Minisode 001: Bloopers, Behind the scenes and feedback for an interview that went wrong

While "Let's Break Up: Toxic Workplace Stories" takes a short break, hosts Nicola and Gina have a special treat in store for you! Join them for an exclusive series of minisodes designed to keep you engaged and entertained during the break.

In each bite-sized episode, Nicola and Gina will take you behind the scenes, offering a glimpse into the making of the podcast. Discover untold stories, hilarious bloopers, and intriguing moments that didn't make it into the regular episodes. It's a chance to get to know your hosts on a more personal level and gain insights into the creative process.

But that's not all! These minisodes will also address an important topic that hits close to home: feedback for a job interview gone wrong, tainted by bias. Nicola and Gina will delve into the complexities of biased interview practices, sharing their perspectives and offering practical advice on how to handle such situations. Gain valuable insights that can empower you to navigate the job market with confidence and advocate for fair and inclusive hiring practices.

So, don't miss out on these exclusive "Break Time Bites" minisodes! Stay engaged, informed, and entertained as Nicola and Gina pave the way for a stronger, healthier work environment. When the full episodes return, you'll be armed with fresh perspectives, behind-the-scenes knowledge, and the tools to create positive change.

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

This podcast may contain adult themes.

Speaker 2: 0:03

This podcast is for entertainment purposes only and is not to be taken as legal or psychological advice.

Speaker 1: 0:10

The views and opinions in this podcast are expressly our own and they do not reflect the views and opinions of any organizations we have previously or currently work with. All right, okay, got it, we're recording. You have your script ready.

Speaker 2: 0:27

I do have my script ready. I'm feeling excited, so that my voice sounds excited, yeah.

Speaker 1: 0:33

Okay, and remember you are podcast host one.

Speaker 2: 0:37

I am podcast host one because I'm number one.

Speaker 1: 0:41

That is correct.

Speaker 2: 0:43

Okay, so that I can see the screen as well. My eyes are working.

Speaker 1: 0:50

Okay, you ready? Yes, go ahead.

Speaker 2: 0:56

Hey. Are you tired of toxic workplaces and the negativity that comes with them?

Speaker 1: 1:02

Well, we hear you and we're here to shake things up. Welcome to Let's Break Up Toxic Workplace Stories, the podcast that's all about breaking up with workplace toxicity.

Speaker 2: 1:13

I'm Nicola and I'm here with my co-host, gina. Together, we're taking a real life experiential experience while It started, yeah, it started over.

Speaker 1: 1:25

Just read the words that are there.

Speaker 2: 1:28

Eyes work. I'm Nicola and I'm here with my co-host, gina. Together, we're going to explore real life experiences of workplace toxicity and offer a sense of encouragement and unity.

Speaker 1: 1:43

That's right. We're tackling the tough topic of negativity in the workplace and turning it into a movement for positivity.

Speaker 2: 1:52

We'll be interviewing guests to share their experiences and offer practical solutions for dealing with workplace toxicity. Our aim is to promote solidarity and a sense of community amongst our listeners.

Speaker 1: 2:06

Let's Break Up is quickly becoming the go-to source for anyone looking to share and then ditch the drama and create a happier, healthier work environment.

Speaker 2: 2:16

So join us each week as we explore the various forms of toxicity in the workplace And we offer practical solutions. We doubled up on that sentence. Did you just realize that?

Speaker 1: 2:27

So join us each week as we explore various forms of Okay, yeah, we doubled up that sentence.

Speaker 2: 2:35

Okay. So join us each week as we explore the various forms of toxicity in the workplace. Get ready to laugh, learn and join the revolution against red flags and toxic workplaces.

Speaker 1: 2:47

We can't wait to share our passion project and help you break up with those toxic workplaces. Thanks for tuning in and don't forget to like, subscribe and tell all your friends.

Speaker 2: 2:58

In this week's episode.

Speaker 1: 3:04

I think we did okay.

Speaker 2: 3:05

I think we did fine. Okay, so, as our pre-game chat, Yes, I wonder. I'm curious to know. Curious minds must know. I'm curious to know if other podcasters work as hard as we do.

Speaker 1: 3:20

I'm sure they do, but here's my thought about it. It's like the ones that are like the big podcasts like they have these well, right, they have like an army of people who are doing the writing and the researching and all that.

Speaker 2: 3:35

I would love someone to do the writing and the research Wouldn't that be cute.

Speaker 1: 3:40

It would be. I mean, I don't think this type of podcast could ever be like written.

Speaker 2: 3:46

No.

Speaker 1: 3:47

Because, you know, it's very much like we're just sharing, you know we're commiserating. Yeah, that's true, Mm-hmm, That's very true.

Speaker 2: 4:00

All right, tell me about you. What's up with you? You got anything on our, our kitay of stories?

Speaker 1: 4:09

No, things have been going, you know, just going. I don't know what else to say about my life. I just feel like my life is so boring now that I'm a mom, like I don't really do anything, like my aim in life these days is to go to bed, like before nine.

Speaker 2: 4:28

That kind of happens when you're a mom.

Speaker 1: 4:30

Yeah. so I'm just like, ooh, this is great I get to go to bed before nine tonight.

Speaker 2: 4:36

You know, i saw a meme the other day that said you know, when you're a kid, all you want to do is stay up late. And then you're an adult and it's like eight o'clock.

Speaker 1: 4:47

Yeah, and it's like you're like, yes, I can't wait, This is going to be amazing.

Speaker 2: 4:53

Let me do some free sheets. Oh, i could have. I could have easily done with another hour of sleep this morning easily.

Speaker 1: 5:01

Same, because what I keep kind of doing is I do this like really fun thing where I wake up around like that witching hour of like 3 34.

Speaker 2: 5:10

Oh my God, that's the worst.

Speaker 1: 5:13

To like. Lately it's been to pee. But for while we were, while I was working at the place we met, i would be like mentally just abused and done by like 7 30. I'd get into bed at 7 30, and then I'd wake up at like midnight or one and I wouldn't be able to fall asleep for like two hours.

Speaker 2: 5:34

Was it like crippling anxiety at that time?

Speaker 1: 5:37

Just, i don't know if it was anxiety, it was just, i couldn't shut my brain off.

Speaker 2: 5:42

You know I would wake up at like 3 am with crippling anxiety, thinking that something has gone horribly wrong.

Speaker 1: 5:48

Which was most likely the truth.

Speaker 2: 5:54

And nine times out of 10 it was.

Speaker 1: 5:57

Yeah, that's what I'm saying, Like for you, it was definitely the truth. I just remember the first day that I worked there, like that I was kind of released into the wild. Like my WhatsApp wouldn't stop going off like from 10 pm on And I quickly had to like be like all right, that's not what we're doing. Like that's not how I work, that's not how anyone should work.

Speaker 2: 6:23

Well, i'm curious to maybe talk to our guests today about some of these feelings that we had, because we're talking to a doctor Who Very fancy, yeah, oh, a thorough fancy And she has a PhD in psychology.

Speaker 1: 6:41

Right and she's gonna be talking about it A little bit fancy for us.

Speaker 2: 6:44

Very fancy, very fancy. I almost feel like we need like mimosas and canapes. I think this one's gonna be interesting because I'm curious to kind of maybe use our workplace as an example of the field.

Speaker 1: 7:00

Well, so she also is gonna be talking about like what, like frenemies, and how women often try to cut down other women, and I mean the majority of people at our workplace were women and I absolutely felt that.

Speaker 2: 7:19

I love that the name is called behind frenemy lines. That's quite entertaining. That's her book, right? Yeah, i find that quite. That's quite catchy. Babes. Well played, well played. I don't know what we're getting at. She looks really pretty.

Speaker 1: 7:36

You know what I think it's like. It's so funny is that some people zoom like the picture, like the zoom picture will look one way And then when you actually see them, you're like it looks very different, sometimes in a good way, sometimes in a bad way. I yeah.

Speaker 2: 7:58

I had to work, okay. So not often do we use zoom, right, We use teams for work And I had a zoom call yesterday and I and I take the zoom call and I'm like, ah, sorry, just let me change my background. Yeah, It was a good topic. It was a good topic like icebreaker.

Speaker 1: 8:19

Oh, cause you had this up. I love it.

Speaker 2: 8:23

Like. Sorry, i usually use my zoom for podcasting. Sorry about that.

Speaker 1: 8:29

Sorry about that. Who actually? who does know about this At work? No, but I'm saying like, yeah, your work Everybody. Oh, you told a bunch of people. Okay, i feel you.

Speaker 2: 8:45

I was like look just to be upfront, i'm doing a podcast about toxic workplaces. Strap yourselves in, won't? talk about us but you know, we've already recruited in two people from this workplace to talk about toxic workplaces. Strap yourselves in.

Speaker 1: 9:01

Yeah, i mean anytime it's been interesting cause anytime I've actually like mentioned to like I'm as part of my like bikini prep who side notes, nobody sponsored me yet. Are you shocked?

Speaker 2: 9:17

You know what I am cause. I've seen your banging wee body and I would sponsor you if I could.

Speaker 1: 9:24

Oh my God. Also, though, like me and my coach, like we laugh all the time, we're very close friends. We've known each other for quite some time, but I have to send, like weekly progress check-in pictures, so it's like me and like a thong and like a sports bra.

Speaker 2: 9:39

Is he just collecting these for like a spank bank?

Speaker 1: 9:42

No, no, no, no. He has tons of clients.

Speaker 2: 9:45

My point.

Speaker 1: 9:46

No, no, men, he doesn't just coach women, men, whatever he's keen on, but anyway, so like invariably I look like a fucking potato that just rolled out of bed in every single progress picture And like we make fun of it all the time. He'll like what's at me back And I'll be like I am at maximum potato status right now, cause, like my hair is like this I'm not trying to like make my face look nice in any way, cause it's truly just about comparing like week to week. So he was like he's like literally everyone's check-in pictures are God awful, he's like, and then I'll see them in person. I'll be like oh damn, their body looks good, but like their checking picture is like invariably, is it just like adding an extra, like 20 pounds.

Speaker 2: 10:37

you didn't need.

Speaker 1: 10:38

No, it's just like I don't know. It's just you know cause. You're not really trying, you're not posing, You're not, can you shade? one, no, cause. They're truly horrific. I'm so here for it. Maybe I'll send you one personally at some point, but my body looks very yeah, and my body looks very lopsided. I don't know why I I don't you've seen me in real life. I don't think it's very lopsided. I don't feel like you are lopsided.

Speaker 1: 11:08

I'm not, But in the practice pictures I always look like it, like it highlights every single asymmetry a normal body would have.

Speaker 2: 11:19

So anyway, Oh my God, you would look. You look like a potato. Can you imagine what my progress photo would look like? I would look like a fucking elephant. No, like, we're just like-. And I'd have like little wrinkly ankles and it would just be like a cangle. And then it would be like Oh, nicholas's progress picture still looks like an elephant.

Speaker 1: 11:37

Maybe like she's such a cute elephant. Well, i guess I'm a cute potato, i don't know. But actually I'm not, because in the pictures, like my face looks jacked up as well, cause half the time I'm doing them, so I have to send them in on Mondays and I send them in at the end of the day Monday, and I'm just like-. Monday and I'm exhausted and I'm about to get in the shower because I'm not going to put on like a sports bra and whatever just to do the pictures.

Speaker 1: 12:04

So it's like whatever I got on underneath my clothes is what he's getting and half the time, like my song is like like one side's higher than the other or like twist it or something, and he'll be like what is going on? and I'll be like dude, like it is what it is. Just you know, go for it. But yeah, so, looking like a potato. But no, i have not yet been sponsored, but I think you asked me. Oh, so, like this morning. So as part of my bikini prep, i've been doing some lymphatic drainage massage.

Speaker 2: 12:43

Yeah and Oh that would be nice.

Speaker 1: 12:45

I'd love me that Big fan big fan of it, i would love it. She was like so I went this morning and she was like, what did you eat? and I was like broccoli, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts. And she was like, girl, you're going to have the biggest shit today.

Speaker 2: 13:02

And I was like, yes, so I'm excited for that, but lymphatic drainage also makes you pee a lot too.

Speaker 1: 13:10

It just kind of and it helps, like with fat loss, because it helps to like break up the fat a little bit. It's not a magic cure, like you're not going to No, it's, but it's like, like The edge to the help.

Speaker 1: 13:24

Yes, it helps certain things along helping your body, like filter, you know, fat out and all of that. But I just think it's so funny she could like she's. She's really good. But so my point here is anytime I tell anyone that I started a podcast and I tell them what it's about, a they laugh at the name of our podcast. I think Because it's the best name ever yeah they're like oh my god, that's so good. and then then they always are like well, when am I going to be on?

Speaker 2: 13:55

Always, that's always the next question. It's like, oh, have I got a story for you? It's like how many people have been impacted by shitty toxic?

Speaker 1: 14:04

I think I think you know even yesterday, our interview from yesterday. he was describing a toxic workplace before he landed where he was and he might not have realized it. I think he's just now too positive, true, okay hold on.

Speaker 2: 14:20

So did I. Okay. So I was interviewing for a job. This is last year, so 2022. I interviewed for a job and, being in a very male dominated industry, 100% they were looking for a guy. 100% they weren't even fucking interested in asking me questions like.

Speaker 1: 14:41

By the way, i'm as tall as most men.

Speaker 2: 14:44

I wanted to go there but I actually ended up. So I knew like within the first, like 20 minutes. So we it was an hour interview. Was it on Zoom or in person? It was on Zoom and they of the hour interview. I spoke for maybe 15 minutes tops. And they and they spoke the rest of the time, asking me really like condescending questions and I'm like, okay, hold on.

Speaker 2: 15:15

So I'm just going to pull it up, because I actually ended up drafting commentary on it, because I was like, if he rings me and he's like sorry, you didn't get the job which I knew he wouldn't right, oh, here we go. Feedback on interview. Okay, okay so ring ring.

Speaker 1: 15:32

Wait, wait. I also just want to let you know that you are such a nerd for doing this. What?

Speaker 2: 15:40

scripting things before I, before I have conversations with people.

Speaker 1: 15:43

Yeah, you're such a nerd Okay so strap yourself in Ring ring.

Speaker 2: 15:48

Okay, wait, you're the guy you're ringing to tell me I don't have the job, so you ring, ring, ring me, ring ring Kia ora, nicola speaking Hi.

Speaker 1: 15:58

Nicola, you are unfortunately not getting the job you interviewed for.

Speaker 2: 16:04

Oh sorry, do you mind if I give you just a little bit of feedback around the interview?

Speaker 1: 16:11

If that was Gina, i'd be like no, because that's not your place, but this person might be a lot nicer than me, so I'm going to say yes, sure.

Speaker 2: 16:21

Well, thanks so much for the opportunity to interview with you, for the role and learning more about the team and the position. Did you have any feedback for me regarding the interview or the interview notes that I could use to improve my skills going forward? If it's okay with you, i wanted to ask for the opportunity to provide some feedback on the interview panel and the interview process itself. To be honest, i'm not surprised I didn't get the role and the opportunity to move forward. It was probably one of the top two worst interviews I've ever taken, the first of which said girls cannot do bloke jobs. So, as you can imagine, it must not have been great to make the top two. Okay. What else? Of the one hour interview, i only really spoke for 15 minutes. The rest of the 45 minutes were used by the interviewers Were they all men Yeah, i didn't give the.

Speaker 2: 17:27

This didn't give the indication that they were in fact interested in getting to know if I was suitable for the role, and the second thing that it highlighted for me was the consistent request for me to ask questions. While I'm usually curious and learn more about businesses as we go, this isn't really the place, and many of the questions I had had already been answered by the lengthy answers given.

Speaker 1: 17:50

Yeah, by you guys talking for like a million hours. Yeah, i'll go ahead.

Speaker 2: 17:55

The final aspect of feedback I wanted to share was that the interview felt incredibly biased. Of the few questions I had been asked about myself, the questions came off as predetermined or condescending, some of which were closed questions only offering yes or no answers. To give specific examples that really stood out to me, questions like is beep your own company? This indicated that there was little trust that I had spent four years working my way up to the head of e-commerce for a company, even if I was able to provide a reference. Another question that really had me puzzled was the question about my engagement in contracting roles. The question, again, was closed and very negatively framed Why, instead of staying in roles, did you choose to contract? This indicates that there is a bias, that a bias was already placed on the value that contract roles provide to individuals and the opportunity to learn more industries and engage with a wide range of contractors.

Speaker 1: 18:57

The question that really matter. If you're contracted with a company for however many years, it still shows longevity, rather because maybe the company we have someone who works for us and she's been contract for seven plus years or something. We are basically her full time job, but it allows her to take on additional projects if she wants to make additional money.

Speaker 2: 19:28

So then, my last comment was the question that probably unsettled me the most was what makes you think you won't get bored in this role? Why did that upset you? You'll see now.

Speaker 2: 19:45

As a skilled, highly motivated professional. I get the job done. My role is to keep people safe in a way that is supportive, focused on people first, innovative and empathetic. My manager's role is to support me in doing so. And if I'm flagging to my manager or leader that the role is becoming monotonous, the mark of a good leader supports, encourages and offers opportunities for development. So it was sad for me to hear that I would be questioned on my personal motives on boredom within the workplace.

Speaker 1: 20:16

It's funny because I think when you reach a certain level in your career, smaller companies or companies in general think you'll get bored and it's like someone. People like you and me, who have like a natural entrepreneurial resilient spirit, will keep ourselves busy.

Speaker 2: 20:37

We will find all the things to do and we will fix all the things that are broken while we're finding the stuff to do.

Speaker 1: 20:47

Yes, like in my company, during Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year, there's a lot of work, just doesn't happen.

Speaker 2: 20:55

Yeah Right, because China and any other Great opportunity for Edmund, a great opportunity to tell us these, that's exactly what I did.

Speaker 1: 21:03

That's what I did, and I try to generate some new business. There's tons of things that can be done. Thank, you.

Speaker 2: 21:14

It's like boredom is a state of mind. If you're thinking that I'm going to be bored with something, then you obviously haven't taken the time to get to know me and understand that thing about engaging and being proactive around, not being bored And if I am bored, that's my manager. Oh, Amber's here.

Speaker 1: 21:36

Okay, good, But also it's kind of just like why do you think this job might be boring?

Speaker 2: 21:42

Yeah, You think it's going to be boring Red flag. You bitch Agreed. Thank you for joining us today. If you would like to share your story, we would love to hear from you.

Speaker 1: 21:55

Also, leaving a review helps us create more content because it shows us there's an interest in this topic.

Speaker 2: 22:01

For those of our listeners who do better with reading, we have closed caption available on YouTube.

Speaker 1: 22:05

See you next week, same time and same place.