Rejected even with interview questions in advance. What now

[ASDnocareer]

I work in public sector and was just rejected at final interview stage for an internal role. Previously rejected for other internal roles too, despite always meeting objectives etc. This time I really thought I had a chance as I’d done the same type of role previously but at another company, arguably with more responsibility.

I have autism and after asking, the interviewer agreed to send all candidates questions in advance. I first prepped my answers myself, and then asked ChatGPT if my sample answers answered the question and used STAR correctly. ChatGPT proposed tweaks I thought helped with polishing up the structure but then for interview I tried to say it in my own words but keep structure.

Still received yet another rejection.

My feedback was to speak slower and not overwhelm with detail, also to use STAR.
^I thought I’d always been using STAR funnily enough, have known about it since interviewing for uni internship (which I landed), ChatGPT also helped confirm that I was using STAR. I’m not sure why they didn’t think I was using STAR.

I just really don’t know what to do now, I’ve been rejected many times before but this one has stung so badly, because I did this role before in private sector. I’m genuinely terrified that I won’t get a better paid job. My wage does not cover my living costs, have had no heating all winter, and sometimes skip meals.
Have paid for CV review (more affordable than career coach which are so expensive), on a mentoring scheme, good performance reviews, joined network groups but none of it has been enough for me to find a job above admin level, despite having a degree and no CV gaps.

Ask for more specific feed back to begin with including scores, so you can see where you lost points.

Also do remember it is points based so if someone scores higher they automatically get the job.

For the STAR it may be what bit of star you are focusing on that needs a tweak. The Situation and Task bit just needs a few sentences and focus on your action and why you took that action. Results just sum up what you’ve achieved.

Thank you @SparklyBrickViper, I don’t work for civil service so not sure if my company have ‘scoring’ for each question (it’s never been mentioned before)

Completely agree with this.

I'm also autistic and have been passed over several times. I'm also very detailed in my responses, and am too animated when I get enthusiastic about a reply. I think it comes across as very intense. And that's without chat gpt.

Just my own view but I find some candidates get so wedded to responding using the STAR method, that their responses become overly detailed and prescribed.

I think people are better off drafting their response when preparing and then checking does it tick of all of the STAR aspects. That way it comes more authentic and conversational, rather than longwinded and stilted.

The interview then becomes robotic, rather than a chat/discussion which is far more authentic.

Maybe this doesn't apply to you, but it's something I see regularly.

Have you considered seeing if someone would act as a coach or menotor internally to help you, maybe even run mock interviews for you.

I've been rejected for an internal public sector role and it really stung, so I know how you feel. Agree with other posters that you need to concentrate on the 'action' and 'result' part way more than the situation and task, if you weren't already doing that. One or two sentences only for the first bit.

The advice I was given for next time was: Try and talk about not just the result itself, but how it had an impact beyond your immediate role and responsibilities. Did you share your result and learnings with the wider department and help them to understand or change something they were struggling with? Did your result give you enough insight to change any systems or processes beyond your own area, to the benefit of the wider organisation? Were you able to influence any stakeholders to change strategy or direction because of the result of what you did?

Honestly, public sector interviews are SUCH a load of bollox but you have to play the game, or at least you do where I am. I hate them with an absolute passion.

I've also been on the other side, have sat on interview panels and sifted CVs. Just getting to the interview stage is a big achievement, so don't be too hard on yourself. Next week I am about to starting sifting for a new role that was advertised a few weeks ago. There have been over 300 - yes 300 - applications. It's just so bloody tough and competitive at the moment.

It is a blow when you get rejected for a job. You want. But don't give up and ask for feedback.

A very polished, detailed and technical answer can sometimes be overwhelming or feel inauthentic. Is there enough of you coming through? Is everything given equal weight, or will the panel get a sense of what really mattered to you and was proved pivotal to success? (Light and shade?).

I would hope it isn't but it wouldn't surprise me if hiring panels see the autism diagnosis and discriminate on that. You check the box to get an interview, but then they give you a generic reason as to why the job went to someone else. Can you apply to jobs and not declare it?

I've not had to do this for a while but it is important to be precise I think

Tell me about a time you led a team to achieve an objective, what was the result

I would say - Thank you. Great question, when I worked at Bliggs Industries I managed the customer service team. We were tasked to answer all calls in three rings. The actions I took were one two and three, as a result we managed to answer all calls with two.8 rings on average. Can I give you any additional details. Or is that enough?

Just to the point. No fluff

A session with an interview coach would be worth it's weight in gold for you. Also expressing enthusiasm - the times I've got the job are where I've shown a lot of research into the organisation and why my values fit their culture and my skills fit the role with specific examples . Along with strong (not perfect but strong) STAR answers. I think you need to think about which part of STAR they might think you are missing. It may also be that someone just did it better and just keep going.

What R did you use? Result? Or RR for Result and Reflect?

Sorry had to run for my train before I properly finished my answer.

If not scoring then you should still ask for more detailed feedback, there must be some sort of assessment method used to rank candidates. The feed back you have already received sounds like the generic panel overall assessment, so I would definitely ask for more details.

As already mentioned it is all just a game, and whilst this is disappointing you just keep trying (I have been there as an interviewer and being interviewed!).
You will get there, if you’ve got to interview it’s just polish on your technique. Do you know someone who does interviews in your organization that could give you mock interview practice and some feedback.

For slowing down when you speak the best tip I was given was to use the glass of water as a prop! Once they’ve asked the question take a sip of water to give yourself a few seconds thinking time before launching into your answer. The same if you feel you’ve started rushing, take a sip to slow yourself down.

If you haven’t got anyone for mock interviews record yourself on voice notes - so you can play it back to yourself.

Civil service publish a lot of the information online about their interview process including this scoring evaluation sheet

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5b0d4c5140f0b61eab912074/180529-CS-Jobs-Interview-Evaluation-Form-v3.docx

Here you go

Civil service blog with tips - defradigital.blog.gov.uk/2023/04/14/how-to-improve-civil-service-job-applications-and-ace-your-interviews/

Info about their success profiles www.gov.uk/government/publications/success-profiles

Thanks all, really appreciate the advice! I will reply more specifically later as bit busy but thought I’d add the ‘okay’ feedback for now (although I worry they just added this filler to soften the blow so not sure how true but…
”Prepared well for the interview, understood questions and had relevant examples.
Good examples of behaviours, openly highlighting mistakes and how rectified.
Demonstrated good communication and personable skills”

I’d like to think I’m okay at being personable during interview, as I have better track record of passing interviews within private sector with much less prep - little STAR effort but the enthusiasm and knowledge of specific role helped more. Only ever passed one public sector interview which was admin entry level and working ‘below’ skillset. Weirdly I’ve found private companies I’ve interviewed for (maybe coincidence) were more accepting of my autistic waffling, or messing up on STAR as I’m good at showing knowledge for specific role, and can do well if asked to attempt a BAU task during interview. If you mess up in one area but are still good at other parts still seems have a chance. My issue is I get offered less private sector interviews because I fall at CV hurdle.

Interviews at my current company seem to care far more about nailing STAR, and there aren’t many questions to prove my high enthusiasm and background /knowledge of the specific role. No bau tasks either. The last two interviews I had for this recent role (which I had done before elsewhere) did not ask one question specific to hard skills of the role if that makes sense, which I feel I could have otherwise proved my worth.

This was my first thought. People can spit it easily if they know what they are looking for.

Thank you guys, that is a really good point it could be that. However I paraphrased all of ChatGPT tweaks to my answer, and intentionally tried to sound conversational. I know it definitely didn’t sound too polished or robotic, with my autism I am guilty of expanding too much on a point. Perhaps I overemphasised on being ‘conversational’ that it sounded too waffly and too much time spent on setting the scene rather than brief ST, more A and T. They probably got bored of hearing me speak too much on ST that they zoned out of my equally long A, T which is where I may actually get ‘points’ (I don’t know their scoring though, not the civil service).
ChatGPT’s recommended answer was very brief on the S & T points (I did try hard to be concise on S&T and focus on A points but seems I simply said too much for all of S, T, A, and R).

If people are using AI in job applications and interviews now I wonder how long until they become pointless as they can't be relied upon? Interesting stuff!

I think that is my point about authenticity. You can be given a technically perfect answer which doesn't land in a convincing way.

Don't be afraid to lean in to what makes unique.

Also, getting to a final stage suggests you are doing an awful lot right. It's the luck of the draw who you run up against on the day.

I agree with both of you but I sometimes read online that are other people are using it to help, but I was conscious of people finding out too. Some companies use AI when reviewing candidates too. I know it still doesn’t make it right, but when using it I didn’t get it to write an answer for interview question. I got it to critique my draft according to STAR principles, and it offered some tweaks. I then took the tweaks on board but paraphrased their wording so not sure how someone still could have caught on its AI. Also my ‘S’ and ‘T’ used were incredibly niche that AI wouldn’t have known of. I ramble too much anyway

Sorry for grammar mistakes typing whilst out