Feeling upset about not getting job

[Mysticaltay]

I have been a sahm for 6 years, raising my dc. Before that I was at university and had a part time job. I’m late 20’s now with no career and need to get into full time work.

I was contacted by a recruiter for an operations assistant role and put forward. I wasn’t bothered but decided to just let them out my cv forward. I had an interview with the company on Tuesday and although I did rubbish, the actual job and company itself was AMAZING. Like this is literally a job in a dream company that I could never get in to. This would be a dream to get, seriously not realistic that I would ever manage to work for a company like this.

it’s a global company with headquarters all around the world, it’s London office is 5 minutes from where I live in the most luxurious London cooperate office - as soon as I walked in I was amazed and knew I wasn’t ever going to land the role! Although the role is quite basic at first just with admin duties, they want the candidate to be trained to be the actual operator within 6-12 months! Which is a wage increase Ofcourse. Most people in the business have worked there for 10+ years, they all progress and move up. They said there is loads of chance for progression, learning new skills, training and to explore different departments and if you want to switch departments in the future you can. It’s 2 days in office and 3 days wfh. Everything about it was just perfect to me.

I know 100% I have not got the job. They were interviewing more candidates and although not terrible, my answers in the interview were not great and apart from a part time job at uni I have no work experience.

my issue now is I already feel so upset that I won’t get it. I only went to the interview purely for the experience and practice for the future. I knew I’d never secure a job like that and I was ok with it. I thought it would give me the motivation to get back to work. Well it Definitley did! Only problem is I know when I get the official ‘unsuccessful’ message I am going to be absolutely devastated.

I have never in my life found something that really interests me. I have wanted to get back to work but have no idea what I want to do. I’ve felt so stuck and thought of career changes but wasn’t sure in what. This company has interested me so much. It’s something I never would’ve looked into before or considered. Equally, it’s not a common role/company that you’d find.

the company didn’t even post the vacancy, they went directly through an agent and the recruiter contacted me. It’s not something I’d find again when looking on job boards etc. this is a once in a lifetime opportunity for me, it would change my life and my children’s lives! It would mean I could move us into a better home, I could push myself more and grow and learn new skills etc.

im not sure what I want out of this thread but I don’t know what I will do about the rejection. I’m going to feel heartbroken and so upset. I always tell myself ‘everything happens for a reason’ and that’s all I can think that’s positive. I am now considering going into hr, doing the CIPD level 3. It’s the only other thing that interests me but even that will never get me a role like this.

any advice?

Can I suggest something? If you get turned down, which sounds possible, given the maths test scenario, remember they liked you as a person. Reply to them, cc'd into HR and recruitment. tell them that you understand why you didn't get that job but you were bowled over by the company and would like to be considered for any roles in the future which they think you might be more suited to.

Meanwhile, try to get some more recent experience and upgrade your skills, including reading up on interviewing techniques or maybe even doing some Khan Academy maths courses free online. (As a non-maths person I like how they teach - very clear)

And then keep an eye out for other jobs with that company and similar ones.

OP, I actually think the company sounds worse and worse the more you post - the questions and tests don't really sound appropriate for an Admin job at all. And why will it take them two weeks to give you feedback?

Hi OP - 45 years work experience here and I agree with the above. For a basic admin role I'd be noping right out of that job after the interview with the senior manager and telling them why. It sounds to me like that manager thought he was interviewing you for a more senior role.

It can't be that great a company if they're willing to put someone so rude out to interview people, and if they think the role needs post-GCSE Maths, which the vast majority of admin people won't have, they really should have established that earlier in the process and filtered accordingly. I suspect either the recruitment agent has bent the truth to get you through the door, or the company hasn't actually worked out for themselves yet whether they want someone with a good attitude to train up or someone who has done the job before.

Remember, interviews work both ways, they should be trying to impress you too.

If it's a pressured job (sounds like if will be from your description) then it is likely the senior manager wants to see how you act under pressure. A second interview is usually about teasing out any doubts they had from the first. It is not unknown for people to purposely put on an act to allow the interviewee to demonstrate how they would act in a given situation

From your earlier description, you describe starting as an admin, but then with quite intense progression opportunities. So they need to see if a) you are up to the ops job and b) you can cope with the intensity of the process.

You describe it as your dream job, but other than being in a swanky office near your house, is it really? Fast, high pressure stuff doesn't sound like your sort of thing, so what is it about the role that you really want? No need to answer that to me, but I think you need to understand that yourself and use that in your next conversation with the recruiter and in your future job search.

And lastly, most jobs are 75% confidence. If you don't back yourself, who will?

And remember - an interview is a two way experience. They're supposed to make you want to work for them as much as you're trying to make them want to employ you. How would you feel about working for them, based on the interviews and the feedback and your feelings about the role and the people you'd met?

A few years ago I interviewed for a finance role in a new tourist attraction In London (shortlistedout of 300 applicants, which I was pretty pleased about, so went in being 100% serious about the role that I was very interested in to start with). I turned down a second interview because the people interviewing didn't seem the slightest bit enthused or excited about it and they weren't communicating anything about it to me. It might as well have been filing for all they cared. So never mind what they feel about you - what did YOU feel about THEM?

I am definitely trying to get back into the workforce and have been applying for other roles too. Even though I really wanted this role, I am not as bothered as I was previously. I am quite proud that I got as far as I did and I’m happy with the previous feedback they gave me. I can definitely take this experience onboard for future interviews.

they said it will be 2 weeks to get feedback as they are all away on a work trip next week. They have other candidates to interview and said it wouldn’t be fair to give me feedback before them.

what will be will be!

There was something about the company itself that triggered an interest for me. The fact it’s a global company, the idea of the vessels themself really interested me (the ships carry thousands of cars globally), the company itself is described by employees to be more like a ‘family’, most of the employees stay working there for 10,15,20+ years! They all have progressed, there are chances to change divisions and departments and a lot of training opportunities. Room for me to grow and develop my skills. That’s what really interested me about the company.

I am tempted to ask the recruiter if maths was an important skill for me to have? Considering that I never directly applied for this role, the recruiter contacted me directly and told me it’s an admin role then sent over the job description which stated operations assistant. Nevertheless it was still admin duties and I obviously had the experience/skills needed to pass the first 2 interviews.

im just confused but I will await the feedback

I am tempted to ask the recruiter if maths was an important skill for me to have? Considering that I never directly applied for this role, the recruiter contacted me directly and told me it’s an admin role then sent over the job description which stated operations assistant. Nevertheless it was still admin duties and I obviously had the experience/skills needed to pass the first 2 interviews

It sounds to me like the recruiter didn't prepare you for the manager putting you under pressure. I'd expect something along the lines of 'this bloke is adversarial and rude and will fire questions at you, so be prepared.' It's possible that the recruiter saw your CV and just saw job that needs a warm body without considering whether you're a good fit.

Is there anything in the job description that you actually can't do and suggests you'll be under pressure in this job? as you say, you passed the first two (which is impressive, BTW).

Tbh OP this interview process would've put me off accepting the job! They are expecting a lot for an ops assistant job.

My job is with a very big and good company, £28k a year and I only had one interview

Three interviews for an admin assistant? sounds to me like someone got their wires crossed and thought they were interviewing for sales.

Every job I've ever had two was the maximum.

Same here. 2 interviews max, 1 usually with HR and other with people you’re working for.

Honestly OP, I’d think hard about this role and other jobs before you think about accepting it. After being a SAHM for 6 years do you really want to work with a difficult manager and someone who says you doesn’t recognise your skills as a people pleaser and expects you to do the opposite.

There are a few other companies that offer what this one does.

Honestly OP, I’d think hard about this role and other jobs before you think about accepting it

Me too. I think you want a basic one that will ease you back in and build your confidence and this one doesn't sound like it's the one that will do that.

Hi all! So I’ll attach below the skills on the job description that I should have:
Self-motivated
Well-organised, adaptable and solution-focussed
Good attention to detail
Good organisational and communication skills
Ability to liaise internally and externally on administrative matters.
Advanced proficiency in managing documents, spreadsheets, and databases.
Ability to work well under pressure.
Punctuality in meeting deadlines
Good analytical skills
Experience using Outlook and Excel

the responsibility of this role:
Monitor and liaise shipment arrangement and respond to relevant enquiries internally and externally.
Support Operations team on administrative matters.

now looking back on today I am very confused at what I faced. I realise that a lot of the questions were not related to this job role…

one point I remember after the senior manager asked what I do in my spare time, I mentioned that I’ve recently been doing a it course just to enhance and increase my skills. I told him it was looking into hardware and software and was purely just for me to learn a new skill. He asked me in detail what is hardware and I had to explain the physicalities of hardware and the differences between software etc. he then said ‘so you don’t do coding???’ And seemed disappointed when I said no. That also confused me and I’m not quite sure why he needed me to explain what exactly hardware is. I was simply just stating doing a little course on the side.

as you can see the job description really does just need an admin with general daily administrative tasks that I really don’t think I need to be overly qualified to do. I was also told from the start that they are specifically looking for someone new to the shipping industry that they can train up.

im very much confused and should probably stop going over the details of what happened today as it doesn’t help. The first interview was virtual with the head of HR, more like a screening I suppose. Then 2 face to face interviews - is this normal? I only interviewed once for my current admin role

I'm confused - what current admin role?

Sounds a horrible process… I’d be happy not to get it, three interviews and tests is such a lot for an admin role.

Sounds like a v hard interview for an admin role...

Good luck, but honestly OP you need to start building up your confidence. If you don't get the post, take the positives from it - you got to second/final stage interviews. You'll get useful feedback. stop putting yourself down and telling yourself you definitely won't get a job. You're practically talking yourself out of being employable!

Sorry I’m not sure if I mentioned previously but I work part time as an administrator at the moment. I’ve not been doing it for long, it’s only a few hours a week very limited and it’s work from home. I only took it to get something on my cv as I have a large gap from being a sahm.

If they're going to train you in a bog standard admin role then someone, somewhere in the company has got their wires crossed about who they were interviewing for what or they are very disorganised and bad at recruiting. Three interviews and tests for that job is ridiculous.

Plus that manager sounds an arse. He probably prides himself on being hard on candidates in interviews. I'd tell the recruiter what you've told us here.

I will be honest and say they told me within 6-12 months they will want to train the candidate up to be the ‘vessel operator’. So maybe they wanted to see how I would handle being under pressure in the interview, if I’m going to have a more intense role in the future.

however, the role of the vessel operator is to directly control the vessel (from a virtual perspective) ensuring it gets from point A to B. Speaking with the captain of the ship and plan the voyage…

I still don’t see how the questions today would have even been relevant for that role either?

am I missing something here?

I am going to send a message to the recruiter tomorrow but I also don’t want to come across as rude or complaining

This sounds stranger and stranger - I wonder whether they'd also like to pay you an admin wage while training you to be the vessel operator 🧐.

Don't get carried away with the swanky offices and all the promises
I landed a job some years ago with a company with the most incredible offices in a central location. The interviews were brutal and there were four of them. Prior to my start date I got invited to a champagne reception on a boat going down the Thames. I thought I'd won the lottery
In reality the company was the worst I have ever worked for. Completely disorganised, couldn't give a toss about their customers and managers with zero experience or common sense who could talk the talk. Spoke to and treated their teams like total shit and screamed at people when things didn't go their way
I stuck it out for a year and every day was sheer hell. I know of 2 people who have won in tribunals against them since I left
The company I work for now and have for many years have basic offices not in any central location. No glitz or glamour but treat us well and everyone is respectful and hard working. I've sat in on many interviews and no way would our HR team allow rudeness from management. That kind of attitude would not be allowed

I assume so. Salary is £25k for this role

As others have said you need to think about whether you want to work at a place with that sort of culture. It's hard to judge at interview stage but there are lots of red flags there.
I took a job where it seemed to be a perfect fit. They talked about benefits and flexible working and literally described the company as a 'family' environment. I soon realised it was a very toxic workplace with a high staff turnover and not great benefits.
I would have been absolutely devastated if I hadn't been offered the job as it seemed so perfect but after starting I really wished I hadn't got it!

I just wanted to echo what has been said before about not being lured in by the fancy offices and all the bullshit that companies spout at interview. Several times I have been awed by stuff like that, only to realise a month or two into the job that the place is badly run, with terrible management etc.

They seem to be putting you through the ringer for what is an admin role. Don't worry if you don't get it, you might have actually dodged a bullet.