Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

NHS job interview - very weird ending

52 replies

IAmNeverGoingToChangeCareer · 17/04/2024 12:02

I’ve name changed for this.

I just attended an NHS job interview. It was for a non-clinical role, and was connected with the training and development of staff.

We had to split into 2 groups and produce a verbal presentation which we then had to present. We had to provide feedback on the other teams’ performance, and then on our own.

We were then told the panel would go away for 5-10 minutes and decide who to interview. We were called one by one when they returned. I don’t think I performed very well. I was told that they couldn’t decide today who to interview and they need to deliberate further, and that I’ll receive a phone call later to confirm. I asked if I would have time to go and eat lunch somewhere, and she said, ‘you’re free to go home, the interview won’t be held today.’ I was shocked!

We had been told in the invitation to interview that the whole process would take up to 4 hours if we were going to be interviewed. It was only 10.45 by this point, and the process had begun at 9.30! Surely they would’ve had long enough to deliberate and then interview the remaining candidates within the 4 hour timeframe they’d said they would give us? I have never been through a similar experience to this, and I have attended a lot of interviews - never in the NHS though.

I bumped into one of the other candidates in the toilet, and she told me she had been told the same as me.

Is this common practice within the NHS or indeed elsewhere?

Are they being genuine, or is it a softer approach than to tell you you’re rejected there and then?

OP posts:
NannyGythaOgg · 17/04/2024 12:21

I suspect they have ranked you all in order but there isn't an absolute favourite. They will interview the 'top' 3 or 4 today and if they don't want to appoint from them, then the next 3 or 4 will be called back.
It probably means they think you are suitable but so a too many others to interview in one day.

Mumof1andacat · 17/04/2024 12:23

What band was this for? I'm a band non clinical, and I've never gone through anything like this. I have been a 2 and 3 before.

Original poster
IAmNeverGoingToChangeCareer · 17/04/2024 13:06

@NannyGythaOgg

That makes perfect sense. Maybe that’s what’s happening.

This is the second time they have advertised the position too.

OP posts:

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Jobs
Original poster
IAmNeverGoingToChangeCareer · 17/04/2024 13:08

@Mumof1andacat

Thanks for letting me know. It was for a band 6 role.

OP posts:
TokyoSushi · 17/04/2024 13:13

Maybe they didn't like anybody to take to the next stage, but they didn't want to tell you all in person...

alonglongshot · 17/04/2024 13:26

How annoying for you and the other candidates. It sounds like something from 'the Apprentice'.

I take it you had to take time out of your current job to attend?

MichaelatheMechanic · 17/04/2024 13:33

No, it's not normal.

I suspect that you won't be going any further in the process based on this (and the fact you said it wasn't a good interview). You will probably get a phonecall later to say you weren't successful. The NHS are generally very good at giving you a definitive yes or no (as opposed to a lot of other employers).

CiderGlider · 17/04/2024 13:34

....and people wonder why the NHS can't recruit staff. I know of many people who have just been put off by such experiences and voted with their feet.

It's an appalling way to treat candidates.....and I doubt it will get any better if you get the job.

camelfinger · 17/04/2024 13:38

I’ve had and given lots of interviews in the NHS and have never been treated like this, but I’ve only ever had a single stage process. Sometimes as interviewers we’ve been a bit cagey about the time it takes to get back to someone - that depends on how many appointable candidates we get. But it’s disrespectful to treat candidates in the way you describe IMO.

MichaelatheMechanic · 17/04/2024 13:46

Admin staff can be a real challenge for the NHS as salaries are low (especially for the lower bands) and they generally attract lots of poor quality applications.

I've known admin jobs be advertised two or three times. Sometimes you will get a really good candidate and they will pull out just before interview, turn the offer down or pull out because it takes so long to get through the door.

There aren't loads of non-clinical Band 6 jobs around so I'm guessing they are looking for someone specific and no one is quite hitting the mark. I've known jobs to be advertised where the job description doesn't clearly define the job as the remit has changed and they haven't got time to change the job description (hundred and one people need to sign it off higher up the chain).

MichaelatheMechanic · 17/04/2024 13:48

Also, is it the job that appeals or the NHS? If it's the latter, I would just keep applying.

Clearinguptheclutter · 17/04/2024 13:59

Sounds shoddy. I would expect that some they did want to interview today but you weren’t on that list. I just hope they let you know sooner rather than later.

mindutopia · 17/04/2024 14:14

It's quite possible that they just couldn't continue the interviews in the afternoon for whatever reason. Maybe they couldn't decide who might potentially be appointable based on the (weird) group interview format, so needed to clarify with HR leads about the process? Maybe someone got called away from the panel for an emergency (esp if anyone on the panel was in a clinical role)? Maybe someone was ill and they didn't have a full panel to make the decision?

I interviewed for a role somewhat recently where we were told that a decision would be made by end of day (which is the norm in my industry). As it turned out, someone on the interview panel became suddenly ill (vomiting bug type thing) and they had to cancel the afternoon interviews. It took 2 weeks to reschedule the whole panel to finish the last of the interviews, so the process took weeks longer than it should have.

RoadToPlants · 17/04/2024 14:18

I’m senior nhs and honestly that whole process sounds batshit, especially for a band 6 post.

there could be a very logical reason why they’ve had to cancel, sudden illness or an emergency that has pulled away a panel member. However, in general the whole thing sounds off.

penjil · 17/04/2024 16:57

Absolutely ridiculous. They want people to jump through hoops!!

I find it all distasteful and patronising and I would immediately withdraw my application from any job which involved these "interviews" .....even on the day if need be.

Lagoony · 17/04/2024 16:59

Further proof that the NHS is one of the faffiest, least efficient organisations the world has ever seen. It can't even hire employees in a straightforward and sensible way.

Original poster
IAmNeverGoingToChangeCareer · 17/04/2024 18:14

@TokyoSushi

This had crossed my mind too.

OP posts:
Original poster
IAmNeverGoingToChangeCareer · 17/04/2024 18:15

@alonglongshot

We were saying it felt like that!

All 8 of us had had to request time off work, and some of us had to do extra work to enable us to attend.

OP posts:
Cheepcheepcheep · 17/04/2024 18:16

I would also see it as a ‘no’ that they didn’t fancy saying; or you’re ‘B list’ and they want to look at interviewing you and the other B-lister(s) if no joy with today’s lot.

it’s a crap way to do it though.

Original poster
IAmNeverGoingToChangeCareer · 17/04/2024 18:17

@MichaelatheMechanic

I’m still awaiting the phone call…

Surely they would call. Maybe tomorrow, but I don’t think the news will be in my favour.

OP posts:
Original poster
IAmNeverGoingToChangeCareer · 17/04/2024 18:21

@MichaelatheMechanic

Thank you for your insights.

This role has been advertised twice already. Goodness knows what they’re looking for.

As for me, I truly believe I meet the person specification brilliantly, but that I didn’t perform at my best in the presentation. I’m very experienced in this type of field.

OP posts:
Original poster
IAmNeverGoingToChangeCareer · 17/04/2024 18:25

@mindutopia

Oh goodness, what an experience!

That definitely could’ve happened today. All the panel who had been present at the morning session were there to meet us to tell us to go home/whatever else they may have told the other candidates. Maybe someone else was meant to be with them though.

OP posts:
susiedaisy1912 · 17/04/2024 18:29

I wonder if they already had someone in mind for the job?

Saintmariesleuth · 17/04/2024 18:29

This is not standard in my experience.

It makes me want to weep that we struggle to recruit good clinical and non clinical people in the NHS and then you see and hear about this sort of madness going on.

If you are keen on the job, see if a sensible explanation is forthcoming that might reassure you. I can see why it seems off and the disorganisation would put me off too. Did you ask/have the opportunity to look at the workplace/visit the department before the interview?

Notthebestidea · 17/04/2024 18:36

Having been on an interview panel it may be to do with how they are going to ask questions of those they do face to face with .we usually had a very specific list of questions to ask and a set of scoring criteria , however I wonder if this means sometimes having seen what candidates are available (perhaps where they have a limited choice of people who meet the “ideal”) the panel needs to go back and “ alter” this so they can recruit who they actually want to recruit!!!