I was PERFECT for the job, but still didn't get it.

[Anonymous]

OP, maybe the job was not perfect for you. Don't sweat it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you know people who know people at the organization? You may be getting a bad rap.

Something similar happened to me. The hiring company even told me (in writing) that they were putting together the formal offer, and bam, changed their mind at the last minute with no explanation. I soon found out that someone connected to my current company heard from someone at the hiring company, yada yada, and sabotaged the offer. That sucked to find out, but I was relieved to at least have a reason.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why not give them a quick call, honestly thank them for the chance to interview, and ask if they have any recommendations on what you can improve? Can't hurt to ask.

(And hopefully you already did this, but send a thank-you card to the primary interviewer and you can ask the same thing -- for a quick call or email letting you know what you could improve).

I work in HR at a big organization and this isn't an uncommon request. Could give you some insight.

I agree with this thought. Worst case, they ignore you. But a lot of people want to help candidates, especially since you both invested a lot in the interviewing process thus far.

In general I DETEST your kind of thinking. I am a hiring manager. Candidates who think they are so wonderfully well suited often have no idea what the hiring manager is facing: personality conflicts, soft skills that critical to success, etc. Believe me, if they felt you were "perfect," you'd have gotten the offer.

This isn't always true. Sometimes jobs are given as a favor to someone else. So maybe OP was perfect but not the friend, niece, former college roommate of some higher up person.

[Anonymous]

Sorry OP, this has happened to me in the not too distant past. I did email the HR person asking for feedback and got none, but wasn't surprised at that really. I also emailed the internal hiring person (the person I would have worked for) saying that I was disappointed, but enjoyed meeting her and hoped to cross paths in the future.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why not give them a quick call, honestly thank them for the chance to interview, and ask if they have any recommendations on what you can improve? Can't hurt to ask.

(And hopefully you already did this, but send a thank-you card to the primary interviewer and you can ask the same thing -- for a quick call or email letting you know what you could improve).

I work in HR at a big organization and this isn't an uncommon request. Could give you some insight.

I agree with this thought. Worst case, they ignore you. But a lot of people want to help candidates, especially since you both invested a lot in the interviewing process thus far.

In general I DETEST your kind of thinking. I am a hiring manager. Candidates who think they are so wonderfully well suited often have no idea what the hiring manager is facing: personality conflicts, soft skills that critical to success, etc. Believe me, if they felt you were "perfect," you'd have gotten the offer.

This isn't always true. Sometimes jobs are given as a favor to someone else. So maybe OP was perfect but not the friend, niece, former college roommate of some higher up person.

Not if they just reposted the job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are thinking they can find another version of you, but cheaper.

Not the OP, but that's pretty much what happened to me. We never discussed salary but the person they hired is much younger and I figured that may have been part of it.

Same here. This happened to me and the primary interviewer was nice enough to call me and explain he fought for me but upper management insisted on hiring someone just out of school for a lot less money. They had even advertised the salary in the job post! But offered less to the newbie and the newbie went for it.

[Anonymous]

The job was wired but they need to interview for EEO reasons. That's my guess.

[Anonymous]

I'm sorry, OP. And I will try to say this gently but none of us sees ourselves clearly so while you are so confident that you are "PERFECT" for the job, maybe you came off less than perfect to them. Obviously, they perceived that something was lacking...might you have come off as too confident and overly familiar during that second interview? Would they have already spoken to your references? Would they have run a background check or credit report and found something that might have scared them off? Do you have a big presence on social media that might put you in a negative light (always posting on FB or tweeting, posting controversial things, making it appear like you party too much or hold political views that make you appear intolerant? All those things come into play. I agree with PP who suggested an email expressing your disappointment (don't belabor the point), thanking them for their time, your continued interest and if you feel so bold ask for a explanation. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why not give them a quick call, honestly thank them for the chance to interview, and ask if they have any recommendations on what you can improve? Can't hurt to ask.

(And hopefully you already did this, but send a thank-you card to the primary interviewer and you can ask the same thing -- for a quick call or email letting you know what you could improve).

I work in HR at a big organization and this isn't an uncommon request. Could give you some insight.

+1 I think this is a really good idea.

[Anonymous]

If they just reposted the position, it is at all possible to ask if you could apply again??

[Anonymous]

Some positions simply are not meant to be filled. My group was trying to hire another member for months, and one of the senior VPs always found issue with them, even the better qualified ones. So the add went back and more people came in. And we had to turn down some very good candidates.

This lasted for more than 6 months. Last month, we all were axed in a company re-org. The execs knew they wanted to re-focus the company, but had no means to tell the GM who was going get axed to trim his budget. Instead, they approved his budget, but just before the end of the financial year, they let him go, along with his entire team -- and his budget. Office politics -- and this just an example.

It also happened to me a number of times as a candidate -- and that position would often go on staying open for a year or longer.

Companies use their career page as an advertisement, not as a true reflection of needs. And office politics and managing decisions often happen in the middle of an interview cycle. I even had a position frozen between the time I gave my verbal agreement and the time the CEO had to sign the offer... after I had turned down some excellent alternatives.

So do take stock of all that you could have done better, but do consider there's a lot you have no control over. Focus on the future and give it your best.

[Anonymous]

add->ad. I'm sure there are others...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why not give them a quick call, honestly thank them for the chance to interview, and ask if they have any recommendations on what you can improve? Can't hurt to ask.

(And hopefully you already did this, but send a thank-you card to the primary interviewer and you can ask the same thing -- for a quick call or email letting you know what you could improve).

I work in HR at a big organization and this isn't an uncommon request. Could give you some insight.

I agree with this thought. Worst case, they ignore you. But a lot of people want to help candidates, especially since you both invested a lot in the interviewing process thus far.

In general I DETEST your kind of thinking. I am a hiring manager. Candidates who think they are so wonderfully well suited often have no idea what the hiring manager is facing: personality conflicts, soft skills that critical to success, etc. Believe me, if they felt you were "perfect," you'd have gotten the offer.

This isn't always true. Sometimes jobs are given as a favor to someone else. So maybe OP was perfect but not the friend, niece, former college roommate of some higher up person.

Not if they just reposted the job.

This just happened at my company. They posted the job, wanted someone in particular, but HR would not let this person go through (said not enough years of experience). But they worked with HR to let the resume through, and now have to repost the job. You really never know.

[Anonymous]

OP, This literally happened to me four hours ago, which is why I clicked through. I let myself indulge in wonderful "whats ifs" all weekend about what if i got this job, it went so well! I'd make more money! I could travel! And then a "no thanks". The PPs have been kind. They've helped me feel better. But I totally know what you mean, I am right there with you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why not give them a quick call, honestly thank them for the chance to interview, and ask if they have any recommendations on what you can improve? Can't hurt to ask.

(And hopefully you already did this, but send a thank-you card to the primary interviewer and you can ask the same thing -- for a quick call or email letting you know what you could improve).

I work in HR at a big organization and this isn't an uncommon request. Could give you some insight.

I agree with this thought. Worst case, they ignore you. But a lot of people want to help candidates, especially since you both invested a lot in the interviewing process thus far.

In general I DETEST your kind of thinking. I am a hiring manager. Candidates who think they are so wonderfully well suited often have no idea what the hiring manager is facing: personality conflicts, soft skills that critical to success, etc. Believe me, if they felt you were "perfect," you'd have gotten the offer.

This isn't always true. Sometimes jobs are given as a favor to someone else. So maybe OP was perfect but not the friend, niece, former college roommate of some higher up person.

I think this is often a scenario that plays out- connections beat out non-connections every time. It is entirely possible OP was perfect for the job, she wasn't saying that she was the only one perfect for the job! There could have been multiple people perfect and a tough choice- doesn't mean it doesn't sting when you get the "no" of the multiple perfect people!