Weird interviewing situation.
April 25, 2011 10:54 AM Subscribe
I really think I got screwed during my grad school interview. Should I try to remedy it, or will that just look like I'm being a spoilsport?
I had my grad school interview for the MSW program. Because this is a huge career shift for me, I'm applying to the standard full-time, two year program. Most people who apply to this program are doing so without much, or any, prior experience in social work.
I passed the first round of applications and was asked to participate in a group interview. The school emphasized that the interview was fairly casual and more of a getting-to-know-you deal, but still, they're obviously assessing us. There were 9 other people in the room, and during introductions it became clear that all 9 people were applying to the one year residency program.
The one year residency is a program for people who have been working in non-profits for several years and whose companies are encouraging them to get certified as a social worker. Basically, I was interviewing with people who were already far more knowledgeable about social work than I am. I'm normally really great at interviews, but I basically got tongue-tied the entire time because everyone else was talking about their professional backgrounds in social work while I had nothing but my volunteering experiences to relate. When I brought up said volunteering experiences, I sounded like a total rookie.
The interviewer knew I wasn't applying for the one year residency, but I still can't help feel like I got pretty screwed over, especially since most of the discussion was either about how to juggle work and school (an issue I won't really have), or the other applicants discussing their current experiences as non-profit employees.
I feel there might have been an administrative error, and while I obviously don't want to call out the school on that mistake, I sort of want to contact the interviewer. Then again, I don't really know what I'd say and I really really don't want to sound like a baby whining about how the game wasn't fair. Should I say something? If so, what?
I don't remember the last name of our interviewer, so if I do try to contact her I'll have to go through various circuits in the school, and I might even to explain why I'd like to contact her, which might ruffle some feathers. Just something to keep in mind in case anyone uses the "what do you have lose" argument!
I had my grad school interview for the MSW program. Because this is a huge career shift for me, I'm applying to the standard full-time, two year program. Most people who apply to this program are doing so without much, or any, prior experience in social work.
I passed the first round of applications and was asked to participate in a group interview. The school emphasized that the interview was fairly casual and more of a getting-to-know-you deal, but still, they're obviously assessing us. There were 9 other people in the room, and during introductions it became clear that all 9 people were applying to the one year residency program.
The one year residency is a program for people who have been working in non-profits for several years and whose companies are encouraging them to get certified as a social worker. Basically, I was interviewing with people who were already far more knowledgeable about social work than I am. I'm normally really great at interviews, but I basically got tongue-tied the entire time because everyone else was talking about their professional backgrounds in social work while I had nothing but my volunteering experiences to relate. When I brought up said volunteering experiences, I sounded like a total rookie.
The interviewer knew I wasn't applying for the one year residency, but I still can't help feel like I got pretty screwed over, especially since most of the discussion was either about how to juggle work and school (an issue I won't really have), or the other applicants discussing their current experiences as non-profit employees.
I feel there might have been an administrative error, and while I obviously don't want to call out the school on that mistake, I sort of want to contact the interviewer. Then again, I don't really know what I'd say and I really really don't want to sound like a baby whining about how the game wasn't fair. Should I say something? If so, what?
I don't remember the last name of our interviewer, so if I do try to contact her I'll have to go through various circuits in the school, and I might even to explain why I'd like to contact her, which might ruffle some feathers. Just something to keep in mind in case anyone uses the "what do you have lose" argument!
Response by poster: Actually, here's how I was assigned to the room: I RSVPd for a certain time and date using the school's link to Socializr (and got a confirmation email). When I showed up at the building, a woman searched for my name on the attendance list, couldn't find it, and then randomly assigned me to a room where there were spots available. I now think spots were available because the One Year Residents Applicants are a lot less common than the two year applicants and they wanted to group them all together.
So I definitely don't think I was purposely put in a room full of trained social workers who simply lack a degree. My room assignment was clearly chosen at random among other available rooms.
posted by Viola at 11:06 AM on April 25, 2011
So I definitely don't think I was purposely put in a room full of trained social workers who simply lack a degree. My room assignment was clearly chosen at random among other available rooms.
posted by Viola at 11:06 AM on April 25, 2011
I think you can just say you want to provide a little more background on your situation than what came out in the group interview, and that you feel like the disparity in experience between you and the other interviewees might have overshadowed your great interest in the subject matter because of blah blah blah and so on and so forth.
To get through the contact routing all you have to say is that you wanted to clarify some items from the group interview, or that you wanted to follow up on a few points.
Also, you want to thank the interviewer for their time (which is a perfectly good reason to ask for their name)--it was an interesting experience or whatever. You want to totally avoid any hint that you feel you "got screwed". You want them to be sort of glad you followed up and walk away thinking good things about you.
posted by A Terrible Llama at 11:08 AM on April 25, 2011 [2 favorites]
To get through the contact routing all you have to say is that you wanted to clarify some items from the group interview, or that you wanted to follow up on a few points.
Also, you want to thank the interviewer for their time (which is a perfectly good reason to ask for their name)--it was an interesting experience or whatever. You want to totally avoid any hint that you feel you "got screwed". You want them to be sort of glad you followed up and walk away thinking good things about you.
posted by A Terrible Llama at 11:08 AM on April 25, 2011 [2 favorites]
Contacting the interviewer doesn't sound like a great idea to me, as there may be issues with her having to preserve the appearance of a fair playing field (other applicants would probably not think it was fair for a fellow applicant to have additional contact with the interviewer, for example.)
If you're worried, I would think a polite email to the admissions office would probably be the way to go. Something along the lines of "I have a question regarding the nature of the group interview I participated in on [date.] I very much enjoyed meeting the interviewer and hearing more about the program, but I couldn't help but notice that the other candidates were all applying for [different program.] I wanted to be sure it wasn't an error that I was included in this particular group interview, as it seemed much of the focus was on issues specific to [different program.] In addition, when I arrived the person organizing the groups couldn't find my name on the list and, I believe, randomly assigned me to a room where spots were available. Can you please confirm that I was placed in the correct group interview? Thank you for your time."
posted by wuzandfuzz at 11:11 AM on April 25, 2011 [11 favorites]
If you're worried, I would think a polite email to the admissions office would probably be the way to go. Something along the lines of "I have a question regarding the nature of the group interview I participated in on [date.] I very much enjoyed meeting the interviewer and hearing more about the program, but I couldn't help but notice that the other candidates were all applying for [different program.] I wanted to be sure it wasn't an error that I was included in this particular group interview, as it seemed much of the focus was on issues specific to [different program.] In addition, when I arrived the person organizing the groups couldn't find my name on the list and, I believe, randomly assigned me to a room where spots were available. Can you please confirm that I was placed in the correct group interview? Thank you for your time."
posted by wuzandfuzz at 11:11 AM on April 25, 2011 [11 favorites]
I think if you're set on contacting someone about it, model wuzandfuzz's suggestion. I think the main issue is that, even if they did assign you to the wrong group, they're probably unlikely to grant you a second interview with a different group.
posted by craven_morhead at 11:21 AM on April 25, 2011
posted by craven_morhead at 11:21 AM on April 25, 2011
Response by poster: Contacting the school administration and pointing out their error just sounds like a recipe for looking crazy. Just to clarify, when I was signing in at the front desk, the woman in charge kept emphasizing how the room assignments didn't matter, so if interviewees weren't on the attendance list (even if they had a room number from their email confirmation, like I did) she'd ignore the number given and would put them in a random room. 97% of the people were on the attendance list, however, and kept the room assignments listed in their email. I really think this was an error that they won't appreciate being pointed out, nor it reflect well on me if I question it in a general email.
My main question is if I should attempt to contact my specific interviewer, who clearly had nothing to do with the room assignments, and say something akin to A Terrible Llama's advice. I'm not angling for a second interview or to get someone to admit an error for putting me in the wrong room.
I appreciate the point that this compromises the interviewer's ability to play fair, though. I guess I'm just bummed that this error happened and wish I'd gotten a fair shot at a real interview among other two year applicants instead of super-pro OYR people who dominated the entire two hours.
posted by Viola at 11:38 AM on April 25, 2011
My main question is if I should attempt to contact my specific interviewer, who clearly had nothing to do with the room assignments, and say something akin to A Terrible Llama's advice. I'm not angling for a second interview or to get someone to admit an error for putting me in the wrong room.
I appreciate the point that this compromises the interviewer's ability to play fair, though. I guess I'm just bummed that this error happened and wish I'd gotten a fair shot at a real interview among other two year applicants instead of super-pro OYR people who dominated the entire two hours.
posted by Viola at 11:38 AM on April 25, 2011
Response by poster: Though I think wuzzandfuzz's advice is spot on for any situation where the lady at the front desk wasn't heatedly insisting room numbers didn't matter. I'd also have to email this specific woman to get the interviewer's name because she's gatekeeper for the entire program, and I'd rather not piss her off. I guess I'll sit on my hands.
posted by Viola at 11:43 AM on April 25, 2011
posted by Viola at 11:43 AM on April 25, 2011
I would jujitsu this in a followup.
Instead mentioning it in the sense that you are worried about the assessment and how it reflects on you lay it down in a positive light.
"The interview was great, I was really fortunate to be in a room of such passionate and experienced folks (change words to highlight, in slightly more casual terms, the more advanced degree or whatever). Hearing about what they have been able to accomplish inspired me even more to pursue the [fill other degree that you are aiming for] program. Do you know if the program allows for a lot of interaction between the groups, because I think that would be great."
That way the disparity is obvious to the reader and so is your passion for the topic and the desire to develop. You make the situation a lot better for yourself and still remind them of the situation you were put in (and your ability to make the best of it).
Set the terms yourself!
Good luck,
Josh
posted by milqman at 11:55 AM on April 25, 2011 [5 favorites]
Instead mentioning it in the sense that you are worried about the assessment and how it reflects on you lay it down in a positive light.
"The interview was great, I was really fortunate to be in a room of such passionate and experienced folks (change words to highlight, in slightly more casual terms, the more advanced degree or whatever). Hearing about what they have been able to accomplish inspired me even more to pursue the [fill other degree that you are aiming for] program. Do you know if the program allows for a lot of interaction between the groups, because I think that would be great."
That way the disparity is obvious to the reader and so is your passion for the topic and the desire to develop. You make the situation a lot better for yourself and still remind them of the situation you were put in (and your ability to make the best of it).
Set the terms yourself!
Good luck,
Josh
posted by milqman at 11:55 AM on April 25, 2011 [5 favorites]
Yeah, if they made it clear that it didn't matter which group you were in during the interview AND the interviewer herself was clear on the fact that you were applying for a different program/had a different background from the other applicants, I think there's really nothing for you to contact them about without sounding like you're trying to make yourself a special snowflake.
posted by MsMolly at 11:55 AM on April 25, 2011
posted by MsMolly at 11:55 AM on April 25, 2011
Response by poster: Hmm, the person at the front desk is officially "Assistant Director of Enrollment Services and Recruitment," which sounds both administrative-y and admissions-oriented. She leads the orientation service as well, so she's a known face among the staff but I don't think she's like, teaching classes at the school. If I sent a letter to the admissions office it would inevitably come back to her.
posted by Viola at 1:22 PM on April 25, 2011
posted by Viola at 1:22 PM on April 25, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
If you are sure that the interviewer knew you were vying for a program different than the other 9 candidates, then I would not worry about it.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 11:02 AM on April 25, 2011