Job interview

[frogfacemcgee]

My friend is in a middle management position and discovered that there might be a vacancy for a position that would suit me at her work, and put my name forward. I've been offered an interview and I am preparing for it.

I can't get over worrying about what it will be like if I don't get it - will my friend be embarrassed for recommending me if I don't interview well? How will I face her again when we both know I'm not good enough? I've also told my work that I'm going to interview, and they said as it was my friend I'd 'obviously' get it. I feel like if I don't get it, it will mean something terrible about my abilities, if you see what I mean. It's like the stress of a normal interview with bells on! Thank you for reading - any advice on how to handle this if the outcome isn't positive would be lovely.

Your friend thinks the job will suit you and she may be right. She isn’t interviewing though, so the interviewers will make their own decisions. It also depends on how many are being interviewed.

People often think an internal candidate ( which is along the lines of what your workplace is thinking) will automatically get the job, but it isn’t necessarily the case.

I think you thank her for her confidence in you and tell her you will do your best, but that it depends what the people interviewing want on the day.

It won’t be a question of you not being good enough. It will be that you may not be the best fit for the job. Anyway, who knows, you might get it. Don’t talk yourself out of it! Best of luck!

Thank you so much for answering - I really like what you said about it just meaning I'm not the right fit. I should be focusing on the interview, but instead I'm dwelling on the potential embarrassment and how my self-esteem will recover from such a personal rejection! It seems easier when they're strangers. Also, I think there's only me interviewing, so I can't tell myself that I was just pipped at the post.

Thank you again for such a helpful reply.

I was once asked to apply for a promotion when a colleague with whom I was close, was also applying. She got the job. The first day we met after the interview was slightly awkward, but we soon got over it and were just as close as ever.

I wasn’t upset that she got the job. I think she was a bit embarrassed to begin with, but our friendship soon overcame that. I didn’t feel that I was a failure either. She was better for the job and the interview was useful experience.

I applied for and got jobs afterwards, and there were some I didn’t get too. There were also some I turned down and the last three jobs were ones I was head hunted for.

Do go for it. You don’t have anything to lose.