I need your opinion! Does this look unprofessional?

[CallingFromLondon]

A job I'm absolutely desperate for and really really want have invited me to interview through NHS jobs.

I get to pick the time slot. The times are between 11am and 4.30pm (interview would them apparently finish at 5.30pm).

There are lots of different slots. My best guess is a lunch time slot is definitely not advisable since someone might be hungry and not really listening to me at interview

DH would need to take a half day to have DS but insists he doesn't want to go in late, and prefers to go in and leave early (so he's thinking an afternoon slot).

However, is it not best to be the first in and set the goal post? DH disagrees and says if you take the latest slot, you'll be the freshest in their minds.

What do you think?

Does it matter?

Well it's not actually any NHS job so I don't know if the points system will apply.

I have previously worked for the NHS, yes. I've interviewed someone for a junior role and gave it to the one person who actually showed up! The 6 other candidates didn't show, oddly enough. And one of them came in the following day, mistaken, having thought her interview was that day

Purple Thank you so much

I interview often. It gets a bit mundane in the middle. Pick first or last slot.

I had an interview where the interviewer actually fell asleep. Turns out he'd been on an overnight flight. I got the job. Once I got to know him it became a long running joke between us.

I've always tended to prefer the first interview as I'm best in the morning but I recently got a brilliant new job and I was the last person to be interviewed over 2 days of interviews (I finished around 5pm) and got the job so I'm rethinking my view now .

First and last do tend to set the standard and leave the biggest impression so might be good to pick one of these.

Definitely do not call for an 'informal chat' - this would be outside of process and make them think you'd be difficult to manage.

Always last.

I don't think it matters. I recently got offered an interview for a big job in my field. They offered me an interview day and time a couple days before Christmas. Due to end of school term and childcare, there was no way I could make it (job is London based and I am not in London). I had to re-schedule for January! And I was the last interview of the day (3:40pm). They called the next morning and offered me the job.

I suspect that I was probably the lead candidate anyway (I work in a very niche field, there aren't many of me in the UK to be fair). But I don't think it hurt to go last. That said, my dh had to take off a whole day to accommodate my interview travel, so surely it really don't matter that much and your dh can buck it up and deal whatever you decide to do.

I was interviewed for an nhs job once and as I sat outside waiting for them to call me in I heard them discussing how the previous applicant was perfect. They had basically already decided on her there and then before even seeing me.

I got my next nhs job, but that was also after they had interviewed me after someone else. I gues when they know, they know.

Good luck!

I interview a lot in the NHS and in Universities the time-slot doesn't matter but what will matter is if your DH gets home late...with my dh I would have to insist he goes to work AFTER my interview as he would underestimate how long it will actually take him to get home etc and could get caught with something at work and think another 2 mins won't make a difference. Whatever happens ((if he is anything like my DH) you will be at home watching out the window for him and getting stressed. If that really isn't an option I would agree a time that I would drop the children off to him at his work that allows me plenty of time to get back to the interview location without having any panic i.e. for any NHS location I have to travel to I assume it will take at least 30 minutes to find parking and that that might be a long way from the building where you are being interviewed.Good luck

1. Its for a job not a frivolity so DH can fit around what you want
2. When do you feel you perform best? I would personally find it hard to be on good form after a morning of childcare.
3. Good luck!

The time to ring for an informal chat/look around is before you put the form in IMO. After that it is interfering with the process. Most of public sector does competency based with a scoring system, so you all get the same questions. Think carefully about the key words for each competency and make sure you drop them in and have a good example of the competency.
Make sure that you have some relevant questions to ask them.
Also be prepared for them to offer an earlier interview if you pick the last slot and someone drops out. Used to annoy me if a candidate dropped out and we were hanging about, although it gave an opportunity to write up the earlier candidates.

I was just offered an NHS position. I had the first slot...

I would go first only because I want to get it over with.

Currently waiting to hear back about three interviews funnily enough but I won’t get to choose the time slots

How did it go?