Shortlisted but can't make interview - advice?

needtowinthelottery

Thank you for all of your comments. A few replies where I thought they were needed:

duckmaster - May I refer you back to my original post "before I even started filling in the application form, I rang the potential new employer and explained my situation and the dates I am away. They said, in no uncertain terms, that if I made the shortlist I would be offered an interview even if this was on a different date to the rest of the candidates."

This is the reason why I was wondering if employment law may help me. I had been verbally promised an interview and the potential new employer knew the dates I was going to be away before I applied.

Also, it is my dream job but I'm not going to waste the £1,400 I've paid for my holiday. My travel insurance company won't cover a job interview as a reason for cancellation. Believe me, I've looked in to everything!

somethingcorporate - the potential employer is not big or geographically diverse. It's a small local authority/council.

Update: I rang them yesterday (Friday) morning and explained that I had tried everything I could to re-arrange my holiday as I very much wanted to attend the interview. They weren't able to see me yesterday afternoon as some of the interview panel are councillors so the interview date was dependant on their availability. She did, however, seem very understanding of my situation and agreed to pass on my message (and how hard I'd tried to make the interview) on to the interview panel. Right, off to Gatwick now with my fingers crossed! Thanks again for everyone's input. This is a great forum

needtowinthelottery

Oldernotwiser - I'm not going to Europe. It's a Caribbean holiday of a lifetime that I've been saving up for ages to go on and have had booked for six months. Typical!

mountainofdebt

OP

You say some of the councillors can't make it which sounds as if its a job either for or some way linked to the LA.

In which case go and enjoy your holiday and don't worry about them rearranging the interview - the successful candidate has already been chosen.

sho_me_da_money

If this was my dream job, I would've sacked off the holiday and sold the tickets to someone else.

In this economy, there is no way an employer is going to wait on you especially since there are 5 other candidates in the running.

Wellery82

If they can't rearrange one suggestion i would have is to find out who their competitors are and send the HR department/Marketing department of each of them a speculative e-mail with your CV saying why you feel you are suited to that industry. If they think you look good on paper chances are their competitors may as well i would say

needtowinthelottery

sho_me-da-money - As I previously explained, the holiday was non-refundable / non-changable, so therefore I couldn't even sell or transfer to someone else at that stage. My insurance company wouldn't cover an interview as a valid reason for cancellation and I wasn't prepared to lose £1,400 (and another £1,400 for my partner!).

In response to your comment "there's no way an employer is going to wait on you...". Actually, they did wait for me. They interviewed the other five candidates while I was on holiday and I got back on Monday to a letter asking me for an interview this morning. They were re-interviewing two other candidates for the second round as well as me. As it turns out, they told me I was the strongest candidate on paper.

I'm very pleased to say that they offered me the job this afternoon

My advice for anyone looking for a job is to remain positive, no matter how hard it seems. Positive things happen to positive people!

Thank you to everyone for your interest.

xbrenx

needtowinthelottery wrote: »

I'm very pleased to say that they offered me the job this afternoon

That's fantastic news! Well done and I hope the job turns out to be everything you're hoping for :j:T:)

somethingcorporate

needtowinthelottery wrote: »

sho_me-da-money - As I previously explained, the holiday was non-refundable / non-changable, so therefore I couldn't even sell or transfer to someone else at that stage. My insurance company wouldn't cover an interview as a valid reason for cancellation and I wasn't prepared to lose £1,400 (and another £1,400 for my partner!).

In response to your comment "there's no way an employer is going to wait on you...". Actually, they did wait for me. They interviewed the other five candidates while I was on holiday and I got back on Monday to a letter asking me for an interview this morning. They were re-interviewing two other candidates for the second round as well as me. As it turns out, they told me I was the strongest candidate on paper.

I'm very pleased to say that they offered me the job this afternoon

My advice for anyone looking for a job is to remain positive, no matter how hard it seems. Positive things happen to positive people!

Thank you to everyone for your interest.

Happy days!!! :T:T:T:T:T:T:T