To think this was unfair, and to take time off for mental health.

The NHS is similar.All jobs are advertised and it goes solely on the interview. I had a similar experience recently. It sucks and seems unfair but unfortunately there's little you can do.

I understand your disappointment but I don't think your workplace did anything wrong. You did have a week to prepare and an interview is where you demonstrate your aptitude for the job. I don't think other things they know about you, your day to day performance for instance, count. It's how your interview is scored on the day. Perhaps have a look around for other roles. You may find something that is actually better than the job you didn't get.

I would get through this week, so it doesn't appear so reactive to not getting the job.
Let your boss know late on friday that you have been struggling with your mum's death etc, that its interfering with your sleep, and you are going to see GP on Monday and will be off next week.

I didn’t get a job they knew I could do, as I’d done it on secondment because other people scored higher than I did. No resentment it was just one of those things.

But for the interview process to be fair, they can’t give you an advantage by taking into your account how you perform generally. It has to be based solely on the interview.

And I know it sucks that someone newer and younger (and probably someone who doesn’t have the same family responsibilities) gets the job when you feel you deserve it, but sometimes, they are just that little bit better.

OP it’s public sector and “you didn’t provide enough examples” = you didn’t tick the box. I have worked with incompetent and inept colleagues who evidently interviewed really well. It’s a really skewed interview process.

You are/have been going through a rough time, single parenthood alone should shine your strength at an interview because it’s bloody hard work and it shows many worthwhile workplace skills.

Please do not feel down about this, it’s not you it’s the ridiculous interview process. You will get your chance again somewhere. Don’t be discouraged. You’re doing an ace job keeping it altogether in and out of work.

If you feel like having time off then do so, only you know how you feel.

Good luck OP your DS is lucky to have a Mum like you❤️all the best

With maternity leave it’s likely six years since you did the job op, it’s a long time.

saying a week wasn’t enough to prepare you also needed the weekend, and complaining you couldn’t do it in working hours, when work part time, doesn’t reflect well on you, especially as arguably you should be the most equipped for the interview.
as others said, it’s sad it fell on a bad week for you. But you don’t know the personal life issues of others interviewing, and this is never a reason.

you can’t bully them into giving it to you by complaining about discrimination, they did nothing wrong 5 years ago and everything right.

i think the issue here is you thought you would get it simply as you’d done it before, which was an erroneous assumption to make.

if you really are unwell mentally then go off with stress, but if you’re doing it out of spite and just as you didn’t get the job , then I’d not do this, either way it also doesn’t cast you in a good light.

keep looking for oppportinities, this one wasn’t it. Keep performing in your role. You will achieve your goal.

Sympathies OP. However it sounds like you have been in the civil service for a long time so you will know the interviews are based solely on your ability to demonstrate the competencies - your needed to be able to use your past experiences in the role and put them into the STAR format for each competency question asked. I’m not saying this is relevant to you but just because someone has done a role doesn’t mean they were any good at it.

However, if you do need time off to address your MH then you should do so.

I don’t think it was unfair, it’s life, it happens. I’ve lost out on jobs and disagreed with the decision, I think most of us have and a week is plenty of time to prepare a presentation.
You sound like you have lots of transferable skills, why not look at a move to the private sector? You might find it suits you more.

Why was the process unfair?

You can choose to check your work emails on non working days if you want, but you didn’t. They liked your presentation, so it didn’t make a difference anyway. You can’t expect the world to stop because of a bereavement from a year ago. They were right to choose the best candidate from the interviews they held. It would have been unfair if they had made people
go through the process of interview including a presentation and then offered you the job based on past performance.

I’m sorry you feel so bad and you’re clearly going through a lot. I also don’t think your employer has done anything wrong from a legal stance. I do think multiple interviews to keep your existing jobs was unnecessarily stressful.

You sound depressed and stressed and I think you should see your GP for assessment. Perhaps your manager can do a stress risk assessment and refer you to occupational health. You might benefit from a short break from work to decompress, reflect and get well.

I’m sorry to hear you’ve been struggling OP. But a week is plenty of time to prepare and I’m not sure what you thought they would do about the anniversary - give you more time because of this?!

I understand it stings and you feel embarrassed - not that you should of course, but it is understandable completely to feel that way.

Why do YOU think the other person got the job and not you?

I’m sorry. Interviews are the most stupid way to select someone for a role but unfortunately, especially in the public sector, that’s the way things are done.

i work in education and I have lost count of the number of appointments to roles which have had us all shaking our heads in disbelief, because the useless candidate “had a really good interview”, despite everyone on the panel knowing how useless they are. Always results in the useless candidate continuing to be useless, and often results in good candidates feeling disgruntled and leaving for pastures new feeling

They do not benefit by appointing someone who is no good. As such the person appointed was felt to be a better candidate. It’s tough to deal with but it’s just the way it is and since you weren’t in the interviews for the others you can’t possibly say you performed better.

Take your anger and use it constructively.

You're clearly a motivated and capable worker.

Go where you are appreciated!

The recruitment process means that the selected candidate is the one who gives the best performance at a specific type of interview, on the day.

I’ve been on both sides of this, as an unsuccessful candidate and as a manager.

IME colleagues that can ‘talk the talk’ do better both at interview and career wise! Some good at other aspects of the job, some not 😆

I think if you take the time off now, it will look like you don't cope well with feedback and rejection. I feel like it could go against you next time you apply for a promotion.

This is the time to double down, show them what you're made of and make sure you get the promotion next time.

No I don't think you should take time off for mental health.

You have to roll with the punches sometimes.

If you're truly unhappy, look for a new job elsewhere.

I can't see taking time off will help in any way.

Sounds absolutely valid to take time off for your mental health and I’m sorry you are struggling. But all of your anger at your job situation is misplaced and maybe you will be able to reflect on this when you are feeling better. Maybe consider medication as well as therapy if you are not doing so already.

What relevance do they have here at all? There has been no discrimination.

Sorry, just to add, if this is how youre feeling at the moment, both in relstion to grief and rejection, they're making the right decision. You're not ready for the step-up. I say this as a widow who is currently coasting in an unfulfilling role. I know I don't have the all-round capacity to take on more right now while my DC are young.

I am sorry OP. It all sounds very hard for you, but from an outside perspective I don’t see that your employer has done much wrong.

It’s unfortunate that it fell on a bad week for you but that’s not their fault, and who knows what was going on for other candidates too? Slightly different but I’ve got to give a big presentation to all the Senior Management team at a day long meeting next week; the day before we’re moving house. The day before that I’m out at an unrelated work event for most of the day, the day before that is my non-working day. It’s hugely inconvenient and stressful for me but in not in any way my employers fault.

I don’t think going on leave will help but can you book a few days off maybe tagged on to Easter weekend and give yourself a breather?

Sorry you’ve had such a tough time OP.

But usually, when an internal role comes up, the assessment is based solely on the interview. How well they know you is irrelevant - it’s the interview that matters.

Also, it was five years ago you did that job - a lot can change in five years, so it doesn’t make sense the job should be yours.

And a week is enough time to prepare for an interview.

You have a lot going on and are struggling, but you weren’t screwed over here.

If you are so certain that the other candidate was markedly worse, and so aware that the managers know your own capacity in that role, what is your own narrative for why you didn't get the role? Why would you feel so certain that the management team of your organisation deliberately picked a candidate they knew to be poorer?