Friday, March 11, 2011

Strange Experiences in the Job market.

As I have said I am looking for a new job and have put in a few applications.

Both yesterday and today I have had strange job hunting experiences.

First up I had an interview back on the 1st.

I thought it went really well, but I hadn’t heard anything. So I kind of assumed it wasn’t as good as I thought.

I had decided I would phone next week to ask for feedback on how I’d interviewed. I’d leave it till then because I knew I had another interview coming up today.

But yesterday they phoned me up and said:

1. They were really sorry they had taken so long to get back to me.
2. They weren’t going to give me the job but they had really been impressed and it had been between myself and one other candidate.

I’ll look at the positive and say I didn’t misread the situation in the interview. I interviewed well and came close.

Today I had another interview, this was for the Victorian public service job I put in for.

I was asked to arrive at least half an hour before the interview.
When I got there I had to read through a number of scenarios and take notes because part of the interview would be based on my responses to their scenarios.

The interview panel was made up of three senior public service officials. To be honest I had decided that although they are interviewing me I didn’t have much chance. It is quite a senior position and I have ZERO public service experience.

Perhaps because of this I went in feeling really relaxed. It seemed to go really well.
I felt I really hit it off with the panel, they seemed to be very impressed with my answers to their scenarios and I didn’t struggle with any of the other questions they asked.

At the end the most senior manager elected to walk me out of the building. She will be my immediate superior if I get the job. It seemed relaxed and chatty still.

As she left me at the lift (that would be an elevator) she warned me that while they will probably make a decision quite quickly I will probably hear nothing for several weeks. This is because any internal applicants get to hear first and run through grievance processes if they don’t get the job before they can appoint someone external.

So I came away thinking I have a real chance at this.

Then on the way home I get a phone call. It is one of the interview panel.
He says don’t get too excited because they haven’t made a decision yet.
But, he is happy to tell me they are all really impressed.
Then he says he will probably get in trouble for trying to poach me off his senior but there is another job at an equivalent level that he really wants me to submit an application.

I’ve never experienced anything quite like this before. I guess it is likely that they have someone else in mind for the job I went for today, but here is one of the panel asking me to apply for another job they have.

Seems very positive however I look at it.

11 comments:

Anne Gallagher said...

Funny, the jobs I never want, or feel I'll never get are the ones I always ace at interviews and then get. Best of luck with whichever one you want.

Old Kitty said...

Oh I like this job that one of the panel phoned you for!!! I think THAT'S your job!!! I just love the way it's been presented to you - it's almost as if it's an informal offer - you just have to go through the motions!!! GOOD LUCK!!!!!!! I feel that this one - the third one - is truly the One!!! My third eye is twitching and I always listen to my third eye twitching!!! Take care
x

Misha Gerrick said...

Sound promising!

I hope one of the two jobs pan out for you.

:-)

Cherie Reich said...

That's great the interview went well. Good luck!

Sarah Ahiers said...

ooh good on you! I have a really good feeling for you regarding either the Public service job or the "new" job he told you about.
GOOD LUCK!!!

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Al .. so pleased the options are still there .. but as you say not quite the two you expected .. still fingers crossed for you.

Have a great weekend .. Hilary

LTM said...

Hey! Best of luck to you w/your job search! Your story reminded me a little of the agent search, yes? :D <3

Jai Joshi said...

This is great news! I hope you do put in your application for that other job he hinted about and see what happens! I'll have my fingers crossed for you but it looks as if you've already done such a good job of impressing them that you don't need it.

Jai

Lisa said...

Well, it certainly sounds like you are doing a great job in your hunt for a new job. Hope something pans out soon and that it's the perfect job!

Al said...

Hi Anne,
I know what you mean. I didn’t really expect to get the public service job so I was relaxed, so I did a good interview.
Thank you!

Hi Jennifer,
Yeah it certainly feels that way. I’ll have to go through the formal process but it seems promising.

Hi Misha,
Thank you!

Hi Cherie,
It is fabulous!
Thank you!


Hi Sarah,
Thank you!
It seems promising on both scores!

Hi Hilary,
Thank you!
Options are always good, and even if none of these come up I will land something sooner or later!

Hi Leigh,
Thank you!
I don’t think it is quite as painful as finding an agent!

Hi Jai,
It is fab!
I will be putting an application.
I don’t know others offering their best always helps!

Hi Lisa,
I am certainly putting some effort into it. Me too!
Thank you!

Deniz Bevan said...

Good luck! Hope it works out :-)