Help... how do I talk my way out of this one?

Heineken Helen

I just got an email from a company saying they really want to see me for interview and that they've been trying to contact me and to give them a call as soon as possible (they're closed now so i'll have to wait til the morning).

I was wondering how they'd been trying to contact me cos I'd no missed calls or anything. So I read over my attached application with the email and I MISSED A DIGIT IN MY PHONE NUMBER :shock: :oops: :? This is a job that is looking for attention to detail and it's actually one that I'd really really love to work at so, do I even bother calling them after that mistake? or how the hell do I explain it away... oh dear... let that be a warning for everyone applying for jobs, lol

Stone Is God

Heineken Helen wrote:

I just got an email from a company saying they really want to see me for interview and that they've been trying to contact me and to give them a call as soon as possible (they're closed now so i'll have to wait til the morning).

I was wondering how they'd been trying to contact me cos I'd no missed calls or anything. So I read over my attached application with the email and I MISSED A DIGIT IN MY PHONE NUMBER :shock: :oops: :? This is a job that is looking for attention to detail and it's actually one that I'd really really love to work at so, do I even bother calling them after that mistake? or how the hell do I explain it away... oh dear... let that be a warning for everyone applying for jobs, lol

"I was having trouble with my phone/voice mail service" That's always a good way to cover your ass.

Heineken Helen

Stone Is God wrote:

Heineken Helen wrote:

I just got an email from a company saying they really want to see me for interview and that they've been trying to contact me and to give them a call as soon as possible (they're closed now so i'll have to wait til the morning).

I was wondering how they'd been trying to contact me cos I'd no missed calls or anything. So I read over my attached application with the email and I MISSED A DIGIT IN MY PHONE NUMBER :shock: :oops: :? This is a job that is looking for attention to detail and it's actually one that I'd really really love to work at so, do I even bother calling them after that mistake? or how the hell do I explain it away... oh dear... let that be a warning for everyone applying for jobs, lol

"I was having trouble with my phone/voice mail service" That's always a good way to cover your ass.

someone's already said that one... it's just I've a feeling she might say something like 'so just to confirm, your number is 07xxxxxxxxxx' and I'll have to say 'no, actually it's 07xxxxxxxxxxxx' and she'll say 'oh but that's what you put on your application' and then I'll have to come up with some kinda excuse... where there really is NO excuse. Maybe the best thing to do is just admit to it and apologise and say I really have no idea how that happened... but that would probably be the end of the interview :(

Stone Is God

Heineken Helen wrote:

Stone Is God wrote:

Heineken Helen wrote:

I just got an email from a company saying they really want to see me for interview and that they've been trying to contact me and to give them a call as soon as possible (they're closed now so i'll have to wait til the morning).

I was wondering how they'd been trying to contact me cos I'd no missed calls or anything. So I read over my attached application with the email and I MISSED A DIGIT IN MY PHONE NUMBER :shock: :oops: :? This is a job that is looking for attention to detail and it's actually one that I'd really really love to work at so, do I even bother calling them after that mistake? or how the hell do I explain it away... oh dear... let that be a warning for everyone applying for jobs, lol

"I was having trouble with my phone/voice mail service" That's always a good way to cover your ass.

someone's already said that one... it's just I've a feeling she might say something like 'so just to confirm, your number is 07xxxxxxxxxx' and I'll have to say 'no, actually it's 07xxxxxxxxxxxx' and she'll say 'oh but that's what you put on your application' and then I'll have to come up with some kinda excuse... where there really is NO excuse. Maybe the best thing to do is just admit to it and apologise and say I really have no idea how that happened... but that would probably be the end of the interview :(

You can also role that into "I just got a new phone with a new number. That's why I put the wrong number down and have been having so much trouble with the phone itself."

redrock

Heineken Helen wrote:

someone's already said that one... it's just I've a feeling she might say something like 'so just to confirm, your number is 07xxxxxxxxxx' and I'll have to say 'no, actually it's 07xxxxxxxxxxxx' and she'll say 'oh but that's what you put on your application' and then I'll have to come up with some kinda excuse... where there really is NO excuse. Maybe the best thing to do is just admit to it and apologise and say I really have no idea how that happened... but that would probably be the end of the interview :(

Just say sorry, brand new phone number - not quite imprinted in your mind yet - that is if she mentions it!

EDIT: Oops... Stone is God and I think the same way but he is quicker than me!

Heineken Helen

thanks you two :oops: lol at the timing.

DeLukin

Be honest. If they're a good company then how you handle yourself with regards to the mistake is probably more valuable to them than the fact that you made one (which only proves that you're human anyway).

Heineken Helen

DeLukin wrote:

Be honest. If they're a good company then how you handle yourself with regards to the mistake is probably more valuable to them than the fact that you made one (which only proves that you're human anyway).

thank you :oops: it's looking like it's the only option so let's just hope they see the funny side of it.

kenny olav

I also recommend that you be your honest and charming self, Helen. If that doesn't work, well, at least you live on the other side of the pond and can't come after me!

Heineken Helen

Kenny Olav wrote:

I also recommend that you be your honest and charming self, Helen. If that doesn't work, well, at least you live on the other side of the pond and can't come after me!

thank you... I'm gonna ring first thing in the morning and confess straight up, say it's a new phone (not ENTIRELY a lie) and apologise profusely :oops: but I'll make a joke out of it somehow and PRAY she has a sense of humour

I won't come after ya Kenny unless ya want me to

Heineken Helen

although my bf came up with a good one. It's with a health charity... so I could say it was cos I'd given blood twice that day and gave the biscuits (that they give ya) away to a homeless person so if I sense the honesty's not working, I could say 'actually... the truth is..........'

tybird

Heineken Helen wrote:

although my bf came up with a good one. It's with a health charity... so I could say it was cos I'd given blood twice that day and gave the biscuits (that they give ya) away to a homeless person so if I sense the honesty's not working, I could say 'actually... the truth is..........'

LOL.....I'll remember that to cover any mistakes I make after giving blood.

Heineken Helen

tybird wrote:

Heineken Helen wrote:

although my bf came up with a good one. It's with a health charity... so I could say it was cos I'd given blood twice that day and gave the biscuits (that they give ya) away to a homeless person so if I sense the honesty's not working, I could say 'actually... the truth is..........'

LOL.....I'll remember that to cover any mistakes I make after giving blood.

but then maybe they have access to the blood bank records... she'd hit a few keys and then go 'oh that's interesting, there's no record of you giving blood that day' and then I'd say 'well that's cos i was walking along and a nun got hit from a bus and there happened to be a doctor there and he asked if anyone could give blood and i ran over to save the day but i refused to give my name'

soulsinging

I say you just tell them you didn't make a mistake because you're a good person and they must have misinterpreted what they read and they're jerks if they won't hire you for a reason like that. I've heard it's effective from other posters.

Heineken Helen

soulsinging wrote:

I say you just tell them you didn't make a mistake because you're a good person and they must have misinterpreted what they read and they're jerks if they won't hire you for a reason like that. I've heard it's effective from other posters.

well THAT could work too

kenny olav

Heineken Helen wrote:

Kenny Olav wrote:

I also recommend that you be your honest and charming self, Helen. If that doesn't work, well, at least you live on the other side of the pond and can't come after me!

thank you... I'm gonna ring first thing in the morning and confess straight up, say it's a new phone (not ENTIRELY a lie) and apologise profusely :oops: but I'll make a joke out of it somehow and PRAY she has a sense of humour

I won't come after ya Kenny unless ya want me to

Helen, I've been waiting for an Irish woman to come and get me for so long, what have you been waiting for?! These American women keep doing me wrong I tell ya. :x

All5horizons1991

Did you put the wrong digit down or leave a digit off?

Don't sweat it too much either way. They must really be interested if they tried to reach you through e-mail after failing by phone. Most places wouldn't have bothered.

Heineken Helen

Kenny Olav wrote:

Heineken Helen wrote:

Kenny Olav wrote:

I also recommend that you be your honest and charming self, Helen. If that doesn't work, well, at least you live on the other side of the pond and can't come after me!

thank you... I'm gonna ring first thing in the morning and confess straight up, say it's a new phone (not ENTIRELY a lie) and apologise profusely :oops: but I'll make a joke out of it somehow and PRAY she has a sense of humour

I won't come after ya Kenny unless ya want me to

Helen, I've been waiting for an Irish woman to come and get me for so long, what have you been waiting for?! These American women keep doing me wrong I tell ya. :x

gimme ten minutes to pack my bag, lol.

Heineken Helen

All5horizons1991 wrote:

Did you put the wrong digit down or leave a digit off?

Don't sweat it too much either way. They must really be interested if they tried to reach you through e-mail after failing by phone. Most places wouldn't have bothered.

I left a digit off... the email gave the impression that she'd tried to call me a few times so I'm guessing they're definitely interested cos there are plenty of applicants for every available position at the moment :oops:

I'm feeling a bit more confident now I'll let you all know how she takes it when I call in the morning, either way, she's already said she wants to see me for interview so I doubt she'd back out now. So I'll prepare my arse off for this interview and have about 10 mock interviews over the weekend

CJMST3K

Own up to it. Simply "my apologies, I must have transposed a number". People understand.

Keiran

Just be honest. I'm sorry, I left off a digit. No need to make a lengthy excuse to the employer or berate yourself needlessly. Don't call yourself stupid or be giggly about the matter. Just take care of it.

How you handle this mistake will be an example of the professional attitude you will be bringing to the position. Honesty, ownership and a timely correction of problems or issues - all traits that any good employer looks for when hiring.

Wishing you the best of luck!