Thoughts wanted re: weird job interview situation

dryjoy

Hello there – I have a scenario going on at work at the moment which I am hoping to get some views on.

I’ve applied for a post in a different department at work. I had applied for a very similar post a few months ago, didn’t get it but was their second choice (I know this because they sounded me out in case the first choice didn’t accept it).

They explained that they offered it to the other person because they had some very relevant experience in a very specific area that I do not have. However, they then offered me a way to gain this experience and then tipped me off that another post would be coming up soon and strongly suggested I should apply then.

So, now the new post has come up and I would have been feeling quite confident about it except that someone else who is already doing the same job, but part-time and on a temporary basis, has gone for it.

This person (let’s call them K) works in my current department when they’re not at the other one (works 3 days over there and 2 here), sits opposite me etc and is someone I really get on well with, and is very good at both roles. K originally chose to go for the part-time, temporary post (I didn’t go for the part-time one as I didn’t want to be doing two jobs) even though they knew a full-time one was coming up (the one I was interviewed for a couple of months back, which was also temporary), because it was a big move for them and felt comforted by having a foot in the old camp. I think they now wish they hadn’t done that, and the latest post is permanent. I don’t think the management in the other dept would have bargained on K making this move when they tipped me off.

So now, I really don’t know what my chances are, I just don’t have the same experience as K.

I know I have to go to my interview next week and do the very best I can, but it’s really difficult, because I pulled out all the stops last time, did lots of research and so on, but that was only a couple of months ago and nothing has really changed for me (even the thing they gave me to get the necessary experience is something I have agreed to do but I haven’t actually had to do anything yet, though the first meeting is the day after our interviews!).

So how do you approach preparing for an interview for a job you have recently already been interviewed for, weren’t offered, and have unexpected extremely strong competition for? It’s just going to seem weird turning up there again, and on one hand I don't want to repeat everything I said before, but on the other I don't know how to dig up anything new, as I really tried my best last time. I have noticed though that the next interview is scheduled for a shorter time than before.

This is a new situation for me, so any thoughts welcome.

dizzyrascal

My advice would be to go to the interview feeling really passionate about the role (I assume you are) and give it your best shot. You nearly got there last time so you never know.
If you impress them again (and there is no reason why you wouldn't) then you may be offered the role.
If not, and it goes to K, you can at least accept that it went to the person who was best qualified for the role. (By your own admission)
Then, if you are not successful, you will at least have come to the attention of that department as someone who is keen to join the team. Sometimes it is a waiting game, but perhaps it would then be a good time to ask to work shadow the roles you might be interested in. Perhaps ask for some mentoring, if that is a possibility. Sometimes it is very difficult to get into popular departments.
Finally, there is always a chance that K will not perform well at the interview and you perform well. Don't rule this out.

dryjoy

Thanks for your thoughts. I am pretty passionate about the role, so I will try hard, but it's just that I dug pretty deep last time and I don't know how to come up with anything new to impress them this time!

I don't think it actually is that much of a popular department though (not everyones cup of tea, anyway) so I think I have a good chance of ending up with them in the longer term, but roles don't come up very often as they are a small dept (with a big job), there has just been a cluster lately.

dizzyrascal

Well it might be a different team doing the interviewing so it won't matter if you "repeat" yourself.
Can you think of a way to bring in your passion for the job? Talk about how you see this role as part of your planned career development or ask if they would support you if you took on further training to help you do the role. I see no reason why you can't mention the training they have offered you, bring up how excited you are to be doing this. How much you welcome their encouragement etc.
Hope this helps

dryjoy

There'll be three people on the panel, two of whom interviewed me last time! But yes, I think your idea of bringing up the extra experience thing they offered me is a good one.

TrickyWicky

Even if you don't get it this time, apply anyway. And the next time, and the next time etc. Eventually they'll get the message that you're not going to go away and really want the job more than they first realised. When the penny finally drops for the thick idiots you'll get the job. Heck, even find reasons to email them and after signing of:

<name>
PS I'll be applying again next time too

Pester them politely until they've got no option but to shut you up.

whitewing

I think I would try and wear something in a different colour, even if that means buying new, and maybe getting a different folder thing. Anything to make you feel a bit different.

Then plan answers based on questions you were asked previously, as you may get the same questions, so some answers or examples could maybe change. I would hope the interviewers asked you some different questions too.

What will you say if they ask you if K should have the job (assuming they will ask K if they should give you the job)?

bluesnake

dizzyrascal wrote: »

If you impress them again (and there is no reason why you wouldn't) then you may be offered the role.
If not, and it goes to K, you can at least accept that it went to the person who was best qualified for the role. (By your own admission)

You could be right, but I see it different

they already have you, and getting k (or anyone else bar you) to do the job permanently could be better. No training for your job, possibly only for the new job.

I you get the new job, possibly you will need training, and then they will have to train another for your job too.

Personally, if you do not get the job, they know you were interested last time, so you are probably at your positional peek in that company- for a while at least. Think you would have to make up your mind to grin and bare it, or bite the bullet and find another company.

dryjoy

Thanks for the ideas. Wearing something different is an interesting thought in terms of psychology. I think this interview will either be somewhat less rigorous this time because they already know what they want to do, or that they will give me an ultra-grilling to really put me to the test and find who is best. I think it'll be one extreme or the other.
I also think there could be some kind of other possibility that might accomodate K and myself... I don't know, I mustn't get my hopes up but just a feeling. My current post came about when I had to compete with someone else for one post. The other candidate was already 'acting up' into the role, it was obvious that they would get it so I wasn't going to bother, but my managers kept pushing me to go for it so I did.
The other person got the job, but they upgraded my existing post to the same grade off the back of my interview. I didn't see that coming at all.
So I have learnt from that experience that when you are encouraged to apply for a role, you really should do it even if it seems a bit hopeless, there COULD be something else going on that you don't know about!

theoretica

Another thing to be prepared for is if they offer K the full time job, but that leaves a part time vacancy so they offer you K's current role. What would you say?

dryjoy

That is a possibility indeed, which I have been thinking about. I don't want to work two jobs and I can't afford a pay cut. The PT post is currently a 0.6 fractional post, but K is having trouble getting everything done in that time. If they could increase it to 0.8 then I would be no worse off, and I would consider that.

But it's complicated as the PT post is a secondment to end of August, and I don't think my current boss would support it.

The FT post is permanent. That's why K is applying too.