Great interview but didn't get the job!

snokerpoker

I just wanted to share a recent experience I had. I am employed at the moment and am pretty happy. However I noticed a job posting that was very similar to my current job but for about 10-15 thousand more annually. I decided to apply and got an interview. The interview went great. I liked the manager, he liked me, he told me I exceeded the qualifications, and overall I felt very confident about the job. Then I got a generic email that basically told me I didn't make the cut or that "my qualifications do not meet their current needs". I am not pissed about not getting the job or anything, I just think it is very strange. I have only had 3 jobs in IT (been in IT since 2006) and have only had one interview that didn't go great. All the other interviews i've had in the past, if they went well...... I got the job. I've even had jobs offered to me which I didn't take. I'm not trying to toot my our horn or say how great I am at interviewing.... I'm just trying to see if anyone has had a similar experience. The sad thing is, I'll never really know why I didn't get the job.

nicklauscombs

snokerpoker wrote: »

The sad thing is, I'll never really know why I didn't get the job.

This frustrates me to no end.

Maybe since you exceeded the qualifications in the manager's opinion they thought you might get bored with the work? maybe someone way overqualified was desperate for a job? who knows BUT you could shoot the manager and/or HR contact and ask/thank them for the interview if you are curious.

thenjduke

I always right back to the person and ask why and if they could give their input about the interview and what I could do to improve on it.

snokerpoker

The manager said that I exceeded the qualifications, but in reality I did not. On the desktop support side, I definitely did. But on the server side I could have made the place my own and really grown into the position of being the main sys admin. I always felt it was a bit tacky to email and ask why I didn't get the job.... but I just might do that. Thanks for the advice!

nicklauscombs

snokerpoker wrote: »

I always felt it was a bit tacky to email and ask why I didn't get the job.... but I just might do that.

i feel you on that but the feedback can be invaluable and might bring up things you didn't even realize.

Devilsbane

nicklauscombs wrote: »

Maybe since you exceeded the qualifications in the manager's opinion they thought you might get bored with the work? maybe someone way overqualified was desperate for a job? who knows BUT you could shoot the manager and/or HR contact and ask/thank them for the interview if you are curious.

This happens all the time, employers will pass on overqualified candidates. The reason the generic email was sent in the first place is because HR doesn't want a lawsuit, and by not personalizing the response they can mostly avoid that. So emailing them really won't get you anywhere.

Emailing the person you interviewed with is great. Non HR are usually less aware of the potential lawsuit and may tell more.

As for it feeling tacky, who cares? He didn't hire you, you never have to see him or talk to him again. Plus if you phrase it well, it might keep you in his mind for the next job.

Dear Mr. Boss,

I just wanted to thank you again for taking the time to sit down with me the other day. I enjoyed learning about your company, and I could easily see myself working there. I am always looking to improve myself, so if you would have any tips for me, I would be much appreciative.

Thanks again,

Snokerpoker

Do something like the above, but try to fluff it a little more. Personalize it with what the company does or something that happened in the interview. What you don't want, is for this to be a blunt "Why the @#$% didn't you hire me????"

ipconfig.all

I have being to alot of interviews where everything went so great and I thought I bagged it in but I didnt get hired also I have being given promises by employers and still they didnt take me in. I have being to like about 10 interviews straight so far where I have not being hired. It is so hard.

za3bour

This is a photocopy of my last interviews, I always ended up as overqualified in the interview and the manger is very happy with me BUT I don't get the job because " " well they don't have an answer.

I think this is normal then everywhere , I thought it only happens in Syria.