Having waited 8wks for feedback

[chocoLit]

From an interview I attended. Am I being unreasonable to have wanted the feedback for ME and not someone else??

It was for a position for a local authority. I was vastly over qualified but wanted to go for it anyway and explained why. They took ages to get back to me with decision then went off of holidays for 6wks. During which time I emailed and asked for feedback. After I realised they were off I waited till a wk after they were back (knowing they'd be busy) and phoned.

No return call.

I emailed AGAIN today and apologised for being a nuisance but having not had an interview in 16yrs any feedback would be gratefully received.

I finally got an answer and it was for a different person applying for a different job. I had even provided the details of the posts/reference numbers etc

So would I be unreasonable to email AGAIN and point out she's sent me information regards someone else and could she please give me the correct feedback?

Am worried I may get myself struck off from any future opportunities there !!

[tava63]

YANBU they are, so given how poorly they have handled things so far do you think that if they ever managed to give you the correct info their feedback will be of any help? Separately how do you think you performed? What feedback would you give yourself given that it was your first interview in 16 years?

[AnthonyPandy]

Be grateful you didn't get the job, she sounds shambolic. Imagine if she was your boss!

[Lovewineandchocs]

Would you really want to work for them? They sound massively incompetent and have breached the Data Protection Act by sending you someone else's personal information. Dodged a bullet, I'd say!

[HeddaLettuce]

Nobody owes you feedback. If they were happy to give thats good, but they clearly weren't.
And yes you probably will rule yourself out of any further opportunities if you continue to badger them.

[chocoLit]

hedda I've been nothing but polite. One email TWO MONTHS ago followed by a phone call two wk's ago and another email today. Which she replied to.

You're invited at interview to contact them for feedback. They're a massive local authority so hardly unheard of?

I felt I did well. Answered all their questions fully and without prompting. She gave me very good verbal feedback immediately after the interview. I got on very well with both ladies and was fully researched & knowledgable about the position, locality & responsibilities.

I was just curious as I have a couple of interviews coming up and if I was TOTALLY off the mark I'd like to have known.

[HeddaLettuce]

Polite or not, contacting them for a 4th time is excessive,especially since they gave verbal feedback at the time.
Take a hint!

[citybushisland]

Is the person HR or actually in the dept the job was in? TBH their feedback is likely to be: you came across well, we were just a little concerned you are overqualified and would get bored/leave. You could email back and point out the mistake - but that's unlikely to make you any friends. That said, they offered feedback, therefore they owe you it.

Hedda - wow, just wow

[chocoLit]

Hedda am currently hoping you're not in any kind of managerial position or in HR

I happily give feedback to anyone that applies to our company would would certainly make sure it wasn't as delayed as 8-10wks AND that it was for the correct person.

The lady who has replied is one of the two responsible for the dept. I was interviewed by them both. She was exceptionally nice & apologetic in her reply. Before she went on and described someone else.

If nothing else she might be slightly embarrassed by her mistake but I shall thank her for taking the time to reply and gently point out she make have me mixed up with someone else and leave it at that.

[TheInimitableMrsFanshawe]

Hedda this is the third thread in a row I've seen you giving arsey, unhelpful responses on. Are you having a bad day?

[Skittlesss]

Oh gosh I would be worried that they'd completely mixed me up and I should have had the job!!

[VeryBitchyRestingFace]

Why are you asking if YABU if your response to a poster saying you are is to tell them you hope they're not in a managerial position??

[VeryBitchyRestingFace]

Anyway, I'd give up asking after 8-10 weeks. The fact that they gave you someone else's feedback suggests to me they're not very organised and probably didn't keep good records of the interviews.

Any feedback I've had in the past has been very generic and wishy washy.

[chocoLit]

skittle it was an ENTIRELY different job from the four I'd put in for so am not convinced.

DH said right from the start I was over qualified. We spoke about it at interview and I explained my reasons for wanting the position.

The interviewer and I had a lovely lengthy chat off the record after the interview as she explained she was in entirely the same position and completely understood.

I am currently self employed running my own business which we wish to sell and then return to employment. She owns her own business too but also works for the local authority. My not having sold the business yet would have no impact on the position at all. We spoke about this in depth.

At the end of the day there must have been a more suitable candidate that interviewed better than me. It is entirely possible.

I just wanted to check I hadn't made any massive mistakes ESP when I have an interview for a much more senior position with a different establishment next week.

[chocoLit]

verybitchy PP are of course entitled to their opinion and whilst that's ok, I am also entitled to not be bothered tolerating rude people being narky for the sake of it.

Then again it IS AIBU so there's always at least one, or two or several...... More

[anyname123]

I'd probably stop requesting feedback now. If I've understood correctly this will be the fourth time.....I appreciate that it's frustrating, but you didn't get the job, time to move on. You don't want to be known as "that bloody feedback woman" now do you? Good luck in your job search

[1frenchfoodie]

Not unreasonable at all to ask again - it is obviously an oversight that they sent you feedback for the wrong person. Bit shambolic though!

[IceRoadDucker]

I would give up too. I don't even know what you're hoping to get out of it, since you've already evaluated the interview and decided you did well but were overqualified.

In this case I think Hedda is right... take the hint.

[BipBippadotta]

You're entitled to keep asking, and to point out that they sent you feedback from another candidate. It might not do you any favours in terms of future jobs there, though, because nobody enjoys having their fuck-ups brought to their attention. And it will feel like badgering to them if they're overworked and disorganised, which they clearly are. Not the way the world should be, but there you have it. Really frustrating experience!

To echo some other pps though, I've only ever had very bland, generic feedback from interviews ('lots of good candidates, difficult decision, in the end we went with cheaper younger more malleable internal candidate). Nothing I could do anything constructive with. Good luck in your job search!

[Creampastry]

If they have sent you the details of another candidate they have breached the DPA and you should flag this with them.

[chocoLit]

Have sent email thanking her for prompt reply but explaining she may have me mixed up with someone else as I hadn't applied for that particular position.

Again, have been particularly polite and have not been narky in my response re mix up.

Hopefully if this other person has been asking for feedback they may now get it.

Will draw a line, take a deep breath and try to do better in the next one.

[HeddaLettuce]

Unhelpful? If you have asked someone for something over and over again and are not getting it, you stop asking, especially if you think you may have a chance there in the future.
You got verbal feedback, they clearly have neither the time or the inclination togive you any more, and you already know why you didn't get the job. Move on, fgs!

[chocoLit]

Ah hedda you're such a joy.

She's emailed back this morning an exceptionally friendly chatty email apologising for her mistake and given me feedback.

Thanks though, you carry on with your pleasantness in your day job. I'm sure those around you must find it particularly rewarding

Next time I'll post in 'employment' to try find someone in recruiting........

[VeryBitchyRestingFace]

Hope the feedback was helpful, OP.