Long story short I got a black eye this past weekend after my universities football game. I have 3 interviews this week (OCR) and need a good story. My initial thoughts are to tell the truth (it was a stupid fight w/ a friend), a modified version of the truth, say I was accidentally punched cheering in the stands, or that it is a flag football accident (shoulder to head). Any advice or other ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks guys!
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I'd start with, you should have seen the other guy. That way they know you're a guy that doesn't give up.
Lie. Flag football.
Don't mention it unless asked. If asked, tell truth if it's all guys interviewing and they're frat-ish...otherwise like like duff said.
Go with the flag football comment.
If you're a bigger guy say you were playing O-line and the defensive linemen tried a swim move or a dip and rip to get pass rush the QB. Both could easily lead to a black eye. Matter of fact, without a helmet its slightly short of guaranteed.
One variation of the dip and rip is when you literally punch over the o-lineman's shoulder with one arm, grab his outside shoulder with the other arm then use your punching arms elbow to leverage yourself past him.
The more details the better.
If they ever played football they would understand.
A shoulder to the eye is pretty much bullshit. If they hit you hard enough leading in with a shoulder to black eye your eye socket then you would have easily been knocked out and or broken your nose.
Basketball pick up game, elbow in the face. Happens all the time.
Go with this. I think it is better than my suggestion. Follow up with "I go hard in the paint."
"I'd die for this job maaan I sweadagod" More waka flaka references the better.
why not just tackle football with a couple of friends? more believable
Thanks for all the suggestions. I'm definitely going with the sports injury. Another quick question: should I bring it up because it will obviously be the elephant in the room and the interviewer will assume I was in a fight or should I only talk about it if they ask?
If the interviewer is even kinda cool they will break the ice with a joke about it.
This is true. I would probably ask you what the other guy looks like.
tell them you had first row at a ping pong show
Make light of the situation by opening up with a black eye joke. For example this timeless classic (you can use it if you want):
-What do you tell a woman who has two black eyes? - Nothing. You already told her twice.
...or you know, something harmless like that.
My vote goes for this icebreaker.
Did we just become best friends?
Seconded
I'd definitely use it as an icebreaker and hope that none of them are a WSO member.
I would like to quickly note that the joke above should not be told to any minorities. I just shared this knee slapper with a coworker (who's Asian) sitting across from me and she did not think it was funny.
Interested in learning more about this - really didn't sense any racist undertones there.
If the interviewer asks about it refer him to Rule #1. He'll at least crack a grin.
All of these excuses, even the flag football one, sound remotely believable but mostly as an excuse or gross exaggeration.
People aren't stupid, you don't get black eyes out of falling a flight of stairs, black eyes come from being intentionally punched in the orbitals.
Anything other than admitting that you were punched in the face will sound like an excuse. Say it was a boxing class. It is the most socially acceptable avenue of being punched in the face.
Don't say it was a boxing class unless you actually know something about boxing. People who like boxing really like to talk about boxing (at least the ones I know do), so if you happen to get an interviewer who likes boxing you'll look dumb.
Seriously though, saying it was from intramurals is not that unbelieveable. I got a black eye from IM sports a few years ago. Had to get stitches and everything. As long as you look reasonably athletic and you make up a decent story, I can't imagine they would think you're lying.
Hey OP, get a girl to fix you up with some makeup. It's mostly concealer and some powders if you need to know if can't get a one to help you in time. No one will be able to tell that there is anything abnormal about your face if it's done right.
Yes it's feminine, but if Chuck Norris can go on TV with makeup, you can go to an interview with some.
Your welcome.
Funny that you brought it up because this was my first course of action. Basically the kind young lady (who has done this before) couldn't completely cover my black eye without it being completely obvious that I was wearing makeup.
Your eye must be messed up beyond repair or she doesn't know what she's doing. I had a bruise on my forehead and some serious acne that my girl was able to fix for an interview.
I had a black eye after a fight as well and had to go to work with it. I asked a girl to put on some make up to make it disappear but if it is really swollen and dark there's no way to fix it. I still had some make up on it so that people don't see it when they walk by. But once you talk face to face with someone it is impossible to hide it. Just go into the interview and make up some explanation.
Can also say you were jumped by a street mugger or your girlfriend kicked your ass when she found out you were poking around...
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