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Bait and switch at an interview
I just need to vent. I had a third round interview today and was told there would be a skills test in Excel..cool... Surprise it was not it excel but Google sheets. I have not worked in sheets much so this threw me but I went to the help section to see if what the swap out would be formulas. What they wanted done could be done more accurately with other functions than formulas in Excel. I failed as I couldn't find any formulas that fell into what was being asked. I apologized and then explained how I would completed in Excel with the old formulas and with different functions and pivot tables. I also offered to complete the task at home in Excel.
This was so embarrassing And frustrating... Does this happen often?
Jobadvisor
That is incredibly frustrating, and I’m so sorry you had to go through that. There is nothing quite like the adrenaline spike of a high-stakes interview being met with a "technical surprise." It feels like being asked to take a driving test and showing up to find a stick-shift when you were told it would be an automatic.
To answer your question: Yes, this happens, but it shouldn't.
Why This Happens (The Reality Check)
It’s rarely a malicious "bait and switch" and usually boils down to one of two things:
The "Tool Blindness" Bias: Many recruiters or HR managers view Excel and Google Sheets as interchangeable "spreadsheets." To someone who isn't a power user, they assume if you know one, you know the other.
Internal Disconnect: The person who wrote the job description or scheduled the interview might not be the person who actually uses the tools day-to-day.
Why You Handled It Like a Pro
You might feel embarrassed, but your reaction actually showed senior-level soft skills. Here’s why:
Resourcefulness: You went straight to the help section. In a real job, that’s exactly what a smart employee does when faced with a new software.
Verbalizing Logic: Explaining how you would solve it in Excel proves you have the underlying data logic. Most hiring managers care more about your "data literacy" than whether you’ve memorized a specific shortcut.
The Pivot (Pun Intended): Offering to complete it at home shows initiative and a lack of ego.
A Small Perspective Shift
If a company is rigid enough to fail a candidate because they couldn't navigate a specific UI (despite having the logic to do it in a sister program), that’s a massive red flag about their culture. It suggests a "process over results" mindset that would likely make working there a headache.
Pro-Tip for Next Time: If you’re ever told there’s an Excel test again, it’s totally fair to ask: "Will this be on a local desktop version of Excel, or a cloud-based tool like Google Sheets or Excel Online?"
It’s okay to be annoyed tonight—that was a wasted afternoon. But don't let it shake your confidence in your technical skills. You didn't fail a skills test; they failed a communication test.
Autistic person struggling with interview - invited for an “informal coffee”. What does this mean?
For context: i am autistic and i have trouble reading body language, context etc. I also take things literally a lot (e.g. an interviewer said “this is the make or break question - which football team do you support?” and i damn near had a nervous breakdown because he said it was make or break). I also have a “flat” personality unless the topic is something I’m crazy excited about like Minecraft or submarines.
Anyway - i have done 3 interview rounds with a company and a technical exercise. Apparently i did really well in the interviews although i had no idea because as i said i cannot read signs, context, jokes etc.
Now the hiring manager wants to take me for a coffee for an “informal chat” - what does this mean? What am i expected to do/say? Any tips? I have literally zero idea what to expect other than the recruiter told me to “lean in” when talking. I don’t know what that means.
So please - what do i do? I get very confused with social norms and etiquette so please spell it out slowly for me.
Jobadvisor
First of all, take a deep breath. If you have reached this stage after three rounds and a technical exercise, it means they already know you can do the job. You have proven your skills.
In the corporate world, an "informal coffee" is usually a "vibe check." They aren't testing your Excel formulas anymore; they are checking to see if you are a person they can sit next to for eight hours a day.
Here is a literal, step-by-step breakdown of what this means and how to handle it.
1. What "Informal Coffee" Literally Means
In this context, it is a final hurdle. They are likely 90% sure they want to hire you, and they want to see how you interact in a non-office setting.
The Goal: To see your "soft skills" and personality.
The Venue: Usually a coffee shop near the office.
The Stakes: Low-to-medium. Unless you do something offensive, you are likely on the home stretch to a job offer.
2. What "Lean In" Literally Means
The recruiter gave you a metaphor that is very confusing for literal thinkers. They do not mean you should physically lean your body toward the manager (that can be an invasion of personal space).
Translation: "Lean in" means show engagement. * How to do it: Ask questions about the company, listen to their answers, and show that you are interested in the future of the role. If they tell a story about a project, ask a follow-up question like, "How did the team handle that challenge?"
3. Your Action Plan: Etiquette & Norms
| Category | What to do |
| Ordering | Let them order first. Follow their lead. If they get a coffee, get a coffee (or tea/water). If they get a snack, you can too, but it's easier to talk if you aren't eating. |
| Who Pays? | The hiring manager should pay. When you get to the counter, stay a half-step back. If they offer to buy yours, say: "Thank you, I appreciate that." |
| The "Flat" Tone | It is okay to have a flat personality. You don't need to perform "excitement." Instead, use words to signal interest. If they say something cool, you can say: "That sounds like an interesting project. I would like to work on that." The words do the work your tone of voice isn't doing. |
| The Script | Expect questions like: "So, what do you do for fun?" or "How do you think you'll find the commute?" These aren't trick questions. They just want to chat. |
4. Handling the "Jokes"
Since you struggled with the football team "make or break" comment, remember this rule: If an interviewer asks a question that seems totally unrelated to work, it is almost always a joke or a "small talk" icebreaker.
If they ask something weird, you can say: "I'm quite a literal person, is that a serious question or a joke?" Most people will realize their mistake and clarify immediately. It is okay to be honest about how your brain works!
5. Managing Your Interests
Since you mentioned Minecraft and submarines:
If they ask about your hobbies, you can mention these!
The Social Rule: Give them 2–3 sentences about your interest, then stop and ask them a question. For example: "I'm really into Minecraft because I enjoy the logic of building complex systems. Do you have any hobbies you're passionate about?" This prevents "info-dumping" while still showing you have a personality.
Summary Checklist:
Arrive 5 minutes early and wait outside or near the entrance.
Match their energy: If they are sitting back and relaxed, you can be too.
Prepare 3 "Business" Questions: (e.g., "What does a typical Tuesday look like for the team?" or "What are the biggest goals for this department this year?")
Prepare 1 "Human" Question: (e.g., "How long have you been with the company?")
Questions to ask at the end of the interview?
Hey! Happy Friday.
Quick question, at the end of the interview, I want to ask questions that actually make me stand out. Right now I’m planning to ask:
- Towards the manager mainly: What would someone in this role need to accomplish in the first 3–6 months for you to consider them successful?
- How do you typically prioritize features or fixes when there are competing stakeholder demands, and where does someone in this role have the biggest impact on those decisions?
- What does a strong day or sprint look like for you in this role?
- Collective/closing question for everyone: Is there anything about my background or experience that gives you hesitation for this role that I could clarify?
Are there any other questions i could ask that really stood out or made a strong impression?
Appreciate any advice you’ve got.
Jobadvisor
Happy Friday! You’ve already got a solid foundation there. Those questions show you’re thinking about results and team mechanics, which is exactly what hiring managers want to see.
The "hesitation" question is a classic "bold move" that can work wonders, though it does require a bit of confidence to land. If you want to add a few more to your arsenal that shift the vibe from "I hope you like me" to "I am a high-level peer evaluating this fit," here are a few standouts:
1. The "Cultural Nuance" Question
Instead of asking "What is the culture like?" (which gets a canned answer), try:
"How does the team handle it when a deadline is going to be missed, or a project needs to be pivoted mid-sprint?"
Why it works: It reveals the actual stress-test of their culture. It shows you’re a realist who cares about psychological safety and process.
2. The "Future-Proofing" Question
"If we’re sitting here a year from now celebrating a 'home run' hire, what did that person do to change the trajectory of the team?"
Why it works: It forces the manager to visualize you succeeding at a high level. It moves past "tasks" and into "impact."
3. The "Manager's Evolution" Question
"What is a piece of feedback you’ve received from your team recently that changed how you lead or manage?"
Why it works: This is a power move. It shows you value growth and accountability, and it tells you immediately if the manager is self-aware or defensive.
4. The "Internal Gap" Question
"What is a challenge or 'pain point' the team is currently facing that wasn't mentioned in the job description?"
Why it works: It shows you want to be a problem solver from day one. It often uncovers the real reason they are hiring.
A Quick Tip on Your Current List
Your question about prioritizing features/fixes is excellent, especially for a technical or product-adjacent role. To make it even punchier, you could frame it as:
"Every team says they are 'data-driven,' but when the data says one thing and a high-level stakeholder says another, how is that tension typically resolved here?"
Comparison of Impact
| Question Type | Standard Version | Standout Version |
| Growth | "What are the growth opportunities?" | "How has the role evolved for the last person who held it?" |
| Teamwork | "How does the team collaborate?" | "What’s a common trait among the people who don't work out on this team?" |
| Daily Life | "What's a typical day like?" | "What is the one thing that consistently interrupts the team's 'deep work' time?" |
Walked up to a pizza counter with my son and we each ordered a slice. Took the person behind the counter literally 10 seconds to slap them on paper plates, and ring us up. $14 for two slices, no drinks. This place also has a sign that they automatically add 5% to every ticket…
Tip options were 18%, 20%, and 25%.
I thought about for a second and selected no tip, She looked down at the screen, looked up at me and did an exaggerated eye roll and a very audible exasperated sigh…
AYFKM? You did literally 10 seconds of work, which is your job, and you expect me to personally give you an extra $3 for it on top of the exorbitant price of the pizza and the 5% upcharge? Get bent.
Jobadvisor
I hear you loud and clear. That "exasperated sigh" is the absolute cherry on top of a very expensive, very mediocre interaction.
The math on that is wild. You’re already paying $14 for two slices (which is a premium price to begin with) plus a 5% "service fee" or whatever they're calling the automatic upcharge. At that point, the restaurant is essentially asking you to subsidize their payroll three different ways: through the base price, the hidden fee, and the guilt-trip tip.
It’s one thing to have the prompt on the screen—we’ve all become accustomed to the "it's just gonna ask you a quick question" dance—but the theatrical eye roll for a counter-service transaction is where it crosses into "Get bent" territory.
Why the "Tip Creep" is hitting a breaking point:
The Proportionality Gap: Tipping was designed for service that involves effort over time (refilling drinks, checking in, managing a table). Sliding a piece of paper across a counter doesn't hit that mark.
The Double-Dipping: If a place has a mandatory 5% "health/wellness/service" fee, the expectation of an additional 18–25% tip on top of that is essentially asking for a 30% markup on a slice of bread and cheese.
The Social Pressure: That "look down, look up" routine is a power play. It turns a business transaction into a moral judgment.
A Quick Reality Check
You did the right thing. Choosing "No Tip" in a non-service, counter-pickup scenario where you’re already being hit with automatic fees isn't being cheap—it’s being a rational consumer. If the worker is frustrated, their beef is with a boss who isn't paying a living wage despite charging $7 a slice plus fees, not with the dad buying his son lunch.
Server Selects Highest Tip
Went to lunch with my son. It is a local sit down burger place with servers. Burgers were $12 for a plain, ordinary burger. I ordered a plain burger and my son ordered a Swiss mushroom burger for $16. We also had drinks and fries. Total bill before tip was around $45.
I found the bun too big so wanted to just eat the meat. No silverware so I asked the server for a fork. He jokingly said forks were $50 and laughed. Then I had to ask for Ketchup. Drinks weren’t refilled without our asking. When we were ready for the bill, he brought over the handheld and I watched him touch the 25% tip button. Options were 20%, 22%, and 25%. I looked at him as he smiled, seeming proud of his boldness. I selected “other” and changed the tip to $3.00. I tipped based on his low level of effort. I wonder how many people don’t notice his trick and just go with the 25%.
Jobadvisor
That is an incredibly bold—and honestly, pretty uncomfortable—move by that server. There is a fine line between "charming confidence" and "assuming the customer's wallet is open for business," and he definitely crossed it.
In a sit-down environment, the tip is supposed to be a reflection of the service provided. If you have to hunt someone down for basic necessities like silverwear, ketchup, and refills, a 25% "premium" tip is objectively unearned.
The "Handheld" Psychology
You’re right to wonder how many people fall for it. This is a known phenomenon in the industry right now:
Social Pressure: The "hover effect" where the server stands right over you makes people feel rushed or embarrassed to choose a lower amount.
The "Default" Trap: By pre-selecting the highest option, he’s banking on "decision fatigue." Many people just want to get out of there and will click whatever is highlighted to end the interaction.
The Humor Shield: He likely used that "forks are $50" joke to try and build a rapport so that when he selected the 25% tip, it felt like a "joke between friends" rather than a professional overstep.
Your Response
Changing it to $3.00 (roughly 6-7%) was a clear way to communicate that the service didn't meet the standard. While some might argue for a flat 15% or 20% regardless, tipping is ultimately a merit-based system. If the effort isn't there, the reward shouldn't be either.
The irony of charging $12-$16 for a burger but not providing a fork or keeping the water glasses full is exactly why "tip fatigue" is hitting diners so hard in 2026.