Why Didn’t I Get the Job? Everything Went So Well!
Posted September 26th, 2011
During your job search, you discover what can only be called the job of your dreams – it’s just what you’ve been looking for, and it matches your qualifications exactly.
So you apply and land an interview. The interview is a great success. You get along well with everyone there, and they seem to really like what you have to say.
Afterward, you send a thank you note and wait. A few days go by, then weeks, and still no word. Finally, you get a letter of rejection in the mail. You are dumbfounded. It looked like the perfect job. You breezed through the application process.
You may get the urge to take this rejection personally, but don’t. There may be many reasons why you didn’t get the job, some of which might come as news to you.
The first thing to remember is that this isn’t an exact science. There is no fool-proof method that hiring managers use to choose people. Some of the selection is actually taking place at a subconscious level. It is more intuitive. So the whole thing is not really about you, it’s about the recruiter.
Another thing to keep in mind is the competition, especially with the current high unemployment rate. There were probably 200 or more other people who applied for the same job you did, and only about 10 (if that many) even got called for an interview. So, in a way, you can consider yourself lucky that you made it to the interview stage. This is actually an opportunity for you to take advantage of – apply for other openings at the company for which you believe you are qualified. Since the hiring managers now know you, and you have made a good impression, you may end up with something better down the road.
Another reason for the rejection letter may have to do with abrupt changes in direction by the company. It may have wanted to hire you, but changes to budgets or other factors may have led to a sudden imposition of a hiring freeze. Again, keep in touch with the company – you may be contacted again later when it starts hiring again.
Another factor in the rejection may just have to do with the hiring manager’s impression of whether you will be a good fit for the position, or how well you will fit in with the current employees. So, again, this is not about some failure on your part, but more about the culture of the company.
Stay proactive, and don’t take things personally. If you get rejected, contact the hiring manager and tell her to remember you for future openings and ask her if r she could refer you to anyone in her network who may be hiring.
Speaking of hiring, Bayside Solutions is always looking for terrific professionals who want to work in some of the Bay Area’s best companies. Contact us today to learn more about the temporary, direct-hire and temp-to-hire opportunities we have.
