Interview Day, A Horrible Experience

[Horizon22]

A few points come to mind:

There is no need to advertise externally if you want internal applications only.

For safety critical roles such as guard, driver etc. the individual still has to pass the psychometrics.

If you feel so strongly I would encourage you to email the recruitment team to relay your experience but keep emotions out of it. It’s ok to say you were disappointed as part of constructive feedback but if you say angry etc. you’re making a name for yourself in future.

It doesn't appear this was internal though - more a "family member of a colleague" situation. Sounds like it was an "entry-level" gateline/platform/customer assistance role.

 

[LCC106]

My comment about internal only related to a different post, the 3 hour travel each way for a 10 minute interview. Apologies, I didn’t make that bit clear.

 

[si_145653]

I was a victim of 2 “going through the motions” interviews, 3rd interview I got in!

Horrible experience but don’t let it put you off!

 

[Oxfordblues]

In the early-1980s I applied for a job advertised in the weekly Vacancy List. I assiduously researched the duties and responsibilities of the post and visited the office to talk with my potential colleagues. I carefully wore my best suit and presented myself positively. The interview seemed to go well and I was pleased with my performance. A couple of weeks later, still waiting to hear the outcome, I spoke to the manager responsible. He blithely replied that they'd just been going through the motions to satisfy the rule that all suitable applicants must be interviewed, but the job had always been reserved for one of the lads already working there. I was astounded by his cynicism and contempt for my genuine application.

 

[Alanko]

My comment about internal only related to a different post, the 3 hour travel each way for a 10 minute interview. Apologies, I didn’t make that bit clear.

I work in the public sector and these recruitment process is referred to as 'fair and open competition'. If somebody has been on a temporary contract then you can't switch them to a permanent contract without making them apply as though they were an external candidate.

It is unfortunate as I've seen people interview brilliantly for a post they were never going to get. I've also seen creative marking employed to enhance a fairly ropey interview or written exercise and stringent marking employed to dial down a good interview, etc.

I've also seen teams grudgingly employ people who just know how to game public sector interviews, even when the team know they will be no good.

A waste of time all round, under the guise of fairness and transparency.

 

[Nela]

Interesting post. Somehow I feel like I am in the same boat myself. I am currently a bus driver with 5 years experience in customer service and plenty of transferable skills and yet failed my DMI the other day for a trainee train driver position. I even felt a bit of sarcasm at the end of my interview…

 

[Horizon22]

I work in the public sector and these recruitment process is referred to as 'fair and open competition'. If somebody has been on a temporary contract then you can't switch them to a permanent contract without making them apply as though they were an external candidate.

It is unfortunate as I've seen people interview brilliantly for a post they were never going to get. I've also seen creative marking employed to enhance a fairly ropey interview or written exercise and stringent marking employed to dial down a good interview, etc.

I've also seen teams grudgingly employ people who just know how to game public sector interviews, even when the team know they will be no good.

A waste of time all round, under the guise of fairness and transparency.

I agree it is a shame, but ultimately - as you’ve shown - this is far from unique to the railway.