Shorter Interview

MuffinTop86

I recently had an interview for a county council.
I arrived about 10 minutes early and was called in almost immediately.
The interviewers said they were getting through them faster than anticipated and said it would take 15 minutes.
It felt fairly rushed, when I’d be talking one was taking noted and the other would say “yea,yea,yea” which made me think they wanted me to hurry up and finish my answer.
As I was starting to discuss a topic, one interviewer said that the other would ask about that next. The other interviwer asked about something else and then they said they were out of time.
I didn’t reach the qualifying mark on that particular competency.
My friend interviewed an hour after me with a different board. Theirs was timed for 20 minutes.

Should the length of interview not be standard? If I had been asked the question that they were out of time for, I could have at least reached the qualifying mark.

Does anyone have any experience or input? I’m really upset with how the whole thing went.

OMM 0000

Sounds like they had already picked someone and were just going through the motions with you.

shar01

Was this for an entry level grade such as clerical officer? Were you happy with your answers?

It's possible that the interview board knew you were doing okay and were happy enough to move things along.

seanf88

All interviews should be the same standard for time, location and format, obviously questions can always differ.

Riskymove

seanf88 wrote: »

All interviews should be the same standard for time,

I would say that there should be a standard maximum time

if people don't say a lot it may end quicker

MuffinTop86

shar01 wrote: »

Was this for an entry level grade such as clerical officer? Were you happy with your answers?

It's possible that the interview board knew you were doing okay and were happy enough to move things along.

It was slightly above the entry level grade.
I had a good application and I was happy enough with my answers bar one.
There were 3 competencies set out. I was asked 4 or 5 questions on one, 1 question on another, and no questions on the third one.

I think my main issue is with the time. It seemed the board I had were cutting everyone by 5 minutes so they could go home early. Or as someone said, they already had decided to put someone else through before I even got there.

antodeco

All interviews should be the same length, otherwise a company leave themselves open to discrimination. Not staying a shorter interferes is discrimination, but it can be claimed you weren't given fair time as others.

Saying that, I've cut some interviews short, as there interviewee was giving 1 word answers and wouldn't delver any further (despite multiple prompts from myself and the other interviewer).

If these people could potentially have been your managers, you may dodged a bullet!

MuffinTop86

antodeco wrote: »

All interviews should be the same length, otherwise a company leave themselves open to discrimination. Not staying a shorter interferes is discrimination, but it can be claimed you weren't given fair time as others.

Saying that, I've cut some interviews short, as there interviewee was giving 1 word answers and wouldn't delver any further (despite multiple prompts from myself and the other interviewer).

If these people could potentially have been your managers, you may dodged a bullet!

I contacted the person in HR asking for feedback and told them that I was extremely disappointed, particularly when I knew my friend had a 20 minute interview for the exact same role.
They were sympathetic obviously, but I wonder will they look into why one panel gave everyone (I’m assuming everyone as they said 15 minutes and it did start earlier than the time) shorter than others.

I feel so miserable since getting the letter.

uck51js9zml2yt

I had a shortlisting interview for a Coco last year. 15 minutes and out.

MuffinTop86

Tyler Spoiled Wiring wrote: »

I had a shortlisting interview for a Coco last year. 15 minutes and out.

Did you progress to the next stage if you don’t mind me asking?

uck51js9zml2yt

MuffinTop86 wrote: »

Did you progress to the next stage if you don’t mind me asking?

I didn't but I used it as a learning exercise to get placed on my next interview for a slightly lower grade. It's 12 months so not waiting for it to happen!...but I did well.