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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask for interview advise, I've lost my job because I'm shit!

251 replies

RinkeyDinkey · 25/01/2019 09:53

I've just had to apply for my own job, my manager thought it was a given that I'd breeze the interview despite me telling them again and again how shit I am in an interview. Loads of people applied, someone else got it because my mind went blank in the interview and I just garbled pure garbage. My boss phoned me crying as I couldn't possibly be offered the job now as my score was rock bottom, it was acknowledged that I was the best candidate and can do it stood on my head. My staff are in bits, I can't stop crying, what a mess.

I thought I would be ok this time, I spent weeks and weeks preparing, I had all the acronyms in my head to remember things, it went so badly, I could even do the 'tell us about yourself' properly. I don't really get stressed and was only nervous by the usual standard.

I've now got to find myself another job asap, wtf do I do now if I can't do an interview (it happens every time)?

OP posts:
Original poster
RinkeyDinkey · 25/01/2019 09:54

I've name changed through utter shame.

OP posts:
Howdoidothis4eva · 25/01/2019 09:56

Oh, that's awful! I don't have any advice as I get really nervous too, but I really sympathise. Hopefully someone will come along and will have some useful advice for you!

MynameisJune · 25/01/2019 09:59

Next time take notes with you, even just as a prompt. If I interviewed someone with notes I’d just think they were extra keen and prepared not shit at interviews. Truly rubbish though, are there no other internal roles? Will they make you redundant?

stayathomegardener · 25/01/2019 10:03

That's so odd, if you are doing the job already and good at it.

Surely what companies do in this situation is fudge the interview process to keep you.

Illegal probably but there are many instances of far better external candidates and the job stays in house.

No help to you but perhaps it wasn't your interview technique.

Waytooearly · 25/01/2019 10:04

'It was acknowledged' that you were the best candidate but you still didn't get the job?

Someone is lying to you.

userschmoozer · 25/01/2019 10:06

Phone ACAS and get their help, that doesn't add up.

Original poster
RinkeyDinkey · 25/01/2019 10:06

We weren't allowed to take notes in, it would be a game changer if I could. I'm not sure if i can be shoe-horned in somewhere else, but to be honest, i gave my heart and soul to that job, i worked my way right up and have put in 10 years in various roles in that team. I just want to go, i can't stay and watch someone else do that job with me underneath them.

Maybe I'd be allowed notes in an interview in another organisation, that should help. If only I could sit in a room on my own and record my responses to their questions and just hand it over.

OP posts:
Whatafustercluck · 25/01/2019 10:06

I'm so sorry op, that will be a huge knock to your confidence and leaves you in an awful situation. You will get through this though, one step at a time. Is there an appeals process? What is your employer's obligation to you now? Legally, where do you stand and must they find another internal job for you?

MynameisJune · 25/01/2019 10:08

It can and does happen in large organisations. Usually as part of a restructure. Op did you apply for any other roles? What are the plans for people left without roles?

AnchorDownDeepBreath · 25/01/2019 10:08

Did you have to interview for your current job, when you first got it?

Is it worth a chat to your manager to see if there's anything you can do? If they have acknowledged you are the best candidate and you're currently doing a good job, they usually have a bit of extra leeway for internal candidates.

DoneLikeAKipper · 25/01/2019 10:08

Well you can’t be that bad at interviews, how did you initially pass to get this job in the first place? You need to get to the bottom of what’s causing you issues, quite honestly I’m not sure how you can fail an interview for a job you already do, if you can’t adequately explain how well you do your own job, then it must have come over as a bit odd to the interviewing panel.

Original poster
RinkeyDinkey · 25/01/2019 10:10

Everything has to be above board and squeaky clean, I was interviewed by a senior manager from another department, a senior manager from my department and my manager. Whoever gets the best score wins, absolutely nothing else is taken into account, only the score.

Maybe they didn't want me, stranger things have happened haven't they!

OP posts:
Bluntness100 · 25/01/2019 10:11

Are you sure this was about the interview op? In my experience if a company knows you're the best person for the job in this scenario then the interview is simply a tick box exercise.

I'm not saying that to make you think oh I was also shit at my job, but more maybe there is more game playing afoot than you know, and your interview technique is not as poor as you think.

Let's be honest, no candidate knows how another candidate performs at interview, so the interviewers can give anyone they wish the job.

As such, I wouldn't worry about interviews for another job, uou will likely be fine, there was probably something behind this decision and it wasn't about you.

MRex · 25/01/2019 10:11

If you work for government e.g. NHS, then there are strict rules in place and this kind of thing can happen. If that's the case then get in touch with people who know you professionally but work in the private sector, where they could be more inclined to give you a chance. You maybe tried the usual interview techniques; doing sample questions/ answers with a colleague, meditation, anti-anxiety meds, advising the interviewers that you have anxiety and need certain changes (e.g. sitting around a table not facing a group).

If it's private sector then the issue is that your boss isn't telling you the truth, you are not as good at your job as you are being told or they would change the process for you.

CallMeSirShotsFired · 25/01/2019 10:12

Your boss phoned you crying?

That is more than slightly weird and extremely unprofessional.

I agree with pp, it doesn't stack up - if you were the best candidate while simultaneously fluffing the interview? Someone is lying to you.

stayathomegardener · 25/01/2019 10:12

The more I think about it the odder it is.

On a scoring interview to retain a good internal candidate the questions can be asked in a way to tick boxes.

I do think you should consider you have been managed out and the implications of that.

Waytooearly · 25/01/2019 10:13

They're either lying to you, or set you up to fail, or both.

The whole thing is really dysfunctional.

Chin up, make handover notes, and get the hell out of there.

Whatafustercluck · 25/01/2019 10:13

It was acknowledged' that you were the best candidate but you still didn't get the job? Someone is lying to you.

Sadly that's probably not true. I've conducted lots of interviews and sat on interview panels using competency-based scoring matrices, particularly in the public sector where everything has to be evidenced. Unfortunately it's possible to be great at your job but totally flunk the interview and score the lowest on paper. I've seen it happen lots (and been on the receiving end).

wink1970 · 25/01/2019 10:14

OP it's a stretch but can you appeal the decision on the basis that the interview was set up to make you fail? The reasoning being that you couldn't take in notes, as I've never heard that before; surely if you are required to show figures, for example, you would need to have them there in front of you?

Just a thought, I'd give it a try.....

MRex · 25/01/2019 10:14

FWIW, I've only a couple of times interviewed people who had notes. Both used them so well i assumed they were super organised rather than anxious, so I think that's a good idea for future interviews.

marymarkle · 25/01/2019 10:16

I am so sorry to hear this. I am assuming you are public sector and no they can't fudge it if personnel are involved.
All I can advise is lots of practice. Go for any job, jobs you don't want but can get an interview for. And go to as many interviews as you can. You need to do so many that you are no longer so afraid.
I used to be terrible at interviews, but had to do lots and lots to get over the mind blankness.

marymarkle · 25/01/2019 10:17

And I have heard plenty of places that won't allow notes. I don't think it is unusual at all. But maybe it depends on the sectors you work in?

Original poster
RinkeyDinkey · 25/01/2019 10:18

I'm going in for a chat on Monday, but quite honestly, I just want to and get on somewhere else, hence the interview tips request.

I can't see any point in appealing, they will go through the questions with me and where I went wrong, I'll be in there all day.

I'm sure it was the oddest interview they have ever done for that level, give me a presentation to 500 people any day. I thought I had messed up for the interview (it was a secondment) when I initially applied it was so bad, but to be honest, I think I was the only person to apply and they were desperate and took a chance. I took the role and ran with it, unfortunately for me, I did it too well and it was regraded to the next level up due to all the extra bit I did, hence me having to apply again.

OP posts:
Bluntness100 · 25/01/2019 10:18

OP it's a stretch but can you appeal the decision on the basis that the interview was set up to make you fail?

All interviewees would have had the same criteria, so she'd just look like a twat if she tried this,

Op are you public or private sector?

whiteworld · 25/01/2019 10:19

Whoever gets the best score wins, absolutely nothing else is taken into account, only the score.

This sounds like such a shit system. Why are you being reinterviewed for your own job, which you know you can do well? Why is only the interview score taken into consideration, not your actual performance in the job? Sounds bonkers to me.

Sorry, OP, I have no advice, but huge sympathy.

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