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Original poster

Interview advice - urgent ish (4 year Sahm gap)

16 replies

Gertrudethestag · 03/04/2018 17:41

Hello all,

I have randomly bagged myself an interview for a job tomorrow. I sent them my CV as I like the look of the business and they came back and said yes they had a vacancy and love the look of my CV.

The role I'm interviewing for is the next step up from my previous role. I left my job 4 years ago to be a SAHM!

So I have no idea why they would bother interviewing me. They themselves said "it could the perfect next step for you in your career".

I hope I don't end up wasting their time Blush.

Anyway, does anyone have any advice for the interview? I am beyond nervous but also quite excited!

What do I say to convince them I am ready for the next step in my career? (I am just assuming that they've had loads of applicants from people at the right level)

I can't believe they want to meet me and I shouldn't get too excited as I doubt I'll get the job. Last week I interviewed for a job at my level and I couldn't even get that!

The nerves are making me ramble Blush

OP posts:
Amethyst975 · 04/04/2018 21:12

Sorry, I've only just seen this. How did the interview go?

Your post struck a chord with me. I interviewed last year after taking three years out to be a SAHM. The interview was ok, didn't think it went that great, and I really struggled just to remember clearly the details of things I had done in my last job on a daily basis. My confidence was really low. But I got the job! I wondered if they had taken into consideration the fact that I'd been away from the workplace for a few years and based their decision more on the experience outlined in my application form. Or maybe I was just being over-critical with myself!

When will you find out?

Original poster
Gertrudethestag · 04/04/2018 21:17

Hi Amethyst975. Thank you for replying to my post! I forgot I started a thread. I was in a haze of panic / excitement.

It went terribly! I couldn't remember anything that I had done despite my CV being there listing all my good skills. I spoke quietly and quickly because of my nerves Blush

And yet, I got invited back for a 2nd interview straight away! It really is bizarre. I honestly thought I had just wasted an hour of their time. even though they knew about my gap and that I'm probably a little too junior for the job

No idea how to handle the second interview. I doubt I'll get the job though Blush

OP posts:
Original poster
Gertrudethestag · 04/04/2018 21:18

2nd interview is on Friday! And I guess I'll find out early next week

OP posts:
ItsAllFun · 06/04/2018 10:59

Best of luck to you!

PerpendicularVincent · 06/04/2018 20:18

How did it go?!

Original poster
Gertrudethestag · 06/04/2018 20:30

I just felt awkward for the whole time because they clearly worry that I'm not up for the role after my previous role was a step below (amd a few years ago).

The Directors and I had things in common and we got on well. It's just down to whether other candidates have more suitable managerial skills I suppose. Blush

Which they probably do have.....

But I am nice and I am available immediately Wink

OP posts:
Original poster
Gertrudethestag · 09/04/2018 21:14

I didn't get the job but that was to be expected. I wasted about 4 hours with them in the end. Sad

Maybe next time!

OP posts:
eggcellent · 10/04/2018 00:55

You got a second interview though which is great, consider it practice for next time and hopefully it's built your confidence a bit! Well done Smile

aquamarine1 · 10/04/2018 07:50

Hi, I was in the same situation as you. Got an interview after 4 years out and didn't get the job. It gave me a confidence boost though and I got the next one which was 10k more than previous role.

You'll get there.

NeverTwerkNaked · 10/04/2018 07:56

Take the confidence boost! Clearly the gap on your CV didn’t put them off (it wouldn’t put me off). Keep applying. Don’t see it as wasted time, see it as a practice run. Those questions you found hard to answer - think about how you wish you had answered them. Read up and do some interview prep. Maybe look into skills boosting courses.

4 years isn’t a big gap at all. I recruited someone with a 10 year break and she is doing brilliantly!

BrownTurkey · 10/04/2018 08:11

Not wasted - pop them another e-mail in future.

Original poster
Gertrudethestag · 10/04/2018 10:51

Thank you for the positivity! Smile love it.

I have just applied for another role which has just popped up so let's hope I make it to the interview stage. This time the role is my exact level (and very similar to my previous job even though it was 4 years ago)

OP posts:
NeverTwerkNaked · 10/04/2018 10:56

Fingers crossed! Did not worry about the gap, four years is nothing, you will not take long to get back into the swing of things.

Amethyst975 · 13/04/2018 18:06

Sorry to hear you didn't get the job. But that's great news about another potential! Smile

Shrimpi · 13/04/2018 18:18

Fake it till you make it. Women notoriously undersell themselves!

Without being obnoxious, believe that you can do it, and confidently show off the skills, attributes and experience that you have! Turn every little thing you've got going into a positive. Being a sahm I'm sure you have picked up some excellent "management skills"!! Even if you can't exactly put that on a CV put it toward your confidence and belief in yourself.

You have not wasted anyone's time. You would have been great in that job, its the right next step for you. You were ready for it.

Why do you assume the other candidates are better than you? They are an unknown. But you know that you will work hard and do well, even if there are new things to learn.

Good luck for your next interview!

Cakedoesntjudge · 13/04/2018 18:35

You didn't waste any time - it's good practise and gives you an idea of what comes up at interviews for your next step :) good luck!

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