Didn't get the job. Should I ask interviewer why?
 

Looks like I won't have a chance to answer those off-the-wall questions I read about for the second interview. They sent me a robo-email today, saying I wasn't going to the next round. I'm kind of bummed, as I felt it was a great interview, I was very familiar with their product, have a lot of experience with their software, have some connections there and interviewed there last year too. I don't want to nag the guy or make him think I'm appealing his decision. I just really would like to know where I fell short. I suspect, as has happened where I work now, they had their choice already picked and went through some courtesy interviews, knowing all the while none of us were getting it. But I'm only guessing.

Is it totally out of line for me to call or email the guy and ask him, strictly to help me in my job search with future interviews, if I was lacking in some area or rubbed him the wrong way at all? I'm in sales, so I have a thick skin. And I'd really like to know, so I can do better wherever I interview next. I survived a round of layoffs on Friday, so I am pounding the pavement to get out of there on my own terms.

Many jobs have an applicant in mind before they ever post.

That's how it works where I am now, if you recall the thread about my applying for a promotion I knew I had no chance of getting. And I'm fine with it, if that's what happened last week, as I'll be well-positioned next time. And last time they turned me down and said they'd keep me in mind for the next one, they did call me a month later. And after that next interview, they just never got back to me at all. The guy I interviewed with last week told me they ended up not even filling that job.

I am going to have to agree with Todd. It seems to be the trend these days.

Rick, you didn't part ways with the 993 did you?

No, but I will be talking with some folks in Germany in a few weeks when I'm there, as it can fetch plenty more $$ there than here.

I would not bother. A smart hiring manager would never answer such a question, except in very general terms i.e. "found a candidate that was better qualified, better matched the team blabla". In our litigious society there is only a downside for a hiring manager to answer such a question honestly.

What's this speak of selling the 993? Are they really fetching lots more in Germany? They aren't ready for the H plates ...

G

This...I only had three interviews after I left IBM R&D as a youngin' with a few years of experience under my belt. In a extremely narrow niche of the corporate IT world, it was a "stacked deck" EVERY time. The position was created when I became available and the posting was strictly for HR/corporate compliance. It's a good thing...I'm sure I'd have never made through process otherwise as I'm the type that Icicle would have probably rejected immediately ;)

Same as it ever was....

Yep...like "speaking the truth" about someone asking for references. Other than "such & so" was an employee from hire date to end date....it's too risky for the person being asked (although there are subtle ways to drop hints). But I'm a dinosaur and been out of the game a while...

Good Luck Rick!

I am sorry you didn't get the job. Since you have nothing to lose, why not ask? I would call, not email, but be prepared to get answers you may not want to hear.

I don't see what it could hurt. Worst case they blow you off, what are you out? Maybe your desire to self-evaluate and improve will get you on the list for the next opportunity.

I have seen this quite a few times especially the last several years. Its called due diligence or "going thru the motions",

I would ask - but don't be surprised if you get the canned response.

It's absolutely not out of line to send a note asking what the deciding factors were in eliminating you from further consideration. You may or may not receive a meaningful response but if you don't ask....

Don't be bummed and don't ask why you didn't get it.

Learn what you can and move on. There is nothing more energy sapping than reliving a failure. (I don't mean to be brutal)
Also, Something to think about... Just asking why you didn't get it changes your "relationship" with that company.
That may not seem important but it is. Your reputation is valuable. Asking awkward questions can tarnish that.

And good luck for the next one. ;)

I don't see a downside in asking - it shows you take your career seriously.

Two kinds of people in the world. Those who care and those who do not.

You want to be the former.

In most cases it's called "following policy". Many companies require at least three interviews prior to hiring for a position to reduce their potential exposure to a discrimination/EEO type lawsuit. Sadly that means that employers waste a lot of time/money and your time to fill a job that's already been filled. One of the many stupid things that big companies do.

I would ask as you have nothing to lose.

Instead of asking why you didn't get the job, ask for a debrief on your skills and answers. What did they see as your strengths? What areas did they think needed development? A debrief doesn't put someone in the position of having to defend their decision as it is focussed on your interview only.

At worst they won't do it. At best, you will learn something about you, and they will learn even more of you.

I'm still struggling with this. My folks said to let it go, not to risk looking weak to the interviewer, who may well otherwise keep me in mind for the next position that comes up. I need to find someone there who can find out for me or keep an eye out for one of the four guys there I've spoken with before. I don't want to put the interviewer on the spot with a phone call and I fear an email might go unanswered, but not unforgotten.

Let it go. I've been in the exact same position; I've applied for jobs where it seemed I was such a great fit that the only qualification they didn't specify was my shoe size - yet I still didn't get so much as an interview. In my field, it's they either have someone in mind but have to go through the motions, or are deliberately being difficult so they can justify an H1B indentured servant.

My wife had an interesting experience along the same lines recently, but from the other side of the table. She was interviewing for the position and one of the panelists was someone that she had interviewed but not hired. This person flat-out, straight up asked her (during the interview!) why they didn't get hired. My wife's response was that they hired a candidate would they thought would better fit the team dynamic; not a bad response IMHO.

There was a dilbert cartoon once.

"Its not my company policy to talk about past employees, but I can talk about the weather, I saw slow moving clouds drifting lazily through the sky."

Rick,

Often, it's not that they disliked you, but they really really liked someone better. You might have been interviewing against Derek Jeter.
You could send an email saying you're disappointed. You felt the interview went well, and that you were a decent fit.
Please keep you in mind for future opportunities within your team, particularly if the selected candidate does not work out.
Based on the interview rapport, maybe you attempt light humor like "I can't believe you found the only guy who was a better fit for the position."

Sorry that you didnt get the job, I dont even get notified when I dont get the job. Bastards.

What Todd said only I'd say "probably most" rather than "many". I've been on interviews (and conducted them) knowing the whole process was a sham just to legitimize an already-made decision. Sucks but move on and keep at it.

I had a similar experience last year. Half day interview went really well and they asked me to wait in the lounge for HR who requested to see me again. After ~ 15 minutes waiting was told there was a conflicting meeting and they would contact me the next day. Nothing. I did email the HR manager after 2 weeks and she was apologetic thinking someone else sent the deny notice. Reason - too large of a divide in compensation expectation which we had discussed, and I thought resolved, early in the interview. Oh well.

I have been on the other side as well. Lots of smart people with great resumes but the personality has to line up with the team dynamic.

damn.

better luck next time!!!

how would any of you even ask this question?

"thanks for the opportunity, but WTF?" :D

I was going to put most, but it depends on the level of the job. As they climb the ladder, almost all of them have candidates in mind.

HR departments exist to avoid litigation. If the person who interviewed you has half a brain, your question would get a "we found a better qualified applicant" answer and that's it. Or no response.

We do not live in a meritocracy nor are there many level playing fields. Thinking either to be the case will just give you heartburn...

I have very rarely interviewed with anyone from HR. This last one was with the mgr. for the sales team I was applying for. I would have been reporting to him. What really surprised me is that he called me before ever seeing my cover letter, in which I mentioned my previous interviews and the people there I had spoken with before. So he called me strictly based on my resume, which I found flattering. When he asked me if I knew about their product, I asked him if he had seen my cover letter, in which I had explained that. He opened another file and said, "Oh yeah. Here it is. Oh, so you know so and so and have discussed this stuff before. Well, we need to get you in here. How's this Thurs?"

He was a very cool guy and we didn't discuss money at all, so there couldn't have been a disconnect in expectations there (yet). My gut tells me it would have been a pay cut, but I'm not sure.

FWIW, while I was in the reception area, I saw the previous interviewee leave and she was a decent looking, professionally dressed woman. I always wear a sharp suit and clean up pretty well. When I was leaving, I saw the next guy and he was wearing slacks and short sleeved collared shirt, no jacket, no tie.

Did you work with a head-hunter/recruiter?

No, otherwise I could easily ask him or her.

IMO its not out of line to ask but odds are you won't get an honest answer. As others have alluded to, in today's litigious society there is a reason why all rejection letters are almost identical:
Thank you for your interest in the X position with Zorch Corp...we reviewed many qualified candidates...we have offered the position to an applicant who we feel more closely met our needs...we will retain your application for the future...
Chances are you won't get much help unless you can get inside to talk with someone who knows you.

Job hunting sucks but you will come out OK. Don't get down. Its not about how many times you already got up to bat but rather the home run you will hit next time up.