h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

As my facebook friends will already know, I had a job interview yesterday, and I spent most of the past 7 days stressing out over it.

I didn't get the job, and that was a bitter disappointment, but I'm worried about the larger pattern that's emerging: in the last year I've applied for 10 jobs in widening participation/Aimhigher and I've failed to get every single one. It seems the best I can do is get a job I hate, that pays me less livable money in a place I'd like to see reduced to smoldering rubble.

Aimhigher is the only real work I know and it's the only thing I'm good at. I know it better than most people because I've worked with it for so long and I've seen it from just about every different angle and yet I seem totally unable to get any work in it.

Yesterday I was smart, I was charming, I was confident, I'd researched and prepared well, my presentation was a walk in the park because I've done it scores of times before. I was passionate. I truly can't understand why I didn't get the job, why I keep on failing.

I'm just at a bit of a loose end and I don't know what to do with myself, whether to give up and try and learn something else, or to keep banging my head on the same brick wall.

I didn't get the job I was going for the other week either.

My gut feeling is internal competition.

I'm going for a feedback interview tomorrow. Perhaps you should do the same?

Well...you didn't get it because someone else did. Just because they were the winner, doesn't mean you're a loser.

and better luck next time.

Firstly, you can ask for interview feedback. There may be something crucial that you didn't even realise they wanted.

Secondly, I hear you. I'm currently looking at the entire jobs market and wondering if a) there's a job out there that I don't hate and b) how in the world I can find it. I'll happily re-train, but how do you go about jumping ship? It's so hard.

Thirdly: I think you need that more than anything else right now.

Yes, s all round....

from me, too.

How utterly gutting. I agree that asking for interview feedback might be helpful. Maybe it's something as silly as resume formatting or something.

But I'll second Edward (and hope I'll remember it) that just because someone else won doesn't make you a loser.

I'm so sorry you didn't get the job.

And I'll third what Edward said.

Got a phone call from the lead interview and it's cheered me up somewhat. In the interview they were talking about specific schools they wanted to work with and turns out one of the other people going for the job worked at one of those schools.

They apologised for taking so long to call me and let me know, but they were looking for ways to give me a job, they just couldn't find any. They said when their next job comes up, they'll be giving me a call.

Still disappointing, but at least I can put this one down as a near miss, rather than a outright failure.

See? You *are* clever after all!

That is promising. See, it's not you, it *is* them.

If I were you, give them a call every couple of months or so, just to keep you fresh in their memory.

Or...follow them home and park outside their house at night.

Well, I took some rather nice photos of their campus for my presentation - far nicer than anything they've got in any of their publicity, and I think they were impressed with them.

I might just send them one every month or so...

Well that's good news.

I just got back from my feedback session with the Inspector.

I got 33/49, the one who got the job got 44/49, and it was evident where I lost marks

Turns out I got full marks in some categories () but did predictably worse in the areas where I knew I'd erred; got a few pointers on interpreting and analysing questions and what you might file under 'communication skills', things to improve on.

All in all very useful.

Glad you got your phone-call and the offer for reconsideration if the chance arises.

I think taking the time to get feedback can be worth it.

I've just had near-miss number two.

I had a good, if brief interview, where I was relaxed, cheerful and charming. The reason this time was because they thought I wasn't suited to the job: it was too office-based and too low-level. They think I should be aiming higher (pun intended). They've also said they'll be giving me a call when something more suitable comes up.

Hopefully I'll be getting invites to another three interviews soonish.

Have you thought of having a chat with these fellows? You don't have to tell them what's happening at the moment, but you've got time to make a call or two just to test the waters.

Just a thought.