Rejected candidate then re-approached

[Hotandflustered]

Hi all,

Back in early June, I was turned down for a role, I received a nice email and offer of feedback whilst also being advised I could apply for future roles so I figured I hadn't done really badly if they would allow a future application. (I never took the offer of getting feedback up, didn't respond to the reject email and just thought that was it) ((guess I could try to forget receiving this email))

Some 6 weeks on, out of the blue the company's HR made new contact asking if I was still interested in the job, I suppose there could be so, so many reasons why the role has become available again, my question out there is would you ask the employer why the reapproach after being rejected? is there a way to be tactful about it?

Can being second choice work out? although equally I'd feel like a right donut! if it's an additional position so thinking I do need to ask?

Many thanks for any insight.

It’s likely the first candidate and you were very close and the first has left/changed mind. I would just ring for a bit more info on why this role has come up?

Lots of places have a reserve list

if you still want the job accept, if you don’t reject it

Yes! It can work out.

sometimes the first choice uses the offer to negotiate a promotion or raise at their current place. Sometimes they receive multiple offers and pull out. Sometimes it’s just a bad fit. Sometimes a second role of the same type opens up. Sometimes they cant agree on the package (salary, working hours/pattern, etc).

likewise sometimes you can interview four people you’d happily employ but only have one role to fill.

If you’re still interested it isn’t necessarily a red flag.

Take it. This isn’t an ex coming back around after dumping you

Second choice absolutely can work out. It they didn't think you were appropriate for the role they would have re- advertised rather than approaching you.
As PP said it's likely you came a close second and they were happy to employ you but the other person had more experience.

This happened to my DH a number of years ago. He interviewed for a job and was told he was unsuccessful and they had appointed a candidate with more experience. He was then offered it a few weeks later and informed the other candidate had pulled out. Once he started he asked his boss and was told the person they offered it to would have to relocate and the company wouldn't pay the relocation bill o he pulled out. DH was there for nearly 10 years, was promoted internally, and was very successful stepping stone in his career

I'd ask but it's not necessarily anything sinister. The other candidate could have gone for two roles and the other came up later, they had to relocate, they won the lottery, their references didn't check out. A whole host of reasons that are nothing to do with the job being awful.

Ask!

It is likely that you were a close second and the really liked you but they hired someone who on paper they thought had more experience and maybe was already in very similar role.

Then either something went wrong in the follow up process (bad reference, the candidate misrepresented themselves) or the person changed their mind and did not want the job anymore after getting a better offer somewhere else, or they started the role and hated it after a week...

If I were you I would first ask what happened with the candidate to double check there isn't some kind of red flag (maybe the role is not quite what was described in the job ad/ at the interview).

Then if you are really keen on the company there is nothing wrong with taking the role. People who conduct interviews can make mistakes too and in this case they did not pick the person who was the best fit for the role and was really committed to it the first time around.

This happened to me with a teaching job. Didn't get it, but I actually knew who had. Something happened to them and suddenly I got a call asking if I was still interested. Of course I said yes, and have been working there for three years now 😁

I was second choice for my first graduate job and it turned out to be the start of a very successful career. I suspected when it took them 4 weeks to make an offer, and manager let it slip a few months later. Didn't think much of it as it's not uncommon to apply for loads at that level.

Ask - why not? Sometimes references do not come up to expectations, which may be why the post is still vacant. Often when interviewing there is very little that separates candidates. Being "second best" can be a fine line.

I interviewed for a role in my team a while back. Appointed the best suited candidate but keep thinking about the "second best" who was totally appointable at time but ultimately pipped by someone with slightly more relevant experience which would allow them to hit the ground running.

Months on, circumstances changed and the role became available again so we went back to them. They had a new job so couldn't take the role but were thrilled we'd remembered them and got in touch before going to market.

In my first job, I narrowly beat someone to it and there was only one role available. 2 years the "second choice" reapplied for a role with us and we ended up working side by side - the employer got the two best candidates just in a more unusual way!

If you weren't qualified and suitable, they'd have moved on and tried again. They obviously think you have the skills and personality to fit the company. If you're still interested, don't let this put you off. Have a conversation and you may just end up with a great job

I went for an admin job in a niche area 5 years ago because it was PT, and I was unsuccessful. A month later I got a call to say the successful candidate had dropped out and would I reconsider. I did, and five years later I’ve had three promotions, moved company three times and I’m now a leader in the area of work. It took a while to get over being runner up, but someone helpfully once told me that even the most senior people in the organisation hadn’t been first choice, and were doing brilliant jobs. Don’t let your ego cock block you.

I have offered a role where the first choice accepted then tried to negotiate a higher salary at the 11 th hour and we said no so she pulled out.

We went back to the second choice who happily accepted.

I've got in back in touch with unsuccessful candidates a couple of times when another suitable role came up, it doesn't necessarily mean the original one is vacant again.

It's fine to ask though, you should ask.

I'd be pleased - HR works so hard on metrics and objectivity that it can be difficult to put a preferred candidate first if they tick all the boxes. Nothing forced them to come back to you, though - that's a positive step they took :)

This happened to an ex-boss of mine.

He took the job after requesting to go in at the max holiday entitlement and a slight pay increase.

Not suggesting you do that, but I was always impressed by his negations skills!

This has happened to me. I came second to someone else who was returning from maternity leave (both already worked for the company in different positions).
She asked to go part time after accepting the job but was turned down as the role has to be full time. She decided to go back to her old position part time so I got the job. Been here 4 years now and love it!

DB is currently thriving at a major tech employer that came back to him about a year after he didn’t get the role he first interviewed for. If you’re interested, go for it!

I've been involved in lots of recruitment lately. Sometimes a new post gets authorised the same as one we've just interviewed for. It's much much quicker to go back to reserve candidates than readvertise.

this happened to me except for a role there would only be 1 of, so i just asked why it was vacant again so soon. I was happy with the explanation and took the role. Its going ok so far

I've just recruited someone who was unsuccessful at first application, in fact didn't even get an interview. After appointing our first candidate, we realised we actually needed someone in a very similar role. We went back out to the people we'd narrowly sifted out for the first post, and one interviewed really well. It wasn't anything sinister - just a numbers/scoring game that had to have a cut off.

Don't overthink it. Give it a try if you like the sound of it.

Have recently been interviewing and we always make a list. Just because someone isn't number 1 doesn't mean they aren't suitable for the role. So if the candidate selected number 1, withdraws or goes with another company or their references don't check out - then it would be normal to go back to your number 2 on your list.
If you want the job, go for it.

I was reserve for my current job, scored second highest, top candidate dropped out, it was offered to me. Congratulations.

Thank you, absolutely loving the worked out ok versions! 😀