Job interview help

[mooneus]

So recently I have been looking for new job opportunities. After the first interview I had I was offered the job but the salary wasn't what I wanted so rejected it.

Since then I have been to 4 interviews and each time made it to the 2nd stage. However on all 4 occasions I was not offered the position. In fact 2 of them I never heard back from so safe to assume I didn't get it.

The feedback I had from the other 2 was mainly there was someone else who they liked a bit more and they needed someone with more specific experience.

Does it sound like I am doing something wrong? I am clearly impressing them at the 1st stage but then something happens at the 2nd stage.

Has anyone got any advice

I was in a similar position. Always pass the paper sift and get interviews and I've always thought I performed well in interviews. However in my case I think good old fashioned ageism was at play and I was rejected because they just do not want people in their fifties.

When you get feedback from the first interview, ask if they felt there was anything you could improve on. If you could be more succinct / expand on your answers further / warmer / more formal. And when you’re at the rejection stage (4 interviews is fine, you’re obviously doing well to get to later stages), same again, thank them for their time but just ask if they have any advice for the future on your interview style.

Ageist companies tend not to interview the older candidates at all and reject them at CV for other reasons so as not to waste their own time on interviewing people they wouldn’t hire. So if there was an interview in the first place, they’re probably not ageist and the role wasn’t offered for other reasons.

My age never appears on my cv though and I omit giveaways like O' Levels.

That's fairly normal. Job hunting's just a numbers game OP.
If you're getting good feedback keep going you will get there.
You can't account for who else applies.
There may also be internal candidates.
Good luck!

I was on an interview panel recently and we went with the oldest candidate. A woman in her mid 50's. Because she was the person we thought best suited to the job. Also we felt she was the most likeable & she gave off an air of being trustworthy.

If it's a decent place to work they won't reject you because of your age. Or any other superfluous reason.

Just thought of another point that might be helpful... there's a definite difference in how people come across between those who seem confident and those who seem arrogant.

Also people who speak at 100 miles an hour are really irritating to interview. Imo.

I think you may be right Smiled. The jobs I've been going for I have been over qualified and experienced, so maybe I give off an air of arrogance. I've got a job now but it's something to bear in mind for the future.

Fair enough. It’s usually worth leaving your qualifications and the years on there as hiring managers can feel that trying to hide your age is dishonest. Nothing wrong with O levels or being in your fifties! I have placed a woman recently who was 61. Others in the mix were 38 and 45. She was the best candidate.

Lots of companies hugely value more experience and would much rather hire a person in their 50s with an established work ethic and strong skill set over a 20something who stares at their mobile all day (generalisation on both fronts) but if your CV starts with a first job in 1999 and you haven’t summarised a full 10 years of working life prior, “1988-1998: 3 permanent positions as an X - further details on request” (keeping your CV short but still accurate) then you may end up interviewing with ageist companies wasting your own time.

It is always worth asking for feedback and hopefully someone will be honest enough to give advice on interview technique. Sometimes they won’t because they feel it’s kicking a candidate when they’re down “you haven’t got the job AND you didn’t show your personality enough AND the questions you asked were not as interesting as the other candidate” but sometimes they will appreciate you can do with tips from a real interview.