To think what's the point in heavily planning for a job interview as they've decided within the first few mi items?

[Justgettingbye]

I know the title doesn't sound great.
I'm fairly positive on the job searching front, I've recently had interviews where I have t got the job, some where I thought that went cringingly wrong so not surprised and others where I thought I did well and had a fair shot only to be given the phone call of doom.

I felt sad for a day and then thought well they wouldn't have been right for me anyway and moved on.

I've got another interview next week which I really want (more so than the others).

I just don't know how to plan for it/if at all? Ive not planned and planned to the enth degree and had the same outcome. Do we really have any control or have they decided before we even get in the room?

Tia

Sadly, sometimes they really have decided before you get there. I’ve worked in the public sector my whole life and for about 6 months during one of my roles I was based in the management office. I could see the hiring manager going through the applications going ‘no’, ‘no’, ‘oh that’s Sue, definitely interview her’ No prizes for guessing who got the job 🤷‍♀️ All you can do is your best I suppose. Good luck.

Oh and the applications are supposed to be ‘blind’ but if your experience is very specific then the hiring manager is obviously going to know it’s you.

I've interviewed a lot and I've been hugely swung either way by performance in the session itself. I do think the best possible prep is the low down from the person who is leaving a chat or visit beforehand because you need to know what is the image of itself the team has, and what do they aspire to - it needs to be you!

The short answer is, you have no way of knowing. Your only option is to prep fully and hope you will be considered fairly.

One small consolation is that no interview is ever wasted time, as it helps you hone your technique for the next time.

Sometimes they really have decided.
Sometimes they think they have decided and change their mind when another candidate performs far better at interview than the internal candidate whose job it was supposed to be...
Sometimes it’s a genuinely open process.

Can be either I think. Sometimes they've decided, sometimes they haven't. May as well prepare a bit.

Not always the case, people strong on paper may not perform well at interview, so they might be considered to be preferred, but it can change. Team fit is also a massive factor and someone less qualified, but with positive view, energetic and eager is also a factor.
Readin up on new company, visiting their website and knowing what they do helps and also preparing examples of where you can demonstrate your skills and experience.
Showing where you have solved a problem is always good or dealt with an issue.

I interviewed candidates for a position in my team last month. I interviewed 5 people, and while, yes, going in I had people who I hoped did well because their CVs were stronger, if they’re not the best interview I’m not going to hire them. The candidate I hired was not one of these people as she shone at interview and had really taken time to prep.

My best ever hire had no experience in my field, only admin experience. On paper not the strongest at all but did a great interview so I took a chance on her, and I’ve now promoted her twice. She’ll take on my role at a different company in the next few years, I’d bet on it.

I have done lots of interviews in my time from apprenticeship roles through to more senior manager positions. In my experience performance on the day - whether for an interview or full day assessment centre - made a huge difference. By this I mean well evidenced responses, transferable skills, understanding of the organisation and role, not just the 'gift of the gab'. The difference between written applications and cv's and what you get in person can be huge, often positive but sometimes embarrassingly negative when someone has 'embellished'. Definitely prepare, read the job description and person specification thoroughly and depending on the role think of examples from your previous experience that you can use to illustrate how you can meet these if asked and find about the organisation too. It is also worth getting feedback from your previous interviews if you can. Is there anything you can learn from this for interviews coming up or were you pipped at the post but they would welcome another application for a future vacancy. Good luck.

@TheCountessofFitzdotterel

Sometimes they really have decided. Sometimes they think they have decided and change their mind when another candidate performs far better at interview than the internal candidate whose job it was supposed to be... Sometimes it’s a genuinely open process.

^ this.

@HotChocolateLover

Sadly, sometimes they really have decided before you get there. I’ve worked in the public sector my whole life and for about 6 months during one of my roles I was based in the management office. I could see the hiring manager going through the applications going ‘no’, ‘no’, ‘oh that’s Sue, definitely interview her’ No prizes for guessing who got the job 🤷‍♀️ All you can do is your best I suppose. Good luck.

WHen we were living in Germany, OH was applying for teaching posts back in the UK. He was often called for interview and drove hundreds of miles to find it was stitched up for the internal candidate.

Thanks for replying! Seems like a mixed bag depending on the workplace/type role but no one would ever know anyway!

I've got an interview at a school for an admin job I obviously won't know if there's internal candidates and how many external or whether they've got someone they already know lined up. I hate it when you see the other candidates much rather when they stagger it!

Must just not think about and to the poster that said about practice just add it to the interview bed notch

Yep. And think about what you would want to know before they throw you to the lions, on the reception desk of a school. It's a two way process.

It’s tough.
For us especially due to Covid as less jobs coming out in a niche area.
I’m making myself the internal candidate by taking a fixed term post for a job that will be advertised as permanent. I’ll then have to apply for the permanent version of my job which if I perform well in will be tailored to what I do. It’s unfair but unfortunately I’ve lost out to people who have gone the exact same. Life’s not fair!

As a contractor, whose done interviews to death, they all ask the same questions. So I have a basic script I tweak accordingly. It's never failed me. It's rare I don't get the job. Nice suit, subtle makeup , smiley & calm. Stress your experience & adaptability. Job done.