NHS job interview - very weird ending

[IAmNeverGoingToChangeCareer]

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?

@Babyroobs

That’s really shocking - such a disgusting attitude they displayed! I’m sorry that the NHS left you feeling like that after 30 years of service, so horrid and unnecessary.

I’d like to point out that one of my Husband’s family members is an NHS consultant, and I’ve never met a bigger arsehole in my whole life! He expects everyone (including all the family) to be subservient to him, pander to him, and a lot of his opinions - especially on money are vile. He’s a deluded, nasty, smarmy prick.

My Husband and I have met about 5 of his consultant friends too - they were all very similar.

I’m not saying for one moment that all consultants are like that - I wouldn’t dream of it, and know that can’t be true. I’m merely suggesting that the attitude the NHS expects of the staff ‘beneath’ the consultants has no doubt contributed to the abysmal human being the aforementioned arsehole has become, as he has apparently changed so much since working for years in this role.

Thank you all so much for all your supportive comments and valuable insights - they have really helped me over these last few days.

I sent an email asking if they had arrived at a decision to the Head of the panel who was leading the ‘assessment process,’ and she failed to reply. Before the interview I had emailed her and she seemed lovely, and really helpful (my opinions of her changed when I met her however).

I finally received an email yesterday afternoon from the head recruiter informing me that I have been unsuccessful in reaching interview stage. I wasn’t surprised, and had expected that, but couldn’t believe I had to wait so long to see for definite.

As others have said, I think I’ve had a lucky escape! I will also be putting in a complaint over the way the process was ‘handled.’