I was turned down

[pffft]

I am OK with my current position, but at the same time, I have been looking at taking the next step for some time. I'm 24 years old.

So I was in the process of interviewing for a new position that would have been better pay and a much better location. The job itself wasn't exactly what I saw myself doing, but something I think I would still enjoy and the previously mentioned factors made it a position I would be a fool not to take.

Anywho, I had multiple phone conversations regarding this new position and completed assignments that were assigned to see if I could handle the work. I received decent feedback and thought I was showing improvement in my samples (over the course of less than a week).

I was legitimately expecting to receive a job offer when I received the final phone call, but got the news that the company was going with a different candidate. I couldn't muster up anything more than "thanks for letting me know" while on the phone, and was a little pissed once I hung up.

I'm a "keep your chin up" and "it wasn't meant to be" kind of guy and hold out hope that something even better will come along. Is there any advice or any success stories anyone can offer to help me keep that mindset? The position I applied for is continually accepting applications...do I apply again? My thinking is that the worst case scenario is that they say no and I'm in the exact same place as if I didn't apply...any cons?

I have not failed, but rather, I found a way that didn't work. Just trying to think positive because I know I was good enough for the job.

 

[RickStain]

I like you. You should fit in well here.

 

[Stitch]

Happens all the time. Editors don't like telling the truth for some reason. There are ways to give constructive advice as to why someone didn't get a job, especially if they've been strung along for a while.

Other than that, don't know what else to tell you. Either keep trying for a better job, or just keep collecting checks at your present stop.

 

[pffft]

I like you. You should fit in well here.

Thanks, big guy. I am a heavy participant of a few forums and wanted to get involved here a while ago. It's tough to fit in when you're the new guy, so I kind of fell off SportsJournalists.com. Hopefully I'll become a regular.

 

[Brad Guire]

Just be thankful you have a job. -- The Management

 

[beanpole]

Sometimes HR requirements really suck. Every place I've been a hiring manager, HR has drilled into us never, ever tell a candidate why he or she didn't get a job, for fears that you're giving the passed-over candidate ammo to file a discrimination lawsuit. Seriously. That's why you get the HR-approved line, "we went with a different candidate who better meets our needs."

The fact that you were in the running for as long as you were shows that they were serious about you and they liked you. But it's impossible for us to know if you finished a close second or if you inadvertently did something in the process to become toxic to them.

The best thing you can do, in my opinion, is to email the hiring manager and thank him or her for their time and say you are truly disappointed that it didn't work out. And ask if there's any skills that you can develop that would make you a stronger candidate in the future. If they don't answer, then don't bother reapplying. But if they do answer, what they say may give you a clue about your prospects down the road.

Good luck!

 

[KJIM]

I'm impressed they let you know. I had one employer -- not in media but involving a writing test-- fly me out for an interview as the final candidate and then wound up canceling the position but didn't bother telling me. I called three weeks later and asked about the timeline and got a "Oh, well, we're rethinking the position. Feel free to reapply if we post it again."

Lately, I've been getting the "we'll call you back next week" and a month later, still nothing.

It's part of job hunting, and it's not regulated to journalism.

Hang in there. It's my mantra too.

 

[Baron Scicluna]

I'm impressed they let you know. I had one employer -- not in media but involving a writing test-- fly me out for an interview as the final candidate and then wound up canceling the position but didn't bother telling me. I called three weeks later and asked about the timeline and got a "Oh, well, we're rethinking the position. Feel free to reapply if we post it again."

Lately, I've been getting the "we'll call you back next week" and a month later, still nothing.

It's part of job hunting, and it's not regulated to journalism.

Hang in there. It's my mantra too.

I get this all the time with my job hunting.

"We're looking to move on this quickly." is one of my favorites.

Yet, several months later, they're still in the process of interviewing.

My wife has had several adventures with job hunting. There was the one where her supposed future boss told her she was hired, and to contact HR, only to have HR say they never heard of her, followed by both the boss and HR going on vacation a week apart, followed by, "We lost the application." followed a few weeks later by, "Oh, we found your application, but we've filled the position."

 

[proudpittsburgher]

I'm impressed they let you know. I had one employer -- not in media but involving a writing test-- fly me out for an interview as the final candidate and then wound up canceling the position but didn't bother telling me. I called three weeks later and asked about the timeline and got a "Oh, well, we're rethinking the position. Feel free to reapply if we post it again."

Lately, I've been getting the "we'll call you back next week" and a month later, still nothing.

It's part of job hunting, and it's not regulated to journalism.

Hang in there. It's my mantra too.

I get this all the time with my job hunting.

"We're looking to move on this quickly." is one of my favorites.

Yet, several months later, they're still in the process of interviewing.

My wife has had several adventures with job hunting. There was the one where her supposed future boss told her she was hired, and to contact HR, only to have HR say they never heard of her, followed by both the boss and HR going on vacation a week apart, followed by, "We lost the application." followed a few weeks later by, "Oh, we found your application, but we've filled the position."

wow, that's pretty messed up Baron.

Anyway, sounds like you understand a few things about how the process goes pffft, and that there are a lot of factors that go into when you get a job or not. Hell, I have gone through times where I sent out resumes for six jobs, got five interviews out of it and four offers. Then, I can send out resumes for a half a year, 20 or so, and not even get a call back. It's just weird.

But I understand that a lot of people are interviewing for those positions. You might have been more qualified, but the other candidate knew someone, you might have been less qualified but got the job because they liked your personality. They may have a question that they need to hear you answer a certain way, or it doesn't matter how the rest of the interview went, you never really know. I thought I nailed my last in-personal interview, but I didn't get a second interview. I was the first peson they called in, which may have played a part, but who knows. I was disappointed, but realistic.

So, as you probably already know, you can't take this personally. Keep your head up and keep working for what you want. Eventually, persistence will pay off for you.

 

[imjustagirl]

When I applied for a job where I work now, I was brought in for an interview. A few weeks later, I was told they went with another candidate. I wrote the ME and did exactly what beanpole said, thanked him for his time and asked what I could do to improve my interviewing skills and make myself a more attractive candidate.

Didn't hear back from him ... until months later, when I found out they had a new position. I got that one.

So just send an e-mail, very professional, and that shows interest in improving. Always good to stay in touch with people.

 

[Baron Scicluna]

I'm impressed they let you know. I had one employer -- not in media but involving a writing test-- fly me out for an interview as the final candidate and then wound up canceling the position but didn't bother telling me. I called three weeks later and asked about the timeline and got a "Oh, well, we're rethinking the position. Feel free to reapply if we post it again."

Lately, I've been getting the "we'll call you back next week" and a month later, still nothing.

It's part of job hunting, and it's not regulated to journalism.

Hang in there. It's my mantra too.

I get this all the time with my job hunting.

"We're looking to move on this quickly." is one of my favorites.

Yet, several months later, they're still in the process of interviewing.

My wife has had several adventures with job hunting. There was the one where her supposed future boss told her she was hired, and to contact HR, only to have HR say they never heard of her, followed by both the boss and HR going on vacation a week apart, followed by, "We lost the application." followed a few weeks later by, "Oh, we found your application, but we've filled the position."

wow, that's pretty messed up Baron.

Anyway, sounds like you understand a few things about how the process goes pffft, and that there are a lot of factors that go into when you get a job or not. Hell, I have gone through times where I sent out resumes for six jobs, got five interviews out of it and four offers. Then, I can send out resumes for a half a year, 20 or so, and not even get a call back. It's just weird.

But I understand that a lot of people are interviewing for those positions. You might have been more qualified, but the other candidate knew someone, you might have been less qualified but got the job because they liked your personality. They may have a question that they need to hear you answer a certain way, or it doesn't matter how the rest of the interview went, you never really know. I thought I nailed my last in-personal interview, but I didn't get a second interview. I was the first peson they called in, which may have played a part, but who knows. I was disappointed, but realistic.

So, as you probably already know, you can't take this personally. Keep your head up and keep working for what you want. Eventually, persistence will pay off for you.

I went months without getting an interview, then I had months where I was getting 1 or 2 a week. I used to get excited about getting an interview, now I've tried staying on more of an even keel. Taking it as it comes.

Several of the interviews I've gone on have had hundreds of applicants, and the interviewers have told me they were interviewing dozens of people. For one position. How they can tell all the people apart, I have no idea.

 

[dixiehack]

Who else read the title and thought the punchline was "He didn't go to Jared."?

 

[apeman33]

I'm impressed they let you know. I had one employer -- not in media but involving a writing test-- fly me out for an interview as the final candidate and then wound up canceling the position but didn't bother telling me. I called three weeks later and asked about the timeline and got a "Oh, well, we're rethinking the position. Feel free to reapply if we post it again."

Lately, I've been getting the "we'll call you back next week" and a month later, still nothing.

It's part of job hunting, and it's not regulated to journalism.

Hang in there. It's my mantra too.

I get this all the time with my job hunting.

"We're looking to move on this quickly." is one of my favorites.

Yet, several months later, they're still in the process of interviewing.

My wife has had several adventures with job hunting. There was the one where her supposed future boss told her she was hired, and to contact HR, only to have HR say they never heard of her, followed by both the boss and HR going on vacation a week apart, followed by, "We lost the application." followed a few weeks later by, "Oh, we found your application, but we've filled the position."

That works from both sides of the hiring line. Our company fired the managing editor almost two years ago and I was asked to fill in for 6 weeks or so.

It took them 18 1/2 months to find a new ME.

 

[novelist_wannabe]

The part about a question answered a certain way is definitely true. When I interviewed for my current job, one of the first few questions was "Where do you see yourself in five years?" HTF do I know what I'm doing in five years? I guess the question is designed to get a sense of what your goals are, but I've been in the work world for over 20 years, and that question caught me completely flat-footed. Am I supposed to say, "well, ideally, I'd love to have your job."? Leaving the interview, which also included a writing test, I felt like I had blown it. With nothing to lose, I emailed the interviewer and offered a clarification on that one question, and I'm convinced that answer is what landed me the job.

 

[Det. Jimmy McNulty]

Who else read the title and thought the punchline was "He didn't go to Jared."?

I thought he was talking about sex.

 

[Ace]

Just because someone says that they are looking to fill the position quickly and they don't doesn't mean he was lying. That could be the intention of the boss wanting to fill the position, but his boss or corporate or HR could put the kibosh on that at any time.

And for pffft, that stuff happens. Only thing I can think to do differently is to have asked if there was anything you could do to get that job in the future.

 

[accguy]

OK, I know I might sound like Mr. Positive, but I interviewed for so many jobs that I didn't get and was disappointed at the time.

Looking back now, some of those things were total blessings. I can't imagine where I'd be today if I took some of those positions.