Interview unsuccessful but recalled after a month

Wily_coyote

Good morning, 
I went for an interview for a role I was really interested few weeks back. Unfortunately I got notified few days later that the interview was unsuccessful.
The other day out, however,  of the blue HR called me saying that the person who had got the role for whatever reason declined it or didn’t take it so they thought of me. They said that I did a really good interview and they thought I was definitively appointable. So they asked if I was still interested. Of course I said yes. 

In the meantime, though, due to staff changes, the responsible person for hiring for the position is no longer so I was asked to go for a meeting with the new head and his boss. I asked if this was another round of interview but the answer was no really as they have the notes and I had been interviewed already so it is likely to be informal.
how would you approach this? Is the job in the bag or it is best to go prepared to get grilled again? Would they invite others who were unsuccessful too?
First time in my career I encountered this so any tips would be invaluable. 

Thanks

Dakta

I couldn't say you've got it in the bag, only they can say that, just treat it as a second bite at the apple.

Whilst they might be confident in you based on the notes, they haven't met you, unlike the previous hiring manager, so it's probably a chance to do that and ensure there's no red flags.

They won't want to go through the whole process again but can't say you're the only one being considered, so if you want the role, go prepared as if it's an interview. I think you've a good chance but you still need to seal it with someone who only has notes on you so hope for best but prepare to have to win it.

gwynlas

I would go prepared to be grilled again. Over my career in the NHS I was interviewed a number of times by predominantly the same panel for six month temporary contracts until I was offerred a substantive post. There is no point letting yourself down by being too casual or flippant and it might be that you do not hit it off with the new head and choose not to take the role offerred

Teapot55

Also, you want to be checking the new boss out too, to see if it’s someone you’ll be able to get along with. 

It’s a good sign that the employer is being fair in giving you the chance to check the job out again given the change since you were interviewed. 

TELLIT01

No the job isn't in the bag, but the OP is in a very good position.  They have been asked if they still want the job and I would suspect there has been internal discussion at the potential employer. 

Grumpy_chap

Treat this meeting as an interview and go all out to impress the new Manager.
Good luck

Brie

I'd include a line to them about how surprised and pleased you are to be asked in again.  and is there a nice way to ask why the first person turned down the role?

r6mile

This is exactly how I got one of my recent jobs - public sector so may not work the same way elsewhere. I interviewed for a role, got “above the line” - as in was deemed good enough but only  second best candidate so didn’t get the offer. Got a call a couple of months later by HR, saying a role opened up in another bit of the same department, actually better suited to me anyway. Had an “informal chat” with a different set of people - which was a bit like an interview but not so formulaic. And then soon after got the offer.

TELLIT01

Brie said:

I'd include a line to them about how surprised and pleased you are to be asked in again.  and is there a nice way to ask why the first person turned down the role?

I would not mention the other person, and certainly wouldn't ask why they turned the job down.  Just look at the positive aspect, you have another chance.

TELLIT01

r6mile said:

This is exactly how I got one of my recent jobs - public sector so may not work the same way elsewhere. I interviewed for a role, got “above the line” - as in was deemed good enough but only  second best candidate so didn’t get the offer. Got a call a couple of months later by HR, saying a role opened up in another bit of the same department, actually better suited to me anyway. Had an “informal chat” with a different set of people - which was a bit like an interview but not so formulaic. And then soon after got the offer.

Not quite the same thing.  It's pretty much standard practice in the Civil Service to retain those who met the qualifying criteria for a job for about 12 months.  People on that list are generally advised that if a suitable vacancy comes up they will be contacted.  That's what happened in that case. 

SensibleSarah

I'd treat it like a standard interview tbh. Better to overprepare than underprepare. 
It's a bit of a small red flag to me that a) the person originally brought on board for the role has changed their mind or left as soon as they started AND b) the hiring manager has also left. Both those things can of course be nothing to worry about and completely irrelevant, but it could also indicate some issues - so use this to suss them out as much as they are doing the same with you.