Help me see the bright side!

[Pinkdressonthewall]

I really just need a bit of a vent, but any advice on seeing the positives or where to go from here would be welcome!

I interviewed for a job on Monday. NHS (admin & clerical), two bands higher than my current role. Different trust, but same kind of department I currently work in. Role working on similar projects but more responsibility/complex work.

There was a task before the interview, which I thought was good. Interview itself I thought went well, though nerves got the better of me slightly.

Called back the following day by one of the panel asking a few more questions about my current role and past experience. Then they told me I'd done really well - best scoring candidate on task and interview.

However, they wouldn't be offering me the job, as they didn't think my experience backed up my good interview. I was gracious on the phone, listened to the feedback and tried to look on the bright side.

But having had time to process it, I'm now completely crushed. More crushed than if they'd told me I'd missed the standard by miles, as I'd least I'd have known what to work on (I wouldn't have minded that, as I know trying to move up two bands was quite ambitious). And kicking myself because I think I talked myself out of the running during the phone call and keep thinking of other things about my current and past roles I should have said but didn't.

What it comes down to seems to be that I'm better than my work experience says I should be - where do I go from here!

Rationally, I can see why they didn't want to take a risk on someone unproven, but this job would have been great. I'd have been good at it, and it's the sort of job that doesn't come up often. I doubt I'll see anything that's such a good fit.

I suppose I'm just feeling a bit blue, disillusioned and wondering how can the best performing candidate on the day could then not get a job offer?

Does anyone have any advice?

[Happy36]

Sorry to hear this.

If I were you I would call your interviewers and ask them these questions.

Do you belong to a union? You could talk it through with them.

[Pinkdressonthewall]

Thank you for your reply. I may e-mail one of the interviewers to see if they have any suggestions about next steps I can take to gain experience, or if there were any qualifications I could do. Fingers crossed a relevant job will be coming up in my trust soon, which I'll apply for.

I'm really worried now about getting stuck in a situation where I need experience to move up but can't gain experience without moving up, iyswim, but I will keep trying!