Didn't get a job, so upset

[Canthinkofaname79]

I had an interview for a job I've done before. Without sounding cocky I came away thinking I'd done a good interview, there was lots of nodding, encouraging smiles, lots of writing and ticks! I was confident I'd covered everything. I know the manager who was one of the interviewers, have done for over 15 years, she showed me out afterwards and gave me a hug! Also told me I'd done well and that they were only interviewing 2 people.
So I was gutted and really shocked when I was called later to be told I hadn't got the job. Apparently I missed out saying something which thinking back I absolutely did say, and if they wanted me to elaborate they could have encouraged me too. I've done this when I've interviewed people, just asked for a bit more and for them to elaborate. It wasn't massively crucial and feels a bit like a made up reason.
Fair enough if I'd felt I'd not done very well or made glaring omissions but it felt really positive and I was given the impression I would be offered it.
Just feel gutted and need to find some confidence for future interviews, I have 2 more coming up.

At the end of the day a choice has to be made and sometimes tiny or even silly things are used to justify a decision, especially if several candidates did well.

In my current job I've recently learned that someone on my panel did their best to black-ball me but others over-ruled him. I've won numerous awards in the company since joining and been promoted so it just shows some people take a different view.

Dont lose heart. Keep going. You want to work for people that see you and recognise how valuable you would be for them.

By the way, I bet that wherever you end up you'll look back and be glad you didn't get this job - it always seems to be like that!

Thank you, just feels so demoralising

It sounds like you did do a great interview and were appointable. So take huge positives from that.

At the end of the day perhaps you were just pipped by another candidate, but you can definitely approach your next interviews with confidence - plus the benefit of having just had this ‘practice’ go!

good luck op

Thank you, just wish I'd been given more of a vibe of it only being a maybe. It's a job I used to do so why couldn't I do it now? I'm definitely going to follow up for some more feedback. I thought I would walk it as I've over qualified, sorry if that sounds arrogant, definitely the last thing I'm feeling!!

It is really disappointing, I’ve just had the same experience so feel for you @Canthinkofaname79

Ask for the feedback while it’s fresh and use that to prepare next time you have an interview. Sometimes the disappointment spurs you on the next time

I’m sorry OP. Sometimes things just aren’t fair. It sounds like you could have easily do the job and that their reaso was a bit of a made up excuse. It may have been something silly like one of the panel fancies the other candidate (I’ve known that to happen 😐) or maybe the interviewer that knows you was so determined not to be biased in your favour that they accidentally were unhelpful to you.

Don’t let it knock your confidence, this was about them not you.

The way to look at it is that both of you were excellent candidates. Honestly I'm not sure you'd be feeling any better even if you had been given the impression it was only a possibility rather than a 'very maybe', you know? Because with any job interview you do, you know there's always a chance of getting the job, so it's always really disappointing and disheartening when you don't get it. I went for a job recently, the interview felt spot on, I really thought it might be mine in the bag. When they rang, they told me I was a very very close second and they had to 'nit pick' between me and one other. I felt really down, and even a bit embarrased to tell my family, as I felt second best. But you have to just keep going and not dwell.

The key thing is to move on. Think of it as fate, with another couple of interviews lined up perhaps you'll get an offer and you'll love that job much more (well, that's what I'm telling myself anyway). Good luck

Last time I failed to get a job after a great interview (feedback was I was definitely appointable but some else just shaded it) I later found out they'd appointed an internal candidate who'd been doing the job on a locum basis for 6 months. So the post you applied for might have already been "someone else's" in some way.

Oh OP. It's really disappointing, I know. If you prepare for a job interview well, it's easy to get so invested in it. It can seem like the end of the world when you don't get it, and if you thought you did well, it can really knock your confidence.

Recruitment isn't a scientific process, though. The fact that you didn't get it doesn't mean that you wouldn't have been good at the job, or even that you weren't actually the best candidate. The interview is just a snapshot, and recruiters are making decisions on the basis of the limited information that they've got. I do a lot of interviewing. Sometimes we have several candidates who are entirely employable in the role, but we have to make a choice, so it can be quite small factors that tip the balance in someone else's favour.

Don't let it knock your confidence. Just pick yourself up and move on to the next opportunity... there is something better in store for you. I have been rejected for loafs of jobs over the years but I'm in a role now that was beyond my wildest dreams a few years ago.

Keep your chin up, learn from the experience if you can, and look for the next opportunity - it might be a whole lot better than the one you missed out on!!

If they interviewed 2 people for the job, then it was always going to be an 50/50 chance.

Just move on, something else will turn up!
If it makes you feel better, I once lost out to a candidate who had "more experience" - the irony being that I trained this person on the job!

I hear you and feel your pain!

I've been job hunting for a few months now. Got a couple of rejections that really knocked me, and also to the end of a really lengthy process only for the role to be pulled due to a company hiring freeze.

All I can say is that after a few days you will pick yourself up and move on. It wasn't meant to be and there is something better for you out there. It is their loss.

There are ups and downs in looking for a new job and unfortunately you need to ride the rough with the smooth.

I did a 'how to remain positive/resilient' whilst job hunting Linked In course (by Career Cake). Worth checking in case you can access Linked In courses for free through your employer, sometimes LI give you free 24 hour access too.

Good luck with your new interviews coming up.

Thank you, its public sector which is all Ive ever done . I've asked for feedback but no response yet. Fingers crossed for the next one.

I've already given notice on my current job and now the government saying about cutting social care funding so it it a bit of a scary position to be in!

If it’s public sector then they were probably using a points based appointment process and the other candidate scored higher on that one issues that they mentioned in feedback. Sounds like you both did great interviews, you went first and they assumed you’d be appointed then the next candidate just scored that little bit higher.

Yes I think you are probably right and I wish they'd just said that if that was the case. I've interviewed loads of people before using points based appointment process and I get that's how it works. Frustrating! Want some feedback to help me with next one.

Yes I did go first.

No. That's not how statistics work. Its not a 50/50 chance because there are two outcomes, unless those two outcomes are exactly equally likely. If one candidate is more qualified and experienced than another, it's not a 50/50 chance at all.

OP, it sounds like your interview went very well, which is great. It's just that someone elses went better. That's how it goes sometimes. There will be other opportunities.

Hi @Canthinkofaname79 : sometimes I think the interviewers ‘get the hang of asking the right questions’ in the interview process- ie it’s an advantage to come later

Stay resilient & realise you did a good interview once, you will do it again

Have you seen other things to apply for?

I thought I would update, I got asked back for a 2nd interview and this time I got it!

Well done! Hope this other job is better 😁