Thoughts wanted re: weird job interview situation

whitewing

Would love an update on how the interview went...

dryjoy

whitewing wrote: »

Would love an update on how the interview went...

I thought I'd check in and give an update! Thanks for asking.

Well, the interview itself was pretty tough. It was shorter than last time, but they dug much deeper. The lines of questioning were quite similar to before, but they wanted far more concrete examples and kept pushing. I was more nervous than last time, but I thought I did OK in the end.

In the end, they offered the job to K, which is no great surprise, given she is already experienced. But... the subject of K's part-time secondment came up, and they are hoping I could take that on.

Due to other upcoming movement in the department, they are hoping to extend the secondment considerably, and make it full-time. If that pulls off, I would count that as a real result! They said I wouldn't have to be interviewed again or anything. They also wanted to know whether I would consider the 0.6 post and do my current job in my current department the rest of the time, but I said that I didn't want to do that. I think I'd find it really tough, and that is exactly what K has been doing (I sit opposite her when she's in in my current department) and she has found it hard. I did say I'd consider a 0.8 post though as I wouldn't have to do two jobs then, and they seemed to think that was an interesting possibility.

Basically, they are going to discuss all this with HR. I think they would really like to give me a job, but there is no guarantee that HR will be amenable. Any secondment also needs to be agreed with my current boss, who may be difficult.

They said they'd be speaking to HR 'early next week' (i.e. this week as this was last Thursday) - it's now Wednesday and I haven't heard anything.

I am going a bit out of my mind, feeling in a strange limbo. But I have a high level of trust in the new department, they gave me something to do to gain experience after last time (which was January), in preparation for the post I just applied for. It took two months from mentioning that to making it happen, and I thought they'd forgotten about me, but they hadn't.

They did say how difficult it was because they had two very appointable candidates. I think whatever happens, I should feel good about myself. This job would be quite a leap for me and when I applied the first time, I was wracked by self-doubt and should I/shouldn't I kind of stuff, so I have now learnt that I really should be aiming higher and putting myself forward for things. That in itself is a valuable lesson, but I really hope something comes of all this.

People often don't come back from their secondments!

dizzyrascal

Well done you!
You clearly were a good choice for them too as they said it was a difficult decision.
HR take ages at my place so don't worry too much

I'm on secondment too and I hope it becomes permanent.