Previous applicants need not apply

[Polarbearflavour]

Warning! Just need a rant!

I had an interview last week. Think it went really well and said they were finishing interviewing that day and would let all candidates know at the end of the day. Great. I liked the interviewers and the work enviromment and got a good feeling.

One week later I got the rejection email. Fine. I politely asked for feedback. It was really positive but they wanted someone with more experience in one particular area that was listed on the advert as desirable. This particular experience is really not anything skilled or exciting, the role is basically a glorified admin job. They ideally wanted someone with a background in a particular field, which I do have and security clearance, which I also have.

My feedback was: “You have an extensive administration background however, on this occasion there was a slight lack of experience within the xxx management side of the business which we felt could be crucial to the role.

I would however, like to say how friendly and warm you were. You offered confidence and took a clear and concise route when answering all questions. All of which are strong attributes that we noted.”

I said thank you for the feedback and best wishes etc presuming they had found someone better qualified.

The job was readvertised today with “previous applicants need not apply.” It’s also been advertised with an agency.

I know I really just need to move on but I can’t help feeling a little annoyed that my feedback was obviously meaningless and I have some weird fatal flaw they didn’t mention! Arghhhhhh!

Rant over

I am sorry as it must be disappointed, but they declined you last week- you’re not going to be suitable after a week. Their loss, move on.

Don't you think interviews are just the weirdest things? Last one but one I did was just like yours, loved the people, the place, I answered well etc etc but I didn't get the job. Last one I thought was a car crash, ummed and aahhed throughout, didn't answer a couple of the question at all, and was offered the job! I have given up trying to analyse interviews too much!
Keep your pecker up, your feedback was excellent. A better job will come along soon and they will be regretting not offering you when they had the chance.

Thanks! Yep interviews are weird. I used to be a flight attendant for a “premium airline” and that was honestly my worst interview ever! I stammered in the interview and I was so surprised I got the job! For another airline I was much more composed and got rejected.

You just never can tell.

This job wasn’t my dream job - what job is? But the extra money would have been nice and the military men would really have made it a pleasure.

I'm sure something even better will come along!

Polarbearflavour it's a numbers game in public sector as you know. They probably received a high volume of applicants and it sounds like there was only a hair's breadth between you and the successful candidate - they have to make the gap sufficiently wide to fully justify their decision so they homed in on experience which is often the deciding factor as it's objective rather that "we got on well with Candidate A". Annoying, all the box ticking.

I agree re military being great to work with.

It's likely that they offered the job to someone who had more experience and turned it down after accepting and they've decided that although they liked you, there was something they didn't like. Who knows what!

Interviews are tough emotionally but agree in keeping faith. I went for a job I thought was everything I wanted and I knew I was right for it but then learned that an internal applicant had also applied. They got the job despite having a lot less experience than me. However the woman who I would have reported to was incredibly rude when providing feedback and I later learn that she indeed had a reputation of being rude and unpleasant and it was the reason why the other person left.

2 months later, another job came about which didn't seem as good on paper but I got it and 3 months in, I could kiss the woman thank you as this job is perfect and much much better than the other one.

Keep believing in yourself.

I’m puzzled why you think the feedback was meaningless? It sounds pretty detailed and constructive to me. They were clear about what you lacked and said they thought that could be “crucial”.

I don’t think readvertising undermines any of that.

I had a slight lack of experience in a particular area but I’ve interviewed before and if I felt a candidate lack slight experience in a less challenging area I would still have made a job offer if they had all round generalise experience. And I liked them.

The role itself isn’t a public sector employee but a contractor.
Anyway! Onwards and towards.

It reminds me of a time where I had 3 interviewers in two days. All for City Banking/finance jobs working as a PA. Same kind of money and job description. One place said I came across as a little too shy and reserved, another said I came across as being a little over confident (believe me I’m really not!) and the third place liked me and offered me the job which was one of the better jobs I’ve had.

I wore the same dress and heels, same make up and hair, said all the usual things I say at interviews and was basically just being me with a bit more sparkle! Yet three interviewers all came to different conclusions.

That’s why I don’t really believe feedback as everyone will have their own opinion or just not like you sometimes.

I think the reply was pretty comprehensive and personalized to you, and if they felt the fit wasn’t quite right, so be it. They actually sound pretty thoughtful. They may not get a perfect person. You sound accomplished and like able so hopefully you will find your fit soon.

" if I felt a candidate lack slight experience in a less challenging area I would still have made a job offer if they had all round generalise experience. And I liked them"

They felt you lacked experience in a "crucial" area. And even if it was a less important area, if they are not desperate to appoint immediately and feel that someone is out there who does have everything, that's perfectly reasonable. They obviously feel they don't need to compromise, which doesn't mean their feedback is meaningless.

You may be right, it might be that they just didn't like you and they made up a load of detailed feedback for no reason. But I don't think them re-recruiting is any evidence of that.