Is it just me, or is the preparation for a job interview becoming too time consuming?

[daisydotandgertie]

I have an interview on Thursday and have so far spent 4 days preparing for it and still haven't done enough.

It has been re-branded as an assessment and will take 3 hours to complete. It consists of a 10 minute talk with no visual aids (I've already posted about this in a panic) on a topic defined by the interviewer, a competency based interview (outline topics detailed and preparation expected) and a selection of team exercises.

This isn't for a high flying job - it's a good job, but not one which I think is earth-shattering, and it is for only a 12 month contract.

I honestly couldn't do all this work if I was currently working full time. The demands of interviewers seem disproportionate to the actual role.

Has anyone else felt like this?

Yes it does take a huge amount of time to prepare for an interview - to be a credible candidate you have to "think yourself into the role". And why are should you do that? 1) because you need to think about all the aspects of the job so you know whether you are right for it, and it is right for you; and 2) because you are presumably in competition with other people for it - maybe people who do think it is earth-shattering, and who are willing to put in any amount of time to get it.

From an employers point of view, it is terrible to appoint the wrong person to a post, to have a dissatisfied staff member (because the job isn't what they expected), who perhaps isn't performing as you expected. If they leave, it is disruptive to the team and to the people you are providing services to. I am more worried when employers don't seem to have thought through the interview process and don't know what they're looking for.

All this preparation is not wasted. It is very important to come off as polished and thoughtful, if you want to get this job. If you can show you know the job and their organisation and show how your skills are relevant, it is VERY impressive to an interviewer. They will bite your hand off.

If you are going for more than one job of similar description, I personally prefer to arrange for the less desirable interview first. To get practice as it were, before going for the real interview.

Thanks for your messages ladies. They really did help keep me focused.

I do agree with everything you said - no preparation for something as important as a job interview is every wasted. I did everything I could think of to give myself the best chance because I really, really want this job and don't think I'll find anything else which so perfectly matches my skill set and interests.

And despite all the moaning I've done it was actually a really good fun day. They were very skilled assessors.

I am quite sure that all my moaning was more directed at having to travel for 6 hours in total and attend a 3 hour interview on MY 40TH BIRTHDAY!

As I've clearly not grown up already, I don't think I ever will. .