Cancel job interview knowing I will score badly in numeracy aptitude?

[sweetpeaorchestra]

I have an interview next week for financial services customer service (entry level).
I know there will be a numeracy aptitude test and I am certain I will get a very low score, unless I really make an effort re-learning some maths this week.

I got a C for my GCSE 20 years ago. I was otherwise pretty academic - all A’s (except maths!) went to Oxford in humanities.
I actually dropped out of Oxford, struggling to produce essays at a fast rate - hugely procrastinated, had insomnia, etc.
That is a whole other story but slightly linked as I’m wondering if I’m just completely naturally unfocused/all
over the place in deciding what to career change into and clearly not suited to financial services?

I’m interested in economics and co run a small business so thought with some residual intelligence could get away with being terrible at maths and work in a soft skills area of the company, but doubting myself now.

I maybe should give it a whirl and just do the prep but got a lot on next week - half term with kids, business decisions, still have a kidney infection! So don’t want to add to the pressure if I’m barking up the wrong tree anyway.
Excuse the essay (insomnia again!). Just to see if anyone had any advice.

Give it a try- what on earth have you got to lose?

@Dotcheck you’re right. Just time and energy really, there’s a lot of other prep. But I’m over-thinking!

I've had to sit a maths test as part of a job interview but they were common maths problems like if I give you x how much change do I get back, how to divide x between x people and if we drive at this speed when do we get to destination. Admittedly they weren't jobs in a financial sector but I'm wondering how much prep you actually need to do? Will you be doing complex algebra or something?

I wonder if this is a theme of quitting early instead of facing rejection and fear of failure so you give up before they get a chance to reject you, giving you a sense of control over the outcome.

I think you should push forward despite the discomfort and do it. I'd also check if you haven't yet what the actual test is like. If you fail it, they might offer training, maybe. But if you want to work in this sector it's a good idea to take on courses to brush up on maths. There are online adult maths courses some for free.

I got a C in GCSE maths, over 30 years ago, but I wouldn't describe myself as terrible at maths. You sound very hard on yourself.

@ParisianBedBug thanks you make really good points. I panicked as I did sample tests and scored 2 out of 12. But yes the maths wasn’t hard and you have a calculator - it’s just analysing whether to use division or percentages etc in the face of the information they give. I’m sure I could brush up on this.

I think the fact I posted about it rather than just actually do some prep probably says a lot re giving up early! You’re right there. Thanks I think I will push on through and do practice tests

TBh if you were so good as to get into Oxford, so high achieving in certain subjects it's very often hard for kids to accept they are struggling with something that is coming less naturally to them be it maths or PE. Even peers and silly teachers could make comments like 'but you're so good at x!!' and make you feel bad about needing more help with a subject. You can also be overlooked by teachers, or 'coast' by swapping difficult homework topics with other students.
This is why it's said better to praise the effort than compliments like 'you're so clever' should be 'you've worked so hard'. I suspect this is why you procrastinated, you probably naturally could 'get' some subjects so didn't develop the study skills including time management, failure, asking for help, admitting you're not getting something and perseverance. When you are a bright student teachers love you because you are an easy student, so it can feel embarrassing or like you are letting them down if you are struggling with something so you say nothing and it snowballs.

I'm probably hugely projecting as DD is like this.

Pleased that you'll try. Good luck with it and hope your kidney infection gets better soon x

Yes I really agree, totally the case with me. A lot of things came very naturally so things that didn’t and were less interesting to me, I just had no inclination or idea how to tackle. Coasted the whole way.

Then you get to a level at something you’re good at where it’s hard and you have to push through. And that’s where I struggled at Oxford having never actually worked very hard!

The skills of being resilient and working through something that appears difficult are much more valuable than a bit of natural intelligence in almost everything I now realise.
I hope it’s not impacting your DD too much now. I actually feel I really got nothing useful from my education that would have helped in a career, though that’s not to take the blame from myself.

I think you should give it a go. I was VERYdreadful at maths at school and can do some basic finance stuff at work. A C at GCSE level sounds good to me

C at GCSE isn't bad at maths.

A lot of the online tests are for graduate type roles - for a data entry role I don't think you'll get anything like those.

Practice basic 'sums' and then things like accurately entering strings of numbers, quickly finding any differences in two lists of almost identical numbers/letters.

You’re running a business, you can’t be that bad at maths.
however, I do wonder why you want this particular job? You clearly have some very strong points that come easily- why are you going for a low level job that needs your weakest side??? The trick is to find work that makes the most of the things which come easily to you- those are your talents and strong points!

@ilovemonstermunch Thanks, hoping that's the case. Yes I think I can do it to a basic/competent level when I see what the purpose of it is, unlike in school! (I probably wasn't paying attention.)

@sweetpeaorchestra have you ever been tested for dyslexia or another ND trait? It's quite common to have a "spiky" profile if you are neurodiverse, which means that you perform well above average in some academic areas, but below expected in others.

I am just flagging it, because the difficulty with maths and struggling to produce written work at pace, sounds very similar to me and I was diagnosed as dyslexic and dyspraxic in my early 30s.

Google stuff on being "twice exceptional" and "stealth dyslexia", see if it resonates, and then maybe think about getting assessed.

I work in financial service's at a senior level and got a C grade at GCSE. I assume the test is online before the actual interview? If so, keep trying the practice tests. It will help you get a feel of the format of the actual test.

@Emmagr1981 Thanks, that's good to know. I'm actually taking the practice test in person before the interview. The ones I've been googling are random, I've no idea if they indicate the level I will be tested at, and I am struggling to answer under time pressure.

@PersistentSniffles that's really interesting, I'll have a look. I've always felt dyspraxic! I really struggle with co-ordination, I am quite dangerously bad at things like cooking a meal (set fire to tea towels as leave them on the hob accidentally etc 😬), always been perceived as scatty and head in the clouds with day to day tasks.
I hope your diagnosis helped you. I could def use a bit more insight on where I struggle and how to overcome this.

@ScratchedSkirtings It's a really good point, not sure I DO really want it and maybe felt the maths was a sign. Anything I apply for now will be entry level I think, having been self-employed/raising young kids - I just wanted to work for a company with opportunities for progression and a decent salary in 5 years (not mega bucks.)
I don't really know what my skills are in the job market, and my confidence isn't great.
I guess I'll use it as an opportunity to find out as much for me as them, whether I'm suited to the sector.

Thanks for all your thoughts and advice.

I think you are selling yourself short @sweetpeaorchestra ! Bring self employed certainly does not count for nothing! You have transferable skills! And in fact, direct ones related to
whatever field your self employment is. Not knocking the job you are going for, but if you
are not keen on it, you do have options…

@sweetpeaorchestra you're probably looking at the tests online which are typically graduate level. Please don't beat yourself up if you score low on these.

The tests for my organisation are usually part of the interview selection process, so if you have already got an interview, I suspect they think you're a good fit for the role. But

Didn't mean to write 'but' lol