beers before the interview, but I've done that and still gotten the job, it's not foolproof
    via ButtholeQuiver
  • 10
    Font - WiIIiam_M_Buttlicker. 4 hr. ago As long as you drink something without a potent smell, like seltzers, or spiked lemonade and take breath mints. I had a friend try this with beer and they could smell it immediately
    via WiIIiam_M_Buttlicker
  • 11
    Smile - esoteric_enigma. 4 hr. ago A little alcohol relaxes people and would likely make them better in a interview.
    via esoteric_enigma
  • 12
    Font - i-need-blinker-fluid 5 hr. ago. edited 4 hr. ago Ask the interviewers about accommodations for time blindness, because that's what you suffer from these days.
    via i-need-blinker-fluid
  • 13
    Font - timewontfly 2 hr. ago In all seriousness, though, tell them you have a chronic illness. Just watch their excitement for you as a candidate dry up before your eyes. Discriminatory? Absolutely. But you'll never prove it.
    via timewontfly
  • 14
    Font - newlymoneyedrapper 6 hr. ago Ask if you can go "potty" or "tinkle." Maybe pass gas and say "I tooted." 42 Reply Share defenestratedowl. 6 hr. ago Maybe pass gas and say "I tooted." I think just passing gas audibly should be sufficient.
    via newlymoneyedrapper
  • 15
    Font - InsertBluescreenHere be sure to maintain eye contact and ask if it was them. 5 hr. ago
    via InsertBluescreenHere
  • 16
    Font - Leifang666 1 hr. ago And better take that engagement ring off as a woman. That leads to marriage and maternity leave, employers dont like that. That's honestly something I've seen as interview advice.
    via Leifang666
  • 17
    Human body - Accomplished Bat26 2 hr. ago talk about how the job is just about the money for you
    via AccomplishedBat26
  • 18
    Rectangle - Tullius 2 hr. ago "I want to do nothing but work my app off for you, spe you don't even really have to pay me" - this is the only thing any company in 2023 wants to hear.
    via Tillius_
  • 19
    Rectangle - kittycornchen 4 hr. ago I was asked why I wanted to work in IT. Homeoffice and money wasn't exactly what I could answer.
    via kittycornchen
  • 20
    Human body - Fenpunx 4 hr. ago Why do you want this job? Bills, mainly.
    via Fenpunx
  • 21
    Font - escrowbeamon 4 hr. ago Idk last week in an interview they asked me "so what makes you want to work here at xyz company" I said, "honestly man I didn't do any research about this company or your competitors. I wanted warehouse work, you have an opening for warehouse work, I applied". They sent my offer letter earlier this week
    via escrowbemon
  • 22
    Human body - paperrblanketss. 4 hr. ago Smell very bad
    via paperrblanketss
  • 23
    Font - h20rabbit 5 hr. ago Show up late & disheveled Edit - with Starbucks.
    via h20rabbit
  • 24
    Human body - MiceAreTiny 5 hr. ago Would you happen to know if there is a school or playground within 500 yards?
    via MiceAreTiny
  • 25
    Smile - _eviehalboro 6 hr. ago Wait until the interviewer glances away for a second and "sneakily" pick your nose. Really get in there.
    via _eviehalboro
  • 26
    Rectangle - bittyberry 6 hr. ago Tell the interviewer you had an inappropriate dream about them.
    via bittyberry
  • 27
    Font - Ok-Nectarine-2206. 5 hr. ago When they ask what your biggest flaw is, say being on time. And you usually need to take a 15 minute nap around 3.
    via Ok-Nectarine-2206
  • 28
    Font - TsunamiNipples. 5 hr. ago Warn them that you're a recovering pathological liar. I haven't relapsed in 6 days. 0 days, I lied about being punctual my mom dropped me off because I missed my last interview. She won't call you though I promise.
    via TsunamiNipples
  • 29
    Font - sixfootskunkplant. 4 hr. ago "How many breaks do I get?" "Why did I leave my last job? Slept with one of my employees, but that was all politics. They really wanted to get rid of me for theft, but they couldn't prove anything. And they didn't like that I'm smarter than they are."
    via sixfootskunkplant
  • 30
    Font - danteslacie 4 hr. ago Inconsistent answers. You graduates college. You're still in high school. You're applying for a master's. Your last job was a 2 month thing from April to August.
    via danteslacie
  • 31
    Rectangle - roadwobbler 3 hr. ago Price yourself out of the running. Suggest you would expect way more than the job really pays. Contractors so this quite often.
    via roadwobbler
  • 32
    Rectangle - KidNamed Blue - 3 hr. ago Don't put your phone away and when you do eventually, put it face up on the table or even still turned on. It shows a significant lack of interest.
    via KidNamedBlue
  • 33
    Font - jonajon91 3 hr. ago If I ever become well off enough to have spare time and a hobby then this will be it. 'Do you drug test here'
    via jonajon91
  • 34
    Gesture
    via punttim

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ask reddit tips employee job ruin work interviewer askreddit satire workplace job search Reddit company interview funny job application
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