this post was submitted on 08 May 2026
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on a job interview in IT, an interviewer asked me if I understood the difference between TCP and UDP. After giving the best technical explanation I could, I ended with
I could tell you a UDP joke, but I'm not sure if you'd get it.
He said go ahead
I paused, that was it.
Kind of awkward.
I didn't get the job.
Nothing boosts your impression on people like making them feel stupid. RIP
Yeah, but that’s not what this was.
Interviewer asked about thing then does not get joke about most basic property of thing. Either the interviewer is incredibly incompetent or incapable of getting a joke.
It’s a weird situation even for a job interview. (& I’ve been on job interviews that can only be described as tribunals with 8 judges grilling you simultaneously.)
I mean I think he got it after a few seconds, he did laugh, and then comment how everything was so serious before then and it took him a bit to get it. I don't think that was why I didn't get the job.
Humour is not universal, and cracking jokes in an interview is high risk no reward. I've rejected candidates that made inappropriate jokes before. Intentions don't really matter, there's 10 more candidates.
Why do you keep moving the goal posts? We’re not talking about inappropriate jokes or someone being an ass during an interview. Honestly, if an interviewer wastes my time like this I’m ending the interview. Good luck finding just one more guy matching my talents.
I didn't move to goal post at all. In any interaction, you need to gauge the vibe before moving to the next level. Workplace humour is sensitive, and you should drop a joke you're not confortable not landing.
Interviews are also (if not primarily) a measure of cultural fit. Making tasteful jokes is absolutely appropriate, but depends on the culture. I wouldn't want to work at a place that is too uptight for some humor.
The UDP joke isn't one that I'd probably use, but doesn't feel out of place in the context of detailing the protocol.