Job Interview Failed - Again

Had a job interview this week and had very high hopes. It was to be a cleaner/porter at our local hospital.

The interview, conducted by two women, seemed to go very well. I have experience as a cleaner and a carer, I have a degree, speak two languages and have teaching qualifications. I made the point at the end that please would they not reject me for having a degree or think that I would be bored or leave quickly etc. My 2+ years as a carer shows that I do not think manual work below me. They nodded sagely and wrote on their pads.

Later in the day there was the familiar old "you interviewed very well, but just got PIPPED at the post by someone else..." call. We regret to inform you that on this occasion you have not been successful.

I have been the recipient of many, many pippings over recent years. I am king of the pips. Nobody has been more thoroughly pipped than me.

What could the Pipper have had that was superior to me? How could they have been more qualified or experienced?

The pre-interview email said that there would be a basic maths and literacy test before the interview, but that didn't happen. It also said that I must bring 3 pieces of ID including one showing my right to work in the UK. They didn't ask to see those either. I wonder therefore whether it was a fix. Whether the Pipper was one of the women's neighbour's cousin's brother's friends who was given the nod that there's a job going and I was interviewed to provide cover. Alternatively, it may be that I need to set my sights a little lower than the lofty heights of cleaner, but apart from carers it's hard to think of anything lower.

 

It reminds me of a few years ago when we lived in Gloucester. I applied for a minimum wage job with the council putting bus timetables onto the internet. At the interview they asked whether I had an experience at all in transport? I told them I had 13 years as a senior operations controller at Euston station. "Oh" they said and scribbled on their pads. "Well then," they said, "have you got any experience in computing?". Yes, I replied. In fact I've got a degree in computing and have worked in IT tech support etc etc. "Oh" they said and wrote some more on their pads. The final part of the interview involved me reading some bus timetables and was ridiculously easy.

They called a day or two later to say that, yes you guessed, it had been a very good interview. Very, very good. They'd been very impressed. However unfortunately, just at the very last moment, right at the post in fact, I'd just been PIPPED by someone else. Again, what could the other person have had that made them more qualified or suitable for the job?

 

Also I would like to know from some of the businessmen and business ladies on here, who sit the other side of the interview desk, why they bother having interviews? I had a strong feeling at both of those mentioned above that it didn't matter what I said or did at the interview, I wasn't getting the job. If there really was someone more experienced and qualified and they're going to give the job to the person based simply on those criteria, why not just interview them for it and stop wasting everyone's time?

 

I agree with many of the sentiments,as dependent on the people involved, it can be a really unfair process. Often the worst aspect is not really knowing why you lost out, as that removes the one benefit you can get from the experience and that is to learn from it and do better next time.

But, of course, if you think you have got all the feedback you'll get, then you need to accept it and move on, otherwise you'll end up looking like Trump.

 

In the current climate there are many more people than usual going for all of the jobs available.

 

I bet Gladys Knight got the job.

 

Sorry to hear you've been pipped

I went through a few months of being unemployed after returning from overseas in travel

Had a feeling I was considered over qualified for some I went for and also too old. Eventually did two CV's, one with all my qualifications on incl dob and one a little dumbed down with no DOB

Do think some employers feel threatened by employing older people better qualified and with more experience than the interviewer

Good luck

 

Interviewers look at 2 things when they interview someone. Can they do the job and will I enjoy working with them. The latter comprises a number of things, do I like them, are they like me, will they be trouble (including are they overqualified and likely to challenge my instructions), what will they be like when the **** hits the fan, do we have common interests to chat about. Getting someone to "like you" is underestimated in interviews. I almost never give the job to the best qualified. I always give it to someone who I think will "fit in" best and be best for the team/company. Try to smile, emphasise what a great team player you are, how commiteed you are, how seriously you'll take the tasks but how calm, rational and supportive you can be in a crisis. Clive I've no idea how "forrin" you look or sound but that may play against you if the interviewers think that you are "different". We are all subconsciously racist no matter how hard we fight it. "Fear of the unknown", esp where religion is concerned, and "comfort in the familiar". That may weigh against you a little or a lot depending on the interviewers.
As you say sometimes, it is just a fix and a dummy process to justify an appointment, especially if it's an internal appointment.
Worth asking where the chosen candidate beat you. Telling you that you interviewed well or very well isn't helpful at all. How could you have interviewed better is the question to ask.

My guess is your experience and qualifications will scare interiewers into thinking that you won't "just do as you are told", will be bored, and might end up taking their job.

 

Yes, but it might not be about being threatened, as the fear of having to go through the process again if an over qualified person takes the job, and soon gets bored, or is just using it as a stepping stone.

 

I tend to agree. Highly ambitious? Well qualified? A "go-getter"? Extremely charismatic?

Sorry sir. You are were a really great candidate, but you've just been pipped to the post by Mr N. O. Threatome.

 

...also is there anything that a potential employer could find on social media that suggests you are very left-wing, pro-union, pro-workers rights, anti-management etc ? Anything that might suggest you'd be "a trouble-maker" ?

 

That’s pretty much it I’d say, most interviewers want someone who they’ll get on with and won’t cause them any trouble.

People also make split second decisions on whether they like someone or not and that can cut both ways.

I’ve set up my own business now but had several interviews at the start of the year. Two of them involved two interviews with different people. The first of each went really really well, got on with the people really well and got great feedback. both of the second interviews were completely different, they were quite cold and hardly asked me any questions.

I came away knowing I hadn’t got either of them, I almost wanted to say don’t you actually want to ask me some questions? They’d clearly already made their mind up about somebody else and there was nothing I could’ve done to have changed that.

I’ve experienced that several times with internal jobs as well. I worked for on company for ten years so went for a few internal interviews. With some of them there was clearly a candidate ear marked for the job already, which was always unsaid but it was widely accepted. I remember when they gave me feedback they said that they were pleasantly surprised at how well I’d interviewed and prepared and it was a lot closer than they’d expected, so much so that they had to think about it for a week, yet they still gave it to the expected person. They’d already made their mind up about it and whatever I did or said wouldn’t have made a difference.

Circling back to the first point, interestingly I noticed on LinkedIn somebody I know and used to work with got one of the jobs I interviewed for earlier on in the year.

I used to work directly with this person a few years back, they aren’t bad at their job but they got managed out of their role when I worked with them. They went to a different company and got made redundant at the start of the year. This is from a company that has posted not far off 50% growth this year and IPOd a year or so back. The reason they were made redundant is the same reason they were managed out of the role when we worked together, they are incredibly hard to manage and constantly cause trouble.

No doubt they would’ve interviewed really well, but they’ll be regretting their decision before long.

 

Difficult to smile with a mask on!

 

Rubbish. It's easy.

 

I agree with what has been said, the old adage " you don't get a second chance to make a first impression " is everything in interviews, I would say its a bit like when you are house hunting, you know immediately you walk in the property whether its a "No No " if the interviewer has come to this conclusion its extremely unlikely they will change their mind!

A smile, friendly good morning/afternoon, and being extremely polite and well mannered and being able to make friendly knowledgeable conversation are a must! I'm sure you have all these attributes Clive! its obviously not your capability, how about offering to work voluntarily for a week then you could both check each other out! Good luck!

 

This happens all the time Clive. My wife works at a trade union (one we have all heard of), and most job apps they put out of any significance are basically a fix. The interview process is just dotting the i's and crossing the t's, before various mates and colleagues can move up the greasy poll instead of someone who has probably genuinely interviewed well.

 

I agree with this. It does happen all the time. Sad but true. Hope you find something soon, Clive.

On a side note, I hope you didn't include a hyperlink on your CV to your WFC forums account haha.

 

When they greet you, with a "Is it OK if we call you Clive?" Do you respond with "No, but feel free to call me Comrade."

 

As above. The top two I select on:
Will the candidate be a good harmonious fit and complement the existing team?
Relevant experience?

I’m rarely bothered if there are qualification gaps if the attitude to learn is there, those can be filled and the employee sent on courses or college

 

I've often wondered this - why do companies advertise jobs externally if they have someone lined up internally? Is there some legal requirement or something? And if so, how come if I were to get a promotion, they wouldn't need to advertise that job externally before making me a manager, rather than exec?

I've gone for 3 jobs recently, like Clive had really good feedback, but someone else has gotten the job. In all three instances I looked on linkedin at the person who got the job instead. All three were already working at the company in some capacity and were obviously going to get the job regardless of how well I did. For two of them I had to take time off work, which is really annoying.

 

In this case it's "pole", Mr Trump.

 

It was quite dispiriting when I was trying to get a job after graduating. I'd made a late choice not do do a PhD so had not really been subjected to the "graduate vacancy" treadmill. A local executive employment agency had set up about 10 interviews...4 cancelled with the agency before the due date as they considered me "over-qualified". The same comment was made at 3 of the interviews I actually attended. Of the remaining 3, 1 rejected me as I had my ear pierced, 1 put me on the shortlist, & 1 offered me the job as a temp via the agency as the bloke I would report to was certain I'd find it too boring & would do a bunk after a couple of months. I accepted the temp offer, converted it to full-time within a month & set off on my employed career.

Even informing those who considered me "over-qualified" that all I'd proven was that I was "good at history & exams" carried little weight.
I attempted to carry my experience into how I used to interview people; if a candidate looked good enough to push me in the future, that looked a good bet for the company in the long term & myself in the short-to-medium term; excellent performance = success for the department = bigger performance bonus for all, including me. Once I'd announced my intention to retire, I appointed one of those I'd employed as my immediate superior as part of the departmental restructuring I was tasked to complete as my final major task. OK, it was only for 3 months, but it proved that appointing on merit, not fear, can be beneficial to all. In fact, that person then asked me to fulfill a 9 month part-time consultancy role from home after my official retirement, which was handy.

In Clive's case, it seems to me that most of these jobs were already going to be awarded internally & the interviews were to conform to policy. That seems a bit stupid, as our company policy was always to appoint internally (if possible) before we went through the rigmarole of advertising & interviewing external candidates. The eventual (junior) role that would arise would always be easier to fill & with less risk.

 

Recruiting is a pain in the harris. Unless you come across badly in interview which I doubt seriously, my guess is people are not convinced you'll stay.

Your're an intelligent articulate chap. You need to apply further up the ladder imho.

 

I agree with this. You seem to be way over qualified for the role that you were seeking, Clive. I would say the interview team were anxious to avoid having to go through the process again in a number of months (even though you had intended to stay for the long haul). I would take Meister's advice, if I was in your position.

 

Sorry to hear that Clive but obviously the more experienced and qualified Baroness 'Dido' Harding threw her tiara into the ring at the last moment and you were toast. She wants to prove to the world that there will eventually be a job she can do and not make a complete pig's ear of. It is though very greedy not to resign from her previous string of jobs as she collects new ones.

 

With your qualifications, experience and obvious intelligence why are you going for such sh1tty jobs Clyve? Aim high

 

many years ago I interviewed a fresh faced kid who'd just come out of Oxford with a first in history. I thought the role was below him so didn't offer him the job. Received an email from him 2 months later saying he was still struggling as many employers thought their roles were below him! So could be you are over qualified or maybe you should stop wearing that "Viva Castro" badge on your lapel

Either way, good luck job hunting

 

It’s also worth considering doing something working for yourself. If you’re going for MW jobs anyway there are probably loads of things you could set up as instead. Something like a handyman?

 

Porters are really important in hospitals. It would be a bummer of the highest order to be prepped for your operation and find you had to walk there and all the anaesthesia was in another room.

But agree with your wider point about our very own Kremlin who, in a just world, would be writing the editorial in a national newspaper.

 

Aww that's a nice compliment - thankyou! I did try writing a little while ago. I wrote, what I thought, was a really good article about the 60s militant civil rights leader Robert F Williams and his wife Mabel. They got chased out of the US by the Klan and ended up in Havana, where they ran the world's funkiest radio station - Radio Free Dixie. Took me weeks to research and write, then proof read and correct. Sent it off to the Cuba Solidarity Campaign in the hope they might publish it in their magazine. They wrote back and said more or less "too long did not read".

That was another job that came up a while back by the way. A recruitment officer job with the Cuba Solidarity Campaign. Travelling around the country speaking at union meetings etc and trying to recruit new members and branch affiliations. It would have been a job made in heaven for me. Ex-union branch chair, speak fluent Spanish, great contacts with Cubans in the UK, helped set up CSC branches in Oxford and Gloucester and been chair/sec of them, lived in Havana and worked for the national newspaper. Result - not selected for interview. I did ask for feedback on that one. They said it was because I didn't have experience of organising meetings....

 

“Too long, did not read”

 

When I was involved in recruitment at my old workplace we'd filter the candidates before the interview stage. If you made it to the interviews we had no issues with your experience or qualifications, it was then down to your personality, how you'd fit in and whether the reality matched your CV.

I remember one year we were hiring 2 from 4 final candidates, we disagreed on who the 2 would be so eventually hired 3. The only one we didn't hire was the most qualified and experienced, as he had an 'I know best' attitude and was overpowering the others in the activities rather than working together.

As others have said I suspect your issue is you're applying too low, and it's coming across in your interview that you're way sharper than the other employees. It sounds like they want drones who have no ambition and will be happy staying at that level.