Had some interview feedback from a failed interview today..

[JSB]

It's really knocked the wind out of me to be honest. It's been about a three month recruitment process, I passed my assessment a while back and only just got round to having the interview last week. So I thought the interview went well personally, but then I got a rejection letter.

I e-mailed the TOC asking for feedback, had a phone call back from HR & Recruitment who pulled up my interview notes for me, this is what they said.

- Poorly/badly presented.

- Had a poor of understanding of what the role entailed.

- Gave boring and irrelevant answers.

I was a bit gutted to be honest. Has anyone had any similar experiences? I turned up to the interview wearing a shirt, trousers and shoes. Was it because I didn't wear a tie? I broke the bank getting that outfit together to be honest. I also couldn't really understand how I had a poor understanding of the role or that I gave boring answers. I've spent months on this forum preparing for this role and taking in every bit of knowledge I can think of. I feel very put out.

Has anyone else had a similarly cold rejection? When asking for feedback I thought I would hear back for things I could work on, but I'm unsure how to approach this criticism in all honesty as it doesn't quite match up with how I thought I did.

 

[Kenni]

It's really knocked the wind out of me to be honest. It's been about a three month recruitment process, I passed my assessment a while back and only just got round to having the interview last week. So I thought the interview went well personally, but then I got a rejection letter.

I e-mailed the TOC asking for feedback, had a phone call back from HR & Recruitment who pulled up my interview notes for me, this is what they said.

- Poorly/badly presented.

- Had a poor of understanding of what the role entailed.

- Gave boring and irrelevant answers.

I was a bit gutted to be honest. Has anyone had any similar experiences? I turned up to the interview wearing a shirt, trousers and shoes. Was it because I didn't wear a tie? I broke the bank getting that outfit together to be honest. I also couldn't really understand how I had a poor understanding of the role or that I gave boring answers. I've spent months on this forum preparing for this role and taking in every bit of knowledge I can think of. I feel very put out.

Has anyone else had a similarly cold rejection? When asking for feedback I thought I would hear back for things I could work on, but I'm unsure how to approach this criticism in all honesty as it doesn't quite match up with how I thought I did.

Hi JSB. Was this for a train driver role? Who is the TOC in question if you don't mind me asking?

 

[JSB]

Hi JSB. Was this for a train driver role? Who is the TOC in question if you don't mind me asking?

No, not train driver. Just gateline assistant, a role I've been shooting for for a long time. (Been working in retail most of my life)

Well, unsure if this is wise but I guess as they are not interested in hiring me I can say who it was, the TOC was South West Trains.

 

[Simon11]

Firstly, you should have worn a tie. First impressions count!

Considering this feedback, when you next have another interview, ask family or friend to do a role play.

 

[ash39]

From how you've come across in your message (and I appreciate that's different from real life, but still) you sound well organised and the very fact you're on here suggests you're keen and have researched the role properly.

I wore a suit for my driver interview, but another guy turned up in a casual shirt (with collar) and jeans and I saw him at the assessments the week after. It helps but I think if you blew them away on the interview a tie wouldn't matter.

At least you have some critique to take into your next attempt, but it does sound like you might have been a bit unlucky and maybe didn't perform on the day?

 

[Andrewlong]

A suit and a tie always creates the right impression. Did you ask for a job description so you could have seen what the role entails? Did you read up about the TOC and sound knowledgable in the interview.

Perhaps your interview technique needs polishing. Find someone who could mock interviews with you and get them to give you feedback.

It may have been you had an interview and you didn't gel with the interviewer.

It's not the end of the world. Think positively that you got that far and try again.

 

[JSB]

From how you've come across in your message (and I appreciate that's different from real life, but still) you sound well organised and the very fact you're on here suggests you're keen and have researched the role properly.

I wore a suit for my driver interview, but another guy turned up in a casual shirt (with collar) and jeans and I saw him at the assessments the week after. It helps but I think if you blew them away on the interview a tie wouldn't matter.

At least you have some critique to take into your next attempt, but it does sound like you might have been a bit unlucky and maybe didn't perform on the day?

Yeah, I do consider myself pretty dilligent in this respect. I take a Railway career very seriously, I have never previously signed up for any internet forums or done any prior research for a job interview before. In a sense, this was my first 'proper' job interview, and it appears I have failed miserably.

I did think about the absence of a tie, but I really think when it got down to it it wouldn't matter. As I was wearing a smart shirt, smart trousers and smart shoes. I couldn't see see how an absence of one article of clothing would mean I wouldn't get the job. I can't put it solely on this.

I felt like I did really well on the day, I seemed to be getting positive responses from the two interviewers and did feel like I was engaging them well. Although the evaluation of 'boring and irrelevant answers' does say otherwise.

A suit and a tie always creates the right impression. Did you ask for a job description so you could have seen what the role entails? Did you read up about the TOC and sound knowledgable in the interview.

A suit is way out of my budget in all honesty. I almost financially crippled myself getting together the clothing for this interview. But that is another matter entirely. I had sound knowledge of the TOC, I correctly identified key facts in the interview when asked (including how many trains run a day, amount of stations served etc.) I also had revised the job description to a tee, so felt like I was in good stead. I can't stress anymore how seriously I took it.

I guess it was perhaps down to an off day, not gelling with the interviewer like you say etc. It was tough to receive the feedback but I'll plow on and keep going i guess.

 

[NI 271]

It's really knocked the wind out of me to be honest. It's been about a three month recruitment process, I passed my assessment a while back and only just got round to having the interview last week. So I thought the interview went well personally, but then I got a rejection letter.

I e-mailed the TOC asking for feedback, had a phone call back from HR & Recruitment who pulled up my interview notes for me, this is what they said.

- Poorly/badly presented.

- Had a poor of understanding of what the role entailed.

- Gave boring and irrelevant answers.

I was a bit gutted to be honest. Has anyone had any similar experiences? I turned up to the interview wearing a shirt, trousers and shoes. Was it because I didn't wear a tie? I broke the bank getting that outfit together to be honest. I also couldn't really understand how I had a poor understanding of the role or that I gave boring answers. I've spent months on this forum preparing for this role and taking in every bit of knowledge I can think of. I feel very put out.

Has anyone else had a similarly cold rejection? When asking for feedback I thought I would hear back for things I could work on, but I'm unsure how to approach this criticism in all honesty as it doesn't quite match up with how I thought I did.

Firstly, don't turn up for an interview unless you're wearing a suit. You instantly put yourself at a disadvantage against every candidate who did by not doing so. Which means you'd therefore have had to score higher than them in the interview itself, which is possible, but why handicap yourself that way? In a public-facing role, you are going to be the face of the company, a manager needs to know you can project the correct image to everyone you deal with. YOU know you'd be fine, a manager doesn't.

Second, poor understanding. Did you fully explain what the job entailed? About preparing for every shift by ensuring you had appropriate rest beforehand? How you'd get to work? I assume they asked what you knew about the company (expecting to hear routes, stations, traction, operational hours, number of employees, names of senior figures such as MD, a bit of background on the company such as who is the parent company, when were they formed, when did they start operating their franchise, when is it due to expire etc)? Much of the competition will have explained these things, you can never do too much homework.

Third, although they would definitely expect you to expand on any answers you gave, that elaboration would need to be pertinent to the question. An interviewer wants to know what you bring to their table, so wandering off topic is merely wasting their time. The safest way to manage this is, as has already been suggested, to ensure your responses tie in with the job description, which you should read and re-read over and over again until you know it by heart. Perhaps there would be some value in having your interview techniques evaluated? I know that Job Centres have dedicated staff for this sort of thing, if you're already in employment it may still be worth asking them if they can see you, if not I am sure they could put you in touch with someone who could help. Don't see it as an admission of uselessness, see it as a chance to better yourself. Nerves can very easily subdue people at interview, but I'd expect any interviewer to be able to spot the difference between nerves and someone below par.



I'm not suggesting for one second any of these apply to you, and as you've passed the assessment it is clear (and will be to that TOC, and any other) that you've got what it takes to do the job...but then the purpose of the DM interview is to whittle down the number of all those who have. I'd view the feedback as a very important positive to take from the negative of having been unsuccessful, because although it's 'cold', it makes clear to you the areas you need to improve on for next time - I've had four interviews for jobs on the railway over the last twelve months, and have only had very woolly "other candidates scored higher"-type feedback from the three in which I was unsuccessful, which is useless and tells you nothing, I'd have welcomed anything as specific as this.

One thing I have noted here is that you aren't blaming anyone else, you are just gutted not to have got it (which is entirely natural, and something many others will also be experiencing right now). You don't come across as arrogant (unlike some who use this forum to gripe at getting a knock-back), so act on their remarks, use this as a learning curve, and go get the job next time. As I'm sure you've noticed from the research you've done on here, determination is often a vitally important attribute if you want to get into the industry.

 

[JSB]

Thanks NI 271. That was a rousing post. I guess I will start saving for a proper suit as of now, seems to be one of the top things on the list to get ahead.

 

[NI 271]

Thanks NI 271. That was a rousing post. I guess I will start saving for a proper suit as of now, seems to be one of the top things on the list to get ahead.

No problem, although it would have been somewhat shorter if I'd started typing it out a few minutes later and seen your post from 0202! Best of luck with future applications.

 

[LowLevel]

Definitely go for a tie in any customer facing railway job interview - every customer facing grade at SWT and it's 'sister' EMT is required to wear a tie at all times unless otherwise authorised.

 

[Masbroughlad]

We have some fantastic suits in charity shops. Have a good look around.

That and a dry cleaning bill would be cheaper.

Or Asda /Tesco etc have suits for under 40 quid.

Keep trying!

My other thought was did you give train enthusiast answers or customer service ones?

Good luck with future apps. Learn from the feedback but don't take it to heart. Hope 2014 brings that job you want.

 

[arthurtwosheds]

Some sound advice given on some of the answers. Charity shops, Christmas sales or even borrow a tie as you are judged on first impressions. There is no need to go the whole hog and buy a suit you can ill afford (of which is wrong because it doesn't mean you cannot do the job to a high standard and we live in terrible economic times).

The railway recruitment can be a frustrating process as I have personally experienced this and have also seen more than suitable candidates fail the final interview. Sometimes there may be hundreds of applicants like yourself for one role or another reason may be because an internal applicant has already filled the post and recruitment are just going through the process!!! (which I find both dishonest and morally wrong!)

Either way, don't loose faith and keep plugging away and fine tune your answers now that you have an understanding of what kind of questions they may ask. If you have passed the assessments then all you may have to do in the future is to pass the final interview.

 

[Latecomer]

Thanks NI 271. That was a rousing post. I guess I will start saving for a proper suit as of now, seems to be one of the top things on the list to get ahead.

Please don't take this in a condescending way, but there are some perfectly decent suits available from charity shops and at the very least a tie would be of very little cost if purchased used. If you pm me I'm even happy to send you a tie free of charge.

It is important if you would be expected to wear a tie in the role. It's very possible that the first impressions could well have affected the rest of the interview process and that you lived up to initial expectations, whether or not they were 100% fair (it's believed that the first 2 minutes of an interview pretty much settle the interviewers perspective of a person). The fact is that some people have got lucky by not wearing a tie, but it's a huge risk and not something that's worth risking when you've put in so much effort otherwise.

On the other points there's some decent enough advice already and I'm sure from your post that you'll use this as a learning process and do even better next time!

 

[Bayum]

Firstly, don't turn up for an interview unless you're wearing a suit. You instantly put yourself at a disadvantage against every candidate who did by not doing so. Which means you'd therefore have had to score higher than them in the interview itself, which is possible, but why handicap yourself that way? In a public-facing role, you are going to be the face of the company, a manager needs to know you can project the correct image to everyone you deal with. YOU know you'd be fine, a manager doesn't.

Second, poor understanding. Did you fully explain what the job entailed? About preparing for every shift by ensuring you had appropriate rest beforehand? How you'd get to work? I assume they asked what you knew about the company (expecting to hear routes, stations, traction, operational hours, number of employees, names of senior figures such as MD, a bit of background on the company such as who is the parent company, when were they formed, when did they start operating their franchise, when is it due to expire etc)? Much of the competition will have explained these things, you can never do too much homework.

Third, although they would definitely expect you to expand on any answers you gave, that elaboration would need to be pertinent to the question. An interviewer wants to know what you bring to their table, so wandering off topic is merely wasting their time. The safest way to manage this is, as has already been suggested, to ensure your responses tie in with the job description, which you should read and re-read over and over again until you know it by heart. Perhaps there would be some value in having your interview techniques evaluated? I know that Job Centres have dedicated staff for this sort of thing, if you're already in employment it may still be worth asking them if they can see you, if not I am sure they could put you in touch with someone who could help. Don't see it as an admission of uselessness, see it as a chance to better yourself. Nerves can very easily subdue people at interview, but I'd expect any interviewer to be able to spot the difference between nerves and someone below par.



I'm not suggesting for one second any of these apply to you, and as you've passed the assessment it is clear (and will be to that TOC, and any other) that you've got what it takes to do the job...but then the purpose of the DM interview is to whittle down the number of all those who have. I'd view the feedback as a very important positive to take from the negative of having been unsuccessful, because although it's 'cold', it makes clear to you the areas you need to improve on for next time - I've had four interviews for jobs on the railway over the last twelve months, and have only had very woolly "other candidates scored higher"-type feedback from the three in which I was unsuccessful, which is useless and tells you nothing, I'd have welcomed anything as specific as this.

One thing I have noted here is that you aren't blaming anyone else, you are just gutted not to have got it (which is entirely natural, and something many others will also be experiencing right now). You don't come across as arrogant (unlike some who use this forum to gripe at getting a knock-back), so act on their remarks, use this as a learning curve, and go get the job next time. As I'm sure you've noticed from the research you've done on here, determination is often a vitally important attribute if you want to get into the industry.

I know many teachers who don't come to teaching interviews in suits. I don't want to teach in a suit - I'm not going to go to interview in a suit either. I teach in what I feel comfortable in, in clothes that are fitting to most schools. I understand your concern, but then you have to remember that not everyone wears a suit to interview and not every person in employment will have worn suits to their interviews....

I'd also suggest that the feedback they've recieved isn't all that helpful actually. Especially from a group of MDs, I'd have expected more than that - why were the answers boring or irrelevant? Why were they badly presented? Were they badly presented in terms of clothing, or presentation of answers? Was communication an aspect? The areas they've given are so broad I personally think it's a cop out.

 

[yorksrob]

I'm not sure what "giving boring answers" has to do with the price of fish - unless the OP was applying to become the next host of the generation game perhaps. I've been interviewed for posts in the pensions admin industry in the past, and I would be amazed and astonished if anybody could give a reply to any question on that subject that wasn't dull enough to send a hyper-active cocaine addict into a boredom induced coma. The interviewer sounds like a dipstick to me.

As with suits, I agree that one has to put up and wear one for an interview, but they are a conspiracy against the working classes.

Remember all those people in the last century and before who had to spend almost every hour of every day down a mine or in a factory to earn a pittance ? Yet they were all expected to spend what little of their hard earned cash (or more likely get in to debt) to buy a completely pointless and expensive article of clothing to spend their one day off in a cold church.

The other thing that annoys me about suits is that as soon as the trousers wear out, you have to fork out for the whole thing again. A con if ever I saw one.

 

[theageofthetra]

Sorry to hear you didn't get the role. At least you got some feedback though, however bad it was. Regarding getting a suit, are you on JSA @ the moment? If so you can apply for vouchers for a suit/shirt/shoes if you can prove you have an interview. They can also issue a free travel warrant to get you to interviews. Good luck with any future interviews .

 

[Latecomer]

I know many teachers who don't come to teaching interviews in suits. I don't want to teach in a suit - I'm not going to go to interview in a suit either. I teach in what I feel comfortable in, in clothes that are fitting to most schools.

Then I would suggest that your advice is unhelpful. It's not about whether it is right or wrong for someone to be suited and booted it is whether that is the expectation at interview. I never had to wear a suit or tie in any of my previous jobs and I don't like the things, but I have to wear a tie in my role now. If you go for a job where a uniform is provided and part of that uniform is a tie, then you should attend interview in a tie.

As I said, some people may get away with it, but for many that first impression will effectively mean the interview is over bar going through the motions. That could be why the subsequent feedback was not that helpful, because they already knew this candidate hadn't presented in the way they had wished.

We can all stamp our feet and wish we could wear whatever we want to work, but I would suggest that the time for protest is not at an interview for an industry where jobs are like gold dust, a uniform is worn and presentation is key. Teaching is not like the railways whether you like it or not so I would suggest that the previous constructive advice from those inside the industry who know what is expected are the the ones who the OP should listen to. There may be other things to work at, but the wearing of a tie will give this man a better chance than if he doesn't. That's all that really needs to be acknowledged.

 

[Bayum]

Then I would suggest that your advice is unhelpful. It's not about whether it is right or wrong for someone to be suited and booted it is whether that is the expectation at interview. I never had to wear a suit or tie in any of my previous jobs and I don't like the things, but I have to wear a tie in my role now. If you go for a job where a uniform is provided and part of that uniform is a tie, then you should attend interview in a tie.

As I said, some people may get away with it, but for many that first impression will effectively mean the interview is over bar going through the motions. That could be why the subsequent feedback was not that helpful, because they already knew this candidate hadn't presented in the way they had wished.

We can all stamp our feet and wish we could wear whatever we want to work, but I would suggest that the time for protest is not at an interview for an industry where jobs are like gold dust, a uniform is worn and presentation is key. Teaching is not like the railways whether you like it or not so I would suggest that the previous constructive advice from those inside the industry who know what is expected are the the ones who the OP should listen to. There may be other things to work at, but the wearing of a tie will give this man a better chance than if he doesn't. That's all that really needs to be acknowledged.

I don't think I said anywhere that being told to wear a suit and tie wasn't needed as part of the job interview... I also don't recall creating a similarity between teaching and rail related jobs.

If you look back over what I said, I said that in my job I wouldn't teach in an interview session with a suit. I also said that there will be many others who have interviewed and gotten jobs without being in suits.


Never did I say that anyone's feedback on here was bad feedback - I only said the bad feedback recieved was from the MDs.

 

[KRH]

Rejected from SWT? not surprised..I applied for 9 jobs recently for their company..different roles..didn't even get an interview or assessment.

 

[JSB]

Thanks for all the responses, you've all been really nice and helpful. To the gent that said he'd send me a tie, I'd love to take you up on that offer! If I get another interview for another TOC I'll look you up.

I didn't really think about charity shops before, I suppose that is a fair shout. It was frustrating I couldn't talk to my actual interviewers, but instead just an HR person who was pulling notes from a computer. So I will genuinely never know what about my answers was boring, and what exactly they meant by poorly presented. So in that sense it is not very constructive, though I'll try my hardest to take everything into account and come back better. (and wearing a suit)

 

[desi]

Which TOC was it if I may ask?

 

[carriageline]

Rejected from SWT? not surprised..I applied for 9 jobs recently for their company..different roles..didn't even get an interview or assessment.

They must of really not liked you!! I had one interview with them, got quite friendly with one of the hiring team then subsequently got an assessment and interview for every job I applied for!! And he put in a really good word for me


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Beveridges]

Sounds like standard "fobb off" feedback to me that gets sent to everyone who didn't get through

 

[carriageline]

Sounds like standard "fobb off" feedback to me that gets sent to everyone who didn't get through

I did think that could be the case. You can normally feel how a interview goes, they may of had someone lined up before hand and had no good reason to "shoot you down" to HR, so had to make that up.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Beveridges]

they may of had someone lined up before hand and had no good reason to "shoot you down" to HR, so had to make that up.

Yes, that certainly is something that does happen. Sometimes no matter what you do in the Interview you won't get the job but get a BS response from HR.

 

[KRH]

They must of really not liked you!! I had one interview with them, got quite friendly with one of the hiring team then subsequently got an assessment and interview for every job I applied for!! And he put in a really good word for me

Indeed, I guess my service in the army and previously working in customer facing roles before joining wasn't enough, I've applied for different roles..ranging from depot drivers to station staff..got the rejection email every time, I hoped to at least have an interview for station staff as quite a few staff I've seen on the platforms look like they struggle to spell their own name.

 

[yorksrob]

Well, this is certainly a possibility. In the public sector, they may have had a temp working for several months whom they want to take on, but they have to offer the post out for interview.

 

[Beveridges]

e, I hoped to at least have an interview for station staff as quite a few staff I've seen on the platforms look like they struggle to spell their own name.

LOL its the same up here as well

 

[Latecomer]

I don't think I said anywhere that being told to wear a suit and tie wasn't needed as part of the job interview... I also don't recall creating a similarity between teaching and rail related jobs.

If you look back over what I said, I said that in my job I wouldn't teach in an interview session with a suit. I also said that there will be many others who have interviewed and gotten jobs without being in suits.


Never did I say that anyone's feedback on here was bad feedback - I only said the bad feedback recieved was from the MDs.

In which case I don't really get why you posted what you did about suits and ties in a thread about a man upset about failing an interview when in fact he could have done with a tie at the very least to give that crucial first impression! The rest of your post was fine, although I expect rightly or wrongly the panel did not give the fullest of attention to the rest of the interview based on first impressions. Anyway, the OP will have a tie for next time.