Interview Ponderings

Jitterbug123

Hello,

I am not really seeking advice just thought it'd be nice to write about my interview.

I had an interview today at another institution for a very similar role to my own, on the same pay grade. I delivered a presentation, and then had a 30 minute interview with three people.

The most senior member of staff was lovely, and seemed very interested in my experience, and noted a few times that things I was saying were extremely relevant to the set up of their office, etc. However, one of the less senior members of the panel was very brusque for the majority of the interview. She even interrupted her senior colleague at one point to tell her that the role would not involve directly using a piece of software. To which the senior colleague noted that the role may not require it but it was very useful to have someone in the office who was fluent in it, as others are expected to use it. (I was asking how a specific process was completed, and whether the role would take part in this)

Additionally, two candidates were unable to make the interview today and so are being interviewed on the 2nd July. So there will be no decision until then. I find this irritating - although probably acceptable.

Anyway, that's my little update on my interview. I wonder if the woman hated me or if she is just a bit of a brusque person?

DomRavioli

Ask her? that would nail it, although in the style of writing in your post, it would seem she was just mentioning that it wasn't required, and you've labelled her something she is not.

Also, emergencies arise, and most companies will allow rescheduling due to this - that is a fact of the job market and the majority of companies.

Seems like you have a little bit of an attitude problem OP.

Jitterbug123

Perhaps so re attitude problem. It's very difficult to be objective about yourself.

iclayt

I don't think you have an attitude problem, generally it's not very polite to cut someone off talking and doesn't seem very professional to me to do that to a colleague in an interview. Perhaps she had other things on her mind and work she needed to be getting on with, so wanted to keep the interviews flowing and running on time! Maybe she just likes playing good cop/bad cop.

Annoying having to wait but perhaps they have one of you in mind already and will compare the other two to that person, rather than taking time to deliberate afterwards, so hopefully you won't be waiting too long after the 2nd July. My current job I was waiting two weeks to hear back

Good luck, anyway!

Jitterbug123

Thanks iclayt. My assumption is always that it's because they hated me. But there are many reasons for someone being brusque in an interview. And in my current role my previous line manager interviewed me and was very brusque. But she also gave me the job, and was excellent to work with.

They're interviewing 5 people overall, so 3 today, and 2 on the 2nd July. It's usually been my experience in this sector (HE) that if you can't make it then they say tough luck, but if they're interviewing two on a separate day then maybe they're nicer than the other places I've worked.

Jitterbug123

I just thought I'd update this as I was offered the job.

Having a nightmare with the HR department as I always have done when moving job, but it's been offered.

jimmy2times

You're so lucky to have the confidence to do a presentation and an interview with 3 people! I could never do that sort of thing!

Well done on getting the job