AIBU to tell this company to go fuck themselves.

[Buccanarab]

More of a rant as I obviously won't tell them to do that.

Bit of background, recently graduated after going back to uni while working full-time and have been trying, unsuccessfully, to change careers (usually rejected at application stage, although have been getting further since leaving my age off, which is another thread altogether).

Finally get an interview for a role that's pretty much exactly what I want to do.
The first interview, goes really well and receive an invite to a 2nd and final stage interview within 24hours.
During this interview it felt more like a general chat than anything else, barely touching on any technical aspects of the role, or really on the role itself. At the end of the interview I outright asked if they had any concerns over my skills or suitability for the role and if they'd like me to demonstrate my ability to perform any technical aspects (had brought a portfolio of work that demonstrated this) as we hadn't cover them at all but the interviewer said no, no concerns and that I've come across really well and they'll let me know very soon.

Today I get a rejection email, sucks but hey ho, but what has absolutely pissed me off is the reason for my rejection is that the successful candidate "displayed better technical understanding and knowledge of the role'. Probably cause you didn't give me a fucking chance to display any technical understanding or knowledge of the role. They then go on to say they'd like to keep my details as they're may be another suitable role in the future.

Sorely tempted to email back telling them not to bother keeping me in file, if I'm not good enough now I won't be good enough in future.

But I won't. Will just file away the disappointment and get back to the drudgery of endless applications. Rant over.

That job probably had someone’s name on it so it was never going to be yours. Don’t give it another thought and move on. Good luck in your search. I hope you find a great new job which is worthy of your talents . Their loss.

Don't worry you find that employers feedback is often a bag of shite so they don't get sued.

Just be grateful they bothered to email you a rejection as lots of employers stopped about 15 years ago.

I had an interview and feedback very like that. It was really odd and I specifically asked at the end about going into more depth and covering missing areas. Feedback was bizarre. I was annoyed but I assume it was a job that was already allocated to someone inhouse.

I had an interview where I was asked about when I had to take control of a situation. I was told at feedback I was too authoritative .
A few months later I saw the interviewer on an old TV program - looked like he’d had a serious demotion for one hell of a fuck up which had endangered lives despite numerous people warning him..... I was glad I didn’t get it then!

I'd do the exact opposite. Reply thanking them for agreeing to interview you, tell them how much you enjoyed the interview process, and that you'd love to hear from them if anything else comes up or the other person doesn't work out.

General bit of advice.....be as nice as you can to people on your way up, because you might just bump into them on your way back down again.

Or....the toes you tread on today might be on the feet you need to kiss tomorrow.

I had an interview for a teaching job once, where I had to teach a lesson to Reception. I was taken along to the classroom at 9am with all my resources (lots of practical activities so loads of stuff) and walked into the classroom to find 30 5-year-olds and 6 adults all sat waiting for me. I was given absolutely no time to set up, or get my bearings, or introduce myself to staff and give them roles; I had to go straight into teaching, while trying to unpack what I needed to start the lesson.

I didn't get the job and my feedback was that they had decided not to appoint and keep the current teacher in post as they were "looking for an outstanding EYFS teacher". I wish I'd replied that I'd love to see any EYFS teacher be outstanding with no time to prepare the classroom, no space to put things, without knowing the school, the classroom, any of the adults, any of the children and in an interview situation. I know of no-one who would have an observed lesson that starts while they're still walking into the classroom and having to talk to a class of 5-year-olds whilst trying to find somewhere to put all the resources down.

Sometimes, OP, interviewers just need to give some reason that won't result in them being sued. I think be glad you didn't end up there (although it's annoying when it happens)!