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Original poster

Interview result - was your gut feeling on your performance right?

30 replies

fingersbossed · 17/02/2022 15:29

I know there's a few about but I'm twiddling my fingers.

Just wondered what everyone's experience was in terms of times you thought you'd done well and didn't get the job, and vice versa.

For me I've been offered maybe 4 jobs before. Didn't accept them all. Knew I'd smashed 3 of the interviews, other was a shock as thought I was really really awful.

I've flunked 3 interviews in the past. Knew I'd flunked them even half way through.

I've interviewed today for a job I really would love and am absolutely at a loss as how to feel. I waffled and maybe didn't seem sharp enough, but I think the energy was good between us all. Difficult on zoom though!?

Know next week.

OP posts:
HundredMilesAnHour · 17/02/2022 15:56

I'm usually right about my performance/feedback but that doesn't necessarily mean it always translates into a job offer. It can depend on the competition, it can depend on all sorts of things. Headcounts get cut, job descriptions change, other interviewers may have different preferred candidates.

Babyroobs · 17/02/2022 23:57

I had one yesterday and thought it went quite well but I did not have one of the essential criteria but had relevant experience. I was hoping what I lacked in that one area I could make up for in others but not sure if it works like that or how it is scored. I think they often already have someone lined up and no matter how well you perform you aren't going to get it. Last time I went for the same job it was given to one of the interviewers mates. I felt gutted this morning when I got the call, had a few tears only because so much effort had been put into the prep.

Original poster
fingersbossed · 18/02/2022 09:06

@Babyroobs

I had one yesterday and thought it went quite well but I did not have one of the essential criteria but had relevant experience. I was hoping what I lacked in that one area I could make up for in others but not sure if it works like that or how it is scored. I think they often already have someone lined up and no matter how well you perform you aren't going to get it. Last time I went for the same job it was given to one of the interviewers mates. I felt gutted this morning when I got the call, had a few tears only because so much effort had been put into the prep.
Oh sorry to hear that. It's such a minefield.

And yes when someone's names on it it feels such a waste of energy.

I went for one recently and can see now who has the post. Known to that team, my name was never on the job. I know why this happens sometimes and have been on the recruiting side when we've had to go externally etc but it's really insincere and unfair.

OP posts:
ShirleyPhallus · 18/02/2022 09:07

Yes I think you can always tell. Mostly it’s the chemistry with the interviewer, sort of like a date

christinarossetti19 · 19/02/2022 17:31

I wish there was some sort of code for employers to use to convey to prospective candidates that there's already a preferred candidate - 'like to invite you for an interview and wear turquoise' or something like that.

It would save everyone time and hassle and certainly be less emotionally difficult for people who prepare for interviews, take time to prepare presentations etc.

I do understand it from employer's pov - if you don't give the internal person the job, they'll leave in the next six months if they're any good and better the devil you know etc.

But it is absolutely shit to be on the other end of.

heelforheelandtoefortoe · 19/02/2022 18:03

I've been fortunate in that every job I've interviewed for, I got. I have an HR background though so that helps to know how to do them.

The job I'm in now though, I thought I hadn't gotten because MS Teams was playing up and I got flustered. But I got it!

Original poster
fingersbossed · 19/02/2022 18:04

@christinarossetti19

I wish there was some sort of code for employers to use to convey to prospective candidates that there's already a preferred candidate - 'like to invite you for an interview and wear turquoise' or something like that.

It would save everyone time and hassle and certainly be less emotionally difficult for people who prepare for interviews, take time to prepare presentations etc.

I do understand it from employer's pov - if you don't give the internal person the job, they'll leave in the next six months if they're any good and better the devil you know etc.

But it is absolutely shit to be on the other end of.

I understand it too from being on that side. But it's so much work, it's just awful that systems that are supposed to ensure a more equal playing field actually end up putting externals through unnecessary stress and work.
OP posts:
christinarossetti19 · 19/02/2022 18:54

Absolutely. It's the same end result as just giving the internal person the job in the first place, without wasting the time or falsely getting up the hopes of external candidates.

I know that they 'have' to do this, but a code for 'don't bother' would be better in so many ways. Or letting externals know that there's a strong internal candidate in advance - people who want interview practice could do it anyway, and people like me who have had enough interview practice over the last year or so to last them a lifetime could just walk away.

heelforheelandtoefortoe oh, I wish it was as simple as 'knowing how to do interviews'. The last interview I had the feedback was that my presentation was the best, I scored the highest at the interview but they decided to appoint another candidate who had worked in the local area recently and knew some of the stakeholders.

So I too 'know how to do interviews' but haven't been as fortunate as you.

CardiZ · 19/02/2022 19:15

@heelforheelandtoefortoe

I've been fortunate in that every job I've interviewed for, I got. I have an HR background though so that helps to know how to do them.

The job I'm in now though, I thought I hadn't gotten because MS Teams was playing up and I got flustered. But I got it!

Top tips welcome!

I have recruited lots of people and sort of know the rules. Struggle to apply them when under pressure. Basically waffle. Lots. Awful.

ThePlumVan · 21/02/2022 22:27

Did you get the job OP ?

Original poster
fingersbossed · 21/02/2022 23:05

Haven't heard yet....

OP posts:
christinarossetti19 · 21/02/2022 23:12

Best of luck. Waiting is horrible.

grandmashotdoodlebugs · 21/02/2022 23:16

I left private sector and moved to education. You always find out the same day in education whether you got the job.

My last interview was a Head and Deputy Head who couldn't believe finding out the same day wasn't normal in the 'real world'.

Chin up OP and good luck

Dontfuckingsaycheese · 21/02/2022 23:18

The one where they sent me home halfway through… The one where one horrible woman loudly said to the other ‘No’ as I walked out the room…

I’ve got my first teaching job interview on Monday. It’s where I’m on my placement. Don’t know if that’s going to be worse as they’re not anonymous strangers I’ll never see again…

labyrinthlaziness · 21/02/2022 23:20

I know, sometimes I've been offered it when I'd rather come second, sometimes I come second (or lower) when I really want it.

I'm waiting for a call currently for a job I would not want after the interview - they made it sound like a madhouse - but my performance was a disappointment to me anyway.

Dontfuckingsaycheese · 28/02/2022 14:30

Interview at 4 today …

Metabigot · 24/03/2022 07:41

Just to add on the 'internals always get it', I'm currently interviewing with some other members of my team for internal roles elsewhere in the company as our team us Restructuring.

I'm still waiting to see how I've got on but two more junior members of the team were passed over for external candidates and have to basically now choose between a demotion or leaving. One of them got to final stage too yet they offered the job to someone they don't know from Adam.

So I'd love to think being internal means your chances of getting the job are massively better but that's not what I'm seeing in my company.

I should find out next week how I've done, and it's a horrible waiting game...

AlternativePerspective · 24/03/2022 07:54

No if anything I’ve been for a couple of interviews where I was sure I’d smashed it and didn’t get the job. Although in both instances that happened the feedback was really really odd so I’m certain it wasn’t me.

E.g.in one interview I interviewed for a position of telephone adviser. Having had previous experience in customer service where you had to answer at least 12 calls an hour (insurance so it was policy changes etc which owners expected to take around 5 minutes per call,) and being told they maybe got 4/5 calls an hour the feedback was that I didn’t have enough customer service experience.

And the other interview went well and lots of the questions were about meetings I’d been involved in. I explained how I’d chaired meetings, done minutes for meetings, attended regular meetings, anything about meetings you could talk about I talked about. And the feedback was that I’d done an excellent interview but hadn’t given enough information about arranging meetings.” TBH I think my disability played a part there. It was a company who were classed as disability confident, but when I applied I initially got an email saying I hadn’t been shortlisted for interview but had been put on the waiting list in case someone dropped out. Then got an email about half an hour later inviting me for interview. I suspect that someone realised that as I had a disability and met the minimum criteria, they had to interview me, but otherwise had no intentions of doing so.

Metabigot · 24/03/2022 09:31

I read somewhere that feedback especially when you're at final stage is often just code for 'we liked someone else better '.

They will then fit the feedback to any old random thing to get an explanation.

I once got 'you seemed nervous and twitched in your chair'.

Well being in an interview makes most people nervous and how would twitching in my chair affect my ability to do my (non customer facing) job in any way??

Twitterwhooooo · 24/03/2022 14:03

Best of luck JorisBohnson.

The feedback that I have always got is 'someone else had more relevant skills and experience'.

I did initially spend a while puzzling over this as they knew exactly what my skills and experience were from my CV and application form and I'd prepared well for the interviews, but eventually realised it 'we liked someone else better' or 'we already had an internal candidate lined up' (yes I know internal candidates aren't always successful, but having researched who was successful in some of the roles that I interviewed for last year, they did pretty well!)

Darbs76 · 25/03/2022 20:09

I had an interview last week for a promotion and have no clue how I did. I’ve either done great or rubbish! I’m not sure if they liked what I said or thought I was waffling and I really struggle bigging myself up so felt a bit false doing that and not sure if that came across. Have to wait a few more weeks as still interviewing for another week or so

PotatoFamily · 25/03/2022 20:14

Had an interview today and the guy was either bored shitless and couldn’t be arsed, or intimidated by me. It was weird. Annoyed because I highly doubt I will get it and I really wanted it. I spent £40 on travel for it too 🙄

morninginging · 06/04/2022 20:34

@Darbs76

I had an interview last week for a promotion and have no clue how I did. I’ve either done great or rubbish! I’m not sure if they liked what I said or thought I was waffling and I really struggle bigging myself up so felt a bit false doing that and not sure if that came across. Have to wait a few more weeks as still interviewing for another week or so
How did you do? Did you get a yes or no?
morninginging · 06/04/2022 20:35

@PotatoFamily

Had an interview today and the guy was either bored shitless and couldn’t be arsed, or intimidated by me. It was weird. Annoyed because I highly doubt I will get it and I really wanted it. I spent £40 on travel for it too 🙄
Did you get it Grin
Metabigot · 06/04/2022 22:32

Update: I didn't get the internal role, after telling me I could be developed into it they said they needed people with prior experience so just bullshitted me basically as apart from that my feedback was great.

They made some comments that were potentially discriminatory as I have a disability which they know about and that's something I'll fight all the way as I genuinely believe this had a bearing on the outcome and they've emailed it to me so all in writing. Grievance time...