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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I didn’t even get an interview :(

105 replies

Colourblocks · 05/10/2022 16:59

I feel really embarrassed and disappointed in myself.

I am currently unemployed and wanted something to work around my nearly 4 year old and childcare. He doesn’t start school properly until next September. And because I struggle with my mental health.

Anyway, I applied for a casual job in a local library as the hours would fit in around my son and you can pick and choose what you want to do, so it was pretty ad-hoc.
I thought I’d written a really good personal statement and was pretty convinced I’d get an interview at the very least.
Long story short I haven’t received anything - no phone call or email so I’m assuming I wasn’t shortlisted for an interview.
I then emailed and they told me they’ve already shortlisted.

My background is working in schools as a support assistant/TA but I no longer want to do that, so thought I’d try something different.

I just feel really stupid and annoyed at myself.

If I can’t even get a job like this, I’ve got no chance long term.

OP posts:
Noteverybodylives · 05/10/2022 17:54

Honestly this happens a lot! You may find you have it a few more times and it’s so disheartening.

Thank them for the opportunity and say you hope a position comes up in the future and if they have any feedback for you.

The place I was working at as maternity cover had a job come up for my exact position, as the women chose not to return.

I was a bit gutted that they advertised it knowing that I could have just continued without having to go through the faff of applying.

But I didn’t even get an interview!
Even though I had done an excellent job for 10 months!

Funnily enough, the person who got it just happened to be related to the person in charge.
They only lasted 2 months and then the person after that lasted 4 weeks - I’ve never felt so smug!

They often have to advertise these jobs even if they have someone in mind so please don’t let it knock your confidence.

Whats meant to be, will be.

BluesDad · 05/10/2022 17:55

Just think of it as their loss not yours.

MajorCarolDanvers · 05/10/2022 18:05

You don't know how many applicants they had - could have been many dozens.
They might have internal applicants.

Please don't be put off after one try. You will likely have to apply for quite a lot of jobs before finding the right one for you.

Do you have any friends who do recruitment as part of their jobs who could look your CV/applications over to give you feedback?

bingotime · 05/10/2022 18:05

@TheGoodFighter

Such an unnecessarily unkind response.

Says a lot about you that yours is the only unkind one on the thread.

pattihews · 05/10/2022 18:11

Lots of people love the idea of working in a library. I had a friend working in IT and making serious money who wanted something stress-free where she could go home at the end of the day and forget about work. She applied a number of times to local libraries because she figured they'd offer her what she wanted. She eventually got a job at the big city library — but doing their IT work for them, not as a librarian. You'd find it easier to get a evening job in a supermarket than a job in a library.

marvik · 05/10/2022 18:17

Working in a library is not stress free! Many customers have mental health needs. Some will have poor digital literacy and get frustrated when trying to use the computers/if computers have all been booked up. Being able to deal calmly with people who are angry and upset is really important. Others will come in because other services only want contact by phones that go unanswered or webpages. Many service users do not have English as their first language. Issues around safeguarding come up.

An understanding of/commitment to equal opportunities policy is really important.

Staffing levels in libraries have also been cut so being able to prioritise and work under pressure is important.

They'll be looking for people with good IT and customer service skills. Knowledge of a community language would be a plus. If you haven't previously worked in a library having volunteered in one would strengthen your applications.

Hope that helps.

VanillaSpiceCandle · 05/10/2022 18:18

bingotime · 05/10/2022 18:05

@TheGoodFighter

Such an unnecessarily unkind response.

Says a lot about you that yours is the only unkind one on the thread.

I don’t think it was unkind at all. I think ‘a job like this’ is really rude. It’s the kind of thing that comes across strongly too when speaking to someone.

OP, I think you’ve seriously underestimated how popular flexible jobs in libraries are. Working in a library is many people’s dream.

KingCharlespen · 05/10/2022 18:19

You need to find out why you've not been shortlisted. My experience of local government shortlisting was that applicants had to repeat the requirements word for word. I always remember an administrator with 30+ years experience in our own organisation didn't state that she was competent in using word so wasn't shortlisted. Absolutely nothing was implicit.

Pumperthepumper · 05/10/2022 18:20

Remember for libraries too, they’ll have masters-degree qualified, chartered librarians applying for the assistant posts just to keep their hand in.

scarletisjustred · 05/10/2022 18:24

There are people with actual librarian qualifications. It's not just putting boodks back on shelves and dishing out library cards. One of my friends has a masters in a foreign language, did librarian qualifications after the degree, has incredible research skills and works in a university library. I don't think you would stand a chance against somebody like that if they applied.

woff45 · 05/10/2022 18:24

You sound like you think the job is beneath you. I know my confidence goes up the less attracted I am to the job. However you view it, as has been stated library jobs are popular, not to mention amongst graduates who are looking to qualify down the line. Whilst you might not view "a job like this" in high regard, others do.

Smartiepants79 · 05/10/2022 18:28

You could have been one of 20/30 other mums all wanting it for exactly the same reasons as you! It sounds like a lovely cushy little job. Loads of people would have applied. Some of them with more/better experience than you.
keep looking and applying. You won’t get anything if you give up after one try!

surreygirl1987 · 05/10/2022 18:28

Ha. I have a PhD and worked in education for years... applied for a job as a librarian while abroad and also didn't get an interview. I thought it was funny. Don't let it bother you. They would have had LOADS of applicants!

BrokenWing · 05/10/2022 18:28

You are taking it way too personally. They probably had 100s of applications. They cant interview all, you were just one of the many who were very capable of doing the job who were unlucky.

Shift your mindset, get a thicker skin and keep applying.

woff45 · 05/10/2022 18:31

@surreygirl1987 unless your PhD is in some type of information studies it won't be relevant, even then it wouldn't qualify you, librarian is a professional role with its own qualifications and professional body. Why would a PhD automatically qualify you? People don't assume so in other types of jobs.

SarahAndQuack · 05/10/2022 18:32

I don't know why, but people are weirdly arrogant about librarians! I agree with PP that you sound as if you think it is a job that ought to be easily in your reach, but you've no particular qualifications or experience for it?

Someone I know once applied for a job in a university library - a job that was, realistically, seeking someone not only with advanced librarianship qualifications, but also conservation and archiving experience - and he was shocked they didn't fall over themselves to give it to him, despite the fact he had not one single bit of qualification or experience in librarianship.

It's as if people think all you do is sit around smiling and reading books?

I get why you feel frustrated not to be a sure-in for a job you fancied, but I'd say next time, research it a bit and if you find it's a bit of a reach for you, write a CV that explains why, rather than assuming you'd already be perfect.

Booklover3 · 05/10/2022 18:33

They might have already known who they wanted to give the job to OP… but they still have to advertise and interview regardless.

it’s not you. You’ll find something even better I am sure!

Ponderingwindow · 05/10/2022 18:33

They will have no shortage of candidates with library degrees and experience hoping to work part-time. This is definitely not cause to be discouraged.

SarahAndQuack · 05/10/2022 18:34

surreygirl1987 · 05/10/2022 18:28

Ha. I have a PhD and worked in education for years... applied for a job as a librarian while abroad and also didn't get an interview. I thought it was funny. Don't let it bother you. They would have had LOADS of applicants!

OMG, and I cross posted with this. Um, sorry, @surreygirl1987, I'm sure you're not my acquaintance as he's a man, but he had exactly the same attitude! Nope, a PhD isn't a qualification for being a librarian; no, it's not 'funny' they didn't bother with you, and saying so makes it sound as if you think your PhD is worth something that it is not.

mansviewpoint · 05/10/2022 18:37

Being someone who has to recruit people, please be aware that not ALL CVs even get read by the recruiter. Some get blocked automatically if you have an agency inbetween you and the recruit, and also some just get lost, and some get delayed. It's rediculous but we ended up employing someone who 1 year earlier was denied an interview because I never got the CV from the agency. I always make sure that if the CV got to me then there is a written reason why the person didn't either get the interview OR didn't get the job if they didn't present well in the interview. but not everyone goes to that level and if they didn't treat you with enough respect to respond to say your CV didn't show enough experience for example then you really don't want to work for them because their day 1 approach was to not respect your time enough when you put yourself forward.

BorisByCandlelight · 05/10/2022 18:37

@Colourblocks Have to echo others, library jobs are usually really popular, drop them an email or call to ask for feedback and what would help if you are interested in another that should come up. It's always that sinking feeling when you don't get an interview but definitely don't feel too bad as again the library posts are popular!

WonderingWanda · 05/10/2022 18:48

Op please don't feel down about yourself not even getting an interview. Jobs like that will attract hundreds of applicants and when the pool is that big they will usually filter out with something arbitrary before even reading personal statements. For example they might have narrowed by previous library experience or gcse results. Keep looking and applying for jobs, it's hard to not get a look in and also hard to get a knock back but unless lots of feedback comes your way saying you are utterly rubbish then it is likely to just be not your lucky day.

2ManyPjs · 05/10/2022 18:51

@surreygirl1987 Why would working in education and a PhD qualify you for a library job though? It's a highly specialised role, especially now with digital delivery. You would need a degree (at the very least) in an Information Management subject for a lot of library jobs, often a Masters, especially in academic libraries. For local authority libraries, that's a whole other skill set, which your PhD will probably not equip you for either.

LaurieFairyCake · 05/10/2022 19:00

I previously worked at band 6 in the civil service and couldn't get a part-time job in a library (a 60k job that organised govt papers in the library Grin)

Flexible library jobs are insanely in demand

LemonPledge555 · 05/10/2022 19:02

The libraries around here are super competitive for employment. I would guess they had a lot of applications, and possibly from people they knew. Don’t fret OP. What’s for you won’t go by you 💐