To feel I can't do this interview now

[Raggydolly3]

I have been in my job now for a few years and the team leader post of my project has come up and I have applied. My boss (who I have posted on here before is a bit of a cow and likes playing games) has always hinted that if anything came up I would be in with a good chance. I have an interview next week.
I submitted my application. Recently there has been a meeting between the two assistant managers and the trustees, the minutes of which seem to have been sent round to all the other staff and I have been missed off which sometimes happens in error but I can't help thinking it has been done on purpose this time.
I colleagues showed me the minutes and said she was disgusted, I read them and basicly they are talking about the upcoming job saying they don't want someone from inside the organisation they want a proper manager who can come in from the outside who can bring good practice and not someone who has just been playing at being the manager. They need experience and not someone they would need to puppywalk. No names mentioned of course
I now feel sick, they must have known I would get to see those minutes, I really can't see the point in going for the interview now. I just seems so cruel

I think you should go to the interview. If it was me I'd be dropping their own terminology into my answers making it clear that you've seen the email/minutes. I think it's discriminatory to have made a decision like that before interview. I know in practice it's probably pretty common but there's no way on earth that should have been minuted!

I've been in really similar situations. And you know what happened? Managers were brought in from outside and they left really quickly because my boss was so awful and it was impossible to fully understand the company without working your way up from inside it. Willing to bet the same thing will happen with you and your company if you don't get the job. Sounds unfair and rubbish. Working somewhere without a proper HR department is rubbish.

When is your interview by the way ?

It's Tuesday

Totally do the interview, but go prepared with a presentation explaining the benefits you bring...from knowing the business and the people, to your skill set to to the hit the ground running. As well as what you can bring to the job and why you want it. I'd not mention the minutes.

I'd would ace the interview, and if you don't get it look for other jobs and when they ask you why you're leaving say because you aced the interview and they still didn't want you

Basically use the interview to show how great you are

The external people might be crap, crap at interviews, or they might turn down the job, do you know how may are being interviewed ?

I'm fairly sure that would count as indirect discrimination. Keep a copy of those minutes and seek advice from ACAS. In the meantime go and blitz the interview - prepare really well but don't spring a presentation on them that would be annoying!

Go to the interview with your head up and some very well rehearsed reasons why you are perfect for the position, know exactly what needs to be done, and how you're the person to do it.

And wear an obvious puppy brooch/necklace to your interview.

(I'd also start looking outside your company for a new position somewhere else where you'll be appreciated.)

Absolutely, go to that interview knowing you are THE best person for the job. Acknowledge the issues that might occur with recruiting an internal candidate and explain why you are still the best choice.

But know that you are using the interview as practise for the job hunting that you will be doing immediately after the interview finishes. Write them off in your head for having behaved so shabbily and walk away with your head held high.

Really? That's exactly what happened to me last month! I cannot believe such a coincidence.

Like everybody said here, I went to the interview even though many professional friends from HR told me to not go.

I not only did interview for the company I was working but I actually did a FULL DAY TRIAL. Also other 2 candidates did a trial. And to be very honest I was the best candidate because I knew all the singularities and internal procedures. Do you know what happened at the end?

Yeah... they choose someone else! So following my friends and husband advice I have them my notice in the same day they told me someone else was hired.

Later I found another job really quickly and I would strong recommend you TO NOT go to the interview. Make a presentation will make you look silly when they hire someone else because believe in me, that's what they want and that's what they will do.

I gave them my notice*

I'd view it as interview practice (I once went 15 yrs without an interview, which is not ideal! so brushing up is a good idea), and when invited to ask questions, ask THEM if they had already decided against me b/c that's what the internal notes imply.

Not aggressively or emotionally, but factually, look them in the eye.

Sounds like you might want to cast around for another employer, anyway, so the interview practice could be helpful.

I agree with little flamingo you have already been told that you are not going to get the job. Why humiliate yourself? Use this as motivation to get another one. There is no reason why you won't like a similar one just as much, but there is every reason to metaphorically stick two fingers up at them when you eventually hand in your notice.

Thankyou for the advice. I am going to go for the interview and just do my best.

Will let you all know how it goes on Tuesday evening

Good luck! I think you are doing the right thing.

The die is cast, they've already made their decision.

But no harm in doing the interview just for the hell of it.

Good luck !

Good luck tomorrow!

Did you go to the interview?
How did it go?

" The Head Trustee would be answerable to an Employment Tribunal if they didn't give you the job & couldn't show that they had a much better reason to employ the external candidate!"

Really not the case. They can give the job to whoever they like.

Such a lot of nonsense about discrimination on this thread! Any recruitment process is discrimination- the employer discriminates in favour of who they think will do the best job. It is only illegal if they discriminate against a protected characteristic www.gov.uk/discrimination-your-rights/types-of-discrimination

Yep. Lots of people think that if something isn't fair in their employment they can run to hr who will come and give the culprits a telling off. Almost like they're back at school and telling teacher. Unfortunately that isn't how it works in the real world.