To answer your post about little clues. Many years ago I went for a job at Bromley Library, the candidate before me came out of the room and was surrounded by the staff who obviously knew them. They might as well have given her hi fives. To make matters worst at the end of my interview I was told I had given the best interview and had a great CV but they had decided to give it to another candidate (no surprise).

That was an example of the council paying lip services to advertising jobs to external candidates when they already had an internal candidate lined up.

Anyway try not to read too much into it fingers crossed you get the job.

so who got the job then? Bloke said to me 'be lucky' at the end of one interview, which clearly implied I was not lucky on that occasion

Weightist

I was invited to observe a number of interviews earlier this year - the competency bit was completely at odds with the experience levels of the candidates.

In what way? Beyond or below their experience levels?