Got told I'm too junior for a job! Argh!!

[Flowers2014]

I just got told by HR for a job applied for that they liked me but I'm too junior and would need 2/3 years more of experience before getting this type of job. Fair enough they are probably right but then don't advertise the job as a 'assistant' position when actually it's manager level!

I got to the last 2 candidates and feel the 2nd interview was a waste of everyone's time. They have my ,CV they knew I was junior before...and breathe

I really liked the place it would have been a step up but I thought I could do it otherwise I wouldn't have applied

I have another final round interview next week and it's going to be the same

Not sure how to get the experience that I'm lacking without someone giving me a promotion. Since I'm about to be made redundant from my current job it's not going to at my current employees.

Anyone else caught in a similar work catch 22?

[manchestermummy]

I have been, but by a bit of luck I am getting out of my rut. Not sure what HR folk think, but when I went for my current job, I did a very short 'closing statement' if you will where I stated that although I lacked experience/longevity of experience, I was able to learn and willing to develop.

[Technical]

Honestly, I think it's unlikely that you really failed to get the job because of lack of experience.

Like you say they knew exactly what experience you had before interview and certainly before the second but when asked, they have to say something.

What they probably mean is that it was a close run thing, they had to make a decision one way or the other and you were unlucky on this occasion.

Well done on getting so far and take it as excellent practise for the next one.

[Flowers2014]

Technical - it really is because of my all of 'managerial' level experience/title. I have quite a 'junior' title at the moment but it doesn't cover or show half the things I actually do. They basically said that in 12/18 months when the person they've hired is a bit more settled and they expand the team then they'd love to hire me as their assistant. It's great but doesn't solve my current looming unemployment. I've never been unemployed before and it's giving me massive anxiety attacks.

[Technical]

Your job title might not tell all your experience but your CV/interview should

[Flowers2014]

Agreed and after 2 interviews they knew a lot about me but the person they went with has a lot more years on the job. That's what I got told by HR, and on balance I believe them too. I'm just having a hard time with coming in 2nd. It's all well and good getting to the final 2 but I'm still missing something to get hired.

[flowery]

What Technical said.

They invited you to a second interview which meant they were happy that you could do the job, but there was a more experienced person also available and they decided to go with them.

Managers don't waste time second interviewing people they don't think could do the job. You did really well and are obviously coming across well. Unhelpful I know, but getting to a second interview means you are. It doing anything wrong, so keep at it.

[Unexpected]

You may have missed something (i.e. as much experience as the other candidate in this instance) to get hired but unless you are constantly coming second in interviews, then treat this is a one-off disappointment.

You certainly shouldn't go into next week's final interview with the mindset that you are going to come second. These things have a habit of becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy!

[Redcliff]

I had this once - did a whole day assessment in Birmingham (I live in London ) then got to the next stage (interview) up in Cumbria . Didn't get the job and got pretty much the same feedback as you. Felt such a waste of time back then but was a useful experience for future assessments. Good luck - we have all been there.

[fascicle]

Sounds like a spot of revisionism on the part of the HR dept - I'm guessing that they decided you were too junior at the end of the recruitment process in relation to the candidate they chose. Up until then, you must have been a strong candidate to be interviewed twice.

Be positive about your interview next week. Two second round interviews in quick succession is a good sign that you are a strong candidate. Instead of being disappointed that you didn't get the last job, tell yourself how close you were - bodes well for next week's interview.

[flowery]

"Sounds like a spot of revisionism on the part of the HR dept"

Unless the role was in HR the HR department wouldn't have anything to do with it. The recruiting line manager would be making the decisions.

[fascicle]

The information came from the HR department. Whilst they could have been passing on an opinion, it's an odd thing to suggest that HR do not have an influence on (non HR) recruitment decisions.

[flowery]

Firstly I didn't suggest they do not have an influence. I have no idea whether in this case they do or not.

What is odd is to suggest that HR "decided you were too junior.... in relation to the candidate they chose"

[fascicle]

flowery
Firstly I didn't suggest they do not have an influence.

By saying this, yes you did:

Unless the role was in HR the HR department wouldn't have anything to do with it. The recruiting line manager would be making the decisions.

As for this:

What is odd is to suggest that HR "decided you were too junior.... in relation to the candidate they chose"

Why would you find it odd? You said yourself:

They invited you to a second interview which meant they were happy that you could do the job, but there was a more experienced person also available and they decided to go with them.

[flowery]

No, saying the recruiting line manager makes the decisions isn't the same as saying HR have no influence. I have no idea whether in this particular case they have any influence or not, but I think it's highly unlikely they are making recruitment decisions for a manager, because that would be very unusual, and poor practice.

You seem to have missed my bold in the second quote. I find it odd to suggest (as you did in that sentence I quoted) that HR were doing the "deciding" and the "choosing", because as I said, that would be highly unusual and nothing in the OP indicates that to be the case.

Perhaps it is usual where you work, but as it is unlikely to be the case and there is nothing suggesting it is here, I really can't see anything wrong with me pointing that out.

[fascicle]

flowery, you are making incorrect assumptions about what I've said. But firstly, saying as you did, that the '...HR department wouldn't have anything to do with it. The recruiting line manager would be making the decisions' does absolutely suggest a lack of HR influence. At the same time, I have at no point suggested that HR would be making recruitment decisions for a manager. Where have I said that? I referred to the HR dept because the OP received feedback from them - she hasn't made any mention of a recruiting line manager in her posts.

For what it's worth, I would hope recruitment to be a collaborative approach with HR being involved throughout the process, providing guidance on best practice and making sure that sound decisions are made. That's an ideal - clearly this doesn't always happen.

[whichdidyouchoose]

Maybe they would prefer someone who doesn't have to remind herself to breathe? Must be exhausting.

[whichdidyouchoose]

In my experience 'HR' take a very, very, very long time to do anything ,(even a photocopy), because they don't have any customer-facing work to do.

[whichdidyouchoose]

So don't feel bad at all.

[flowery]

Oh good grief. If by talking about HR deciding and choosing you actually meant the line manager with guidance from HR etc etc why on earth wouldn't you say so when I quite reasonably assumed that by saying HR deciding and choosing you actually meant HR deciding and choosing?

That's a chunk of my life I'll never get back!

[whichdidyouchoose]

True enough, flowery do you "work" in HR by any chance? Don't despair, there is always Monday morning to reclaim another chunk of your life.

[whichdidyouchoose]

"oh good grief. If by talking about HR deciding and choosing you actually meant the line manager with guidance from HR etc etc why on earth wouldn't you say so when I quite reasonably assumed that by saying HR deciding and choosing you actually meant HR deciding and choosing?

That's a chunk of my life I'll never get back!"

quoted from flowery, is it still women's day?

[whichdidyouchoose]

And even better, a chunk of someone else's life, as long as it suits you.

[fascicle]

Oh good grief. If by talking about HR deciding and choosing you actually meant the line manager with guidance from HR etc etc why on earth wouldn't you say so when I quite reasonably assumed that by saying HR deciding and choosing you actually meant HR deciding and choosing?

Are you wilfully misinterpreting my words? The approach I outlined was to clarify my views on what ideally happens (partly so you would not further misconstrue my words) - of course I'm not saying this happened in the OP's case - I wouldn't know.

You are reading far too much into my earlier comment about HR and any perceptions I have about their contribution to decision making in the OP's situation. You said yourself They invited you to a second interview.. without clarifying if the 'they' was HR, a line manager etc. You are applying a level of scrutiny to my posts that you have not applied to your own, as well as inaccurately interpreting what I've actually said.

[whichdidyouchoose]

People can disappear up all sorts of alleys.

[Flowers2014]

I don't think HR had much to do with the choice of candidate, but the feedback I received was through them which is why I mentioned them. So yes the line manager decided to go with a candidate with more experience. Honestly I think they were surprised at how qualified all the applicants were.

Thank you to for all the words of support along the thread.