Not senior manager material?

[lunepremiere79]

Recently interviewed for a senior manager position at a financial services company. Feedback was that they don't see me as suitable for a senior manager role in their 'terms'. What does that mean to you?

To me it means they

Ffs....means that they don't think you're up to the task

just that you didn’t meet the job spec in some way so were unsuccessful? Very sloppily worded, not particularly useful feedback

Senior Manager under SMCR or senior manager?

Ask them to explain what that means and guidance on where you need to develop so you are ready next time a role comes up.

They didn’t think you were suitable and so used this very generic term, it means nothing. Unless you ask you’re unlikely to find the real reason.

The latter - senior manager

Agreed, the HR person was supposed to share the feedback but 'forgot' and now has gone mia

That's not proper feedback. I would ask what specific behaviours of a senior manager they feel you haven't been able to demonstrate.

That's a good call! I will get in touch with the HR partner and attempt to get more info out of them

In my company that usually meant not white, male and tall enough, because that’s what senior managers were like.

it’s not for HR to give feedback, it should be the hiring manager they make the choice on who to recruit.

Maybe they don’t think you come across as a natural leader?

So, a bit of an update since I've asked for feedback. Essentially, they didn't think I had the practical experience to do the job but also have very little line management experience, but thought that I'd good for a manager (rather than senior manager) position. I have since interviewed for another (manager) role at the same company, same division, but a different team and the feedback was that they thought I was too senior for the manager position and that I would be more suited to a senior manager position. I feel like I can't win, as when I apply for more senior roles, my lack of line management experience always gets cited as the reason for rejection, yet if noone gives me a chance to be a line manager, how am I supposed to get this experience? I am at a loss

Honestly sometimes you apply for a job and your face doesn’t fit