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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To walk into an interview knowing they have already made their decision.

24 replies

beanie35 · 13/07/2009 13:29

Just had to rant. Attended another interview today in the education sector, nicely presented-one candidate was wearing denim skirt and flip-flops! Only to realise that they had already made a decision and were just going through the motions.

The headmistress was gazing out of the window as I gave my answers to her assistant's questions , and she ended the interview by saying, 'we've had some excellent candidates already today, oh and of course yourself-we'll let you know'.

Wouldn't mind but the pay is awful-as is the school, and I could do the job standing on my head. Yet, I felt like such a berk.

Thanks for listening.

OP posts:

FaceBoak · 13/07/2009 13:35

you have my sympathy, i had thsi once. it is horrible, esp. as preparing etc is such a lot of work.

demand feedback etc. but let it go.

bran · 13/07/2009 13:43

I've been to a few interviews like that, where I was sure I wouldn't get it, or didn't want it. I used to either use it as practice or have fun by giving the challenging rather than safe answer. I usually used to get offered the job. It is annoying though, it feels like such a waste of everyone's time.

Fimbo · 13/07/2009 13:48

I filled in an application last week for a Mid-Day Supervisor role, never heard a thing and I thought they would have bitten my hand off as normally they can't fill these positions because it is only for 1hr right in the middle of the day. It was only advertised on the LEA website, normally there are ads plastered all over our village. I reckon the person who was leaving already had a replacement to step in but they had to go through the motions of advertising the role.

You have my sympathies Beanie.

castlesintheair · 13/07/2009 13:51

This happened to me once, it was totally humiliating. I ended up working for the same (huge) company and found out what a rubbish job it would have been, which made me feel better!

MarthaFarquhar · 13/07/2009 13:53

Sympathies - how rotten. I have one of these next week. Two posts available, two locums who have worked there as temps for ages being interviewed, and me, making up the number . Still, I'll show my face and perhaps they'll remember me if something comes up in the future.....

Original poster

beanie35 · 13/07/2009 14:03

Thanks for all your replies. I just keep thinking of how 'difficult' most of the students I saw stalking the corridors looked . It felt more like strangeways than a school.

Just wish I hadn't spent money on a new pair of smart shoes, bet the bloody candidate with the flip flops gets the job!

OP posts:

1dilemma · 13/07/2009 14:08

Oh yes It's horrid why do they bother? I went for an interview and just before going in one lovely ray of sunshine said 'I don't know why you're all bothering x and I have allready got the jobs we're doing a then b then c' one of the interviewers made a big fuss about the fact that I hadn't phoned someone up to ask about the job(I had literally come from the airport from holiday and they knew that, pre everyone having mobiles) he was the current boss of one of the ones who got the job .

whihc was the ones who said they would just a complete farce they should have saved us all the time wasted

NewTeacher · 13/07/2009 14:18

it is horrible and its not fair.

its a legal requirement though so they have to do it.

I think that its unfair to waste so many candidates time. Happens alot in schools, and if you know one is an internal candidate then you know oyou dont stand a chance in hell!

LadyPinkofPinkerton · 13/07/2009 14:23

Huge sympathy from me. I had this for an NHS job. Drove home 4 hours, a day early from a holiday for it. I was so frustrated.

Am actually job hunting atm and have seen a job advertised at the same hospital again but decided not to apply because I can't be bothered with that again.

Original poster

beanie35 · 13/07/2009 14:35

UPDATE- Suprise, suprise, they just rang and said they had offered the job to someone who had been 'working with the school' and who also had journalistic experience-WTF! That will be useful when a class of 25 15yr olds is trying to learn about shakespeare .

Is it too early to get that bottle of Blossom hill out of the fridge??

OP posts:

FaceBoak · 13/07/2009 14:36

feck'em

dilemma456 · 13/07/2009 15:04

Message withdrawn

neversaydie · 13/07/2009 16:03

My sympathies - it is horrible even if you were not sure that you wanted the job. Better luck next time!

Fimbo · 13/07/2009 16:12

Well stuff them. It's infuriating.

Good luck for next time Beanie

MarthaFarquhar · 13/07/2009 16:29

Bollocks to them.

Hope you're on the wine by now.

Smurfgirl · 13/07/2009 16:38

Its rubbish, my DH had this when he was applying for jobs in the education sector. He did get the job he wanted eventually and you will too. I know that sounds crass but we look back and feel glad that he had to wait until he got this job because its the best of the bunch.

StealthPolarBear · 13/07/2009 16:41

idiots. They are doing themselves no favours as they aren't necessarily getting the best person for the job. I work for the NHS and we treat interbnal candidates the same (although obviously we already 'have' their references). I have been turned down for a job in favour of someone external, and have done the same to a member of my team!

EyeballsintheSky · 13/07/2009 16:44

It is hard though. I have just interviewed some people today and the first candidate through the door was stunningly good, everything we were looking for. We did our very very best to give everyone a fair chance (we didn't stare out of windows etc) but it is hard for the interviewer when an early candidate blows them away and the others aren't up to scratch and you know from their application that they won't be (not implying you btw). We have to go through the motions but it would be easier if we could do a Mary Poppins and go out and say 'I'm sorry, the position has been filled'.

Sorry you had a crap time

MaggieBeeBeau · 13/07/2009 16:45

How bloody annoying! I'd invoice them for your time and expenses. They'd hardly reimburse you, but it would make the point.

ilovemydogandmrobama · 13/07/2009 16:48

Sympathies -- I had a similar interview a few weeks ago where apparently I had, 'an excellent interview...' but, 'the other candidate had slightly more experience...' (and who also has been the role for last 6 months....)

I even asked if there were 'a lot of candidates' which I understand is code for, 'do you already have someone in mind and would I be wasting my time...'

littlelamb · 13/07/2009 16:49

I went to an interview liek this once. It was a local authority job and I knew another person who went for it also- we were colleagues trying to get out of a nightmare workplace! We were both very well qualified for the job, but as soon as I walked in I knew it was most likely an inside candidate who got it. The thing that gave it away, rather than the feeling that they weren't really listening to me, was the fact that none of the panel would look me in the eye. I was cross afterwards as it had taken a long time for me to prepare for it, but sometimes that's the way it goes. They legally have to advertise the job, even if they have no intention of employing any of the outside candidates.

lupo · 13/07/2009 17:37

Sympathies, I an currently tring to get a job at a school at the moment and have come across this alot. I have previously only gone for and 90% time been succesful at office job interviews, but since trying to get into education sector, I often get the impression that interviewers have already got someone in mind.

I had one interview where one of the teachers was looking out the window and the other was yawning. I am clearly either very boring or they already have someone in mind. What a bloody nuisance and waste of time.

Have got another interview tomorrow and really hope that it is not the same going through the motions thing again!! arrrggghh

famishedass · 13/07/2009 17:48

Is it OK to ask whether any internal candidates have applied for the position before attending an interview. Do you think people would mind anyone asking?

Sassyfrassy · 13/07/2009 18:31

The annoying thing is as well that schools don't have to advertise jobs if they're not on the leadership scale. So, if they already have a perfectly good internal candidate that they want, why don't they save themselves and everyone else money and time and just appoint!

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