Completely deflated after bombing in promotion interview

[Blueskythinker]

Probably posting in the wrong place, but I sat an interview board yesterday for promotion to senior management, and made a complete mess! I was nervous, stumbling over my words, waffling, you name it. This is completely unlike me, I would describe myself as being confident and a great communicator normally.

I feel awful, completely deflated, and feel like crying, and again, I am not someone who normally dwells on things like this. I think I feel so bad, because I have put my life on hold for the last 2 months preparing for this, and have begged and borrowed childcare wherever I can get it. It is such an investment to have thrown it away through crap performance.

My performance was probably so bad because yesterday was my first day back from maternity leave, and I suppose I feel a bit out of the loop.

Anyway, just having a bit of a self pitying moan.

[Blueskythinker]

There are 100 candidates in for 40 places, so boards are continuing until Friday. I expect to hear results the Friday after that. I probably got good answers out for about 1/2 the questions, but had to wing it for the other half.

[jelliebelly]

Have you had any feedback regarding the interview yet? - it might not be as bad as you fear. We often come across as more confident than we actually feel. It is a bit crap to have such an important interview on your first day back though - you have my sympathy.

[K999]

Try not to worry....nerves are taken into account. Fwiw I felt the same last year after an interview......and got the post!!

[flowerybeanbag]

Good answers for half plus nerves isn't so bad! You will be viewing it with distorted negative perception because you have been building up to it so much. Anything other than absolute perfection would probably have left you feeling deflated afterwards anyway.

There will be much more than one interview informing their decision, your general performance over a long period of time, your personal qualities, what you can offer going forward. All that is already being taken account of and one interview will only be part of it.

Try not to panic (easy to say I know!), focus on anything and everything else as much as possible until next Friday, and best of luck!

[Blueskythinker]

All,
Thanks for the level-headed points of view. I will let you know the outcome.

Irritating thing is that before I went on maternity leave, I know I was overperforming in my role, and would have walked it. I work in such a male environment, that I know blokes with half my experience will be going into their interviews talking themselves up.

Oh well, I am lucky that I am in a job I love, am good at, and suits my domestic situation. I can always try again if it doesn't work out this time.

[Blueskythinker]

Hi all, to update you, I found out yesterday that I haven't got my promotion, which is what I expected. Good news, is that I didn't miss it by as much as I thought (I came 66 out of 100, which isn't great, but could have been much worse!)

I have been having a serious think about my priorities, and to be honest, I am probably not too upset. I love my job, am good at it, am close to home, and can work part-time hours. Had I got my promotion, I could have been moved to anywhere in NI, and to a completely different field of work. I still want to climb the career ladder, but perhaps in a couple of years I will be in a better position.
Thanks again for your sensible advice.