To turn down an interview

[TheDairyQueen]

I have an interview on Wednesday for a post that sounds absolutely brilliant: great money, interesting work that I'd be enjoyed in, possibility of progression and good security. It would allow me to move from working six days a week to five also.

However, I don't know if I can face the prospect of another interview with group exercises, competency-based interviews and people that sneer at me because I didn't attend a public school or traditional university. It feels like the risks don't outweigh the benefits.

I'm worn out with the whole process and already have two jobs (both permanent positions and both in the public sector) and don't know if I have the energy to go through it all, only to be told "no" at the end of it. I'm scared that I'd be viewed as a fraud, or that I'll be judged on not having the right hair/nails/skin/teeth. Worse still, that I'm not young enough.

I think you are doubting yourself . It sounds like you want the job but don’t fancy the rejection but you MIGHT get the job. It’s worth a shot, no?! The other candidates will be stressing about themselves . If you have got this far, the company must have seen something they like in your CV .....

The thing is though if these people are so much better than you. Why are they going for the same job as you.
Your shit stinks.Their Shit stinks.
You'll get carried out in a box so will they.
No one is better than anyone.
You have been called for interview because the company were impressed with your CV
You're as good as the rest of them. Don't dare be held back.

Oh absolutely no one likes rejection, even the most super duper confident person.
However you will have no chance of getting the job if you don't even try.

You can either quit now and have a 100% chance of not getting the job, or go forward and have as good of a chance as anyone at being hired.

It comes down to who you are: Are you a quitter who likes to play it safe for comfort or are you going to take slight risks to better your life?

Definitely go for it. I had the same thoughts before a similar sounding (long, drawn out, assessment centres etc.) recruitment process for the Civil Service - got the job though (and even if I haven't they tend to give decent, detailed feedback which is useful).

Interviews can be very stressful, but you need to think about them as a means to an end, rather than the be all and end all. They only last a short while in the big scheme of things - then you are free and the decision is out of your hands.

Think about it as - how good is this job? Is it your dream role? If you don’t even try, will you think about it years later and wonder what if? If yes, you owe it to yourself to give it a go.

I felt like this recently, too. It all seemed like too much faff and I didn't think I'd get the job, but I applied as I liked the look of the job and had to get a new job as dp had decided to relocate (we'd talked about relocating but definitely not for at least a year, then he saw a job he couldn't pass up). I got the job and am loving it. My boss has said I was head and shoulders above the other candidates. Sometimes it's really hard to judge whether we'll get the job (especially for women?). I say go for it. If you're not successful you've not lost more than some time. If you get the job - perfect!