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What would you do if your manager told you this week before interview?

14 replies

thirtysomething · 03/12/2008 17:59

I've been doing a job in a charity on a temp basis (just kind of fell into it as I was around and they needed someone). It's been a DIY job in that I've sorted priorities, set targets for myself etc and everyone has seemed v. happy with my work, including my managers. They've left me to get on with it for 3 months and when a permanent job came up strongly encouraged me to apply, which I did. i have no formal training appropriate to the job but it's not rocket science (am technically quite overqualified but that doesn't bother me, though they take pleasure in pointing it out!)
The interview is quite soon and my manager asked for a little chat today. Was extremely polite but basically asked loads of questions about how I found the job and then told me all the things she'd do differently etc. Also said my application had been v poor (really offended me as I spent hours on it and friends and DH all thought it was great and answered the job spec!) and that if they hadn't really wanted to give me the job I wouldn't even have been shortlisted. Gave me lots of patronising hints about the interview too and which answers they would be looking for (she's part of the panel) and all sorts of presentation-related "advice".
I feel totally a) insulted b) undermined and c)lacking in confidence.

They have been happy to let me do my work for a long time, telling me I was doing a fab job and now it feels they are deliberately undermining my confidence. i know they have one v strong application so i'm extrapolating that they want to find a way not to give it to me. Am pretty decided now to pull out as wouldn't want to continue based on today as it feels very uncomfortable. However I do like the environment usually and my co-workers and I've been pretty happy there. I feel sick - advice please!!!

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dustystar · 03/12/2008 18:01

It sounds to me as though she wants you to get the job but is concerned that your performance in the interview may go against you. She may have approached it badly but from what you've said I think she is trying to help.

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Miyazaki · 03/12/2008 18:07

god, i would have been pleased! from the sounds of your op she's telling you what to do to get the job...

I wouldn't be offended that she said the application was poor (and nearest and dearest can't be relied on to give you constructive feedback!) It's rare to get proper feedback on this kind of thing, people pay money for it.

If you really want teh position, just take it all on board and go for it. Sounds like they want to give you the job, but with a strong contender you have to match that.

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thirtysomething · 03/12/2008 18:07

Thanks Dusty. Thing is, just thinking that she sees me as a person who does badly in interview has really knocked my confidence, as I'm reasonably confident in general (part of my role is training groups of 20+ and I don't have a problem with that...)so I don't understand what she's trying to say!

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Miyazaki · 03/12/2008 18:11

pay money! what else would they pay with? spiders?! sorry...

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dustystar · 03/12/2008 18:12

I'm guessing she's concerned as your application wasn't great. She wants you to have the job and is trying to make sure you get it. Focus on that rather than on the possible negatives of her thinking you need help at all. Lots of poeple go to pieces in interviews - it doesn't mean anything about how confident they are usually or how well they could do the job.

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elliott · 03/12/2008 18:22

My interpretation is that they want to give you the job but have got another applicant who looks better on paper. Crikey if she's practically told you what they want to hear in the interview (and she offered this advice rather than being asked for it) then I would take all that advice totally on board - if you do otherwise it will play very badly.

I am wondering if you thought perhaps you were a shoe-in for the job, and maybe this has come across in your job application as a bit complacent? (you say 'its not rocket science' and 'i'm over-qualified' - maybe some of that view is evident in your application?) I think your manager was trying to make it clear that you can't take it for granted, and showing you how you can best impress the panel. I'd be very grateful for such advice!

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Littleladyloulou · 03/12/2008 18:29

I would take it the other way too thirtysomething, I would be actually really pleased that she had (perhaps ham-handedly) tried to point out areas to improve in, because she didn't have to say anything to you at all and could simply have watched you fail.

Are you sure she was patronising or is it that you are feeling a bit sensitive about her approach?

I would imagine that during the time you have done the role on a DIY basis you have shown them that there is a clear and real need to have a permanent member of staff in the role, that it warrants more than casual helping-out. In deciding this they have come up with a job spec, using what you do as a basis and then developing it further. It seems to me that your manager is simply advising you the other areas that you will need to fulfil from the developed job spec. That is invaluable!!!

I may be barking up the wrong tree here but I sense that you have had a bad experience to do with work in the past, maybe an awkward manager who knocked your confidence. Pulling out before you have had chance to be turned down is a defensive reaction.

Try to pick out the useful parts of the conversation and do your absolute best. Don't tell her you are thinking of pulling out either as that can come across as weak and manipulative. Just work hard to prepare for the interview and you will have nothing to reproach yourself for.

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TheProvincialLady · 03/12/2008 18:29

Agree with all that has been said. I was employed over someone who had been doing my job in a voluntary capacity before I arrived. When we went for interview I was shocked to see a woman with greasy hair and a shiny polyester suit and thought 'gawd how does she expect to get the job looking like that?!'. I get the impression that she was complacent and didn't put the effort in. She would certainly have been given the job if I was not the better candidate on the day, as she had already deomstrated that she was capable and keen.

NOT saying that you would turn up with dirty hair but you need to take your manager's advice and start viewing this as a new position you are fighting for, rather than something you could just walk into.

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notcitrus · 03/12/2008 18:38

Agree with the others - if she didn't want you to do well she wouldn't have bothered giving advice. They may have to follow certain guidelines in how they conduct interviews and what points they can give credit to, so it could well be you're describing what you do but not using the phrases to tick the right boxes - the public sector is notorious for this and charities can be similar.

Always worth double-checking you've answered the exact questions on the form, not what they should have asked, and made clear exactly what you did, not just what your team have done.

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thirtysomething · 03/12/2008 18:50

Thanks for your input everyone. I still feel very crap though and you're right littlelady I have had bad experiences job-hunting in the past. It's also hard not to be a bit complacent when they've been telling me for weeks the job's got my name on it but I can see how this may come across, though I certainly took the application seriously and spent a long time showing how I met the person spec!Can't stop feeling very rubbish (feeling sorry for self emoticon!!!)

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Littleladyloulou · 03/12/2008 19:08

Don't feel rubbish, honestly, thirtysomething, feel proud of yourself that it took you to give the role some importance and gravitas.

I think you stand a very strong chance of getting the job. Yes there may be another candidate but why should they be any stronger than you, at your very best?

Try to be positive but a little humble, research like mad. Have two or three good, relevant questions to ask at the end of the interview, things that your manager hasn't covered in your chat. Try to come up with ideas as to how you see the role developing in a year's time, two years time etc - show that you have looked ahead.

Think of some ideas as to how you can improve your performance and that of the department, new ways of doing things to improve efficiency.

A good tip is to identify the key reasons why your role exists (is it making money/saving money/saving lives/educating people/supporting other departments etc, and make damn sure you weave this in to the interview!!!

In short - show them you are thinking outside of your own immediate role and how you fit in to that organisation as a part of a whole.

To me it sounds like you are in a prime position right now, you should be very pleased with yourself. I would actually find it hard not to be all (feeling smug for self emoticon!!!)

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thirtysomething · 03/12/2008 21:22

thanks for your replies - I can see what you mean, it just doesn't feel like that right now! It felt like she was trying to imply I was crap and she was being "kind" in giving me interview tips. Have since heard from another colleague that this manager told her later on today all about me being worried about how I'd come across in the interview (which I wasn't worried about before today and certainly didn't say anything of the sort to her!!) Said colleague didn't understand what it was all about either which is why she came and told me...

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elliott · 04/12/2008 07:54

The problem they have is that they have to appoint the person who performs best on the day, according to their pre-agreed criteria. If they have an application from someone who ticks more boxes on paper (relevant qualifications, experience etc) AND who views this as their dream job so has done all the interview prep etc, you will have to perform very well to be appointed. But you have all the relevant info at hand, and the advantage that they are all wanting to see you do well....

it is hard being in this situation. When I went for my most recent job (which I desperately wanted), after my chat with the head honcho I came away thinking it wasn't worth applying...but i think she was just being honest about how I needed to present myself. So i took it all on board and got the job. I was also an internal candidate and actually nobody told me that they wanted me to get it - so I felt very unconfident. In hindsight, they were just trying to be fair and from an outsider's point of view, it was obvious I was going to be appointed (as long as I didn't mess up of course) - but it sure didn't feel that way....

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thirtysomething · 04/12/2008 17:05

thanks for your advice Elliott, good to hear from someone who's been through this. I am going to withdraw my application however due to someof the comments that my manager made that I know I'm just not going to get past. I know it's her being a tactless cow but it has hurt me too much to put a brave face on it!!

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