I didn't get the job - How do I ask why?

[Rick Lee]

I've been in this spot a few times. Luckily, the last time it happened, pretty recently actually, the guy told me I was the top contender for the job until he interviewed two guys after me who were more qualified. I still have a feeling one of those guys won't work out and he'll call me back.

I had an interview with BMW's gov't. relations office in DC about 10 yrs. ago and was dying for the job. I knew the boss there very well and also the person I'd be replacing. He was a total ***** in the interview. I mean a 180 from the guy I knew. I thought it was almost a hidden camera thing and at the end they were gonna tell me they were kidding. I went home with my tail between my legs, crushed.

A week later they called me back and said someone from their NJ HQ wanted to see me. I figured they wouldn't waste time on a second interview with someone from NJ if I wasn't being seriously considered. This lady laid out the whole benefits package for me, the free car lease, etc. I was drooling.

A week later I was invited over there for a luncheon. The boss acted like I had never interviewed for the job, totally blew me off. When I got home that day, the lady from NJ called me to say they had given it to someone else. So bizarre. This lady had been told about how long it would take me to get home from that luncheon and she called right then.

[rnln]

It sounds like you didnt' go through too many interviews. Sometimes, you fail what you think you are going to get. And sometimes you get what you think you are definitely fail. There were interviews they told me to go home and get ready, they never call. There were one I got a offer letter and start day, canceled at midnight on the day before, bascially 7 hours before start. Sometimes you (and them) think you are the one, but the one after you was a tiny bit better or even their project was canceled. There are too many posibiltities to guess. Send them an email, doesn't mean you will get the true reason... good luck.

[svandamme]

in 07 when i was on the market, i couldn't help but notice how many companies simply had pisspoor hiring procedures.
It starts with the ad's they put out

either it's

IT guy needed
competitive package

without any additional info, so the job either turned out to be "we need somebody to check if the printer cables are plugged in", or " we need a systems analyst with SAP and this and that"
And then offered peanuts

Or they listed "EVERYTHING", like : Network specialist, must know CISCO Routers, Lotus Notes, VAX, All Windows, SAP , BAAN, Scripting, and have a thourough knowledge and understanding of C++ and Visual C... You will be managing a team composed of the Network specialist, the user helpdesk and the accounting CRM Develloper.
Then it turned out you would be basically managing yourself, as you would the specialist, the helpdesk and developer.


Some recrutement agencies are just as bad.. I had one guy make me come in, 80km drive one way.. have me do psychoanalytical tests for the better half of a day... Then tell me "all your tests came out real nice, but, i don't see you in this position, it's a senior thing , i see you more in a junior position"
Why?
"well, your CV doesn't look sexy"

So i asked him, does 6 years at Novell, mean anything to you?

He goes "Not really, i dont' usually do IT, i'm just filling in for a pregnant collegue"

Go figure.


The only way around those, is assertiveness, thick skin, and keep going after what you want...

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by mikester

So, I recently interviewed for a position I know I was qualified for. I did feel like I was iffy on getting the interview based on the way the phone screen went. I was surprised when they called again.

I had the interview last week, mid week and today I followed up with the HR folks to find out any feedback I could on the time line for the second round interviews.

They asked if I was interviewing anywhere else, I am but I wasn't sure how I should answer that. The job with them is the one I am interested in, well, was at least.

I sent a note to the hiring manager after the interview expressing my thanks for his time and consideration and that I was looking forward to hearing back from him about the next steps.

I felt the interview went well, no tension, I felt good with these guys and honestly most of the time I feel like I do well in interviews. There was one technical question that I flubbed a bit but our further discussions on the technology should have laid to rest any issues with my knowledge of it.

I WANT FEEDBACK! I can accept not getting the job but I need some indication as to why, most of the jobs I have ever interviewed for I have at least gotten an offer for. Most, not all but the ones that I haven't - it was easy to tell that I probably didn't want it. Either it wasn't a good fit, I didn't 'like' who I was interviewing with or just general bad feeling about it.

This time I felt good. I always tell the interviewers on my way out that I really value their feedback even if they don't want to hire me.

Maybe it's the economy, I haven't had very many interviews but mostly because of the positions not being what I've been looking for.

On the way out the Manager gave me his card, I could call him but I think that would be stalkerish. Still - why would he give me his card if I wasn't going to get another call? Seems silly to me to give me your card if you don't intend to see me again.

A friend asked me how it went after the fact and I told her 'interviewing is like going on a date - even if you make it a few basis you never know if they will call you again.'

LOL
http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/worklife/07/22/cb.you.said.what.interview/index.html

[mikester]

He never returned my call, I had sent an email as well - he responded to that briefly today.

"My apologies for the delay in responding as I just found this while clearing my SPAM. Although you had a wide and varied skill set we didn’t see a match for our requirements. Thank you for your follow up and I wish you well in your search."

I was hoping for a little more honesty.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by mikester

He never returned my call, I had sent an email as well - he responded to that briefly today.

"My apologies for the delay in responding as I just found this while clearing my SPAM. Although you had a wide and varied skill set we didn’t see a match for our requirements. Thank you for your follow up and I wish you well in your search."

I was hoping for a little more honesty.

He thought you were cute and would probably distract the other fellas. No one would get anything done.

It sucks to be beautiful and smart, doesn't it?





Yeah, that sounds like a normal managerial BS answer to me.

[cstreit]

More than likely they won't tell you. In todays litigous society managers are instructed not to provide any feedback like this. I'd absolutely ask though...

[mikester]

Originally Posted by masraum

He thought you were cute and would probably distract the other fellas. No one would get anything done.

It sucks to be beautiful and smart, doesn't it?





Yeah, that sounds like a normal managerial BS answer to me.

I am handsome...

Oh well, I am wrapped up in studying these days anyway. I am attempting the R&S lab on the 26th...

[masraum]

Originally Posted by mikester

I am handsome...

Oh well, I am wrapped up in studying these days anyway. I am attempting the R&S lab on the 26th...

Outstanding! Good luck, but I don't think you'll need it.

[mikester]

I do, I'm not ready.

[rcooled]

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

Some HR departments offer "positions" and even conduct interviews with absolutely no intention of actually hiring anyone in an attempt to make themselves look busy. Yes, I have first-hand knowledge that this actually happens. Not saying that's for sure what happened here, but I wouldn't put it past people these days...

I know this to be a fact, too. Phantom job listings are also posted to make a company look more prosperous to stockholders and/or attractive to potential investors. "Oh, Acme Widgets is hiring...they must be doing well". Another common ruse is that they already have someone in mind for the position but hiring regulations require advertising the job and screening other candidates to avoid legal problems. This was probably the case in Rick Lee's post at the top of this page.

[artplumber]

Originally Posted by mikester

He never returned my call, I had sent an email as well - he responded to that briefly today.

"My apologies for the delay in responding as I just found this while clearing my SPAM. Although you had a wide and varied skill set we didn’t see a match for our requirements. Thank you for your follow up and I wish you well in your search."

I was hoping for a little more honesty.

Or he really was serious. Do you know what they really wanted vs what you thought they wanted?

Or it could be any of the other suggestions.

[mikester]

Originally Posted by artplumber

Or he really was serious. Do you know what they really wanted vs what you thought they wanted?

Or it could be any of the other suggestions.

I suppose if what they wanted was to 'settle' for someone far less qualified - well then yeah. It's possible.

[VaSteve]

Originally Posted by masraum

Yeah, that sounds like a normal managerial BS answer to me.

Yup....as I said before:

Originally Posted by VaSteve

I'd call rather than send an email. My employer royally screwed the pooch with a hire and she kept emailing me. There was no way I was going to put anything in writing....these days. Give a call early morning or after 5 when the hiring mgr might still be there and be honest. Hopefully you'll get the same.

Originally Posted by mikester

I suppose if what they wanted was to 'settle' for someone far less qualified - well then yeah. It's possible.

Or you might have been seen as a "threat".