Job rejections

[Monday Morning Sportswriter]

We've probably all gotten the silent treatment from a potential employer after applying for job. But what about the times you didn't?

For whatever reason, I was thinking back to those rejections, and how the guys on the other end could not have been nicer and more encouraging.

First time was in the mid-1990s, when the Dayton Daily News AME emailed (even then!) to tell me that despite my "obvious enthusiasm and talent" (I never forgot those words), they were looking for someone with more than 18 months of newspaper experience. He sent some suggestions on things to work on and urged me to stay in touch. And that for a job I didn't even interview for.

Second was the Journal News in Westchester, when a newly minted assistant was put in charge of hiring his replacement. I interviewed and went on my honeymoon. When I came back, I found the nicest letter in the mail, sent from his home address, explaining that HR had blocked my hire because I'd badmouthed my current employer, then telling me some things he'd learned about how HR works and tips for the next time. That came in handy a while later, when another Gannett paper asked me the same questions.

And a hiring editor at Sports Illustrated sent me the most lovely rejection note in the mail. Hand-written, explaining who got the job and why (a no-brainer), encouraging me to not get down about it. He said he'd see if there was anything else he could find, and a few weeks later, I was offered the same job at Time magazine.

Anyone else out there handing out nice rejections?

 

[BTExpress]

In the early-80s Steve Doyle at Orlando sent me a terribly condescending rejection letter. Roy Exum in Chattanooga sent me the greatest rejection letter ("We know all about you! We'd like to have you, but . . . ").

In college, I applied for an internship at the Philadelphia Inquirer and was told I was "overqualified." Huh? Just because all my clips were from the local Knoxville newspaper?

In the summer of 1985, Paul Anger tells me I "came in second" for a job at the Miami Herald. In November 1985, I was told I "came in second" for a job at the L.A. Daily News.

A month after that, ASE in L.A. gives my name to Fred Turner in Fort Lauderdale (a place I never sent anything to). Spent the next 26 years there.

 

[HejiraHenry]

I "came in second" when the Missourian was hiring an SE in 1992 or so.

Then I "came in third" when it was hiring two sports staffers a couple years later.

Then, having cast off in another direction, I burned my bridge: "Just suppose you were hiring 500 people. Would I be 501st?"

 

[Ace]

FWIW, the last two people I hired for big-boy jobs were people who "came in second" for previous openings but both were hired for better jobs about a year later.

 

[Bronco77]

In the early-80s Steve Doyle at Orlando sent me a terribly condescending rejection letter.

Had a frustrating experience with Doyle. Sent him some clips, and in his response he said he really liked my work and asked that I send more samples in three to six months. So I did -- and his response this time was, "No openings now, none expected in the near future, and we'd probably look at people with more experience than you if anything does open up."

Got a lot of form letter-type responses: "No openings now, but we'll keep you on file for future reference."

The oddest experience was Newsday: Went for a tryout, thought it was OK even though I was very nervous -- even wrote a back-page headline they raved about. Never heard from them.

Probably the nicest and most encouraging letters were from Southern California: Bob Wright in San Diego and Herb Stutz at the L.A. Times' Orange County edition (I did interview with Herb a year or so after the initial contact, but so did about four other people, and I got a "you came in a strong second" phone call).

 

[Batman]

Nicest was Chris Simmons, of the Harrisonburg (Va.) Daily-Record. I applied for a job there coming out of college, never heard anything back, but my trip home took me right past Harrisonburg. So I called and asked if I could come in for an interview. I had no ties to him, the paper or the area. He had no obligation to anyone to give me the time of day, and every right to tell this young punk "don't call me, I'll call you."
Amazingly, he didn't.
Even though, looking back, I had no chance in hell at the job (and deservedly so), he still took the time to meet with me and give me a "job interview." It helped me to at least understand how the interview process worked, what sorts of questions would be asked, etc. Afterward, he even answered a follow-up e-mail and offered some helpful criticism.
That was 16 years ago. I'm sure he wouldn't remember me as I've never seen him before or since. But it's something I've never forgotten. I've also heard on this board that he's helped others the same way. Chris has a great reputation in this business and deserves every great adjective you can heap on him.

 

[3_Octave_Fart]

The nicest was a team president who met with me and said they just couldn't take on personnel.

 

[steveu]

Just interviewed for a job in Baltimore by phone. Not sports-related, but community content and digital with some sports. Matt Bracken told me there were a couple other candidates who had more ideas on how to improve the website and make it stronger, which is what I appreciate hearing. I want to know what I've done right and wrong after the interview process is completed.

Matt even forwarded my resume and a good word to the SE in Baltimore. They had someone leave, but not sure if the position is being filled internally or what.

I think we can all agree, on here, Phil Kaplan at Knoxville is the best at keeping us in the loop.

 

[Versatile]

Then-Washington Post sports editor Emilio Garcia-Ruiz gave me a very thoughtful and accurate review of my clips upon rejecting an internship application. He let me know where I stood (among the semifinalists not called in for an interview) and why. His simple writing tips still stick with me As some of the best constructive criticism I've ever received.

 

[MileHigh]

A month after that, ASE in L.A. gives my name to Fred Turner in Fort Lauderdale (a place I never sent anything to). Spent the next 26 years there.

I was in SoCal and applied for a job in 2000 at the Contra Costa Times. Did a phoner with Jerry Micco but they hired internally, IIRC. Couple of months later, I'm on the desk and get a call. It's the SE at the Miami Herald, saying my resume was passed on by Jerry Micco to him and would I be interested in a job on the Herald sports desk. Seven months later, I was off to South Florida.

 

[Uncle Frosty]

Got a two-page, handwritten note from a bureau chief at the Wall Street Journal who said, in essence, I was a no-talent hack who would never amount to anything.

It was personal and it was vicious, but it really motivated me to get serious about my craft.

 

[DeskMonkey1]

I once got a nice rejection letter where the executive editor emailed me back and said he liked me work but that I simply needed to spearhead a few more major projects. Upon telling him my bosses refused to give me more responsibility (I was more professional in my wording) he gave me a few pointers on what I could do outside of my main job.

Got another one from an SE who told me he wouldn't consider me because I was applying from a sub-50,000 circulation paper. Nevermind the only reason I worked there was because I was laid off from a 100,000+ paper less than a year prior.

Got another one a couple of days ago that might warrant it's own thread: "Your boss is sandbagging you. Since I know him personally, I can't hire you. But you need to know this." I'm exaggerating the bluntness but that is what he told me.

 

[HejiraHenry]

One of the great favors I was ever done was by a shop that didn't hire me, but the hiring lead said: "Do you know what they're saying about you?" This was before the Internet, but I assume now you would promptly Google "Employment Attorney" Worked for me, just consulting the Yellow Pages.

 

[Walter Burns]

The silver medal for me goes to the editor who sent me back a letter for a copy editing job -- and spelled my name wrong.
The gold goes to a paper where I did two interviews for a sports editor gig two years ago. I read IN THAT PAPER a week later about the new sports editor hire. It wasn't me.
The best part is that the editor and managing editor I interviewed with are both gone now, and the person they hired just left too. Living well truly is the best revenge.

 

[Bronco77]

The "coming in second" scenario actually worked to my advantage with my first job out of college (at a 35,000-circulation Midwestern paper that covered two Big Ten schools' home games and excellent high school sports, so it was a desirable entry-level job). I was competing against two other candidates and had heard of both; they were big stars on their college papers. Two weeks passed after my interview and I was ready to accept a less attractive job, but then I got a phone call from the sports editor asking me if I was still available. Naturally, I said yes.

About three months later, after the sports editor had a particularly bad day, he dragged me to his favorite watering hole after work (it was a PM paper). We were on our third beer when he admitted that their first choice had turned the job down, and that was when they called me. He emphasized that the competition for the job had been very close and they were happy to have me because I was doing good work, but it still bugged me a bit at the time (and probably motivated me).

The No. 1 choice who'd turned the job down eventually landed at the Chicago Tribune and had a long and successful career there that lasted until he was downsized out of a job by Zell and his buddies. I still stay in touch with my former boss, who's now retired, and I always joke with him about how the offer to the No. 1 choice is proof that he was a really astute judge of talent back then.

 

[Calvin Hobbes]

The silver medal for me goes to the editor who sent me back a letter for a copy editing job -- and spelled my name wrong.
The gold goes to a paper where I did two interviews for a sports editor gig two years ago. I read IN THAT PAPER a week later about the new sports editor hire. It wasn't me.
The best part is that the editor and managing editor I interviewed with are both gone now, and the person they hired just left too. Living well truly is the best revenge.

I think I know the paper you're talking about. If so, it was my exit that created the original opening.

 

[Baron Scicluna]

Once got a rejection letter that had my correct name and address on the envelope, but had the wrong name on the letter.

 

[SCEditor]

My best: Applying for my second full-time job as a sports writer at the Augusta Chronicle. I'm young, think I'm the hottest thing since sliced bread. Interview with the SE, John Boyette. Several staffers had put in a good word for me. Interviewed, thought it went well and waited. Got a call a few days later: He hired somebody else (extremely more qualified than me). Gave me some tips on what I could do better. Told me to keep working hard. I'm still friends with the guy who beat me out for the job. Good people. Total pros the whole way.

My worst: Applied for a publisher/editor job in Texas. Did a phone interview, and it went very well. No question I was the lead candidate. Talked money. Told them my salary requirements. "You'll make more with bonuses." Corporate VP wanted me to fly in for an in-house interview. We set up dates; she said she'd get back to me with my flight information. Walked in my boss' office, told him I was taking a few days off for the interview. He wasn't thrilled. Waited to hear back from Corporate VP. Waited. Waited. Waited. Emailed Corporate VP. She told me she had a medical procedure, and we'd need to postpone a week or two. Waited. Waited. Waited. Emailed Corporate VP again. Waited. Waited. Waited. One week later (and 5 weeks into this entire process), Corporate VP emailed me to tell me they made a hire and they couldn't afford me.

I should add: Four months later, I landed a significantly better job with a better company and better pay. As mad as I was at the Corporate VP, I'm really fortunate she didn't hire me.

 

[JordanA]

When I graduated college two years ago, I applied any and everywhere. Got three interviews (not including the shop that finally did hire me, which was the fourth one). Didn't hear a damn thing from any of the three after the interview.

The first one was a dump, and I was honestly relieved to not hear back The second one was one I was actually really excited about. SE told me I'd hear from him in a week or two. I eventually found out who he had hired because the new guy updated his work status on Linkedin.

The third was the best, though. Really wanted this one and thought the interview went well. As I left, the SE tells me, "We'll let you know either way in a week or so. I know how much it sucks to be left hanging and never hear, so we'll let you know." Of course, I never heard a damn thing, had two follow-up emails go unanswered, and found out about that hire on Linkedin, also.

The kicker of the third one was four months later, their second writer left to take another job, and the editor (the head guy, not the SE) had the nerve to call me up and say "Hey, just wondering if you were still interested in our opening." Yeah, right...

Most pleasant part of the whole experience was when I applied for the Boise St. basketball beat at the Idaho Statesman and the Duke basketball beat at the News & Observer. Two beats I was woefully unqualified for, but sent what-the-hell feelers anyway, and got responses from both those shops. Nothing amazing, just "Thanks for applying ... different direction ... good luck ..." Given the trouble I had getting responses of any kind, those simple ones were appreciated.

 

[PirateSports]

I applied for a teaching job once and I overheard someone say something to the effect of "don't worry, you're daughter's a shoo-in for the job." Sure enough, there was a rejection letter waiting for me in the mailbox by the time I got back home.