How can I stop being the runner-up in job interviews?

[wordywitch]

I've been job hunting for about 10 months and have had 8 interviews. Bar one or two of them, they've all gone very well. I'm a confident interviewer, come very prepared, only apply for roles I'm qualified for, get on very well with the panel and get good vibes, etc..

For four of these jobs, I was told that it was down to me and one other person, that I interviewed very well and am clearly experienced and knowledgeable, passionate about what I do, etc.. but that the other candidate was chosen for having more experience in X area (usually something that is not even a major part of the job). I just had an interview on Thursday for my dream organisation and it went so well, I came out sure I was going to be offered the job. They said my application was 'excellent', my CV was 'impressive', my cover letter 'outstanding', my interview 'faultless', and they really liked me, but went with another candidate with more direct experience of X - yet again!

I'm genuinely at a loss as to what I can do to actually secure a positon at this point, when I keep being second best and the thing that the winning candidate has more experience of varies every time, so it's not like I'm lacking in training or skills in one area. Is it just luck of the draw? Is there anything I can actually do to increase my chances of being the number one pick?

The same has happened to me many times, I don't think there is much you can do but rest assured it's not just you!

Thank you, it does help to know I’m not the only one this has happened to! It’s so crushing knowing you’ve got so, so close out of dozens or even hundreds of applicants 😬

This may not help, but I suspect it’s the market, which is awful for applicants atm. You are doing extremely well to get so close, but there are so many applicants it’s likely that the whole group of people interviewed in these jobs were appointable and met all qualifications. I don‘t know what your sector is, but I’d just do what you can to get ahead in the queue, look for experiences or trainings that could give you an edge, write/reach out on LinkedIn to ask for a chat beforehand to find out what matters for the role - anything you can think of. It sucks and is tough - me and DH have experienced this too lately, and we never did before

@wordywitch what’s your sector OP?
Market is so rubbish, it’s likely they went for the X factor

seems you’re perfect at everything perhaps, look how you just go a step further to show either the passion they saw on the other candidate or just that confidence/skill that highlighted them as achievers even on things they have no experience on (basically they throw you into something you have zero clue on but you still delivered …. )

it’s not always about experience in something specific … it’s just about having experience ……

good luck

Statistically speaking you're always more likely to be the runner up. If you win, you stop looking. If you don't, you roll the dice again.

Hence most people have far more experience of coming 2nd.

An analogy is looking for something that can be stored in several places. Once you find it you stop looking!

There is a lot of job competition at the moment. I've just recruited for a role that was last advertised just under 5 years ago. The quality of the two final candidates this time far surpassed the person who got the job back in 2021 (and she did well in the role).

In the end we went for the candidate who met our immediate needs better rather than the one who had better longer term potential - only because of how busy things are at the moment. In 6 months' time we might have made a different decision.

Is the X the same thing every time? Can you demonstrate that you have experience of this ? It’s tough and no real consolation but well done for landing the interviews.

I think many people are in the same situation.

You also don't know what goes in behind the scenes. There could be internal candidates who are given preference but the job had to be advertised externally just to tick a box...

As a hiring manager I find that when an organisation tells you something in the line of 'You were great but we went with someone whose experience match the job requirement more closely', it is just a generic line that everyone uses to let people down gently.

Sometimes people get hired for random reasons like their personality/age/background will fit in better within the team but of course no company is going to tell you that...

Its shit and frustrating that there is only 1 job (usually)

Dh has had a few let downs and whatever the reason is it's still a no, just dressed up nicely.