To not understand the feedback?

[Sparklyshoes16]

Had a job interview, which in all honesty was surprised to have got. I did a lot of research, asking friends that work in a similar role, visiting the place, my own experience and practised the questions, scenarios etc. Found out today that I didn't get the job, the feedback was I needed to research the job description...me and my husband went through the job description and person spec with a fine tooth comb. When I asked if I could have a little more detail I was told to expand my answers and research the job description

I just feel like what was the point of offering me an interview if I needed to research the job description? They wrote down loads in my interview and I thought it had gone well.

It's a job I haven't done before but my current job has plenty of transferable skills and I could do the job standing on my head. I honestly can't think of what I've said to get such terrible feedback.

All the above responses that say ‘it wasn’t you, it was them’ may well be true. But could there be any truth in what they said? They said ‘expand your answers and research the job descripton’ so it may be that they were looking for more in depth answers to their questions, and that your understanding of the job description didn’t match theirs. If you did give in-depth answers and if you understood the job description in the context of their particular company/service/product then they are clearly talking bollocks. And I quite often find job descriptions are incomprehensible to outsiders anyway. But ‘expand your answers’ sounds like perfectly reasonable feedback to me.//. Either way, move on, you may well have come a very slight second to the person who actually got the job.

@PurpleWithRed I can honestly say that maybe one of the question I could have expanded my answer on the others definitely not I went into a lot of detail.

I've just found out from a friend it's gone internal ah well back to the drawing board.

@Cutietips

Unfortunately it is a legal requirement for roles to be advertised externally.

It’s a stupid law that wastes everyone’s time.

Employers don’t like doing it

The twatting Bank of England did similar to me.

I applied for a role and had to duck out of work three times for interviews/tests etc. I was unsuccessful due to slightly more experienced other candidate, but as they really liked me, would I be interested in interviewing for a slightly different role? I said yes, interviewed and didn't get that one either!

Bunch of time wasting dicks.

Unfortunately it is a legal requirement for roles to be advertised externally

Only in the public sector. Private organisations can do what they like.

@Satsumaeater

My mistake.

I went by some training I had about 10 years ago.

Could it have been a competency based interview? The Civil Service favours this approach. If so, what they want you to do is break down the individual competencies and prepare an answer for each of those. Have a look at the STAR technique (Situation, Target, Action, Result) on Youtube. It will help you prepare for your next interview. Fwiw, other MNs who have followed this advice have reported success!

Ah, just saw it went internal. You have your answer. I wish employers wouldn't do this, it's an awful waste of everybody's time and effort.

Even public sector don’t abide by the rules. Have seen jobs created internally and given to people just because.

@Myimaginarycathasfleas thanks for the tip STAR was the technique I used for answering in addition to 'present past and future' which they seemed to really like...it's the second time I've used them and seemed to please...yes I wish they wouldn't do it too I'm really annoyed but on the plus side I have more of an idea of the type of questions they will be asking so can prep more for hopefully another one somewhere else.

They don't often bother offering constructive feedback to rejected candidates so I wouldn't pay it much attention.

I wouldn't be too bothered OP. A lot of the time it's personality fit over CV or interview. You were probably equal skills wise to someone else but their personality fit would work better in that dept . I've been told someone more hardboiled was needed due to 'tricky' boss a few times in 20yrs.Lucky escapes to me!

In many Civil Service departments and companies, jobs are advertised internally first and then if nobody is appointed it goes external.

I’ve had soooooo many job interviews where an internal candidate has been appointed. Such a waste of me taking time off work and spending travel expenses. All for nothing.

Interview feedback for two similar roles on the same day. I dressed the same for both interviews and went through my CV in the usual way etc.

My feedback was I was a little over confident in one interview and too “timid” in the other! Interviews are largely a load of crap IMO.