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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think things like this just don't happen

29 replies

Milkandcreaminmine · 28/11/2019 18:34

I've just received an email to say I have an interview for my dream job. It's in the place I already work and I've thought about how I would do it ever since I heard about the role. I would do it for free. I would do it for my current pay grade.
They've advertised it as two grades above my job and the previous person in the role had a professional qualification. I don't but I have loads of passion and commitment. I've worked my ass off every day since I started here and if I do say so myself I'm a pretty good employee.
But they just don't give jobs like that to people like me do they? They don't offer nice well paid jobs to admin assistants do they? I feel like an imposter. I have some experience in this field but not in a lead role. I have ideas but usually I pass them on to someone who goes on to make them happen. Does someone know they're my ideas?
I'm so confused about why I was picked. Not fishing for compliments just a bit of enlightenment about what is happening!

OP posts:
Milkandcreaminmine · 28/11/2019 18:36

I know it's just an interview but to even be shortlisted is astounding as my friend in H.R said they had hundreds of applicants.

OP posts:
OrangeZog · 28/11/2019 18:38

I'm so confused about why I was picked.

Because they think you are a serious consideration for the job. Go and prove them right. Good luck.

PolloDePrimavera · 28/11/2019 18:39

They won't just give you an interview so as not to hurt your feelings! They must think you could do the job! Well done and good luck.

onemorecupofcoffeefortheroad · 28/11/2019 18:39

Fabulous - well done. Maybe they spotted something special about you. Try and drop the imposter syndrome - I also suffered with it - then watched loads of TED talks and stuff to get over it and they worked. Good luck!

Louise91417 · 28/11/2019 18:39

Well done you...you have obviously made a positive impression. Good luck for the interviewWink

runningintothesunset · 28/11/2019 18:41

Take all of your enthusiasm and passion into the interview! As someone who interviews I prefer enthusiasm and potential to qualifications

donttellmetwice · 28/11/2019 18:43

Gotta fake it 'til you make it! Go in there and believe you deserve this role even if you don't think you do! They have picked you for a reason and well doneSmile

Milkandcreaminmine · 28/11/2019 18:44

Thank you so much everyone. I am a confident person but when I think about the caliber of the other candidates I panic! I'm sure they have their reasons but I just feel like why didn't they choose a qualified member of staff?
I will look up the TED talks.

OP posts:
Biggie123 · 28/11/2019 18:45

Congratulations!! What a compliment.
They think you can do it.
And they know you, your track record in terms of reliability, fitting in culturally etc
I suggest you prepare for the interview and change your mindset a little bit. Have that confidence in yourself that they have. See yourself in the role and believe that you can bring more to it than the other candidates. Think about what you have done there that shows you would be a good choice.
Is it somehow in media? That’s the feeling I get.
But anyway, good luck! And congratulations again.

Jenala · 28/11/2019 18:46

Your passion probably shone through your application. Let it shine through in your interview too! Qualifications aren't everything. Congrats and good luck!

MikeUniformMike · 28/11/2019 18:48

They see the passion and commitment, they see that you work your ass off. You have ideas and some experience.
They want to interview you. Why would they do that if they didn't believe you could do the job?

Of course you can do it.

Milkandcreaminmine · 28/11/2019 18:52

@Biggie123 no it's in a prison! But I love the job and this is linked to involvement and adult education, which is my passion. I have a degree but I'm not a teacher or a scholar by any stretch! But I get on with the guys and I love hassling people for opportunities.

OP posts:
LikeaHurricane · 28/11/2019 18:58

You're no imposter lady! You said yourself, you're hard working, passionate and committed, you're creative with the ideas you come up with ... (think how those ideas would have turned out if you had been in a position to lead on them, I'd guess better than they did!)
I'm not surprised they want to interview you and if a professional qualification is preferred, then you'd be willing to do it retrospectively I'm sure? Can't see why that wouldn't be an option, it can't be an essential criteria for application, as they wouldn't consider you if it was.
Do your preparation and go get it Smile and please let us know how you go on.
So much good luck!!

Candlecandle · 28/11/2019 18:59

This is so exciting!!!!! I really really hope you get it!! Passion and commitment are things I look for over qualifications when employing people. Good luck! ❤️

Hecateh · 28/11/2019 19:00

Just make sure that passion and commitment comes across in the interview. Whilst certain knowledge and experience may be essential in the long term you can gain them as you go along.

Your enthusiasm and passion makes you very desirable and the know already your work ethic

itsgettingweird · 28/11/2019 19:07

I've always been a great believer that senior management may talk and interact most with a certain group of colleagues but a good management will know what each employee brings to the business.

In a way that you get those who talk the talk to management daily about what they age doing and you get those who actually keep quiet and do!

You are clearly a doer and have a good management who recognise your worth.

Beat if luck WineThanks

Hopefloatsaway · 28/11/2019 19:22

as my friend in H.R
Your friend in hr shouldn’t really be discussing how many applicants they have had or anything else. You wouldn’t want people thinking you got it because your friend was in hr.

Have confidence and believe in yourself. It will shine through

Stickybeaksid · 28/11/2019 19:25

Do it. You will be great. I have my current job which I love because I was good at something else. I had none of the experience required but I had other experience and lots of enthusiasm. I got the qualification afterwards.

SmudgeButt · 28/11/2019 19:25

Very best of luck with this!!

Do all the prep work as you would for any interview, press your best interview gear, take a deep breath before you go in and do the full song and dance number.

And then don't worry about it. If you have been asked to the interview it means you are worth talking to. If it works out great! If not it's great practice and you'll possible network a bit and be all set up for the next great role that comes along.

(off to put the Bolli on ice)

PurpleFrames · 28/11/2019 19:27

Aww fantastic well done x it's nice to hear these positive stories. Hopefully seeing all these strangers rooting for you will help you feel positive. Maybe print out some of them and keep for positive reenforcement

Milkandcreaminmine · 28/11/2019 19:44

Thanks everyone you've all been so lovely. I think the reason I'm pinching myself is that o never expected to have a career. I've always floated around, had two kids under two at a young age, never really was promoted or appreciated. Two years ago when I had my son I was crying in a citizens advice at being made homeless whilst on maternity leave. I never expected to be able to go back to work, let alone get a good job.
When I got this one everything suddenly clicked and I realised it was for me. People saw something in me and I wasn't just the girl that answered the phone or delivered the post. I got given responsibilities and space to develop. Two weeks after starting I was asked about if I wanted to study further and where I wanted to be in five years. They actually care.
I want to pay the service back for believing in me and to model to our guys that you can change. If I can go from the 'almost considering shoplifting' to feed my kids to their involvement coordinator then what can they achieve. Our country is brilliant.

OP posts:
BertieBotts · 28/11/2019 19:53

Imposter syndrome!!

Qualifications are not that important. They can be useful, but really they are only a shorthand to say "I can do this thing". It doesn't mean that ONLY people with that qualification are capable of that thing (obviously for things like medicine, you do need the training in Doing The Thing - but generally). Once you have a foot in the door at a company, they tend to look at whether they think you can do the thing, whether or not you have the qualification. For people outside the company, unless they have the qualification, the company doesn't know - so you are at an advantage compared with random people on the street.

Also, quite a shocking number of people are really, really terrible employees. If you actually care about your job and do it to the best of your ability AND have interest in something higher, this is like gold dust and a good company will notice that and often recognise that lack of qualifications doesn't necessarily mean you're less able, but often that you simply didn't have the opportunity at the same time as the other, more qualified candidate did.

So in short, yes, companies really do give jobs like this to people like you. Go, be yourself, do your best, and communicate. An interview is as much for you to see if the job appeals to you as it is for the employers to see if you appeal to them.

Tighnabruaich · 28/11/2019 19:53

You totally deserve this - and you can ace the interview!

Alarae · 28/11/2019 19:54

Unless it's mandatory, I've always found recruiters will go for people who have a clear passion and heaps of potential over someone mediocre but has the right qualification.

You can always get the qualification on the job if its essential but it's difficult to encourage passion and motivation if it truly isn't there.

I got my current role even though I wasn't fully qualified for it (working towards it). As they could see I was passionate for it they downgraded the role to the next rung down (due to policy I couldnt be the role recruited for without being qualified) and offered it to me.

I've been there a year, since qualified and actually two grades above what the initial post was advertised at.

Be confident OP! Show them why you are the best fit.

carly2803 · 28/11/2019 20:09

very best of luck!

they obviously have faith you cando it - so go in and believe it!

Then come back and tell us your start date ;)

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