Use the job interview as a training opportunity?

[Mls1984btc]

Going for a job interview in a few weeks time. Quick chat with the interviewer has revealed some interesting insights i.e. they're interested in meeting me (niche field) but already has someone performing the role unofficially. This person will be interviewed in addition of me.

Is it strange that instead of being angry, I'm actually rather grateful for the information? However, I've also want to use this interview opportunity to practise my skills. My interview feedback history so far has highlighted my issue with wafffling and going off tangent so this time round I want to go in with my notepad and write down the questions and formulate my answers accordingly - something I wouldn't do in a routine interview. If they wanted my time fill the slots, I would like my time spent to benefit me in some way too.

AIBU?

Go for it.

Not unreasonable at all.

3 or 4 years ago I decided it was time I got a more senior role in my organisation. I applied for 12 jobs in 16 months, had 4 interviews and was offered 3 jobs. I learnt something from every one.

I think it's a great idea.

It's all experience, which is something I've always drummed into my DC if they haven't passed something first time.

I work in a field that is niche and competitive. I fucked up a few interviews and got to point where I would use your frame of mind to calm my nerves.

If I didn't get a role it was good practise for the next one. It worked but took a few fails before the success.

Good luck

Yep, I do it every 9 months or so as a learning exercise. I always think, I’ll go for an interview so I know what it’s like to interview for a higher position for when I’m ready, Somehow I ended up with two promotions over 18 months so I guess they knew I was ready before I did…

It's a great idea and thinking maybe I should do it too!

Is the writing and ruminating on the note pad that I am unsure of - this was frown upon when I was on the other side (i.e. being one of the interviewer). However, now that I'm about to be interviewed for a role that I have a low chance of getting, I'd like to take my time and concentrate on how I should have provided the answers for future reference, if I ended up in another interview that I actually had a good chance of.

PS just because someone is already doing it doesn't mean they want that person for the role. I once interviewed for a role and on the day of the interview I found out the current postholder (on a fixed term contract) was interviewing for it too, so I thought I didn't have a chance in hell. Guess what - they offered the job to me not him.

I think it's fine to think of it as training but I wouldn't use a notepad as I think it would reflect poorly on you. You don't know that they will go with the current person, and even if that's very likely, you don't know when you might want to interview with this organisation or with the interviewers again (they could move organisation). Write down the questions you were asked as soon as you get out (as in out the building, not out the room!) and formulate answers to them afterwards. Better still, have a think what questions you might be asked / what questions you've been asked before and how you'd answer them before hand.

that's what I was afraid of. Not the kind of impression I want to give.

That’s a very interesting thing to hear. I write in my pad at every interview and I ask the panel if it’s OK to make notes. And I perform very well at interviews so this clearly was never an issue. Also, having a lot of experience from “the other side”, I always thought it reflected very positively on a person if they were to make notes during the interview process. If anything, it showed me that they are interested, considerate and are paying attention and didn’t just rock up because they needed any job “like yesterday”.

I think a lot of recruitment processes have a candidate whose job it is unless they really mess up the interview, or to avoid accusations of an unfair process. Good that you can use the process for your benefit.

It may be that your current employer knowing you are considering a job move can lead to a positive response such as new responsibilities, but that depends on your workplace.

I guess it depends how you do it. I'd think scribbling a few things/words down as reminders was ok if you were fully engaged and interacting and it wasn't delaying your answers. But if you were focused on the notepad, there was silence while you formulated answers on your notepad and then you replied, I would see that as a negative. It would also possibly depend on the job you are applying for and how you have to interact with others during it.

YANBU at all. It’s a good opportunity to practise your interview skills. If you don’t get the job (which sounds likely as they already have someone performing the role), it’s a win because you’ve had a chance to fine tune your skills, and if you do, it’s a double win because you’ve fine tuned your skills and have a new job!

I assumed that OP was going to scribble general prompts rather than a full question. I don't see how taking a long time to formulate answers in the actual interview would be a good training practice since it doesn't reflect real-life scenario and feedback on the actual answers will be quite limited. I would have thought her scribbling was for a later reflection but I may have misunderstood what she is proposing to do.

I love interviews and always treat them like this. It's not 30 mins begging for a job , it's 30 mins discussing your experience, life, views and ambitions. Always a training experience.
Never turn down a job until you have been offered it. Candidates who say " I don't want to waste anyone's time" are usually useless. Grab every interview by the watts it's and enjoy!

@Catza what I was intended to do is once the interviewer ask the question, I will write the question and quickly note down 5 main points for me to elaborate and expand during the interview.

The issue I have is spending too much time on one point and not the rest. Also I have the tendency to go off tangent. I was hoping the bullet points could help rein me in and provide me with a structured response. What do you think?

Sorry OP I misunderstood. I think that jotting a handful of words to jog your memory / keep you on track sounds reasonable. But I'd also have a plan if they say they'd rather you didn't use a notebook. I hope the interview goes well and you feel as if it's been beneficial to you.

To be honest I'm rather sick of my fear of wasting/using up other people time to the detriment of my benefit. At this point I have realised my interview weakness and since the interviewer was being honest and upfront with me I would rather use that to my advantage. For them to have the pleasure of my time in exchange of me polishing my interview skills.