Missed my NHS job interview, feeling like a failure.

[milliegeobotandyou]

I was nervous so I arrived an hour early to try and get a parking spot and realised only then that I had accidentally forgotten my bank card and had no cash. I was in a very large city centre and my interview at a hospital. I tried driving around to various car parks incase you could pay by an app but I had no luck. I parked in one multi-storey that gave no indication of how you could pay, so I parked up in a tight spot and walked to find the machine and it was cash only. Same again everywhere I went. Finally I found a car park that accepted app payments, put in the code for the location and it said sorry no parking here today. I tried to ring my husband to see if he could give me my bank card number and his phone was off. I rang department & say I cant come (25 minutes before I am due) and nearly cry on the voicemail. I then start going home and my phone rings repeatedly so I pull over and one of the ladies who was interview said to come back and told me where to park that was free. I had trouble finding it and then when I did there was not a single space anywhere, I drove around and around. I then drove into a carpark then see it says staff permit only and as I realise this I lightly hit the wall and slightly scrape the front of my car. At this point I can't see for crying so I drive home and email when I arrive home to say sorry and good luck with filling the role.

I desperately wanted that job.

I haven't worked in 4 years and it was a perfect part-time job. It was also relevant to the degree I'll be studying next September.

I'm so sad and kicking myself over and over.

I guess it was not meant to be.

If I'm a prick for pointing out the importance of developing resilience especially in the face of what seems like Murphy's law, then so be it.

Oops! sorry didn't read all the other posts, i see you've gone past all this now. wish you the best in the new interviews.

Ive never gone for a job interview without driving to the location and doing a reccy in advance. Its such an important process and first impressions are lasting.

OP whats done is done today, but just be better prepared next time.

Vlad is right. You need resilience, especially in this day and age.

You'll get something that's right for you soon.

Except Hillingdon - you don't know what the job requires. I frequently forget pens, bank cards etc etc. It has no reflection on my ability to do my job. I've been lost before and not found an interview location- I clearly didn't get that job but I'm very good at my actual job.

I just don't think it helps to make her feel worse than she already does and I don't think it's fair for anyone to try to judge her "abilities" by one mistake.

If that's how everyone worked then every single one of us would be screwed.

FYI a car park cannot 'fine' you for parking there. Only the council can issue a fine, ie if you park on the side of a road or in a council owned car park. If you park in an Asda car park or similar and it's pay and display they can issue you with an invoice (which they will make to look like a fine to scare you as much as possible) for what they believe you owe them for entering into the invisible contact on entering their land.

Not that that matters now. I think the sat nav suggestion was also good because you could have had a look on the screen to find nearby supermarkets and other potential free car parks. I also think that given they had invited you back when you were on your way home, it would have been sensible to park in the staff permit section and then go in and talk to your interviewer and calmly explain the situation and ask if there was a pass you could put on your car or if they coudl delay until a space became available.

You do sound like you've had a horrible day but it also sounds like you really didn't cope, and if that's something that's common for your life perhaps there are some strategies you could put in place, whether it's driving strategies or general things. I hope you feel better this evening.

Some of you have been so mean to the OP, she's had a bloody rubbish day and it's as though a few individuals just want to kick someone when they're down. So nasty.

OP, I hope you have a good evening and find an even better job soon

OP I don't think you did make a big mistake. It was a small one but you then started to panic and unravel. Have you had much work experience before? Hopefully you'll be able to think a bit more clearly in similar situations going forward. It's hard, and I have gotten better with age/work experience/life experience. My gut was that I'd have gambled the possible fine, but if you can't afford to absorb a fine it could well be a blessing because it sounds like a big commute. My last job was 25 miles and 50 mins by car, that was costing me just under £40 a week in fuel and that was before any parking factored in.

Are you a very organised person? Half the reason I have a purse is because I won't lose cards or mislay them, they're so small that I probably would otherwise. Work out what you've learnt from today and it will at least be helpful life experience.

Sorry you had a dreadful day @milliegeobotandyou . I work in recruitment (not the NHS though) and I would think you hadn't prepared properly for the interview if I am honest, I would expect candidates hi have checked how to get to an interview, where to park etc as preparation.

That said - I would also have told where is good to park if it's hard to find.

You have nothing to lose by asking them if you can re-book though. Not all interviews all take place on the same day, they might have some other times slots free they could offer you.

Sorry- should have added that if a candidate has had a total disaster in the way to the interview and I am able to offer them a second slot I always do, and I've offered candidates off the back of it too so it's not an automatic black mark in my book at least

Sorry you had a nightmare OP.

If you bank with RBS or Nat West then the online banking app has a way to get cash from a machine without a card. You get a code from it that you can put into a cash machine. It has saved my bacon more than once. Worth looking into (other banks prob do it too) as you are more likely to forget your card than your phone.

Everyone has had one of those days where a small mistake has sent their plans tumbling like a house of cards. It doesn't make you incompetent or unfit for employment.

You have my sympathy OP. I applied for a job a few weeks ago, where I only saw the advertisement on a Friday morning, and the deadline was midnight on the Sunday. I was so busy that weekend and just had to rush the application; I submitted it about 3 minutes before the deadline, kicking myself because I know I could have done a much better job selling myself if I'd had more time. It was the perfect job; interesting, I had relevant experience and skills, suitable hours and really close to home and the DC's school, but I didn't get an interview and I'll be kicking myself for weeks to come.

I hope better fortune shines on you and something else comes up soon.

Thank you for kind words. I cried because I was frustrated, I'm only human and I had been driving around for a very long time trying to find a way I could park so not only would I not be too far away from the interview place so that I could walk to it, but that I could also pay by app.

Like I said I knew where to park I just didn't have any money to pay for parking there were a lot of places I could have parked, I was travelling around trying to find somewhere I could pay by an app instead as I had two downloaded onto my phone and thought that in the city centre there would be lots that would allow me to pay that way. I had gone to York a few months ago and the big car parks allowed you to pay by RingGo, so I thought I could solve it.

Fully accept it was my fault for forgetting my card, of course it was. I was organised in every other way and hadn't realised my mistake until it was too late.

I went into 2 multi-storey car parks and 3 other private car parks then drove around trying to find side streets but lots were permit holder only. I was driving in a very busy area at rush hour- Oxford Road in Manchester- if you are familiar, and getting further and further away from the interview location, which then meant I had to consider how long it would take to walk to it from parking.

I'm sorry you've had such a shit day OP!

So sorry op. I read your other thread and was really rooting for you.

@Bufferingkisses thank you, that's really lovely x

@milliegeobotandyou .. what a shit day and I'm sorry it all went tits up. That parking scenario sounds like the sort of nightmare I would have and I am an experienced driver with a responsible job, and several grown/almost grown children.

You've had some good advice and empathy on this thread. Disregard the rest. Everyone cocks up sometimes, yes some of us more than others. I don't really understand why some people use online platforms to verbally "bash" strangers who OBVIOUSLY just need a bit of moral support and a few kind words. It's bizarre. This isn't a heated political debate.. it's a fellow busy mum whose important day went pear-shaped. I don't blame you for snapping back a bit.. especially given the day you've had!

I reckon you're right.. this one wasn't meant to be. Take the life-lessons and the kind words and useful advice; disregard the MM-pomposity and look forward to your next opportunity

Thank you @GerardButlersBird.

I shouldn't have bothered to snap back and I'm calmer now but at the time I was still very much caught up in the midst of the rubbish day and didn't understand why when I already acknowledged I was sad and kicking myself for my mistakes, did I need some more criticism on top. But hey, that's MN.

I just hope the people who replied don't work in any roles that involve compassion because they are certainly lacking.

Wow. Haven't rtft but some of the responses are harsh.

I wouldn't have left my car without paying for parking either. I might have been tempted to leave it with a note saying I'd gone for change or something but i would have been worrying about it.

I keep an emergency £10 in my phone. Inside the battery casing or between the phone and cover. Might be a good idea for you in future. +/- have parking change in the car.

Doesn't help you now. Sorry you missed out. Next time try calling instead of emailing to try to rearrange.

Thanks HCPinhiding I don't have a phone case but I need one, so that is a good idea for the future.

I feel ok about it now, and shouldn't have posted when I was still feeling really tense as it made me reactive to the harsh comments, particularly the one about learning resilience- I'm one of the most resilient people I know and I can tell you now, resilience is nothing to do with whether you cry or not and neither is emotional maturity.

If I really wanted the job and had forgotten my money/bank card I would have just dumped my car in the car park and hoped for the best.

Just accept that everything was conspiring against you and therefore this isn't the job for you. Also, use this as a learning experience. Before an interview, check where you can park, how much it costs and get the money ready (and in your bag!!!) the day before your interview. Allow lots of time for parking and finding the department. Hospitals are pretty notorious for having terrible parking especially during the middle of the day when there are lots of clinics operating.

Why don't you see if you can volunteer over the summer? I am a speech and language therapy department would be very happy to use your services!

I'd love to volunteer @stressedoutpa but I have three children ages 5,3 and 2 and I can't afford to pay for their childcare to do it.

Like I've said loads of times throughout this thread that no one is paying attention to, I knew where to park, I parked in several car parks and that wasn't the issue, I WAS AN HOUR EARLY, the issue was the money which I forgot and trying to then find free spaces which were like rocking horse shit so that's the lesson to be learned and I doubt very much now I'll make the same mistake again. Que sera sera

Free spaces, as in literally free, so I didn't need money. And also free spaces as in actual parking spaces in those areas [grin}

It sounds like you lost your head. I agree that you need to treat a job interview as something absolutely critical. You need to be prepared for everything. You need to aim to have an hour to spare prior to an interview. I.e. to be parked and sitting in a coffee shop for an hour before it, having first located the building. Guaranteed with something important, anything that can go wrong, will in fact go wrong. Whatever possessed you to drive I can't imagine.

Have you learned anything from this at all?
It actually sounds like you're relieved to have fucked it up. I gave it my best shot so it's not my fault I didn't get it. A little half-hearted.