To cancel the interview?

[imsoverytired82]

I’ve got an interview tomorrow morning but after a heart to heart with my mum tonight we’ve agreed i don’t need an extra change. It’s an hour away and I’m woefully unprepared because my ASD daughter has been really tricky tonight. Do I cancel the interview?

I’d just attend for the experience tbh, it would be useful if you do feel ready to search in the future. Plus sometimes you need to step
outside your comfort zone to unlock a better life, ie this might be your nerves speaking.

Yes cancel don't waste any more of their time

Yeah cancel it if you don't want the job. They won't mind, at least one person usually drops out on interview day

It’s leading a big team. I’m leading a small team now. Feels like could be jumping from frying pan into the fire.

You’ll only know by attending the interview. You can see it as you interviewing them ie check what support would be in place, what the dynamic is like, what the team’s objectives are etc

What is it that’s made you think it’s a bad idea? Really issues, or last minute panic reinforced by your mum?

That I’d have to drive an hour each day twice a week which is hard when I’ve had a hard night with dd, not being eligible for parental leave for a year, having a probation period again, not being around the corner from my kids school, my kids loving school, having to do an interview, what if I’m rubbish at the job etc

What made you apply for the job in the first place? Are you sure it’s not last minute nerves making you think twice?

Exactly. You applied for the job for a reason OP. How big of a dealbreaker are we talking? what’s the salary difference?

Think you are right about cancelling. You know in your own mind it's not really for you, this job. Just traveling more will be stressful

That sounds like nerves talking and your mum is then reinforcing that and allowing negativity to creep in (they're good at that sometimes) An interview isn't a job offer, view it as an experience. An hour each way twice a week isn't a lot, is there a reason for being round the corner from your children's school? What if you'd be brilliant at the new job?
What are the pros of this job rather than focusing on the cons. Why is your kids loving school relevant to this?

This does sound like you are spiralling a bit xx

Moving school my kids are moving school this year. Salary difference is about 7k.

It’s the next step up for me.

You must have wanted the job when you applied!

Sounds like last minute nerves and your mum (for some reason) exacerbating that. Does she have form for telling you you can’t do things?

Attend for the experience and keep and open mind. Be aware that you are interviewing them as much as they are interviewing you.

If it's not right, fine. But keep your skills up.

I'd go, but remember interviews are two-way - what do they need to say to make you want yo take it?

I've had more than one interview where I've come out thinkjng, if they did offer, there's no way i want to take it. But i didn't know that going in.

I think you’re having last minute nerves tbh.

logically, you can use this job as a stepping stone to secure a better job in the future? With the better salary/job title under your belt, in 6-12 months you likely can secure more local roles on a better salary and jump ship.

frankly the commute you’re worried about doesn’t sound that bad. Significant volumes of people commute to the office full time! Whereas you still get loads of flexibility it seems at only 2 days a week.

I think I’m the also ran

You need to get clear in your kind - are you pulling out because you don't want the job or are you pulling out because you think you can't do the job? If it's the former and you are not going to take it if offered, pull out, you are just wasting people's time. Candidates pulling out at offer stage can be hugely costly for a company. On the flipside, if you are prepared to do the drive and you would accept if offered then go for it.

The drive was far worse than I expected. I went though and did it. I flunked it I think so at least good experience for me!

Well done for going to the interview though and trying. You never know, it may not have gone as bad as you think and it’s all experience.

If the drive is that bad, realistically, are you going to accept the job if offered? If not, tell them now. Don't risk them setting their heart on you or rejecting other appointing candidates.