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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to think I think I fucked myself over... Badly

34 replies

BlacknWhitePanda · 22/12/2016 10:16

Im so cross with myself.

I've been working cover in a job for over a year, (I actually finished and then a couple of months later they brought me back to cover again). There is a post going now and they come up once in a blue moon, so of course I applied...

Down the grapevine.. My application was basically disappointing.. If it wasn't me I wouldn't even have an interview... Because it's me I got an interview but I was told that a lot of the process of hiring is the application. So unless my interview skills are super amazing. I've fucked myself into a rock. (is it bad to hope every other person offered an interview gets a bad stomach flu/ doesn't turn up?)
I'm so ashamed of my shitty application that i've worked myself into a tizz since last night, helped along with a stomach bug.

I know theres nothing I can do now. But FML

OP posts:
Lilaclily · 22/12/2016 10:19

Oh don't worry
They often disregard the allocation and go completely on the interview
They know you're good at the job
Is it a competency based interview? You need to have loads of examples at the ready for every question they might ask, how do you work well as part of a team, how do you deal with conflict, how do you organise your workload , how do you motivate yourself etc

Lilaclily · 22/12/2016 10:19

And the grapevine person has been very unprofessional telling you that

EveOnline2016 · 22/12/2016 10:23

Don't downplay the work you have done for this company. That in itself is why you have the interview.

Brush up on your interview skills and good luck.

BewtySkoolDropowt · 22/12/2016 10:24

Think of it another way.

Despite a poor application they have chosen to interview you based on what they know about you. They clearly like you and think you have the potential to do the job, otherwise got would not get an interview.

Either that or the person that told you is up for the job and wants to unsettle you so made crap up.

piddleypower · 22/12/2016 10:24

Recruitment is all based on the application and interview, previous experience doesn't count and you should never assume. Lots of people make this mistake, it's awkward when you are already doing the job.

Focus now on delivering and amazing killer interview. Prepare and practice your answers. Deliver them as if you have never met the interviewer before. Tell them exactly how much you want the job and why they should give it to you. You can nail it!

Original poster
BlacknWhitePanda · 22/12/2016 10:26

Yes it's competency based interview in which my past work doesn't matter. So everything is riding on this interview.

I suppose now i'm prepared to give it my all in the interview and prepare to lock myself in the cupboard if i don't get it Grin

OP posts:
TheProblemOfSusan · 22/12/2016 10:26

Good luck with the interview! And whether you get the role or not, ask for feedback - you need to know exactly what happened with the application and why it wasn't up to snuff. It may be not that it was bad per se, but they they have a particular style they're looking for.

Fingers crossed!

redexpat · 22/12/2016 10:27

So pull it out of the bag at interview!

EBearhug · 22/12/2016 10:30

But you have got an interview, so be ready to be super amazing there.

Do you know which bits of your application they're particularly disappointed by? Those are areas to focus on and be ready with questions about. And when it's over, whichever way i'r goes, you should ask for feedback on what you could have done differently - it's not often we apply to jobs who know our work before they get the application, so you should really try to make the most of this opportunity.

Wolverbamptonwanderer · 22/12/2016 10:32

Tbh it's incredibly disappointing to get a poor application from a favoured candidate because it looks like they thought they had it in the bag so couldn't be bothered. But you can turn it round with a killer interview so best to just try and move on and knock their socks off!

JennyHolzersGhost · 22/12/2016 10:33

What was wrong with the application exactly ? Did you just not put enough effort into it or did you misread the questions or somesuch?

EBearhug · 22/12/2016 10:34

Also, is it possible the grapevine person's motives might not all be helpful? If they're applying themselves, or have a noter favoured applicant they would rather get the job, or... Can you really trust the comments?

Astro55 · 22/12/2016 10:39

Unfortunately you have to be able to sell yourself in an application.

Now start revising!!!

Look at the company website -
What can you offer?
Do you have any special skills they could make use of?
What do you enjoy most
Where have you excelled
Where have you gone beyond your job tittle?
Have 4 examples -

Look at the advert again - what are the main pints they asked for?

dinkystinky · 22/12/2016 10:42

Look at the application questions, revise the answers to make them better (based on what you put in the application), and think about how to bring the revised answers into play at interview. They clearly rate you from the work you've done - go into that interview and perform your absolute best to show that while you may do a less than perfect application, you excel at interviews and your work speaks for itself!

TheProblemOfSusan · 22/12/2016 10:45

Just had a thought - I interview internal candidates a lot and a mistake a lot of people make is to assume that the interviewers understand the applicant's current role a lot more than they actually do. So even if it feels like over explaining, make sure to answer as if the person didn't know your job. You can say things like "I'm sure you know the background to this but just to be clear,..." if it feels too weird.

Backingvocals · 22/12/2016 10:48

yy to what susan said.

PavlovianLunge · 22/12/2016 10:50

Down the grapevine.. My application was basically disappointing.. If it wasn't me I wouldn't even have an interview...

This is wholly unprofessional, but also very vague. Are you sure someone isn't trying to psych you out, or just being a twat?

Try to put it out of your mind, then go and give your best at the interview good luck! Flowers

Dagnabit · 22/12/2016 11:05

If your application was that poor, I'm sure you wouldn't have been offered an interview so forget that now. Prepare, prepare then prepare some more. Good luck !

3luckystars · 22/12/2016 11:06

I have know companies to say things like this and even use a timer during questions to stress people out. Maybe that's what's going on here?

How could your application be bad? You are describing yourself and your achievements! (Unless you used a shitty phone like mine that mis spells everything and inserts words), I would ignore comments and continue as you would have regardless.

The person who told you this may have applied themselves or have a friend who applied. Don't trust this information. By all means do loads for the interview, give it everything but do not believe you are going in on a bad foot, you are equal to everyone else interviewing. Good luck.

SantaClausMortificado · 22/12/2016 11:11

I was thinking what PavlovianLunge was thinking:

Down the grapevine.. My application was basically disappointing.. If it wasn't me I wouldn't even have an interview...

This is wholly unprofessional, but also very vague. Are you sure someone isn't trying to psych you out, or just being a twat?

This could be coming from someone with an agenda against you who (eg.) has an vested interested in their friend being hired.

sarahnova69 · 22/12/2016 11:27

The purpose of the application is to get you to the interview. The purpose of the interview is to decide who gets the job. You got to interview, so the application's behind you now. Rock the interview, and you can definitely get there. Plus, you are in fact at an advantage, because they already know you and know you do good work and aren't a liar/a klepto/really lazy/really weird. That stuff counts for a good bit, trust me.

And trust me, your past work definitely matters unless the decisionmaker doesn't even know you've worked for the company before, which presumably they do? Either they already know what your past work is like and value it, or they'll talk to the person who does as part of the process. If you have the skills and experience and you prep well for the interview, you have as good a chance as anyone and better than an outside applicant who's an unknown quality and might be a psycho.

EverySongbirdSays · 22/12/2016 11:27

I also agree with what Pavlov said tremendously bitchy and wholly unnecessary

notaflyingmonkey · 22/12/2016 11:32

...but, knowing that means that you now know you need to raise your game. It is very hard being an internal applicant at interview, you need to go out of your way to shine. Talk about examples where you have made a difference in the role throughout the interview if you can. They will probably base their questions around the JD/person spec, so go through it and prepare the hell out of it. Think of situations that you can use to answer each point. Think positive, and bring some positive energy on the day. It really makes a difference to the panel if applicants are calmly confident.

sarahnova69 · 22/12/2016 11:34

This is wholly unprofessional, but also very vague. Are you sure someone isn't trying to psych you out, or just being a twat?

I don't necessarily think this is true. It sounds like the kind of bad feedback lots of people would give because they don't know how to give good, specific feedback. And it was apparently given through informal channels ("the grapevine"), so probably someone just repeated what they've heard.

"This application is poor, but we know her work is good so we'll invite her to interview anyway" is a common scenario.

PavlovianLunge · 22/12/2016 11:41

I wouldn't argue with what you're saying, Sarah, but I just want the OP to be mindful that people are sometimes less helpful than they want to appear, if that makes sense.