Re-applying for re advertised role after knockback.

Palermonese · 2024-05-17T08:29:00+00:00

57 (soon to be 58) year old technical manager with a good spread of experience am on the job hunt. Had a tickle over a month ago. Very positive phone call that resulted in an invitation to interview. Agent was very positive and said in their experience this was a pretty good sign. Left interview and "something" wasn't enough to gel. Agent was a little surprsied and commented he hoped the client was looking for a unicorn as I was by far and away the best candidate so far. Now, 5 weeks later, guess what ? Yup. The same role has been re-advertised. Clearly they are unicorn seeking, So I resubmitted my cv, noting I had applied before (because they'd like, notice) and will await a reply. Made me wonder about the situation. Would you re-apply for a role after a clear knockback ? Even if you got it second time around, wouldn't you have the suspicion you were always second best ? Or would you reverse that and take it as a sign of how well you fit the role ? The far in the game, I'm not looking for a "career" with you and your corporate --bullshit-- values. I want 9-5, till I've paid the mortgage off.

firebrand123 · 17/05/2024 10:36

Wow, that's an interesting one! I probably wouldn't reapply especially that soon after interview, I'd assume that if they were interested they'd remember me and approach me. But that doesn't mean I think you shouldn't! If I did reapply and they offered it I would take it as regardless of what happened previously it would mean I was the best at that point in time.

HugeCwtch · 17/05/2024 10:41

I wouldn't - like above, if they thought you were suitable, they would have contacted you.

rwa818 · 17/05/2024 11:29

I probably wouldn't. If you were interviewed and didn't get it then unfortunately there was something that didn't quite fit. Accept it and move on

ILikeItWhatIsIt · 18/05/2024 07:00

Was the original one through an external recruiter or direct? How are you applying this time? Either way, I wouldn't bother. You've been interviewed & someone couldn't be arsed to take three minutes out their life to tell you you were unsuccessful. I'd move on.

Plexie · 18/05/2024 07:13

What was the style of the interview?

Competence-based questions where maybe you didn't answer to your best and might do better on a second attempt?

Or a general exploratory interview to judge your personality/fit?

If the former, you might be in with a chance. If the latter, no they just didn't like you.

OpusGiemuJavlo · 18/05/2024 07:14

I wouldn't submit a full reapplication. In a situation like this I would send an email to the recruiting manager saying something like

"I realy enjoyed meeting you recently about the xxxx role and I notice you have readvertised it since. Obvuously you are hoping that process yields someone who is a more perfect fit, and I respect that. However, in case that doesn't happen, I just wanted to let you know I am still interested in the role. Clearly when we met there was some aspect of my experience and capabilities that you weren't 100% confident about. Therefore I wonder whether we can have an open and frank conversation to lay out any such concerns. I remember feeling a really inspired connection to the potential of this role and feel I would be a really good fit for it so would really appreciate another chance to demonstrate this."

LongSinceGotUpAndGone · 18/05/2024 07:16

There's nothing to lose by reapplying but I wouldn't be very confident of success - worth a try.

Towerofsong · 18/05/2024 08:22

OpusGiemuJavlo · 18/05/2024 07:14

I wouldn't submit a full reapplication. In a situation like this I would send an email to the recruiting manager saying something like

"I realy enjoyed meeting you recently about the xxxx role and I notice you have readvertised it since. Obvuously you are hoping that process yields someone who is a more perfect fit, and I respect that. However, in case that doesn't happen, I just wanted to let you know I am still interested in the role. Clearly when we met there was some aspect of my experience and capabilities that you weren't 100% confident about. Therefore I wonder whether we can have an open and frank conversation to lay out any such concerns. I remember feeling a really inspired connection to the potential of this role and feel I would be a really good fit for it so would really appreciate another chance to demonstrate this."

This is really good!

isitme111 · 18/05/2024 08:33

No, I wouldn't especially so soon afterwards - it sounds like it was a clear no. Did you get any feedback after the interview.

RobinBobbing · 18/05/2024 09:03

OpusGiemuJavlo · 18/05/2024 07:14

I wouldn't submit a full reapplication. In a situation like this I would send an email to the recruiting manager saying something like

"I realy enjoyed meeting you recently about the xxxx role and I notice you have readvertised it since. Obvuously you are hoping that process yields someone who is a more perfect fit, and I respect that. However, in case that doesn't happen, I just wanted to let you know I am still interested in the role. Clearly when we met there was some aspect of my experience and capabilities that you weren't 100% confident about. Therefore I wonder whether we can have an open and frank conversation to lay out any such concerns. I remember feeling a really inspired connection to the potential of this role and feel I would be a really good fit for it so would really appreciate another chance to demonstrate this."

This ^ is really good.

They interviewed and didn’t think you were a good fit. So why would they reinterview unless something has changed? I’ve known people who were successful on reapplication if they’d gone off and changed something (like get more experience). But you’re not doing that. So if you want another chance to need to convince them that they’ve made a mistake.

Your corporate bullshit comment makes me wonder if that came through at interview. It’s fine to want a 9-5 job but you sound quite aggressive about it… and I like assertive people! If that came through in interview it would be off-putting.

theresnolimits · 18/05/2024 09:08

No I wouldn’t. When I’ve interviewed, if we couldn’t appoint and someone just missed out, I would have approached them to see if they were still interested.

But maybe they didn’t realise they wouldn’t get what they wanted in the process and might be open. I suppose you have nothing to lose.