to pull out of interview because I'm not prepared?

[MaddenA]

I was offered a job interview on Friday, for tomorrow morning. It feels really short notice. I've been away with friends a weekend for my son's birthday. It just wasn't something I could cancel. The job is quite different to what I'm doing now, but is internal. I just don't feel prepared at all. I crammed on Saturday night when the kids were in bed and this evening. I've been going through mock questions and I'm just stumbling over my words and tripping over myself. I feel so unprepared. I really want the job but I feel so nervous and sick about tomorrow.

WIBU to pull out now? Or just go for it, but risk embarrassing myself?

was it a recruiter arrange you a Monday interview?!

I suggest call in sick n rearrange, if you really want to give it a good go.

otherwise go ahead treat it a practice
or not waste everyone’s time.

I think pulling out now is probably as bad as a not great interview. Have a re-read of the job spec, think about your current role. And have a go. I often find I’m terrible at preparing for interviews as I get so nervous and it’s never as bad when I’m in there.

If they didn’t think you could do the job, they wouldn’t have invited you for interview.

Just do your best, you may surprise yourself.

If you pull out, you definitely won’t get the job. Give it your best shot and you’ve got a chance at least?

It is very short notice which sort of says to me it is something of a formality - we would have to give at least two weeks notice for applicants. Do you know if there are other interviewees?

I would just go for it - be enthusiastic, open and honest - nothing wrong with saying 'that's a good question, I haven't had time since Friday to research that but ...'

This is a roller coaster of contradictions 😅

I have absolutely no idea. I've never had an interview at 2.5 days notice before!

I'm the same and I always do well, but I'm never usually this nervous!

Given its internal, I wouldn't pull out no or pull a sickie. I don't think that would reflect well on you in the grander scheme of things. I'm in the camp of give a go.

I'd never call in sick when I'm not. I just have a bad feeling that I'm going to make a fool out of myself

Do you want the job?

I think so. A little undecided.

Maybe the lack of notice is because they didn't want you to over prepare. If you pull out I think that's you not getting a job. Just go for it. You've probably done more than a lot of people would with your cramming.

I think it's as awkward to reschedule as to not feel prepared.

I was in a similar boat the other week - except I did gave plenty of notice. I also have a toddler. Was expecting the interview to be a carcrash, but it was okay, and they made me an offer. I was honest about my lack of preparation and reasons for it when it was obvious ("we haven't had presentation slides from you" - "no, you won't, as I finished writing it at 10pm last night, when Id finally got my baby to sleep!")

If you can reframe it as practise for the next one, so you feel better prepared then, it may help. Take the pressure off and try to just enjoy a change from the day job.

Good luck.

You’re just having a panic. Get a good nights sleep and go for it.

Agree with pps - this sounds like this interview is more of a formality. they have given you 0 working days to prepare, so don’t stress.

If you want this job, you obviously know enough about it to be able to talk passionately about why you want it.

think of the things you are proud of in your current job- make sure you include these in any answer.

you also already know the company well, so make sure you have a good answer for your views on latest strategy or initiative that is going on.

and enjoy it! It’s a chance to show off how wonderful you are and the ideas for how to approach this new role.

good luck

It's a really short amount of time they've given you to prepare, it doesn't seem fair as presumably other candidates would have been given way more notice.
I'd show up, but be quite direct & honest about being away at the weekend, make sure they're aware that more time to prepare would been preferable, in a nice way.
Make sure you ask lots of good questions at the end to show you're interested (& put them on the spot a bit) 😉 Good luck!

Deep breaths. Anxiety and panic are the enemy here. You’re not unprepared.
Get a good nights sleep and focus on what you know, not what you don’t.
Stay calm in the interview, keep breathing, and don’t be afraid to say you don’t know something rather than waffling. You can do this! Good luck.

I feel like I should've started prepping before I was offered the interview but if I wasn't then offered one I would've just wasted my time!

You can’t endlessly prepare for every outcome in life. Don’t worry, you’ll do well I’m sure.

You are catastrophising.

You have done previous interviews and done them well.

People who over rehearse and over prepare for interviews cone across as robotic in a lot if cases anyway. Being tesl works out much better.

Make a note of 5 essential things they need to know before you finish the interview. Then take everything else in your stride.

If it was up to me, no one would get any notice of an interview. They would all be done on the spot and it would be much fairer to everyone. People who are ready for the role typically would do the gest without prep.

I'd just be honest and tell them that due to short notice and a pre-planned weekend away with other people, you've had minimum time to prepare, but as you're really interested in the post you would still like them to consider you, and you feel that as with everything, if appropriate training is given, you will be fantastic at what ever it is. Good luck OP, you've got this!

My DH was the exact same recently, 2 hours before the interview he announced he wasn't going. Felt like he was wasting everyone's time and he would never be prepared enough. I managed to talk him round.

He got the job

I think you'll surprise yourself with how you do. If you go and be professional answer what you can and if they ask you something you really don't know then just say that. They aren't going to expect you to know all answers, just say if you get the job then say im a quick learner and whatever i don't know I'll learn quickly with job training.
Pulling out will only look negatively on you which could hurt your chances. - I've held a lot of interviews so can say this.

I think it would be poor form to pull out now given that it's internal.
Do your best, and treat it as practice and a chance to talk about the role. You could always mention that you didn't have much time to prepare if it comes up.
Good luck!

I really feel for you. I had an interview once at a weeks notice that I did about 10 hours prep for - had to do presentation. I ran out of time to do more due to work / 2 kids / volunteer work. My feedback was that presentation was great but I'd not done enough research re technical aspects of questions. The person who got it was single with no kids...

Just go for it. Identify the examples you want to share of your skills and experience. Don't tell them about your weekend away. Just say I'm thrilled to have this opportunity to interview for the role.