38 comments Add a comment
My main gripe is knowing, soon after you have sat down to be interviewed, that the job you have yearned for for so long... is going to someone else (probably internally) and that, no matter how good you think the interview is going, at the back of your mind you know you're not gonna get it!
How do I know this? Well, recently I went for an interview at the local Council, a job that I have done within another Council. Brilliant I thought, bound to get it! How wrong could I be? Firstly, I had put more effort into my clothing than the 3 panellists, never a good start if you are being interviewed by 3 women (they get jealous don't you know). The next thing was being confronted by 3 blank faces whenever I answered a question, totally disinterested in what I was saying even though they wrote down SOME of what I said. Also, one question tends to lead swiftly on to another and I am not asked to elaborate on my skills, whether they be interpersonal (God I hate that word) or typing, it all becomes, well, rushed is the best I can describe it.
... given this job to an internal candidate judging by the total lack of interest
Then comes the phone call bang on 4pm. I reckon they always ring up the unsuccessful candidates first to "get them out of the way." Then you get the dreaded words, "Your interview went extremely well....but" and the excuses come after that for me not getting the job, namely I didn't elaborate on my skills (well, you didn't ask I'd be tempted to say). Then you put the phone down and think about what you should have said which is, "It's obvious you have given this job to an internal candidate judging by the total lack of interest shown by the 3 of you." But I didn't... I just took it on the chin instead.
Another example of a job being earmarked for someone even before I sat down to be interviewed was a couple of years ago, for the NHS. The 2 women on the panel had pen and paper but CHOSE NOT TO WRITE ANYTHING DOWN! Not surprisingly, I didn't get the job and the woman "rejecting" me on the phone said the reason they didn't write anything down was "we wrote detailed notes from memory after the interview as we found it can be very off-putting for candidates." Yeah, right!
The way to win over people in an interview is simple; smile and hope for the best. The first few seconds count! One woman got a job where my Mum works because the interviewer "liked her suit." If they go the other way and become jealous there's not a lot you can do about it!
By: Jane
Leave a comment
Panel sat there eating Maltesers, joking amongst themselves. Took very little interest and then told all of us we were unsuccessful. The jobs had already been earmarked. We all came out thinking it was extremely odd and very unprofessional.
So sad to waste good peoples time, money and patience with jobs for the boys.
I currently work for Learn Direct processing and collating applications and meeting applicants for job vacancies working for Learn Direct itself and I have experienced on many occasions applicants who are more than qualified and experienced who have attended interviews unaware that the position has already been filled by someone internally.
I find it quite upsetting that applicants who I have met and have all the relevant requirements including qualifications, experience and good character are invited for ficticious interviews at Learn Direct not knowing that the position has been predetermined and given to an apprentice or other junior.
One of the reasons Learn Direct do this is so that they can start these people on the lower end of the pay scale to save some money.
To be honest I am ashamed to be working for a company like Learn Direct and I would not recommend any job seekers to apply for any Learn Direct positions as you will not only lose out on the money and time you have invested going to the interview but it will also knock your confidence.
Basically it comes down to this. All applicants should be equal when applying for a job position and being an internal applicant shoud not be an advantage.
Shame on you Learn Direct as you should be practising what you preach!
I knew someone who worked in a company who managed to secure the business of all the Formula 1 teams, but who was moved side-ways in the organisation and a leggy blonde (no offence) who was very flirty with and to the senior mangers in the department got the position. Because she had got her position based on looks rather than commercial ability within 6 months all the F1 teams had moved to competitor companies. Oh and she was made redundant soon after as people higher up who were impressed by having secured all the Formula 1 teams were a bit miffed that they lost them all so very quickly i.e. within 4 months.
So next time you have a bad interview and the feedback is ludicrous...just remember the above and take heart...remeber they will be failing soon
- they didnt even have my CV on the table
- they asked me questions that were so rapid fire and specific, I believe no one who had not worked there could reasonably answer them (quesions about events/policies that have been removed from their mandate for about 5 years, that no amount of prior research could dig up)
- they did not ask why I was applying, or even to tell them about myself
It was a truly humiliating experience, that cost me quite a bit in lost wages and train fair to partake in. Why cant people just advertise internal only? It saves people like me a lot of time, money and dignity.
I was in a weirdly similar situation as i worked for a cleaning contractor who clean a major chain of supermarkets up and down the UK and applied for a job with the supermarket itself and was told that anyone from the outside joe public could apply but preferences would be for current X supermarket employees but I was not allowed to apply due to working for the contractor who are closely alligned to their company. MADNESS.
I hope you've had more luck since then with jobhunting.
im not sure how your situation came about but I'll hazard a guess and suggest that legally they had to advertise despite more or less knowing who they wanted to fill the vacancy.
If someone in the company was promoted or moved departments surely their old job was open afterwards? Or perhaps the boss had a son/daughter/niece/nephew/neighbour's child/relative that needed a job and one was available?
Clearlight