Interview Dilemma

Anonstudent123

Wondering if anyone could help me with this dilemma?

I just received a call from a company asking me in for an interview next week. I have wanted to work at this place for so long and spent a good 2 hours perfecting my application.

I was told by the lady on the phone that I would need a photo ID e.g a passport. The only problem is I lost mine and told her I was going to renew it as soon as possible.

So I sent it away first thing after I got the call and realised the current turnaround time for passport express is 24 days.

I honestly feel sick to my stomach after all the effort I put in just to get this interview and I have been considering calling back to cancel all day.

I've been employed previously and only ever needed a birth certificate. I never renewed my lost passport at the time as I have not had any plans on going abroad and haven't gone abroad since.

Can anyone tell my if there is:

1) Any possibility they can still hire me if I don't have photo identification from a state body but I am in the process of getting.
2) Anyway of getting my passport as soon as possible.
3) Any other document that can be used.

Honestly please no smart or patronising answers I'm already reall upset over this now as I've said I have wanted to work in this particular company for ages

Have you any other photo ID like a driving licence or new social welfare card?

Even a work ID might be adequate as a placeholder.

TheBlock

Drivers License? Student ID?

Captain_Crash

Bring a birth cert and explain that your current passport is being renewed and was sent away prior to an interview being offered. I cant see their being an issue.

Anonstudent123

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Have you any other photo ID like a driving licence or new social welfare card?

Even a work ID might be adequate as a placeholder.

Unfortunately I don't have a driver license and I'm in college at the moment so no social welfare card either thank you for your reply!

Anonstudent123

TheBlock wrote: »

Drivers License? Student ID?

They said that Student ID wouldn't be valid. Thank you for the reply!

sullivlo

Anonstudent123 wrote: »

Unfortunately I don't have a driver license and I'm in college at the moment so no social welfare card either thank you for your reply!

Birth certificate and your student ID card?

Ashleighc2013

Emergency passport maybe? Welfare card, guards ID, work pass, FAS card or maybe a safe pass?

kunst nugget

Anonstudent123 wrote: »

Unfortunately I don't have a driver license and I'm in college at the moment so no social welfare card either thank you for your reply!

Get a USI Plus Card?

Anonstudent123

Ashleighc2013 wrote: »

Emergency passport maybe? Welfare card, guards ID, work pass, FAS card or maybe a safe pass?

I think the emergency passport is only for people leaving the country that need it urgently.

Just so everyone knows the only cards I have are a medical card, Student ID card and national insurance card and two of those have no photo and the Student ID is not valid as the goverment doesn't issue them.

carrieb

I really can't imagine it being a huge deal!? I don't recall ever having to have a passport for a job? I've had to have a drivers licence (am a Sales Rep) and I actually lost it a week before starting a new job a few years ago, I just said I had just moved and it was in a box and I'd find it at the weekend and they were fine about it even though clearly you need one for driving.

Take a deep breath, just ring and explain the situation. Your passport was out of date, you've no holidays booked so weren't in a rush to renew it but as soon as you got the call you sent for it. Hopefully it'll be a bit quicker but website says 24 days. Unless they're expecting you to fly somewhere I don't see why they wouldn't wait.

Best of luck.

seamus

First off, ring the HR lady back up and tell her that there's a good chance you won't have a passport on the day.

It's not going to be a problem, this is a box-ticking exercise for HR. The reason they want your passport is to verify your citizenship, i.e. your right to work in Ireland.

It's not a case that they can't interview you or hire you without a passport. If they offer you a job, they will want to see your passport as soon as possible after you begin working there.

Just ring her back up, tell her there's a good chance your new passport won't arrive before the interview and ask is there another form of ID she would like you to bring. She will probably say not to worry about it.

There is actually a new online renewal system for passports that apparently takes just a couple of days to issue a new one, but you've sent in yours now so all you can do is wait.

Anonstudent123

Thanks everyone for replies. I've just been so stressed this week with exams and honestly was just over the moon to even get my foot in the door the fact that I might not even get considered over something so minor has had me stressed all last night.

Daledge

seamus wrote: »

Just ring her back up, tell her there's a good chance your new passport won't arrive before the interview and ask is there another form of ID she would like you to bring. She will probably say not to worry about it.

Not going to get much better advice than that, exactly what you should do.

I once spilled coffee on my shirt the morning of an interview (I know I'm an idiot, no need to remind me) and rang the HR of the company, calmly explaining what had happened, and asked if I could push the interview back a tiny bit so I had time to go home and change. She told me not to worry about it and to just show up at the original time even with the stain. For some strange reason it actually worked in my favor as they were impressed by the fact that it didn't throw me off during the interview and I got the job in the end.

Anonstudent123

You see I don't know about calling her back because you see I already told her on the phone yesterday that I was going to apply for one as I didn't have one and she said that that was ok and that it would probably be good to have one anyway. She seemed really nice but I'm sure she's really busy at the moment and I don't want to go bothering her

Anonstudent123

The only reason I am stressed is because I didn't know how long it would actually take to get it and if they ask about it in the interview I have no solid answer to give because I dont know when it will arrive myself

Anonstudent123

Update: I've now found out through tracking that my estimated receival date is not till the 19/05/17 😞

seamus

Like I say it's a HR box-ticking exercise. The only person who will ask is the HR person, who isn't really going to interview you except to make sure you're not a crazy person.

The people who will be conducting the actual interview don't care whether you have a passport, they won't even be aware that HR have asked for it.

You're way overthinking this. Focus on the job when you're preparing for the interview, forget about the administrative stuff like passports and bank account numbers. That can all be done later.

forumuser

Anonstudent123 wrote: »

You see I don't know about calling her back because you see I already told her on the phone yesterday that I was going to apply for one as I didn't have one and she said that that was ok and that it would probably be good to have one anyway. She seemed really nice but I'm sure she's really busy at the moment and I don't want to go bothering her

You've answered your own question - you told her you don't currently have one and that you'll apply for one. She said that's OK. Don't worry about it. You can always bring a screenshot of the tracking on the passport office website to show them it's in progress. It's only for identification/proof of eligibility to work and won't stop them offering you the job.

The Diddakoi

Anonstudent123 wrote: »

Update: I've now found out through tracking that my estimated receival date is not till the 19/05/17 😞

Print out a copy of your tracking confirmation, and take in Birth Cert, Student ID as others have suggested. You have already let the lady know you don't have your passport at the moment. If asked, you just have to explain your passport is on the way. It honestly shouldn't be an issue.

Concentrate on preparing for the interview questions. Good Luck

What is the timeline? How soon is the interview and when will the job start?

If they are interviewing students they must be used to people not having ID - having the ID when you start might be enough.

Is there a legal reason they might want this - like will you be selling alcohol or something?

If it is a big organisation they might want to capture this once at the start.

If they are still insisting you have something official look to see if you can get a public services card or driving learners permit quicker.

pilly

Don't stress so much about it. It shouldn't stop them giving you the job unless it's a very specific job. Might help if you tell people what type of job it is?

Anonstudent123

Thank you. I've calmed down a little bit and realised I may be overreacting a small bit.

It's just I figured it's a sales advisor jobs and they'll want to fill the position as soon as possible and just figured if I didn't have it I wouldn't be able to start work and I wouldn't be considered because they might not want to waste time waiting for my passport to come.

Now that I think about it they hardly are going to turn me down over something so minor if they genuinely believe I'm the best candidate for the job.

Thank you for all your replies everyone!

Daledge

Anonstudent123 wrote: »

Thank you. I've calmed down a little bit and realised I may be overreacting a small bit.

It's just I figured it's a sales advisor jobs and they'll want to fill the position as soon as possible and just figured if I didn't have it I wouldn't be able to start work and I wouldn't be considered because they might not want to waste time waiting for my passport to come.

Now that I think about it they hardly are going to turn me down over something so minor if they genuinely believe I'm the best candidate for the job.

Thank you for all your replies everyone!

Best of luck!

yoursaviour1989

What they are looking for is your 'right to work'. A birth cert and proof of PPS number (social welfare card, medical card, letter from revenue or social with your PPSN on it should be fine).
I deal with right to work stuff in my job quite a bit and the above is acceptable in place of an Irish passport as many people don't have one.

august12

Anonstudent123 wrote: »

Thanks everyone for replies. I've just been so stressed this week with exams and honestly was just over the moon to even get my foot in the door the fact that I might not even get considered over something so minor has had me stressed all last night.

if you are so stressed over this, get a passport photo done, photocopy it on to a sheet and go to your local Garda station where they will stamp it, produce your birth cert and student card to confirm who you are. Also get them to stamp back of passport photo as well. This will be acceptable until your passport arrives.

Anonstudent123

Thank you both for your help. I have a receipt to show that I've applied for my passport so surely they'll realise the gaurds would've had to approve it prior to me sending it.

Also I have a medical card so this is no issue either. I was just a bit confused on the phone because from what I was getting the photo ID was the most important part but I probably just got confused over the phone.

I was thinking that I probably wouldn't need the passport because I have worked in Next previously also and was not required to have a photo ID.

Silverbling

Take your previous passport to the guards with your ID and birth cert,ask them to verify it is you, they will photocopy and then stamp and sign it.


or failing that get a guarda age card,

I wouldnt worry about this in the slightest
I wouldn't even call in advance to explain
They will need a copy, but whenever you receive it should be ok
I had to produce one for my current job, but that was after I had already started

Just concentrate on blowing them away with a great interview

Good luck, I'm sure you will do great!!!

Anonstudent123

Brilliant thanks again everyone for the support. Lots of helpful answers!