Applied for wrong job - now have an interview. How to withdraw gracefully?

[JustNormalMen]

I panicked-applied for internal job A on the last day it was available. Or at least I thought I did. I have just received an invitation to interview for internal job B - same job title, different department. I firmly do not want job B. However as it's an internal post I don't want to advertise the fact that I applied in error. I've been told internal job A may go out to secondment and I don't want to ruin my chances of getting that by being known as the idiot who can't read a job ad. Any suggestions?

I think you have to just be honest that you may have clicked the wrong button. Do it early. (Is it possible HR have got it wrong though?)

Do the interview with a view to getting the practice and if successful make your excuses then based on something specific to the role/department or just state you're keen to gain experience and progress and feel Job A is a better fit?

Is it possible you did actually apply for Job A but someone cocked up the advert and has since corrected it?

"Thank you for inviting me to interview. On reflection, I feel this role wouldn't be the right fit for me at this stage, so I'd like to withdraw my application - I'm sorry for any inconvenience caused."

Two posters who think HR may have had a hand in cocking things up... there's a theme!

HR cock up is possible, but I don't want to highlight my own lack of attention to detail if that's not the case...I just tried to return their call with no response, which means I can take the coward's way out with a deliberately vague email.

My very bland withdrawal email was accepted without question. I do wonder if HR cocked up, but there's no way of knowing without outing myself as an idiot.

Just say you prefer job A and will accept that over job b if offered both?

Where is your job A application? Have you missed the deadline?

As someone who messed up their application to a company twice (two different jobs) - just email HR and be like - ummm wrong job. Don’t know if computer glitches or what, but can we please correct.

because I got the second job and it’s the best! Plus they gave fixing my f-ups to the student. So they were never mentioned.

This happened to me last week but it was an HR error- I literally applied via a specific email link but they somehow sent it to the wrong team who were also doing an internal recruitment! cannot believe I was shortlisted for a job I didn't apply for! They asked me to interview for it anyway, hilarious. Doe context, we're social workers so yes, I have the basic experience for any of the jobs I guess but it was in a very specific area and I literally didn't mention it at all in my application (as I was obviously applying for a different role 😂)