I recently had an interview for the Service delivery assistant position at Exeter St David's. I was unsuccessful with the interview but was told that I am on a reserve list for 6 months. The same position has recently opened up again, has anyone been on the reserve list before and been successful with securing a role? Any advise or further information would be very much appreciated.
Having a reserve list is quite normal and I know of people who have had success. I recently gave a person a job after she was put on the reserve list.
Sometimes when you interview a few people but find it hard to pick one or can’t chose between two candidates, you can pick one and put the other on the reserve list in case the one you picked pulls out or it doesn’t quite work out.
I was on the very same position recently, i had a few applying for section admin roles, two were very good and I couldn’t separate. I did decide on one in the end but two weeks after she was offered the role she sent me an email saying her current role she was doing became permanent so decided to stay. Luckily I put the other candidate on the reserve list and offered it straight to her. This prevents you from having to re advertise and go through the lengthy process again.
The same could happen to you, the person that was picked ahead of you might pull out or might not like the job. If that happens the line manager would refer to his reserve.