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Original poster

Have you ever thought you’d nailed a job interview, then not gotten the job?!

23 replies

WinterBerry7 · 04/09/2019 18:55

Just been through a fairly lengthy process for a dream job. Whole thing was so positive. Felt like I’d aced everything. They seemed to be loving my experience and said it matched up really well to what they wanted.

Just been told I didn’t get it because I’m ‘too experienced and they want someone fairly fresh that they can mould’

Currently sat sniffling on the sofa feeling mighty sorry for myself.

Anyone else had similar?!

OP posts:

BursarsDriedFrogPills · 04/09/2019 19:03

Ugh that's rubbish. Not had the exact same thing but similar. Couple of interviews, meeting more senior people each time etc, seemed to gel - then poof! Nothing. I think it's generally helpful to remind yourself you don't know what's going on internally and who else is in the running. Sucks though.

motorcyclenumptiness · 04/09/2019 19:36

A lot of recruiters haven't a clue what they're looking for. They interview too many people and have unnecessary and numerous rounds of interviews because, well, they can. And then they don't bother to get back to people and just leave them hanging. It's unprofessional and reflects so badly on companies. Leave your feedback on Glassdoor etc, op, and keep looking for somewhere that appreciates you.

Ceebeegee · 04/09/2019 20:26

Yes. Attended an interview, everything went well, had just the right experience and skills they wanted, got along with the interviewer really well and was introduced to several members of staff as I was being shown around. Honestly thought it was in the bag, but received a rejection letter a few days later. Still feel a little sad now when I think about it, and it was almost 12 years ago!

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HerBigChance · 04/09/2019 20:30

Sounds as though you're dodging a bullet from the reason they've given, although I can see it doesn't feel like that at the moment.

dayswithaY · 04/09/2019 20:52

Yes. Interview went like a dream working for two young guys in a really interesting, niche sector. Huge city firm, luxurious setting, lots of perks. We had a genuine rapport and they seemed to really like me. I didn't get the job, no feedback and I didn't ask (I was young and embarrassed.) I had a friend who worked for the same company and she told me the woman they eventually hired for the role was very serious, and slightly scruffy. I'm still baffled.

feelingsicknow · 04/09/2019 21:01

Not happened to me ( I don't mean in a big-headed way! I just have had that many interviews, or ones where i thought I'd aced it and didn't get it)

But I have interviewed a LOT of people. And sometimes, if it comes down to two or three equally good, equally experienced candidates, you have to think about the 'team fit'. You may have had a good rapport with the interviewers, but they may be thinking about how you would gel with other colleagues (eg an extrovert may not work well with other team members who are more introverted and vice versa).

I'm not saying that's the case here. Just something that happens.

feelingsicknow · 04/09/2019 21:01

*haven't

feelingsicknow · 04/09/2019 21:03

I should say, it works the other way too! If you have a team who are lacking in a particular soft skill, you may be inclined to hire a candidate who has said skill in abundance in order to compensate.

Solasum · 04/09/2019 21:06

We were interviewing last week. Of our shortlist, any 3 of the last would have been both capable of doing the job and would have fitted in well to our existing team. In the end it came down to the ‘best’ candidate having just fractionally more relevant experience. We all enjoyed the interviews. I am sorry OP.

BikeRunSki · 04/09/2019 21:08

Yep, this time last year. Dream job. Brilliant interview. Came second by 1 mark (competency based interview). Interviewing manager as gutted as me. Still have really got over it. It’s internal, in a team different to mine, but to which I have to provide data and expertise. Grates every time.

Foslady · 04/09/2019 21:57

Yep - dream job, did loads of research, interview went great. I was on temporary contract, already working there............got home and half an hour later they rang to say was a great interview but had HR not told me that they already had someone temporary in post who had (naturally) got the job.
Errr, no. Was a few days before Christmas too.....

Original poster

WinterBerry7 · 04/09/2019 22:11

I think what made it worse was at the third stage they were asking ‘so we need someone who could be comfortable doing X. Have you done this before?’ So I said yes and gave examples. They loved that I had ran a particular project they wanted to implement. Now all of a sudden they want someone who has no experience in those areas!

I would actually rather have feedback of ‘we felt you weren’t a good fit’ etc instead of the top much experience line.

OP posts:

Ronnie27 · 04/09/2019 22:19

Yes! Didn’t get it but was later offered it so assume I was the back up plan when the first choice didn’t accept.

Mac47 · 04/09/2019 22:25

Had a cracking interview then got awful feedback Apparently I was too enthusiastic and too much of a team player. They rang me 6 weeks later to offer me the job.

AmIThough · 04/09/2019 22:37

Did they ask what kind of salary you're expecting?

cricketmum84 · 04/09/2019 22:42

All things happen for a reason.

I went for an interview at a company early this year. Great role, good pay, interview went so well, I was convinced I had got it. Plus it was really close to both of DCs schools and they offered flexible working.

I didn't get it but was told I was a very very close second.

4 weeks later they were advertising the same role as the first choice candidate backed out the week before she was due to start. Turned out they hadn't had anyone stay in that role for longer than 6 months.

3 separate recruitment consultants told me they weren't a good company to work for in the months after.

I now have a better role in a fantastic company which whilst it's pretty full on pays well and I love it.

That role will come along for you!

littleorangecat22 · 04/09/2019 22:43

Yes. Was told I was perfect for the role but that someone who had worked for them before came forward and said they were interested in the job so they had to offer it to that person first.

I'm glad I didn't get it now. Got a better one.

user1497863568 · 04/09/2019 22:49

Yes, I basically work for myself now because that's all I ever got in interviews. I made it quite high up in many of the interview processes (eg third or fourth round) too which sort of made it worse than the ones with outright rejection letters. I thought it must be that I look good on paper but there is something that is not liked about me in person. That said, I've had loads of positive independent reviews about my personality/work for the agency I do freelance work for now so it must be nerves at the interview.

Floralmoral · 04/09/2019 22:49

Happened to me too!! Internal application for a job I KNOW I could do, I have a masters degree in the relevant subject and nearly 10 years of experience. The role was to do with measuring and analysing customer experience. I’ve designed research tools in the past, implemented the research and analysed the data too. I gave fabulous examples of my work. However, I had 2 years of working in a different role too, so 2 years of having being away from market research. I was sure I got the job. It was given to someone who at the time was looking after their team stats (productivity kind of things) because apparently his experience was fresher. It felt like a giant slap.

IWentAwayIStayedAway · 04/09/2019 22:50

Yes! Similar stories re rounds of interviews. Even got to the picking my company car stage! Didnt get job and was gutted. Years later heard they were using me to drive down the salary an internal candidate wanted!! IE we have an external candidate willing to do job for x less than you. Said person ballsed up a 100k project (was 20 years ago!) And I still chuckle at the bullet I dodged 😀

DevaDiva · 04/09/2019 22:58

Yes twice, great interview and good rapport with interviewers, presentations well received and good discussion.

One I got feedback that I didn't give very good examples of working in partnerships - I've worked with some big/well known companies on partnership activity which I told them about in detail. I've been over it and I'm not sure what else I could have added so who knows what they were looking for!

The other the recruiting manager who called me seemed almost as surprised as me that that he wasn't calling to offer me the job 🤣

I've been on the other side and if you get 2 or more great candidates it can be difficult to pick between them 🤷‍♀️

Sammy867 · 04/09/2019 23:00

Yes .
I’ve been working somewhere for 8 years now and have been for promotion interview 3 times. I’m part time and the promotion position would be full time with some small added tasks

Each time the person that got the job:

Has never done this role before or had any experience in this area at all
Was younger than myself
Was male with no children

The interview process is a panel, the head of which is the female boss and then 3 male colleagues.
I’ve never had feedback even when I’ve asked, the first time it was said that the interview process was competitive (this is a niche area and as far as I’m aware I was the only one with actual experience in the area)

Each time they interview, the candidate lasts around 12 months ; 3 or so months of me showing them the ropes and 9 months or so go the role themselves and then they leave and they interview again. I’ve stopped going forward for them now as it just gets embarrassing, so I found a part time job elsewhere. The first time I was confident, the second less so and the last I had just come off maternity leave and thought “what the hell, may as well try one last time”

jay55 · 04/09/2019 23:34

They knew your experience before they had you in. If that was the real reason they were real arseholes bringing you in for multiple rounds. So you've dodged a bullet.

I used to suck at interviews and lost out on a bunch of jobs I thought I'd have been good for. Now that I do it more often I've much better technique and haven't been turned down in years.

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