Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

4 candidates, 1 role, smashed the interviews.. chances of success?

164 replies

anyonegotacrystalball4 · 22/09/2023 15:10

I know this is a really difficult question to answer but it's very stuck in my head!

I'm applying for my dream job and have had two very promising interviews, nailed the task set for me and had very good feedback on what a strong candidate I am.

There are three other candidates in the pool and I don't know anything about them. What would you say are the chances of success in this scenario if all members of the interview panel loved your CV and performance in interview.

Is it likely this could happen across the board, or is it a sign you're a strong contender?

My stomach is in knots waiting for the outcome, so please humour me with what your view is on this one!

OP posts:
CharlotteBog · 22/09/2023 15:59

How niche is the role?

I went for a job which was pretty much a side ways move skills wise, and I was very confident that I would get it because it was a very specific skill.

Original poster
anyonegotacrystalball4 · 22/09/2023 15:59

Tarantella6 · 22/09/2023 15:57

It's a useful skill to be good at interviews so that's good that they told you it had gone well.

But you've got to look at the team fit and if someone else does just as well as you but for whatever reason they think it'll work out better (let's face it, probably an illegal discrimination reason!) then that's out of your control and not a reflection on your performance.

And if that's the case it isn't your dream job - so if you don't get it, you keep looking, because you don't want to work somewhere that for whatever reason you don't fit in.

Thank you, very true. Its an industry they are trying to recruit more women into, so I'm hoping if they do discriminate it's in the direction of fulfilling that 😅 but for all I know, the other candidates could all be female too!

OP posts:
Clymene · 22/09/2023 15:59

determinedtomakethiswork · 22/09/2023 15:39

Some people on here are very strange. You don't sound arrogant at all. It sounds as though you represented yourself really well. I really hope you get it.

Hard agree.

There are a lot of women who enjoy bringing other women down, who are bitter and jealous of other women's success.

Good luck OP. Definitely sounding really positive. When will you find out?

AllyCart · 22/09/2023 16:00

anyonegotacrystalball4 · 22/09/2023 15:27

Why are women so mean on this forum? At no point have I said I think I'm gods gift or better than anyone else. Just to make that very clear. Actually I'm full of anxiety and low self esteem, and came here for support. I thought women were meant to lift each other up, not tear each other down. I think I'll bow out of this thread now. Wow.

It's a shame you decided to leave the thread, OP.

I think people are just being honest. It's a 1 in 4 chance unless you know the other 3 didn't do well.

Spookymormonhelldream · 22/09/2023 16:00

I do a lot of interviews and I would be amazed if 4 consecutive candidates all smashed it. I'd say the panel have probably already whittled it down to 2. Fingers crossed one of them is you!

OnAFrolicOfMyOwn · 22/09/2023 16:02

It sounds like you stand a strong chance! Shamrock

Clymene · 22/09/2023 16:02

Spookymormonhelldream · 22/09/2023 16:00

I do a lot of interviews and I would be amazed if 4 consecutive candidates all smashed it. I'd say the panel have probably already whittled it down to 2. Fingers crossed one of them is you!

Exactly. I have never interviewed candidates where they've all aced the tasks.

NineToFiveish · 22/09/2023 16:04

The waiting is the worst. I was job hunting earlier this year and its exhausting, running over the interview in my mind afterwards, refreshing my emails, jumping when my phone rang.

I'd say if you feel you did well, you probably did. Which gives you as good a chance as any. But there are so many factors outside of your control, it's best to leave it in the lap of the interview gods and try not to worry. Easier said than done, I know.

crimsonlake · 22/09/2023 16:04

As already said although you feel you did very well you have no idea how well the other interviewees did. It has happened to me a couple of times, came away thinking it went great and the panel liked me, then the job went to someone else. Fingers crossed for you though,

Fahhgedaboutit · 22/09/2023 16:06

You’ve got this! And if it doesn’t work out how you hope, something better is just round the corner.

Original poster
anyonegotacrystalball4 · 22/09/2023 16:08

Spookymormonhelldream · 22/09/2023 16:00

I do a lot of interviews and I would be amazed if 4 consecutive candidates all smashed it. I'd say the panel have probably already whittled it down to 2. Fingers crossed one of them is you!

I recently interviewed myself and of the 3 candidates we interviewed only one was strong. So I guess this is also feeding into my mind the same!

OP posts:
Original poster
anyonegotacrystalball4 · 22/09/2023 16:09

NineToFiveish · 22/09/2023 16:04

The waiting is the worst. I was job hunting earlier this year and its exhausting, running over the interview in my mind afterwards, refreshing my emails, jumping when my phone rang.

I'd say if you feel you did well, you probably did. Which gives you as good a chance as any. But there are so many factors outside of your control, it's best to leave it in the lap of the interview gods and try not to worry. Easier said than done, I know.

I like that terminology- very good idea.

I'm the same, answering my phone to all sorts of spam calls that I'd usually ignore, just in case!

OP posts:
Original poster
anyonegotacrystalball4 · 22/09/2023 16:10

Fahhgedaboutit · 22/09/2023 16:06

You’ve got this! And if it doesn’t work out how you hope, something better is just round the corner.

Thank you so much, I really need to channel this! ☀️

OP posts:
SurprisedWithAHorse · 22/09/2023 16:10

With only this information to go on, your chance is one in four. I'm sure you did smash it but that doesn't have any bearing on the likelihood of all the others smashing it too...and anyone who's in the final 4 will be a strong candidate.

Good luck.

Neverwatchedgameofthrones · 22/09/2023 16:11

anyonegotacrystalball4 · 22/09/2023 15:20

Well no I'm not asking what the success is prior to the interview. I'm asking that IF both the task and interview went as well as it could, whether those stats would likely change. I'm not thick!

Yeah and we aren't psychic.

Maybe they felt sorry for you and were just being nice? Maybe they told everyone they were a strong candidate? It's impossible to know.

DoubleTequilaSunrise · 22/09/2023 16:11

Honestly? That's why we recommend to apply to several (suitable) jobs and keep looking.

Nothing worst than obsessing about one role, and no one can tell you the outcome. Hopefully decision will be quick, but when it drags on, it's better to be busy with work and other applications, it's less painful to wait!

CherryMaDeara · 22/09/2023 16:12

I don't know but I wish you the best of luck 🍀

Do let us know how it goes!

Catastrophejane · 22/09/2023 16:14

If you think it went really well, it probably did!

You don’t sound arrogant- you sound like someone who is self aware. It’s just as important to know when you’ve done well, as when you’ve done badly.

I’m not great at probability, but if you don’t get it, then at least you can say you gave it your best shot. There’s always a chance that they have a preferred candidate (used to work there, friends with the boss etc.), but that is outwith your control.

In your situation, if they don’t offer it to you, then just keep doing what you’re doing in interviews. Also, stay friendly with them - they may have other openings in future.

Keeping everything crossed for you!

Let us know how you get on!

Thisismynewusername1 · 22/09/2023 16:15

I had similar. Did well at interview, feedback good, said on any other day I’d have easily got it.

however the person that did get it had done the exact same role, left to do that role in another company, didn’t like it, so applied to come back. Clearly they were already trained, knew the job inside out, so even thought I scored highly in interview, they did better.

you can’t control the other applicants.

side note- they offered me another role six months later based on the previous interview.

RoseBucket · 22/09/2023 16:15

No idea but good luck 🤞

Doingmybest12 · 22/09/2023 16:15

Glad you feel it went well you've done your best so hopefully that'll pay off but you can't predict how everyone else has done, if someone is already in the frame etc. Good luck .

BotterMon · 22/09/2023 16:16

Sounds positive. Yes statistically it's 25% chance in view of number of candidates but to get such positive feedback and perform well in the task has got to increase the odds of success.

Good luck!

BrightLightTonight · 22/09/2023 16:16

From my experience of interviewing staff. It’s not about your knowledge, it’s about your enthusiasm and how you will fit into the company.

Goid luck, and let us know how you get on.

EmmaPaella · 22/09/2023 16:16

Good luck! It really depends on the other candidates. I've got jobs where I thought I did terribly, and not got jobs where I thought I did well. I've also got jobs where I though I did well by the way! It really just depends on the competition.

Trickytimer · 22/09/2023 16:16

determinedtomakethiswork · 22/09/2023 15:39

Some people on here are very strange. You don't sound arrogant at all. It sounds as though you represented yourself really well. I really hope you get it.

I agree no arrogance in the OP just very excited !