Odd interview

[annabelcaramel]

How unusual is it for an interview panel (of 2 people) to swap halfway through the process? To clarify, I was interviewed by persons A & C, the morning candidates by A & B. B would be the direct manager for the role. My interview was so quick I felt sure they had decided already and finding out the info mentioned makes me feel the whole thing was a bit of a waste of time. Any views?Thanks

[lougle]

I'm really sorry. I've read that several times and can't understand it .

Are you saying that you were interviewed by different people to other candidates and so were disadvantaged? That isn't usual practice, but perhaps it was unavoidable. Could you ask for feedback?

[PinkSquash]

I was interviewed in my current job by A & C, the other successful applicants (15 of us) barring one were interviewed by A & B. As long as there was one constant in the interview, I don't think it matters too much overall

[PerspicaciaTick]

I would assume that there was either an emergency or immovable prior commitment which B had to deal with.

[iklboo]

We often have to swap interviewers if one of them has another meeting / appointment later in the day that they can't get out of.

[PotatoBread]

As long as there is one constant it's not unusual to swap IME. Who is C or A? Do they have any reporting or managerial links to the role if B wasn't there?

[annabelcaramel]

Sorry Lougle I wasn't too clear - morning candidates had different panel to afternoon lot.Thanks for other comments, obviously not unheard of but it did feel like it was a done deal as the process was so very quick.

[2nds]

That's the way it works at my OH's work. On rare occasions he might be conducting the interview alone but not often. I'd say this is fairly normal

[flowery]

Hmm. Well I disagree that it's normal. If it's unavoidable that one of the panelists has to leave and someone else has to step in, then as long as there is at least one constant then not a major concern (although not quite as routine as has been suggested IMO).

But in the event that the person who has to leave is the line manager for the role, that's a bit different. Most line managers would not want to leave that kind of decision making entirely in the hands of others, and line managers would normally be the primary interviewer, so odd to drop out.

However probably nothing that can be done. It may be that it was a done deal, but nothing you can really do about that ultimately.

[SirNiallDementia]

Highly unusual that a line manager would not be involved in recruiting for his/ her own team. In my experience, if a line manager is not available to carry out the interview, we re-schedule it.

[Littlefish]

In education, the same people should be involved throughout the interview process, including the shortlisting. How can a reasonable decision be reached if not everyone has interviewed all the candidates?