DH feels his answers weren’t recorded properly in interview - is there anything we can do?

[LoveIsHope]

My DH resigned from his job approx 2 years ago due to severe anxiety. This had followed a period of absence and review meetings under the absence policy.

He saw his old job advertised a few weeks ago and decided to apply for it. Zero context, his job is quite niche and it’s really difficult for him to apply for other kinds of jobs such as admin, as he has no experience. Let’s say he’s a dentist - so his degree is in dentistry and it’s all he’s ever known.

Anyway, he got called for an interview and thought it had gone OK. It was a bit awkward as the interviewers were his former colleagues, but there was also another senior member of staff there that had didn’t know.

He didn’t get the job. Obviously this is disappointing, but DH feels that they had no intention of giving him the job at all, because of his previous mental illness. He found it weird that they weren’t really making any notes when he was answering the questions. In his feedback, they’ve said that he didn’t give enough detail to some questions. Fair enough, but he is adamant that some of his points simply weren’t recorded. They’ve used a score sheet process and supposedly given the job to the highest scoring candidate.

This is supposed to be a fair and impartial process. But what if the interviewer simply doesn’t record what you say and then your sheet is scored lower than it should be?

I think we could ask for a copy of his notes, but that still wouldn’t prove anything, would it? It’s upsetting because he feels that they gave him an interview just for show & because he would have met the criteria.

Don’t know why i’m posting really. It’s just another example of how mental illness has robbed everything away from us.

Zero context - should be For context!

Am I right in thinking the interview was with his former employer - or was it just in the same field?

It is obviously very unlikely that he would get that job.

I think that it would be healthier to try and move on, accept their decision and plough any energy into applying for a job elsewhere.

It soy ds like he's had a tough time. Dwelling on this could set him back and it sounds like he's in a better place now, so I hope he finds a job soon and continues to recover.

for you. It's awful being depressed/anxious and it's hard to live with someone who's suffering.

Yes, the job was with his previous employer.

He was really good at his job and when he resigned they said he could reapply again in the future!

He could fight it and get somewhere but it is balancing up how big a place it is (ie getting a reputation), his own mental health and energy required to argue these things and likely outcome (they’ve already given job to someone else). It may be worth it but I doubt it. If a large company they will have a hr department and recruiting guidelines, we keep records of interview notes in case of complaints and fairly standard practice

Also, I don’t always make notes as can’t listen and write at same time so make them immediately after candidate left the room

It's difficult to give a specific opinion without having worked with your DH, but as a human being, I would honestly be wary of re-employing someone who had had extended time off due to anxiety - I'd be worried the job might trigger his anxiety again, and we would go round in a circle.

I don't mean that to sound harsh, but I can't search my soul and honestly say I wouldn't feel like that as a recruiter.

I think your DH would be better off with a fresh start in a new company - I wish him well in his job search

As an interviewer I have both made notes and not bothered. I wouldn't set a lot of score by this. Generally you know when you see a candidate you want.

As someone who has been in a similar position to your DH, I'd suggest he thinks hard about whether he really wanted to work back with those people or not. If it was awful the first time, awkward in interview, the answer is probably not. The healthiest thing is to move on, be somewhere else.

My job is very niche, when I lost it I thought I was done for. Especially as it turns out I interview as if I have lost the power of speech due to anxiety.

Interview coaching can work wonders, if he knows a former colleague well enough to get point by point feedback on each question rather than the vague 'not enough detail' - I got someone to do this and it was invaluable.

I've now found my own 'niche of a niche' and can choose where I work. Good luck to your DH.

Just because he's done the job before it doesn't necessarily make him the best candidate. 2 years is a long time.

It could be that his former colleague wanted to give him the job but they interviewed someone who exceeded their expectations and the other senior member insisted they give the job to this person instead.

I'd tell him not to take it personally.

And, OP, anyone can apply for admin jobs as long as they have the right qualities- there's no need to have prior experience.

@ScreamingValenta

This demonstrates exactly how stigma exists against people with mental illness.

I appreciate your honesty and I know this is how many people think.

It is a uphill battle every step of the way

Yes, I appreciate that, and I didn't say it to be hurtful - I was trying to give an honest account of how I'd feel. I hope your DH manages to find another role soon.

Not making notes is irrelevant. I interview a lot and I might jot things down to seem interested but I'm able to recall the interview sufficiently to score it once they leave the room.

As you were not in the interview OP, you don't really know what happened and only have your DH's word to go on. He doesn't know what happened with the other candidates. Who knows if his previous mental illness played a part in the decision - there was at least one person on the panel who had no experience of working with your DH.

What has your DH been doing since he left the company, has he worked in the same line of business?

I appreciate that you are disappointed OP, but it seems unlikely that the whole panel didn't make any notes or agree the score at the end, sorry.

Turning up to a job interview at your former place of work without discussing it with anyone was extremely odd behaviour.

Your DH should have phoned his previous manager/HR and talked to them first. That would have given him an opportunity to talk frankly about his reasons for leaving previously and setting out why he was capable to return.

*Turning up to a job interview at your former place of work without discussing it with anyone was extremely odd behaviour. Your DH should have phoned his previous manager/HR and talked to them first.

I disagree and don't think it's odd. They shouldn't have to justify why they left and why they are capable to return. They should be judged and treated the same as any other candidate.

There is no requirement for an interviewer to transcribe answers word for word.

If you’re interviewing five people who are each speaking for an hour, it’s just not possible.

Most interview notes are bullet points designed to capture sufficient detail to allow the panel to discuss the answers after the interview.
If a candidate gives limited relevant information, there’s often not much to write so you may find that the notes support the feedback.

Asking for his notes won’t give him a huge amount of information anyway as he has no idea what was recorded for other candidates, or what level of competency they displayed.

No interview is impartial or fair. Everyone has bias and preconceived ideas about the candidate - because they are young, when to this uni or that, old, blonde, have a squeaky voice, remind them of their best friend, are wearing blue socks whatever.
As these were your husband’s former colleagues they of course knew what he was capable of. Your husband doesn’t know why he wasn’t hired. He can ask for feedback but they’d probably not tell him the real reason he wasn’t offered the job.

People make a decision almost as soon as you enter the room. I think it is weird that they agreed to an interview, tbh, given previous sickness.

Why would you want that baggage hanging over you if you got the job?

My employer has a policy of never re-employing anyone, as it happens.

Its not what they did or didnt note down, its what the other candidates said that was better. And he is never to know that.

He should move on. They interviewed him and wouldnt of done so if they were so anti employing him.

Good luck with the rest of his job hunt.

They shouldn't have to justify why they left and why they are capable to return. They should be judged and treated the same as any other candidate

That's an absurd statement

If you leave a job because you're not capable (for whatever reason) then of course it's incumbent on you to evidence that those issues have passed and you are a suitable candidate.

Has he been working in the last 2 years? Has he been working in this field?
If not I would think 2 years away from the job would put them off taking him on. And also looks like he couldn't get the same job elsewhere which doesn't look great.

Is it teaching? It would be very rare for someone to get reemployed at their old school after leaving for anxiety. Because the interviewers will know the job hasn’t changed and has even got worse usually! Also, in my experience, going back to a job never works out well, even if someone left on excellent terms.