Have you ever gotten every job you applied for?

[YourJollyGreenExpert]

The job application process can be so unpredictable. A friend told me recently that she’s gotten every single job she’s applied for, which honestly blew my mind. Then I think about others who face endless rejections, no matter how qualified or prepared they are.

Have you ever gotten every job you applied for? Or has rejection been a bigger part of your journey? Do you think success comes down to luck, timing, skill - or something else entirely? I’d love to hear about your experiences and what you think makes the difference!

For me that's just proof people aren't aiming high enough.

stop with “gotten” fgs.

Nope. Many applications never responded to. Unsuccessful at several interviews. That’s life 🤷‍♀️

Until recently, yes (25 year career). A few years ago I went for one job that I was perfect for on paper, felt the interview went really well, got great initial feedback via the recruiter only to be told a while later I hadn’t made it to the next stage! Was really gutted. They ultimately gave it to an internal candidate so then I was cross that they wasted my time.

More recently applied for a civil service job, was surprised to get an interview and totally fucked it up, was not surprised that I didn’t get further. I think they must have struggled for candidates to interview.

A few months ago a recruiter called me to encourage me to apply for a role that, again, I was great for on paper. Submitted my CV, heard nothing then the recruiter ghosted me. I now think he was making a last ditch attempt to get a candidate in the process, was very cross that he wasted my time.

I've had a fair few over the years and there have been two I didn't get.

No, I often don't get shortlisted, and when I do, I don't always secure the role.
Having sat on my recruitment panel, I know there are many reasons for not getting the job, from not enough experience to poor performance to not being the right fit for the role. I have fallen into each of these categories over time, and this is fine.

Not at all, heaps of rejections

Yes, I got every job I applied for until I was about 50. Different story after that!

I think I failed one interview - it was for a big US bank in NY. It was my first graduate interview and I blew it spectacularly!

Since then - no. I haven't actually had to apply for many jobs and other than the first foot in the door I always moved on through personal contacts rather than cold applications. I have however withdrawn myself from some applications after interview as I realised I did not want to work there and it would be a waste of everyone's time to continue. I have no idea if I "passed" those interviews though.

I have got every job I've applied for.

I applied for and was given various jobs as a teen/young adult. I'm now almost 50 and have had around 8 roles (I think) since the age of 21.

I only apply for jobs that are as near as can be 100% matched to my skills and experience and I adjust my CV to the job and write a very, very tailored application statement. I then prepare, prepare, prepare and revise, revise, revise and research to the nth degree for the interview. To the point where I am prepared for any question they might throw at me. I'm an anxious person prone to nerves but somehow pull through for an interview. I only attend an interview if I really really want the job and feel a conviction that it's the right job for me at that time.

I have had 4 proper jobs and then had some Saturday type jobs when I was at school. I have been rejected by 2 proper jobs. I had zero experience in either, one was medical sales. I had the medical qualification but zero sales experience and had only just passed my driving test. The other one I failed to get was working as an information outreach person for a charity for people with visual impairment and also going along to shows and public places to sell aids to assist people with independent living. I also got a job I had zero experience in. Have done on the job training plus qualifications in 3 of my proper jobs paid for by the employer.

I really fancied the medial sales job but the one for the charity wasn’t very well paid and I ended up something much better where I ended up getting lots of free dinners as it was a place big on entertaining guest speakers, plus I met lots of politicians, the good, the bad and the ugly.

Yes but I haven’t applied for many. In fact, 1 😆 (not counting jobs as a teen, but I also got every one I went for). The last 3 jobs I had I have approached/they came about organically.

No, but I've gotten every one I've interviewed for. I'm really good at interviews!

I have, but they've nearly all been internal. Waitress at a local sports club age 16
Waitress at a hotel whilst at Uni
Current employer - original job plus 3 internal applications
A local job which I was offered a couple of years ago, but decided not to take. I was probably "over qualified" for that one, but I liked the idea of the type of work and thought the job satisfaction would be high. However after careful consideration I realised my current job is better for me in the long run.

She's got a point, enough with the Americanisms already 😁

Never had a rejection, I’m actually quite proud of that 😂
But I’ve only ever applied for jobs I really wanted and therefore put my all into the prep.

Close to every job after my first one, yes (Out of around 10 applications I had 2 rejections, but both led to interview), but I work in a huge shortage area.

When I was graduating I applied for almost a 100 jobs before I got one. While I worked every time I made a move, I had multiple rejections before getting a job. But I was always ambitious and aimed high so 🤷🏻‍♀️

Yes - got into teacher training (but that was easy due to shortage ) & got the first job I applied for

however I didn’t get two jobs ( but that was for a specific reason) I went for experience

then I have recently changed and got in on first interview

Every job I applied for? No. Every job I interviewed for? Yes.

I've only been rejected by two roles, both I had no real place applying for and was pretty chuffed to get the interview.

I've been turned down for what I call 'leap of faith' roles, as in I know I'm a weak candidate but I applied because it's something I'd really like to get into, but not unsurprisingly, wasn't successful.
I've not heard back from several at all, but have usually applied for so many that you wouldn't expect to hear back from all of them.

If I've got to interview stage then I have always been offered the job, unless it was one of my leap of faith ones!

No, but I've got every job I've interviewed for.

I was applying for 10+ a day when I graduated from university but only got three interviews. Got offered them all in the same week and picked one. Since then I've been offered and taken evrye job I've interviewed for including internal roles.

I've always prepared hard for interviews including rehearsing examples, memorising information about the role and the business area, reading up around it so I can use examples of what I've read or new developments in the arena etc. Easily 20hrs prep for an interview tbh.

The two I didn't get over 50 years of working were a pt job in a cake shop(over qualified) and in a hippie shop in the 80s as the owner went off to Afghanistan buying carpets and abandoned the shop to join the Mujahadeen.