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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be annoyed they rejected me just 20 minutes after my interview

70 replies

Thehappyscientist · 06/04/2017 10:52

I applied for a (highly specialised) job. I felt I did well in the interview and they asked me lots of additional questions and spent half an hour just discussing personal things and asking me lots of questions relating to how I would fit within the company.

But just 20 minutes later (yes 20 minutes) they called to say I didn't have enough direct experience of the role and they noticed I'd also applied for a different role(same pay and qualification) in the company. They felt I interviewed very well and my experience matched that job much more and asked had I received the job interview invite as the manager mentioned he had shortlisted me for that position. When I explained I'd not received the invite she said no one had turned up so maybe there had been a problem with the letters being sent out. She said she would give that information to the manager and he will contact me to arrange a meeting.

I understand not being successful but surely there's some kind of etiquette about the time you can reject an applicant? 20 mins after interviewing just makes me feel they never even considered me and seems a bit rude. And yet they seemed so interested. I've never even heard back the same day never mind 20 mins after interview.

I'm not going to dwell on it but AIBU to think this was rude and shows they never even gave me a proper chance to be considered?

OP posts:
MatildaTheCat · 06/04/2017 10:56

Not at all. It is horrid to be rejected but they want you for the other role! I'm certain they will be having a strong word with the people concerned with the other role and recommending you.

They didn't spend all that time with you just for the pleasure of your company. Good luck with the other role...id say you had an excellent chance of getting that. Smile

Original poster
Thehappyscientist · 06/04/2017 10:58

I doubt the manager will even contact me. I'd prefer that role anyway but never received the job invite letter. They might not believe that though.

OP posts:
anotherdayanothersquabble · 06/04/2017 10:59

We used to have a grid to complete and we marked all candidates as we went through the interview or immediately afterwards including comments. Unless there was a significant disagreement requiring further discussion the shortlist or not decision was fairly swift. Sounds like the other job could be a good fit so fingers crossed for that one.

WorraLiberty · 06/04/2017 11:00

It's just business, don't take it personally.

Of course they came across as interested, because they were - hence the reason you were accepted for interview.

However, that doesn't mean you were suitable for the job.

Sciurus83 · 06/04/2017 11:00

I feel your pain as in job application hell at the moment too but honestly I think you are being a bit over sensitive here. They have seen your application and tested your experience level in the interview and it wasn't right for the role. They probably knew that pretty quickly and wanted to let you know but you obviously did well and made a good impression as they called you about the other role. Try and take positives from that, if you don't have the right experience for a role and they have another candidate who did it can be a straightforward choice. This happened to me last week too, not quite 20 mins but think my interview finished at 4pm and they let people know first thing the next day, didn't get it. It's disappointing but they clearly like you and want you to apply for the other role! Feel good about that, you must have interviewed well and impressed them, you did well! On to the next one, and you've had some good interview experience ready for the next one. It can be disheartening to feel rejected but keep going, you gave got something they are after this role just wasn't the one. Your time will come soon, keep your chin up!

anotherdayanothersquabble · 06/04/2017 11:01

Contact the other manager..... tell them you were interviewed for the other job and they mentioned that you had been shortlisted and you didn't want the other manager to think you hadn't turned up in case there was a problem with the contact details.

SpitefulMidLifeAnimal · 06/04/2017 11:02

What, even though the woman who called you said there had clearly been a problem with the invites as nobody turned up?

Are you OK in yourself OP? It's just that you seem rather negative, all things considered.

shineon · 06/04/2017 11:02

No that wouldn't bother me at all. If your not right for the job then they would have known fairy quickly. Nothing worse than waiting for ages for an answer

Cherrysoup · 06/04/2017 11:05

Happens all the time in teaching. You usually hear on the day. We interview, we decide, everyone goes home. We then phone and ensure the preferred candidate says yes, then immediately phone to let down the others. Quite normal. I'd much rather that than have people hang round waiting for a call. Much kinder. It sounds like they'd really like you for the other role.

Original poster
Thehappyscientist · 06/04/2017 11:05

I suppose. Usually in my field it's next day the quickest you would hear as everyone has the necessary qualification so it shouldn't be that easy a decision.

At least it's considered polite to give the impression you've sat down and considered all the applicants.

I don't mind being rejected. I'm often rejected at interview but it's never been the next day or a few minutes after the interview!

OP posts:
brexitstolemyfuture · 06/04/2017 11:05

Yabu. I'd love such a quick regection as it would be easier to live with.

I once had to wait weeks and be re-interviewed as it was so close and i still didn't get it.

You've got feedback and places are shit at giving that

EweAreHere · 06/04/2017 11:07

I think they liked you but you didn't think the fit for that particular position was a good fit. But clearly they wanted to move quickly so they could let you know that they thought the other in house position WAS a good fit and will hopefully put in a good word there if you're interested.

See it as a positive. They liked you. They think you'd be a good fit in the company, just in a different role.

Original poster
Thehappyscientist · 06/04/2017 11:08

She said I interviewed really well and was very confident.

I too the asking me to apply for a different role as them just being nice though. I'm not expecting anything to come of it.

OP posts:
Original poster
Thehappyscientist · 06/04/2017 11:09

No in hindsight I don't have the necessary experience for that role. I'm technically qualified but everyone else interviewed had done the exact role previously.

OP posts:
carabos · 06/04/2017 11:11

I think it's much better to tell a candidate as soon as possible that they haven't been successful. TBH, in most cases they know as soon as you walk out the door and it's disingenuous to suggest otherwise.

TheFlyingFauxPas · 06/04/2017 11:13

As the 2 women who'd just interviewed were showing me out they looked at each other and one said a loud and clear "No".

Think yourself lucky they had a bit of courtesy! Or even contacted you at all to let you know, rather than leave you hanging.

OneWildNightWithJBJ · 06/04/2017 11:13

Also in teaching, you don't even always get to the interview. It's not happened to me, but sometimes people will teach a lesson as part of the process but get rejected afterwards and before the actual interview. I guess there's no point in going through it if they know you're not right for them. Same kind of thing here, you tend to know if someone is suitable pretty quickly.

Good luck with the other role though.

TheTurnOfTheScrew · 06/04/2017 11:16

IME when they're lightning-fast like that I've later found out that there was a successful internal candidate, but company policy required an external recruitment drive as well.

KitKat1985 · 06/04/2017 11:17

It's hard I know, but it sounds like they did like you but just for the other role more (not sure what went on with not getting an interview letter for that though). To be honest I'd rather get a rejection after 20 minutes than have to wait for days and stew on it which has happened to me before.

BarbarianMum · 06/04/2017 11:18

I was interviewing this Monday. I think 20 min is very tight. We wouldn't reject a potentially suitable candidate until our top choice accepted the job (verbally at least) and to score your interview, rank candidates and agree rankings plus offer and accept one of them and then get round to ringing unsuccessful candidates all within 20 min? Yeah, that's rude - unless they were maybe 2 of you and it was a case of either/or. But even then.....

Otherpeoplesteens · 06/04/2017 11:19

I think you got off lightly and if your job search hell is anything like mine I'd have been delighted with what happened.

Three or four years ago I got asked to travel to London at less than 24 hours notice for an interview; the 'travel on the day' train ticket cost me well over £200. The recruiter's very first sentence was "you don't have the experience we're looking for, but I thought I'd invite you in for a chat anyway." I had to sit there smiling for an hour when all I could think of was different methods of slow torture.

TooManyTrolls · 06/04/2017 11:21

I can see that it would smart but I actually think it's ok. I think I'd prefer it.

I'd contact the manager of the other role. I can't see any negativism in doing so.

TooManyTrolls · 06/04/2017 11:21

Sorry for weird spellcheck correction

ChrisYoungFuckingRocks · 06/04/2017 11:22

I applied to go for training last year (also specialised). The interviewer took an instant dislike to me, although she asked me to provide additional information. The very next morning I got a letter in the post telling me I wasn't successful and wouldn't be allowed on the course. She hadn't even given me a chance to provide the documentation she asked for, and must have posted the letter pretty much immediately after the interview! It had nothing to do with me being qualified, she just didn't like me or want me on her bloody course!

It does sound like you have a good chance with the other job though. Good luck!

Blossomdeary · 06/04/2017 11:23

I've been in the situation where I had applied for two roles in the organisation and they rejected me for one and quite openly said they wanted me for the other - which I did not accept as it felt wrong that the one role (higher pay) was not offered to me because I had also applied for the other.

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