Any NHS Managers on here?

[RiverSkater]

You're probably all working but anyway..,,

Had an interview for a Band 7 job. Gave a Presentation and an hour long interview. 10 days to hear back and just got an automated rejection from NHS jobs. Disappointed but not surprised as I was a nervous mess.

I used to work for the NHS and have been on interview panels, always rang
personally and gave feedback. Trying to get back into NHS after a break, first interview in a long long time.

Is this how it is now? Feeling really demoralised!!

That’s really poor - I always ring as soon as possible, try and let people down gently, and provide feedback.

On the plus side, I definitely wouldn’t want to work for someone who thinks that’s an acceptable way to treat people!

I had an interview for a band 7 yesterday, although I’m actually already a band 7. Didn’t have to do the presentation, did a tabletop clinical prioritisation exercise instead. I asked at the interview when I’d expect to hear and they said the same day.

Got my call at 17.42 (interview was 11.15 - left the hospital at 12.15), didn’t get the job but they gave really detailed thoughtful feedback, offered a lifeline in that they’ve asked me to arrange to go and do some shadow shifts in the department, and asked me to please apply next time round, he even told me that two of the interviewers were really rooting for me to get the job as they both think I’d be a brilliant fit, but it just hadn’t worked out with the final scoring and my nerves - and I actually totally agree with him!

So it seems you’ve had a really negative, thoughtless experience provided by whoever was recruiting, they could have done far better by you. It’s so disheartening when you’ve put so much work into the presentation and preparation, gone through a gruelling panel interview, put the effort into what to wear, etc. Even the amount of time and effort that goes into just doing the application/personal statement for a senior NHS job these days is a full days work.

If you’re feeling up to it, you could always contact the hiring manager and ask for feedback, did the email come with a follow up contact number?
I think interviewing at this level, it’s really imperative that they employer does make the effort to give you some feedback, so at the very least you get some personal development out of the time and effort you’ve gone to!

Don't be scared to phone them and ask for constructive feedback.

It’s possible that someone has clicked a button without realising it triggers an email. You may still get a call I guess.

The last nhs role I didn’t get, I got a phone call and some really helpful feedback, so it’s not the norm.

I'm sorry. No I don't think it's standard, not an excuse but people are really busy and some people/HR departments are a bit twitchy about giving personalised feedback for fear of complaints or discrimination accusations (totally unjustified fear I think but sometimes it's hard to change people's minds once they get an idea in their head). I do think since nearly every trust uses a portal based application system it is temptingly easy to just press a button and send an email out but I do always at least offer a feedback call at a point suitable for the candidate - I don't always do this at the point of rejection as personally I don't find that the best time to really take in feedback but it's nice to speak a few days later...

Agree with others, this isn't the norm in the NHS. It's really shitty to be treated like that.

Good luck with your job search.

Hello, just a different answer here. Our organisation tells us that for rejections that we should let NHS jobs handle it. We interview between 6-10 candidates for that sort of level and they say unless we are rejecting an internal candidate they prefer us to let the system deal with that. I don’t like it but I have to comply with our policy.

However we personally always encourage people to contact us directly for feedback on interviews and I really like it when people do. It shows you are keen to improve. I also remember them more, and we’ve had candidates apply for second posts who show obvious improvement based on our feedback and we’ve gone on to employ them.

Thanks for the comments, I thought it was a poor show but it has been a while. I mentioned getting back into the NHS in my interview as they asked me why I wanted the job, and it was clear from my job history, 15 years in the NHS then an enforced break because just as I got pregnant I was made made redundant. I have been working but in a more flexible low key role.

It is really hard to put yourself out there again so it just came across as mean spirited management not to provide any feedback at all or even invite me to call somebody. I agree that pressing a button is easier but it comes across as lazy too. It is hard giving people bad news but if you sandwich it with postive aspects it can be really helpful. I think I might drop them a line, I have the panel's contact details as it was an online interview (a first for me!). That seemed bizarre too, now people can meet, why not meet the candidates? I had also asked a couple of questions about the role (they invited questions) but nobody got back to me.

How difficult will I find it getting back do you think? I have also contacted some companies that provide interim services and despite my CV being put forward for a few roles, I have had no interest, possibly because they doubt I'll be able to get going immediately because of 'no recent experience'.

I'm seeing a careers counsellor to expand my thinking so I'm not just looking at the NHS.

Is the career counsellor a private thing?
22 years in nhs and fancy a change!

@Sunshineandrainbow No, through the National Careers Service, it's all free!

Look at the website, lots of skills assessments and I had a wonderful advisor who had offered interview help and all sorts!!

In my part of the NHS online interviews are still the norm. This is because my team lives across the country.

When I interviewed for my role less than a year ago I asked to speak to someone about it prior to making an application and spent 40 mins with a really helpful person. Recently I spent time chatting to 5 would be candidates who were interested in a role.

It sounds as if the team you applied to just aren't that good, Op. It really isn't the norm what you have described. You have dodged a bullet. Keep applying and good luck.

Thank you everybody, what you have said echoes family and friends in the NHS and their thoughts.

I've decided to email the panel telling them my thoughts and asking them to reconsider their policy on not telling candidates personally or offering any feedback.

I'll let you know what, if anything, they say! 😊