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Original poster

Has anybody interviewed as a "wild card" and landed an offer?

49 replies

Terribleluck · 24/10/2021 16:26

I'm starting to feel a tad deflated as I had hoped to be back in employment by the 1st of November, obviously not going to happen now (I'm waiting to hear back from the interview I attended on Friday). I still have two more interviews to attend this week. a) not necessarily a role I'd go for, but the in house recruiter thinks I'm such a great "culture fit" that I should give it a try, and then move once in. I still need to pass the interview though (with the extra complexity that the role is French and I was once fluent, but that was about 12 years ago). b) career change, I think I have all of the transferrable skills, but I think they'd probably benefit from someone with either a retail or marketing background. I made it very clear that I'm a wild card in my cover letter but should still give me a chance. The one thing I have in my favour is that the local pool talent is a bit limited and the role doesn't allow for remote work. Let's say I'm not extremely hopeful for either of them. Has anybody managed to get to job offer in similar circumstances?

OP posts:
Original poster
Terribleluck · 26/10/2021 12:17

Ok wish me luck!!

OP posts:
PollyWog · 26/10/2021 12:23

🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀

PegasusReturns · 26/10/2021 12:37

Good luck.

Not me but some time ago I was doing a second interview of someone to join my team (they’d be reporting into my direct report).

The morning of the interview I looked at their Cv and almost cancelled. There was nothing in their experience that made sense and it was only that I felt bad at such a late cancellation that I went ahead.

He was great. Happened to have an interest in a niche area that was relevant to role (but hadn’t been called out as so niche). He’s since been promoted several times and is one of my best people.

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Original poster
Terribleluck · 26/10/2021 13:57

I think it went ok! The only bad thing is that I was so focused to show my worth I don't think I was enthusiastic enough about showing them why I wanted to work there.

OP posts:
Original poster
Terribleluck · 26/10/2021 14:31

Although I once interviewed at Waitrose and told them I was their #1 fan and still didn't get hired so...

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Sideorderofchips · 26/10/2021 14:50

Yep my current job

I was interview having been at home with kids for 10 years, only gcses etc and got the job. Still there 5 years later

Tigerblue · 26/10/2021 14:58

We rejected a wild card at work (on paper so didn't get to interview). The person who they took on was totally unsuitable and we ended up getting a temp in - the wild card applicant turned up, was brilliant and took the job which was offered to her at the end of the week!

ItsSunnyOutside · 26/10/2021 15:04

I interviewed for a role in a company that were initially looking for someone more experienced, but they interviewed me anyway. I had to prepare a portfolio etc. I arrived at the interview, soaking wet , after getting caught in a flash flood of rain. They saw the funny side, the interview went really well and they offered me the position the next day!
I loved the job , got promoted twice in 4.5 years and only left because we moved two hundred miles away.

HollowTalk · 26/10/2021 15:07

Best of luck!

Frazzled2207 · 26/10/2021 15:09

Not exactly but I’m a recruiter who has put forward quite a lot of wildcards and in some cases they def got the job!

BreathingDeep · 26/10/2021 15:14

Good luck OP! On the other side of the fence, we've interviewed a few times and hired the wild card three times out of four. For us, it's as much about how someone will fit in with the rest of the team and if they have a great attitude as it is about previous experience. Fingers crossed for you!

Leftbutcameback · 26/10/2021 15:15

Other way round, but I’ve just interviewed a few candidates for a role and the one who you might consider a wild card was the best candidate! Very much looking forward to working with them.

DeireadhFomhair · 26/10/2021 15:16

Best of luck @Terribleluck!! Interviewing is so stressful, doing two in two days must be tough!

Original poster
Terribleluck · 26/10/2021 15:17

The irony is... I don't think I was such a wildcard after all, but I was so sure I was that I prepared but showing them I wasn't, but didn't prepare or show enough why I wanted to work for the company or how I was a great culture fit.

OP posts:
Original poster
Terribleluck · 26/10/2021 15:19

@Deire I've had interviewed for 7 companies over the last two weeks.
When you add all the different rounds, I think that would total 11 interviews!! I'm drained and tired...

OP posts:
Original poster
Terribleluck · 27/10/2021 14:51

Well I didn't get it because I wasn't able to explain the context really well, as I was talking about processes in my previous industry and they wouldn't have known how they'd work with full context and I need to explain that better (so hard to follow).

OP posts:
DeireadhFomhair · 27/10/2021 15:12

Ah sorry to hear that @Terribleluck. Keep going though, something will come up!

PollyWog · 27/10/2021 15:19

Ah damn. Sorry to hear it. This is all such a numbers game, this job hunting malarkey. Look after yourself.

Original poster
Terribleluck · 27/10/2021 15:21

That's how I see it @pollywog but even though it's early days I feel I'm already at the end of my tether.

OP posts:
PollyWog · 27/10/2021 15:27

I was job hunting earlier this year, and it really is exhausting. I was preparing presentations and researching companies, it was a whole job in itself. If you can take the rest of the week "off" and start afresh next week that might help? You'll burn out if you don't take a break.

Original poster
Terribleluck · 27/10/2021 15:33

I know everybody is different, but how many applications/interviews did you have until you landed an offer? @pollywog

OP posts:
PollyWog · 28/10/2021 13:22

I applied to over 100 positions, probably. Ended up with 28 interviews altogether, 1st and 2nd round. Got 3 job offers in one week! I'm happily near the end of my probation and aim to stay here for a good chunk of time before doing that again. Whew.

Original poster
Terribleluck · 28/10/2021 15:24

Thanks @pollywog . One last question, how long did it take you to land an offer?

OP posts:
PollyWog · 28/10/2021 20:00

4 months. I was working part time then, so was able to devote much more energy to getting a new job. I am working full time now, and feel like the next time I go job hunting I'll have to go slower.

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