Turned down an interview :(

For several reasons, the more I looked into the more I realised I would not have wanted the job, it was not my expertise area and the interview was two hours so I canceled the interview as I a bad interview would really knock my confidence.

I feel really bad and guilty about it though. A part of the problem was confidence I just didn't have enough for that job.

Its strange even after getting a 2:1 I still have no confidence when I am applying for the better jobs I just want a more basic job which allows me to build confidence and work my way up.

 

Well, if you felt the job wasn't for you, fair enough, but why feel guilty about it?

I went for loads of job interviews after I graduated, basically anything that moved. Some were complete disasters, but it got better with practice and interviews now hold no fears for me.

Mrs H, however, suffers from really bad interview nerves and has lost the chance of several good jobs as a result. She should really have sorted it long ago, but with a long career break to bring up the children has never got round to it.

So the message is; if it's just lack of confidence/shyness because of experience of interviews, go to lots to build up that experience, but if it's actually a sort of interview-phobia, maybe get some expert advice on how to overcome it.

 

If the job was more what I wanted I would have gone, but as it was a hassle to get there and didn't really want the job it seemed a bit of a an ordeal just for sake of practise.

My past education is what is really wrecking my confidence, I can't even spell ffs.

 

Fair do's, but then why the guilt? You didn't want to waste your time or theirs, the odds were lowered for the other candidates, so win/win by the look of it.

But you'll have to get some practice in. I went to at least ten interviews before getting my first 'proper' job. The very worst was an interview with London Transport, which ended by mutual consent after ten minutes. Mrs H beat that record when she turned up for an interview, was kept waiting for an hour and a half, then snuck off without telling anyone.

 

go for them anyway mate, definately.

I graduated in the middle of a recession, and it took me 18 months of applying for 5 jobs a week to get a job. I was doing about 2 interviews a month, but I was going up against 200-300 applicants for even the shittiest of jobs.

I once got turned down flat to be a trainee manager in a chicken factory !!! Life felt pretty low!! Did I have a burning desire for that job?? what do you think!! It was good practice though. Imagine yourself trying to think of a good answer when they ask you ''why do you want this job''?

Like Joe said, if you're no good at something you get better by doing it. Thats just a fact, do more interviews, and get better at them.

Aim too high, too low, and just right. You never know what you might get.

 

you should have gone, you need the experience and you never know what comes of it. Never turn down an interview is my philosophy.

 

But go prepared. I've interviewed what must amount to hundreds of people for various jobs over the years, and the number who turn up and can't answer even the most basic 'get into the swing of it' questions (what interested you in this job? what do you know about this organisation?) never ceases to amaze me.

Interviewers can understand and make allowance for nerves or shyness; what really galls is when someone turns up who has clearly done zero research and thinks they will be appointed purely because of their personal magnestism or whatever.

 

Streeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeetch!

Don't build walls around yourself! You're better than you think you are!

 

This is why I didn't go, I didn't know much about the area, and it was a very highly paid job. If it was the an area I knew more about then yes I would have gone.

I am applying for more basic jobs as well. Maybe I was a fool to turn it down but at this stage I don't want anything to knock my confidence.

 

I guess its all bad timing, I am down anyway becuase of my grandads death so I have no energy for the best things. So I would have been so crap for an interview for a job I was clueless about.

 

So, no reason to feel guilty. A helpful hint is to research the company/organisation you'll be working for. No-one will expect a graduate entrant to know much about the specific job of work they'll be doing, but if you've done your homework on what the company's 'about' that goes a long way.

 

Well I guess the fact I had an offer for an interview should give me for confidence so I might apply for some of the other higher end jobs which is a bit more relevant to what I want to do and my expertise. The problem is I know more about the areas I want to do and I have a lot more confidence in them.

 

Just applied for another job which is a more what I want to do and is nearer to home its also a more basic job so I might have more chance. There does seem to be a lot of jobs I am qualified to do which is always a massive bonus, the downside is that a million other people are qualified to do it. Its just boosted my spirits a bit.

 

Yes it should, & go for it!

FWIW, too late now, but I think you should have gone for the interview, if for nothing else but practice. IMHO it is very tricky to advertise a job & all it entails accurately - if your decision was based on an advert, then had you turned up, you may have found things more interesting/relevent/potentially interesting than you expected. Or maybe not. But by not going, you'll never know. Getting your foot in the door is often (usually?) the hardest part. Doing some research beforehand is a must do (even if only the basics if you're not really interested). People who come to me & don't even know what we do (surprisingly often) usually get shown the door pretty quickly.
2 hours probably means it involves some form of testing, psychometric or other, and I reckon it's useful to get a bit of practice in that sort of thing too.

Good luck.

 

FFS Mr Trade. Sort yourself out, you are like one of those that actually wants to fail in life.

Goto interviews, there is no golden interview that will be perfect first time landing you your most wanted job do you understand? Think of the thousands that can't even get to interview stage.

Take that moniker off the end of your postings and grow up.

 

garyi,

Harsh, but fair!

 

AT it is easier to get a job when you are already employed. Go for as many interviews as you can, you can always turn the job down if offered it. You never know you might love the job you DON'T WANT TO DO.

 

Garyi but whats the point on going for an interview when I had decided I didn't want the job anyway it would be waste of time for all concerned.

There was many reasons why that job wasn't practical but I have applied for other jobs I don't really want to do and I will go for an interview if I get them.

 

No it would not have been a waste of time for you.

Put another way if you were truly not interested in that job, why did you start this thread?

 

AT
The point is, at your stage of career all interviews are valuable.
It will help you to learn and understand what an interviewer will be asking and how they might ask it.
It will all help you to build a knowledge, ready for when you get the interview for the job you do really want.

Dont cut yourself short mate, get all the experience you can while you can. Then go forward with the knowledge you gained.