Lack of experience in job

[Anitawiglit12]

I had a job interview this morning and was not selected due to a lack of experience. It’s not the end of the world, we can’t get every job. However when they say it’s due to a lack of experience I always find it confusing as surely they’ve seen your CV and shortlisted you on the basis of the experience you have? Anyone else had this before?

Yes I had this recently. There were 3 candidates and they didn't appoint any of us due to lack of experience.

Why short list us then?

Because they gave you the benefit of the doubt and a CV doesn’t always give enough information. Eg they may have thought they could appoint despite the lack of experience but on interview it didn’t work out 🤷🏻‍♀️

I have got 10 years’ experience in that industry, I probably shouldn’t overthink it anyway. It could have been absolutely anything, maybe my face didn’t fit etc. The lack of experience was maybe a nice way of saying something else. Clearly it’s not the place for me anyway.

Did you submit a cover letter or complete application questions?

It was an application form and a supporting statement, for a job in education.

You can’t rate an individual properly from a CV.
Have you heard it said that some people work 10 years in a role, but what they really have is 1 year’s experience, repeated 10x?

I work in a role that from my job title I could be junior or senior. I am senior. I have experienced - and resolved - so many issues.

They gave you a chance, as they thought it was worth finding out more about your experience, in interview.

Also someone else may just have been better 🤷🏻‍♀️

Ask for detailed feedback?

Sometimes an appointment is posted to outside candidates because they have to, even though they have an internal candidate in mind. I suspect that they choose interviewees based on their unsuitability for the post to ‘back up’ their choice of an internal candidate getting the job. Iyswim.

She also told me by email and claimed my number ‘wasn’t recognised’ even though I’ve just checked and it’s the correct number hmm.
It’s just part of life I suppose. It’s not a nice feeling but happens to us all.

On paper your experience was a good match.
In person, when they asked you more about your experience or the role, you didn't know enough.

That's it surely?

lack of experience compared to the person they picked. If they thought you were utterly useless they wouldn't have shortlisted you or wasted time interviewing you.

Education jobs are not easy to get. Especially the higher up you go -- my newly minted PhD students are typically competing with 120-160 other applicants for part time (sometimes only 0.1 FTE!), temporary and "entry-level" academic positions.

It’s disheartening when it happens a few times. It was a 3-stage interview day and it does knock your confidence a bit but just have to keep trying. It’s a bit like dating I suppose.

It's a tough job climate out there at the moment. It wasn't the one for you, keeping plugging away and you'll get there!

Descriptions on a CV might have been work as part of a time, and not things you specifically did. They might have wanted experience in, I dunno, negotiation or analysis or decision-making on top of the more expected tasks.

Thanks, feeling a lot better now and will keep trying!

Yes, keep trying OP. It's disheartening when you keep getting rejected, but you will find the right job eventually!

With regard to the experience, it really is difficult to tell from a cv/application form. Sometimes people think their experience is relevant and present it as such, and the employer isn't sure so gives them the benefit of the doubt, but when they do the interview, it turns out that it wasn't what the employer was looking for after all. Sometimes people have lots of relevant experience but don't seem to have learned anything from it. And sometimes, it's simply that another candidate's experience is more directly relevant to the role.

Good luck in your job hunt!