Awful interview experience

[Anonposter]

I interviewed at this School for an After School Club assistant position. Unfortunately, my interviewing experience was shocking and awful, and I should have respected myself by leaving. Two women interviewed me, one was the headteacher, and the other was the SENCO, who behaved in a very unprofessional manner. Upon entering the room, she smirked and kept laughing during the interview. It's worrying because her responsibility is to help children with learning difficulties and children who need additional support, and it does make me wonder if she laughs at them too. She should tell them to mentally prepare for judgemental people like her in the outside world. If I'm being honest, I did not look very presentable (I'm not blessed with good looks), and that can come across as unprofessional, but things go wrong, and some things are uncontrollable - there are valid reasons for why.

They can always reject me as a candidate afterwards. I travelled far to attend this interview only to be disrespected, and the least she could have done was be respectful at the interview and reject me as a candidate. I had a call from the head informing me that I had been unsuccessful, and I don't know if I did the right thing in not bringing it up, but I think it's worrying considering her position and impact.

[Hidden]

Hi Anon,

I do feel for you. I'm so sorry to hear that this has happened. not good at all.

There aren't many details here to work with, so am making an assumption or two. If these are wrong, then you have my freely given apologies in advance!

I am not sure of your thinking on why you looked unprofessional. i am assuming that there is visible difference in you that shows (that does NOT make you look unprofessional!!!), and again, it is an assumption that that caused the smirks. If that is the case, then we'll come on to that....

It isn't actually clear why that interviewer was laughing. I suspect you think it was at you, and that does seem a reasonable assumption, but we actually don't know for sure. One thing I know for sure is that they are thoroughly unprofessional in taking that into an interview session, and for that alone, you are certainly better off without them. A good interviewer at a professional company would want the candidates to shine as best as they can. Only when candidates are really shining can you see what they can do for you. They, I'm afraid, wasted your time. The hapless pair wasted their own time too.

I think you did the right thing in not raising it and just asking for feedback. You kept your dignity when they did not. 1 nil you.

Things do go wrong at interview, and sometimes it does go down to experience, and I've had these, and trust me, I hate chalking up ones when I think I've been wronged, but sometimes, if an answer isn't coming, its better to move on. That doesn't make your experience right though.

One thing I would say though is that if you have a protected characteristic, that may be covered by the Disability Discrimination Act (in the UK). it would be illegal to discriminate on those grounds, every bit as much as it would be to negatively consider a person on gender, age, ethnicity, or orientation, or more recognised disabilities. like the use of a wheelchair, or having certain medical conditions like Cancer. Always bear that mind. Have some good icebreakers and good probing questions to test their thinking in mind. Make eye contact with every interviewer, not just the one who asked you the question. It helps with rapport, and if someone is smirking, its hard to maintain if the target is making eye contact with you.

On the subject of interviews going wrong, and in the hope that this makes you smile after that, My worst is this.

I left Bristol in good time for my interview, good forecast, no sign of rain, resplendent in my suit.

By the time I got to South Wales, it was biblical rain. Full on Noah. Boom crash, thunder, lightning, animals two by two....

Did I have a coat? No (too warm), or umbrella (no, too dry in Bristol). So being an engineer, I dived into a pound shop rather than stay pinned down by rain and obtained some bin bags. I fashioned a sort of poncho out of those (Why these places can't sell actual poncho's, goodness knows!).

Good idea, yes? Sure.... for a while. My body stayed dry. Unfortunately, there were gaps around the arms, so both arms were wet by the time I got in there.

So I sat there, wet, on the arms only, with a dry trunk! I looked like a total berk.

They were impressed by my ingenuity when I explained what happened, but yes, that role got away from me.

Did I learn from it? yes. Never trust a bin liner poncho!😆

Don't let this stop you. Straight back on the horse. .......

CBx

[Anonposter in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for responding to my post, I appreciate your help. As to the question as to why I thought I looked unprofessional, I didn't look my best in terms of clothing and hair, and I think that might have given off a bad impression. I agree with you about their unprofessionalism and how they're not worth my time. If anything, I just had a bad experience and can learn from it in the future, and I should be relieved that I have dodged a bullet. I decided to share this after trying to discuss it with my brother, who has been helpful with my job search, but he just told me to keep trying other jobs and to stop complaining.

This treatment isn't new and something I don't mention to him that often, but its effect on my well-being can be huge, but I do agree with him. It took me the whole of yesterday and today to feel better. It can be difficult because his experiences are different, and in that moment, I felt like he wasn't trying to hear me out. Ironically, the feedback I received on the phone was that I answered well to all questions except one, so that's what made me tell him it was my appearance. Anyway, I will continue my job search and not let this bring me down

[Hidden in reply to Anonposter]

Ahhh. It seems you fluffed a question! We’ve all been there i think….

So often you think afterwards you think of later what you should have answered!! Some questions can get away with a fluff, but some questions really are key to the role. Fluff one of those and it can dent your hopes.

Professionalism though is more than just how you look. There are lots of parts to it. Once you sit down at interview, its not your looks that do the talking, its your personality, so from point, you need to dazzle!

Your appearance is part, sure, but so is timekeeping, your approach to your work, doing the right thing for the right reason, your collaboration with colleagues. It all adds up to a polished professional package. And thats you need to sell! Good luck!

[EvaChangingFaces Partner]

Hello Anonposter and welcome to the Changing Faces community! It sounds like things have been a bit challenging for you in the job-hunting area at the moment and I am very sorry to hear about your unpleasant experience in the last interview. It’s unfortunate that you had to deal with people’s lack of professionalism and/or empathy but it’s good to remember that this will not be the case with every interview you go to. Also, you really have taken a brave step to express openly how you feel about what happened in this community as it sounds as if you might not have felt able to express these thoughts to people in your life as openly. Circuitbreaker’s response is full of helpful pointers to take away and think about and remember that one negative experience shouldn’t stop you from going after what you want or think negatively of yourself. I hope you find this community a safe and welcoming space to access some support and connection with the members on here.

Take care,

Eva - ChangingFaces