I had a job interview on Thursday for a lower banded PA job to what I have now, I was asked the question as to why I wanted to move and replied that I was not really concerned about the drop in money as I was looking for a role that I could develop and would develop me as my current role was not busy enough and did not utilise the skills I had.I didnt get the job - the reason given was the person appointed had more experience?? After thinking about this overnight I rang and spoke to one of the interview panel and asked for further clarification and said that I couldnt understand this as I had enough skills & expierance to get my current higher banded post. His reply was that in the current cliamte he couldnt understand why I wanted to drop(the post involved an xtra 6 hrs to what I work now so financially would be slightly better off short term)and also that as a couple of years ago I had left a post where I was an acting 5 they where concerned I was using this as a stepping stone, yes somewhere in the future it would be nice to move up the ladder but I want and need a role that is going to keep my peabrain ticking over and dare I say it fit in with the kids .The post he mentioned I was in 6.5 years ago- I was acting up until they found a manager to fill the post of a colleague so substantively I was a 4 which was the same grade as the post I went into.I left becuase I felt the role was'nt for me - do I just state this if asked ??I found all this quite hard I have only been in my current job for 9 months but have never flitted around stopping in posts for 5yrs+ I do miss by previous role and always refer to that role when discussing my current post with my boss.He knows I am not happy as I am just not busy enough and I took this post hoping to move up, its disappointing to feel that I do not have a role and feel that I have been let down by the pay review that graded my old job, I feel I did much more on my lower band than I do now and I miss the involvement of a clinical area and supporting the team as I did. I feel as though the whole thing is dragging me down and have even contemplated calling in sick on occasions and I cannot remember the last time I was sick!!. So what can I do to avoid this being an issue in the future as I have applied for a post which is very simular to my old post but a different specialitry so would be a learning curve, but I do not want prospective employers to look down on me a) because I am happy to drop band b) because I have only been in this role for 9mths -How can I explain the whole saga convincingly.
Any help and advice would be very much appreicated