short notice of potential interview

[theadventuresofhawkmoth]

I've applied for an internal position which would be a temporary role (maternity cover) in another department. A level above what I am currently at. The job came on the intranet on a Weds, the closing date was Tuesday just past and the girl leaving says they are interviewing on Wednesday coming. Very short timescale for the whole thing and the interview date is confirmed by looking at the room bookings - one room is booked out all day for interviewing and the interviewer has no other dates in her diary for interviews.

I applied last weekend, so within the timescale. Updated my CV, got my references all sorted, informed my current manager, did everything right in the application process, but my application is still marked as 'shortlisting'.

I know from previous internal interviews for this level that the interview process is 10 minute presentation, 5 competency questions, written exercise. I've had 3 such interviews before and gotten one (which was only a secondment so I want to get back up the ladder so to speak)

With the 2 interviews I did not get, I was informed I had an interview at extremely short notice. Given the topic of my presentation and the competencies at very short notice. Like 2 days in advance. It's very difficult to prepare when you have a full work diary, children etc.

In terms of the competency questions, I'm not so worried about them as I have an idea of what the competencies are likely to be from my previous interviews.

My worry is the presentation really - pulling together a great presentation, gathering information/facts for the presentation etc all takes time. I have not felt happy with my previous performances as I felt my presentations let me down due to lack of time to prepare.

I suffer from anxiety which HR know about (but don't really care). This sort of thing does not help.

So the fact I still haven't had an interview confirmation is making me anxious that it will be a short notice thing again.

How can I prepare myself, how can I have a great interview this time with so little preparation? Any advice would be really appreciated!

With short notice, I'd be spending less time knocking up a brilliant presentation and more time on rehearsing it.
Far better to go for a basic presentation that you can deliver confidently after a lot of rehearsal than having an all singing all dancing presentation you've had little time to rehearse.
It's a mistake I've made many a time in the past, conveniently forgetting that in interviews it's more about how you present rather than your skills at creating jazzy presentations.

Your slides should only be a prop, not the script.

Can you write a few outline bullet points spread over 3slides, Introduction, main body of presentation and summary. That's your framework then build up some content from there with key facts. Give yourself 2 hours max time, spread over 2 days, and a further 2 x 15 mins over two days to rehearse. Don't overinvest.

A week isn't that short a timescale if you spread out your effort over each day into small manageable chunks.

If you have a DH or DP who can do some heavy lifting re DC duties just for those times, you can focus and feel prepared.

Well I've looked at the room bookings calendar and it seems the interview date has been moved from this coming week to the next week.

Assuming I get invited to an interview, I'm actually off that week and the 2 weeks after as I have no childcare! Both sets of grandparents are abroad, DH and BIL are both at work. DH has used up all his annual leave, BIL's work are horrible so I doubt he'd be able to help. Summer camps are all booked up and are only ever for a few hours anyway rather than a full day. Not sure if I want to leave DD with a stranger either.

I did say in my covering letter when my annual leave would be, and what my availability was.

If I do get an interview, do I go or do I ask for it to be rearranged?

DH is quite senior in his work so I'm not sure if he could throw a sickie...

If you’re offered an interview and want the job, arrange childcare (use something like sitters.co.uk).

If you don’t, don’t.

An an employer it always sets alarm bells ringing when someone is being a pain about the interview. If you’re like this when you’re trying to sell yourself what would you be like if you got the job. I want to employ someone who really wants the job and will go the extra mile to get it, there’s lots of applicants out there so I don’t have to settle for anything less

Sadly it’s a buyers market

and if I do all that and don't get the job?

I will have given up a day's annual leave, forked out for a sitter (making DD unhappy in the process due to a complete stranger) or gotten DH to lose a day's wages and piss off his company.

Then don’t go to the interview. It’s simple really, either the chance of getting the new job is worth you putting some effort into it or it isn’t.

If your husband's senior in his company, why can't he just a couple of hours' parental leave?

In the meantime, no harm in asking the recruiter when you can expect to hear about the next stage of your application.