‘I crumbled under the pressure’: Job candidate cries during interview when presented with questions about their case study task

Author image for Eleonora Bader
Eleonora Bader
May 29, 2024 12:00 PM EDT

Job interviews are incredibly daunting and I've had my fair share of interviews that went south. But crying? I have yet to experience that and honestly, I hope I never will. I can understand why it happens though. Imagine spending months looking for a job, doing dozens of interviews (if you even get calls back), and taking time and effort out of your day to complete the tasks and assignments these companies send you.

You pass a few rounds and start to get your hopes up, only to have them crumple to the floor like a balloon that lost its air. Okay so that wasn't a great analogy but you get what I mean.

This interviewee shared their experience during an interview where they were asked to explain different aspects of a case study they did for a task. The questions began getting harder, and the interviewer wasn't the most polite. Check out the full story below.

Next up, here is a homeowner who got back at a power-tripping HOA by dancing in front of their security cameras.

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  • 01
    I've just cried at a job interview and I feel so embarrassed
    via u/agentfitzsimmons
  • 02
    I (29F) just cried at a job interview... This was a first for me. I've had tons of interviews before and never ever have I broken down like this... I feel so embarrassed. I was just so taken aback by the interviewers questions. I did not expect anything like this. Beforehand, I was expected to complete a case study, which I did and I felt really good about it. But what I did not expect was that I'd have to present it and be subjected to some pretty harsh
    via u/agentfitzsimmons
  • 03
    question about it. It was never mentioned in the conversation and e-mail exchange. Just "compete the task" nothing about having to present it. This really took me by surprise for some reason, I don't even know why. I presented my case somehow, little bit nervously, yes, but given the circumstances, I think it was fine. But then they started asking some questions I was not prepared for and I just got overwhelmed and crumbled under the pressure...
    via u/agentfitzsimmons
  • 04
    Their questions kept on coming and I was getting progressively more and more nervous by them. And tried acting normal and composing myself, but I kept tearing up. They just asked I I'm okay and I tried brushing it off as allergies. I don't think they bought it, but they did not bring it up again as well (though I was clearly drying tears from my eyes). The whole time I just wanted the interview to end and to get out.
    via u/agentfitzsimmons
  • 05
    Their behavior just got me so nervous and uncomfortable for some reason. Like, I'm usually nervous during interviews, that's normal. But they go fine and we have a nice normal chat. I don't know why this interview was so triggering to me and I hate it. I'm worried it might happen again now... I'll admit, I am an emotional person and cry easily, being on pms does not help (thought I don't want to blame it on it). I'm just trying to accept it's who I am and work on this, but it's just so dan hard.
    via u/agentfitzsimmons
  • 06
    I'd love any tips you can give me for working on my nervousness and getting emotional, I'd really appreciate them! EDIT: Thank you all for your input and reactions, I honestly did not expect to get at as many. I really appreciate it and I already feel much better hearing your experiences and advices. I will definitely work on my emotions, nervousness and anxiety and check out some of your tips.
    via u/agentfitzsimmons
  • 07
    bambina92 16 hr. ago I didn't cry but I have a similar experience. The interviewer kept asking me to be more specific until I ran out of specifics, and she was smiling whenever I say "this is as specific as I can be". Some people enjoy it. I remember feeling anxious and couldn't wait get the hell out of it. Some people are just mean. Take your lessons and next! 620 Reply Share ...
    via u/bambina92
  • 08
    williemshatinher · 15 hr. ago You should have asked her which part she's having trouble understanding and then explained it to her like you would a five-year- old. 364 Reply Share ...
    via u/williemshatinher
  • 09
    BRACKEN WORLD Brackens_World. 15 hr. ago My guess is that had the interview been the day before or the day after, you would not have responded as you did. I still remember an interview when I was "on fire" as they threw question after question at me and kept adding people for me to speak with on site. It was dizzying, but that day, I was the best version of me.
    via u/Brackens_World
  • 10
    Sometime later, speaking with a senior exec at another Fortune 500 firm, I botched some rather obvious questions, at a loss for words for unknown reasons. I sputtered, I sounded confused, I radiated discomfort. That day, I was the worst version of me.
    via u/Brackens_World
  • 11
    In neither case do I really know why I was the way I was. Perhaps you were tired and raw, and your blood sugar fell or needed a rest room break, who can tell. Ask for some water or carry some quick energy food with you or avoid a heavy lunch perhaps. It sounds like tearing up was an anomaly, but part of interviewing is to expect the unexpected and to rise to it, and you will be better prepared next time
    via u/Brackens_World
  • 12
    Adventurous-Steak525 12 hr. ago I threw a recruiter for a loop once with a bad day. I'd been crushing every interview they put me on, but then I had this one early 9AM call. For the life of me, I could not fall asleep that night. Laid in bed for hours, not even sure why I was nervous. Slept all of 90 minutes.
    via u/Adventurous-Steak525
  • 13
    The interview went so badly, I almost ghosted my recruiter I was so embarrassed. I was so sleep deprived, I seemed to lose half my vocabulary. She asked me this one question and I just couldn't think of an answer. Imagine just five plus seconds of silence on the phone. I spewed something, but I was also starting to tear up I was so frustrated with myself and I'm sure she could hear it over the phone. Her tone changes and now it's clear she feels bad for me/is just trying to make me feel better.
    via u/Adventurous-Steak525
  • 14
    goonie814 7 hr. ago I totally know what you mean and know that sleep deprivation- induced way of your brain being super slow and forgetful. I totally bombed a public speaking class presentation once when we couldn't have notecards and I didn't get enough sleep the night before.
    via u/goonie814
  • 15
    On the other hand, I had an interview where I thought I didn't perform well and was kinda sleep-deprived and anxious and I ended up getting the job! Sometimes it turns out better than we thought. But yeah sometimes you just have those "wow I bombed" moments lol
    via u/goonie814
  • 16
    veneim 13 hr. ago This is a good description of what I've experienced too. Sometimes I can be the life of the party at the office and social situations, and other times I am a bundle of nerves at the thought of making small talk who can't say a sentence without stuttering or speaking too fast that I'm hard to understand.
    via u/veneim
  • 17
    I've thought it was maybe coffee that got me into the zone, and I've experimented with different amounts of it and at different times of day, but to no avail. I've also tried taking a shot of whiskey or doing exercise right before an important interview or presentation to get my energy flowing... but still haven't found the magical combo yet.
    via u/veneim
  • 18
    4everqueen 18 hr. ago Sorry for that :( Post-task questions are very common and in most of the cases they just want to see how you think, reflect, reason. There usually are no wrong answers as long as you can provide your reasoning. I get that it can get frustrating.
    via u/4everqueen
  • 19
    I don't really have tips because I'm sensitive myself and I know that if I'm stressed, nothing will help. Sometimes I use some phrases like let me think, that's an interesting question, I don't know the answer but here's what I think, etc. This reminds my rushing brain I don't have to rush and as a result I feel a bit calmer. At the same time I set expectations for the interviewer that you know, I don't know but let me just interpret.
    via u/4everqueen
  • 20
    Chazzyphant 18 hr. ago Well, lesson learned: most of the time when they ask you for a project, you will at the bare minimum need to explain it or talk about it. This is actually a good thing, it prevents someone from faking their way into the job as your coworker and their incompetence making your life miserable. Next time, prepare to speak about your project and practice with a friend or family member.
    via u/Chazzyphant
  • 21
    But also You can end an interview. You can simply say "I'm sorry, it's pretty clear this isn't a strong match. I'm going to end it here and wish you best of luck. Thanks for your time." and hang up/get up and walk out! I'm also going to say this too: if you're in a field where case studies are common, it's giving me the idea this is law, finance, consulting or similar. If that's the case, you really have to toughen up, no offense. If fielding
    via u/Chazzyphant
  • 22
    questions about a case study you created has you rattled to the point of tears, this might not be the right career or field for you. I get those one-off times where things just fall apart. But jobs where they have you defending case studies are often really high pressure and intense. Is that the right job for you? Advice on handling emotions:
    via u/Chazzyphant
  • 23
    Acknowlege them briefly: "Apologies, I'm a little rattled. I wasn't expecting this line of questioning. Can you give me a second?" Use phrase to buy yourself time "That's a good question. Let me think about that for a second" Practice. At home, in front of a video, recording. Watch the recording and pick out areas you want to improve. Know your materials back and forwards.
    via u/Chazzyphant
  • 24
    agentfitzsimmons OP 17 hr. ago Thank you for your input, much appreciated! I know when I make a case study we're expected to talk about it. I'm used to that. I'm in a field of communications and it's common. It does vary thought, sometimes I'm asked beforehand to present it, other times we just discuss it together they point out what they liked/ didn't like about it etc. and ask me how I came up with it, and other times they just competely forget about it and if I don't ask
    via u/agentfitzsimmons
  • 25
    them for a feedback, they wouldn't even mention the case study I spent my whole afternoon on completing. I really don't know why I got so overwhelmed this time... Anyway, thanks for the tips! I'll try my best.
    via u/agentfitzsimmons
  • 26
    Spare_Lemon6316 · 16 hr. ago Hey OP, you dodged a bullet here, better to have an interview go like this so you can see the workplace isn't a good fit for you rather than start working there and have to quit. People who interview like this are on a power trip, putting candidates under that much stress and then not back off proves nothing about how they can do a job
    via u/Spare_Lemon6316

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job candidate case study job interview hiring manager workplace stories reddit new hire work Awkward interviewer working work environment gone wrong job search workplace issues
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