I have just done the worst interview. Please make me feel better.

[massivefacepalm]

I've just emerged from an interview for a job I really wanted and also really needed - we are in a COVID-related financial mess and need the income. It was the perfect job in an organisation I've wanted to work for for years. Opportunities like this that call on my skillset are few and far between.

Anyway - it was a disaster. I was so nervous I couldn't think straight. I spent DAYS preparing but still struggled to answer coherently. Didn't make any of the brilliant points I had up my sleeve. Got knocked sideways by some really straightforward questions. The whole thing finished much quicker than expected which makes me think they a) gave up on me or b) my answers were massively superficial.

I am absolutely gutted and just having a little cry to myself. It has been a long process to get this far and the other stages went really well so I'm furious with myself for getting this far and then screwing up. I'm also embarrassed.

Anyone been there? What did you do? Come cheer me up while I wallow for a bit.

What did they say wildlynx?

I interview a lot of people. My organisation takes the stance that you get one bite at the cherry, which happens during the interview slot. We wouldn't take into consideration anything emailed in afterwards. That said, I bet you didn't do as badly as you thought!

Following up with an email/asking for feedback has worked in my favour twice - first time when the preferred candidate quit after a few weeks and they then offered me the job as the only person who asked; second when the job offer hadn't actually reached me (public sector cock-up) and me requesting feedback was what straightened it out.
A simple email thanking them for the opportunity, regretting you didn't perform as well as you had hoped in a virtual setting, saying you would be very keen for further discussions if possible, cannot hurt.

Send the email! Nothing to lose!
I fainted flat out a job interview, combination of nerves and not eating
Last thing I remember is the CEO saying "she's going to go"
Then I came round to find him stood over me furiously fanning me with a magazine.
I was swiftly popped into a taxi home, invited back the next week, got the job and was there until he retired 15 years later.

Once I emailed after a dreadful interview, as I was leaving, thought I opened the door, but it was the closet , and asked about any future roles, could I please be considered. I didn't get the job I interviewed for, but got another interview a couple of months later which was way more relaxed, and did get the job which was actually a better fit.

I agree, email!

Send the email OP. You've got nothing to lose and even if it's unsuccessful, you might stick in their minds more for next time.

I had a horrific telephone interview last week, I was so nervous I forgot to breathe, the interviewer must have thought I was asthmatic! I gave really stupid answers and didn't really have any examples

Anyway I got an email a couple of days later saying I have passed the telephone interview stage and should be offered a video interview within the next couple of weeks

The other candidates must have been really bad

Thinking about it more, I wouldn't email. As a previous poster has said, scoring and assessment is all done at the time of the interview so sending a follow up stressing you should have said X,Y,Z may look a little desperate. I also don't think it'll male the slightest bit of difference for a public sector job.

However, try and be positive. You say you made it through other stages and they will account for nerves. You probably did a lot better than you think

What did you decide @massivefacepalm?

Spoke to a friend of DH who works there, albeit in a different part of the organisation. He said that their policy is very much that they mark each question individually to give an overall score for the whole thing, and they're only allowed to score based on what went in the interview. So there wouldn't be any point - and he thought some might find it odd/ like I was trying to circumvent their process. So I didn't do it.

But, I do like the idea so once I have heard (haven't had the call - am guessing it'll be tomorrow) I am going to write a nice thank you note to the hiring manager saying thanks for the opportunity, I'm disappointed because I didn't perform on the day, can I have some feedback please, and that I really hope our paths will cross and they'll consider me if something comes up in future. At least then I won't feel so embarrassed and hopefully he'll remember that in the unlikely event something else crops up.

Still feeling very disappointed and annoyed with myself and that I've really myself down. But a bit more resigned to it now.

I'd say write an email too, what have you got to lose?!

I think that sounds like a great compromise. Will you let us know how you get on tomorrow, I’ve been thinking about you this afternoon! Hope you have something nice planned for this evening. Don’t be too hard on yourself, we’ve all had a shitty interview where we freeze up. The next one will be better! 👍🏻

And this is why public sector recruitment process is stupid.

Perhaps you didn't do half as bad as you think.

I once internally hired someone for a role. A colleague (and mutual workmate) of ours told me weeks later that the person I'd hired was sobbing on her shoulder about how she'd spectacularly messed up the interview and messed up her chance. I was surprised. I thought she did great.

Any news today @massivefacepalm?

FINALLY just got the call....and no I didn't get it. Not surprised but now I've stewed on it for a few days I'm even more disappointed. I'm not sure when another opportunity like this will come up so I really am gutted.

I don't know whether it's good news or bad to hear that they thought I'd been good - they said it was close. So I guess reassuring to know they didn't think I was a disaster and a reminder that I need to be less self-critical....but also I know I didn't do my best so I'm now more irritated that had I done better I may well have got it.

Thank you all though.

Well, if's any consolation, ime, they really do mean it - that it was a close thing as the times when I've had a dreadful interview, they don't bother calling, just the standard letter from HR.

There will always be opportunities.