To think 1 day isn't enough to prepare for an interview?

[ivyandbaby]

Feeling a bit annoyed/surprised to be honest. Found out I have an interview tomorrow morning and was called this morning to be told? This is for a professional role where I need to go over the company, etc.

Surely they should give longer than 24 hours?

We move quickly at the moment we have learnt the hard Way. Don’t worry about not being first choice the process often causes candidates to move up and down the rankings. Good luck

I don't know when you applied OP of if it was for a very specific role, but at my place we are expanding our team generally on an ongoing basis so offer interviews whenever we see candidates we like, and as people said, the market is so hot right now that we are conducting the whole process on a much quicker timeframe as good candidates get snapped up elsewhere otherwise. So think of it in a positive light! Good luck OP!

I wouldn’t like this either. I’m not actively looking for jobs so only go to interviews where a recruiter has contacted me and sold it to me, which happens rarely. Means I like some time to mentally prepare to be in interview mode.

That said, as long as you’ve got a decent outfit, have the logistics of attending in place and can spare a little time beforehand to check them out online and think of some questions, I think it will be fine. Annoying, but fine.

Well done on getting the interview. If you can't cram enough before the interview can you remind them in the interview that you only had 24 hours notice.

Good luck (and stop fannying around on Mumsnet 😅)

I was emailed at 5pm with a calendar link for 8.30 the next morning for a zoom interview it was ok, there wasn't a presentation or anything but I did do some research that night and asked some relevant questions which the interviewer seemed surprised and impressed with.

I was contacted the next day (friday) for an in person interview on the Monday. As PPs have said the market is hot atm and I suspect due to the role in my case there was an element of testing how well you do under pressure/thinking on your feet.

It's hard to rearrange my existing work at that notice without dumping on my current employer, let alone child care (neither of which is a problem if I actually got the job). Less of a problem if its a 20 minute phone interview than an in person one with travel time.

Depends on the type of job and type of interview? If it's just a first interview for a job in your sector, 24hrs is fine. If it's an interview that involves a presentation or anything to prepare then no.

I am hiring at the moment and I see first interviews more as a way for me to sell the job and company than the other way around. But I'm in a candidate led industry.

@ivyandbaby

Oh Gosh I didn't think of it being because another candidate dropped out/didn't accept the interview invite lol! That actually makes sense, I hope not, means I wasn't really wanted for interview in the first place!

Doesn't matter why you have an interview, you have one so go for it. Less time is good because you can't stress about it for weeks, can't spend hours on stuff. Do your homework with focus and speed. Wear whatever you feel is appropriate and you feel good in. Smile and do your best. If you get it then you can look back on this week and be amazed that you had no idea about it on Monday and now you have a new job.

It might be their strategy - the people who really want to work for this company would know about them enough already. I would be concerned you think 24hrs is not enough time - suggests you did not give enough thought into how much you wanted to work there.

That actually makes sense, I hope not, means I wasn't really wanted for interview in the first place!

It just means against everyone else’s cv or application it wasn’t as strong.

But I will say I’ve interviewed someone who was a last minute replacement and had a weaker CV and recruited them. Interviews are your chance to show you, please don’t go with the ‘didn’t want me’ mindset.

I agree with you but try to put it to one side and do your best. Good luck!

I had this recently but it went OK. Less prep but still got the job!

@ittakes2

It might be their strategy - the people who really want to work for this company would know about them enough already. I would be concerned you think 24hrs is not enough time - suggests you did not give enough thought into how much you wanted to work there.

Any company thinking this is a good strategy is not adapting to the current reality skilled talent is in hot demand atm, you don't screw around with them playing silly tricks like this.

A day is plenty. Just get prepping now or later on.

Use the STAR technique, go through your CV and the job description.

Think of all possible questions and answers both sides will have and good luck!

Also, you can state to the interviewer, I've only been offered this interview at short notice. Most interviewers will give you a bit of leeway re this because though they know you still have time to prep it's not the usual time you'd get to prep.

It’s fine unless you need to do a big presentation or something (unless you need to organise childcare or time off work )
I got 24 hours notice and there WAS a big presentation once. I told them I would do it but on a subject of my choice to make it easier. They agreed and I got the job - my manager said he was impressed that I pushed back. Won’t always be the case I realise though

How long does it take you to prepare? A few hours is plenty. I view their website and download a copy of their accounts from companies house. Takes not long.

It is short notice. However you don’t have time to overthink it and will have it all over soon!

@Hoppinggreen

It’s fine unless you need to do a big presentation or something (unless you need to organise childcare or time off work ) I got 24 hours notice and there WAS a big presentation once. I told them I would do it but on a subject of my choice to make it easier. They agreed and I got the job - my manager said he was impressed that I pushed back. Won’t always be the case I realise though

Pushback can be a real positive if it's done correctly and it suits the role.

So how did the interview go?

I sometimes get interview requests from recruiters with a "there's this new hot role that fits your profile, and the potential boss is free in the next hour, can you make it" notice these days, without even knowing much details about the role itself. I thought it more or less comes with professional roles, no?

What are you preparing that you need more notice? Surely have prepared somewhat by preparing and submitting your application?
If yiu have to give a presentation, yes it's not on, but for an initial interview I'd say it's fine.

It's a very hot market right now and when I'm looking I'm not dallying. Candidates are interviewing for multiple companies, if they all gave several days lead in time to evry candidate and fir every interview (2 interviews is pretty standard), the whole process would take ages and I'd have accepted another offer by then...

Can you not tell them that unfortunately you can’t take time off work at such short notice to attend and could they do another time? I think under 24 hours’ notice is unacceptably short if you have an employer and need to get permission to be off / book holiday off / sort cover for your work etc etc.

^ oh god, just saw your initial post was dated yesterday, so my advice is totally useless! Hope you did well!

I got told about an interview at 1700 the night before. It was at 10am the next morning. I think my manger thought we'd arranged it!