Interview for in-house job vacancy

Nothingspecial

Hello

I work for a company that advertised a position that had become vacant and although I have alot of relevant skills, I did not have the experience of the software package that is used. I made this clear on my internal application form and again at the first interview I had. However, I did say in the application and at 1st interview, that I was well aware that I needed training and would be very willing to come along to the department to shadow the temp that is currently doing the job, on my non working days to be trained in the handover period, if i were successful.

So, I was over the moon that out of all external applicants (with relevant experience, I guess), i was picked for a second interview along with one external candidate. Second interview went really well and my feedback backed this up but I didnt get the job. The reason was solely the lack of working knowledge of the software to do the job.

I am devastated, and silly me, have been blubbing like a baby. I do feel very hurt, so please don't bash me in this post. I would have loved to have got the job. I think when I go back to work Monday, I will have a post interview de-brief, and I hope to have my feelings back under control by then.

I would like to express in a constructive way how let down I feel in the company that I work for. I applied for the vacant post as my current role allows no scope for progression and I had hoped my company would be as invested in me, as I was them. I also want to try and get something positive back from them. I work a flexible working pattern in a different department to the one I applied to, and I bank hours to cover annual leave and sickness within my current department. Do you think it would be okay for me to ask, that seeing as I bank these hours, and sometimes, they dont always get used, maybe I could ask to be trained upstairs in the department where I need to gain experience so that at times of staff shortage I can be of use, then at least I would be able to gain on the job training so that once my wounded pride has healed, I could apply again as they do come up every now and again? Do you think my company was right to pick someone that had experience externally over someone that they know, but who needes training and why did they give me a second interview????

Thank you for reading this far and thank you for any advice.

TimBear

Hmmm it's a tricky one. My company will always employ internally before advertising the job externally or considering someone from outside the company.

If it's just the software, could you ask for training now whilst in your current role so that if something else came up you'd be in with a better chance?

Nothingspecial

Thanks Timbear for the reply, I was basically told on the quiet, rightly or wrongly that I would almost certainly be given the job, so I felt really excited and so positive and thought I would be doing a role I really wanted, and I think that is why I am deeply hurt and I dont want to feel like this when I return to work as I like all the colleagues who told me this and dont want them to feel awful too.

I just wondered what "rights" I have to question this decision or should I just get over it and stop being a silly moo and like I said ask if I can get trained as the department is busy and I think it would be beneficial to that department and to myself?

ohreally

Do not raise the issue. Head down, mouth shut and put the episode behind you and focus on yourself.

Some may take the view that you may have been set up to fail after being led to believe you were about to be offered the position.

Nothingspecial

ohreally wrote: »

Do not raise the issue. Head down, mouth shut and put the episode behind you and focus on yourself.

Do you really think that I should do this? Its because I am focussing on myself and future development that I applied for the post.

Can I ask, please, why you think I should not raise the issue?

McKneff

stop being a silly moo and like I said ask if I can get trained as the department is busy and I think it would be beneficial to that department and to myself?

This is your answer and you answered it yourself.

Its an awful feeling and Ive been there myself many years ago. Its a sense of betrayal and I remember it well.
Have a cup of tea and gear yourself up for Monday, tell them you were very disappointed and leave it at that
apart from asking for training which you are keen to do.

Good luck, hope you feel better now

ohreally

Nothingspecial wrote: »

Do you really think that I should do this? Its because I am focussing on myself and future development that I applied for the post.

Can I ask, please, why you think I should not raise the issue?

You should do what you're comfortable with.

I suspect raising the issue is unlikely to bear fruit in terms of the employer justifying their choice. You also run the risk of being informed, bluntly, that they consider you are not up to the new role - you are already a bit fragile about this anyway. Let a bit of time pass then look at training development opportunities to prepare you for future vacancies.

I'd leave it, at least for the moment.

magenta22

Sorry that you didn't get it. I've had roles that I have gone for where they had an internal candidate apply who then got the role and it is disappointing.

You were honest in telling them that you didn't know the software but would learn it and by the sounds of things, you gave a good interview so you can hold your head up high.

Does your company offer any training courses that you could do to gain more skills? I know it doesn't help with that role but perhaps there will be future ones and you will then be prepared.

Try not to think about it over the weekend and just relax and enjoy it.

Nothingspecial

McKneff wrote: »

stop being a silly moo and like I said ask if I can get trained as the department is busy and I think it would be beneficial to that department and to myself?

This is your answer and you answered it yourself.

Its an awful feeling and Ive been there myself many years ago. Its a sense of betrayal and I remember it well.
Have a cup of tea and gear yourself up for Monday, tell them you were very disappointed and leave it at that
apart from asking for training which you are keen to do.

Good luck, hope you feel better now

I think you summed it up perfectly, it is a sense of betrayal, in fact set me off crying again, arrrggh. Thank you for your input though and I am normally a really positive person so I have the weekend, thank goodness, to try and put a positive spin on things.

Nothingspecial

ohreally wrote: »

You should do what you're comfortable with.

I suspect raising the issue is unlikely to bear fruit in terms of the employer justifying their choice. You also run the risk of being informed, bluntly, that they consider you are not up to the new role - you are already a bit fragile about this anyway. Let a bit of time pass then look at training development opportunities to prepare you for future vacancies.

I'd leave it, at least for the moment.

Thanks for the clarification, yes I see your point and obviously they didnt think I was up for the post and this is a bad enough feeling without having my nose rubbed in it.

McKneff

Nothingspecial wrote: »

I think you summed it up perfectly, it is a sense of betrayal, in fact set me off crying again, arrrggh. Thank you for your input though and I am normally a really positive person so I have the weekend, thank goodness, to try and put a positive spin on things.

aahh bless, sorry for causing you more tears.

Up an' 'at em girl

regards
Annie