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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think i am wasting my time even turning up for this interview :(

99 replies

doggiemumma · 12/06/2012 13:07

Bloody hell! I have been selected for an interview - i put in what i thought was a strong application for a job that whilst i have no direct experience my background should be sufficient, and hey, i got an interview!

Turns out there is an internal applicant - it says so on the interview timetable

This is for a temporary job (10 months) for a science technician in the school - I get the feeling this is a box ticking exercise.

Have put two days to one side (today and tomorrow) to prepare and am poring through health and safety stuff etc , just got the email

Im wasting my time aren't i? :(

OP posts:
Divinyl · 13/06/2012 22:23

Yes, give it your best shot. My thought was also: you never know, they could be very keen to find someone so that they DON'T have to employ the internal candidate...

ButtonBoo · 14/06/2012 07:01

Ah! Good luck for tomorrow then. AND you forgot...you got a nice new top too!!

bumbleymummy · 14/06/2012 08:25

Good luck today! :)

Original poster
doggiemumma · 14/06/2012 14:12

The interview was OK, i think. Ironically i don't think the internal applicant will get the job actually. However i dont think i will get it either, they all said they thought the job was beneath me Hmm why interview me then, surely i am the one to decide if i think a job is suitable? It very much depends what they want, if i only had to persuade the biology teacher i think it would be in the bag, the head of department seemed very reserved though

OP posts:
bumpybecky · 14/06/2012 16:27

hmm, odd comment Hmm well it sounds as though you're in with a chance, fingers crossed they let you know soon either way, waiting is horrible.

Sallyingforth · 14/06/2012 17:27

No it's not an odd comment. It is a sound principle not to give to the job to someone over-qualified for it.

accountantsrule · 14/06/2012 17:39

absolutely Sallyingforth my DH was made redundant last year and he was turned down (before interview though) as they knew that although he needed at job he was likely to keep looking for something better even if they appointed him.

It is a bit odd in a way as they would have known the OP's qualifications and experience before the interview!

accountantsrule · 14/06/2012 17:40

sorry 'turned down for a few jobs' . . .

boschy · 14/06/2012 17:41

well doggies, at least you went along and you did well - all good experience. I bet they do want you!

Sallyingforth · 14/06/2012 17:59

I hope your DH did get another job accountantsrule.
The other reason is that putting someone over-qualified into a management chain causes disruption and ill-feeling - both with others on the same grade and with a boss who feels threatened by the highly-qualified newcomer beneath her/him. It can often mean that another place has to be filled before long!

Original poster
doggiemumma · 14/06/2012 18:15

Thanks bumpy - the HR woman said she was worried that the salary wouldn't compare with my current one - i told her, zero is pretty hard to compare to! :) Its not about the money for me, its about having a job that fits in wiht DD, that allows me to still "do science" that gives me the option of teaching at a later date, but im not sure i want to anyway, i told them this.

The job is temporary so whoever takes it will be using it as a stepping stone. I told them i would be doing just that if it stayed temporary but may well want to stay on if a permanent position does come up. I will be working for the teachers, so even though, on paper, i am more qualified than they are, Im not a teacher so i can't imagine why they would feel threatened. I would think it very short-sighted of them not to employ me because they feel i am overqualified as i realised today that whilst i have a lot to gain from this job, i also have a great deal to offer them. They were very keen to hear about links to the university and the possibility of visits and science days. If a boss feels threatened by a newcomer, maybe they should up their game a little.

I am not being arrogant, beause there may well be someone more suitable for the job than me, thats fine - but not to get it due to being overqualified IS galling.

The head of biology was great, typical old school teacher, comedy posh, but i really clicked with him and we had a bit of a laugh.

Oh and bumpy he did ask me about making up a molar solution so i was grateful for your mention of that yesterday - he was actually impressed that i knew how to do it! Shock

OP posts:
bumpybecky · 14/06/2012 19:46

Sally, I was thinking the comment was odd as I've been in this situation twice now (PhD person applying for 'lowly' tech job). I agree for normal jobs someone over qualified is fairly likely to move on, but for part time, term time only jobs I think its a bit different. There can be pretty fierce competition amongst science trained Mums returning to work looking at lab tech jobs in schools, there's more SAHMs out there with PhDs than you'd think!

Excellent about the molar solution question :)

BigFatCushion · 14/06/2012 19:50

Do you know when you'll find out?

BambinoBoo · 14/06/2012 19:57

doggie quick update. I am glad that I went for it and didn't back out as I they made me a provisional offer today. Just a few things to ratify, but am chuffed. How did you do?

BambinoBoo · 14/06/2012 19:59

Sorry, just read your post above. Have you heard anything yet?

accountantsrule · 14/06/2012 20:03

Thanks Sally yes he did quite quickly luckily enough, only a year fixed term but likely to become permanent and it was a step up for him which was nice.

Original poster
doggiemumma · 14/06/2012 20:36

Thats fantastic news bambino well done - i was told either tomorrow or probably monday as their HR person only works mornings Confused

bumpy i used to think having a PhD was a rarity but it seems half of mumsnet have them Grin

OP posts:
ButtonBoo · 14/06/2012 20:38

Great news bambino!! Fingers crossed for doggie!

Original poster
doggiemumma · 16/06/2012 13:25

Bollocks - didn't get the job, so thats a day and about £20 wasted :( They said i could ask for feedback, but what will they say, i'm overqualified? Im frustrated becuase i know i would have been good for the job but i get the impression they wanted a washing up person who wouldn't rock the boat too much.

OP posts:
accountantsrule · 16/06/2012 14:17

So sorry you didn't get it this time - It isalways worth asking for feedback IMO, there may be something else that will help you next time.

bumpybecky · 16/06/2012 15:45

I'm sorry you didn't get it :( I'd ask for feedback, it might be useful. I hope something else comes up soon :)

ButtonBoo · 16/06/2012 16:27

Oh boo! Bugger! As they say...something better is just around the corner doggie!!

issey6cats · 16/06/2012 18:08

well done bambino and sorry you didnt get the job doggiemumma at least you got through the interview well and there will be other chances

demomummy · 12/12/2014 10:15

I don't know doggiemumma and bumpybecky are still following this thread as it was a while ago, but it's very relevant to the situation I'm in now.

I've been a SAHM for 7 years, have a PhD in molecular biology and have an interview on Tuesday for a science technician job! This is to be the lead science technician in charge of the other 3, so I'm not sure how much hands on stuff I'll get to do.

It says when I arrive I'll have a desk task which will take an hour. Any ideas what that might be? I thought it might be making up a solution or doing a circuit, but are they classed as a 'desk tasks'?

Anyway, if I don't get any replies I'll post a new thread. If you do read this doggiemumma, did you get a science technician job in the end?

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