Ever find out why you weren't hired?

[YoungandPoor]

So after going on interviews and thinking everything has gone well...have you ever wondered why you weren't hired? Luckily I have a job right now, but have any of you asked your interviewers for constructive criticism of what went wrong?

Have you found that most interviewers are honest with you and actually try to help? It's just been killing me to know what I could have done in the past, or in the future for that matter, to make myself more likely to be hired.

[wordsmith]

I've only not gotten a job I've interviewed for one time. I'd gone through many rounds of interviews, it was in the final stages, meeting with HR, setting up benefits packages, just waiting on the offer.

I know why they TOLD ME I didn't get it.

I have no idea if that was honest. On good days, I believe it. On bad days, I don't.

[WorkInProgress]

For one job I applied for, I know that I didn't get farther along in the process because somebody who had no business screwing around with my file looked at it and decided I was too young, so she threw it out. She also got her ass handed to her over it. But I only know because I know somebody who knew somebody on the inside (both of whom are reliable.) Ahem. It's not their policy, and I am not horribly upset over it, even though I perhaps should be, since I have (and had at the time) another job.

EDIT: I didn't ask about it.

[cache]

I've never had anyone ask, other than the obnoxious, P.O.ed people who answer their own quesiton with some neanderthal comments

[wordsmith]

I didn't ask, they offered it up to me on the day they'd told me to expect the offer that they were putting the position on indefinite hold.

I doubt I would ever actually ask.

[Skyblade]

Its interesting, my boss left the company I work at now a few months ago and they gave me all of her files, including all the resumes and info she wrote about the people she interviewed for my job. The only negative stuff she wrote about me I kinda already knew...has trouble with eye contact, etc. But hey, I still got the job!

[weary]

i've been told w/o asking, and i've also asked. it's usually no suprise (to the interviewer) though, b/c of my HR background. i've been told very candidly and sometimes it's helpful, sometimes it's hurtful and sometimes it just is what it is. i think the worst ever though, was when i was told that it was basically b/w me and the other front runner, and in a nutshell, i was better but s/he was cheaper (salary requirment). :mad: :googly:

[wordsmith]

I wish I could be sure that the reason I was given was true. I suspect increasingly that it is not. But it's not like I can ask, and say, "Um, yeah, I know you told me it was a hiring freeze, but, c'mon, let's really have the reason..."

[pisces2473]

I suspect increasingly that it is not.
What's getting your hairs up? More information?

[wordsmith]

Nah, just the gut.

[LaFille]

i've been told w/o asking, and i've also asked. it's usually no suprise (to the interviewer) though, b/c of my HR background. i've been told very candidly and sometimes it's helpful, sometimes it's hurtful and sometimes it just is what it is. i think the worst ever though, was when i was told that it was basically b/w me and the other front runner, and in a nutshell, i was better but s/he was cheaper (salary requirment). :mad: :googly:
that's better than 'well, we thought you were an idiot.' :huge:

do HR people HAVE to be polite when sending out rejection letters and emails and such? all the ones i've gotten have said something like:

While your qualifications are impressive, we have decided to pursue another candidate who more closely follows our requirements...

if i applied to a job i was totally unqualified for, like president of the company, would i still get such a letter?

[cache]

that's better than 'well, we thought you were an idiot.' :huge:

do HR people HAVE to be polite when sending out rejection letters and emails and such? all the ones i've gotten have said something like:

While your qualifications are impressive, we have decided to pursue another candidate who more closely follows our requirements...

if i applied to a job i was totally unqualified for, like president of the company, would i still get such a letter?

I use form letters...I only have like 3 different ones that I ever use.

[LaFille]

I use form letters...I only have like 3 different ones that I ever use.
i figured they were form letters, but are any of them brutally honest?

we found that your qualifications were nowhere near the requirements of the position. please do not apply for this company ever again.

[awhitmer83]

Every interview I've ever had involves the same result: they hired someone with more experience. Unfortunately, I have no doubt they are telling the truth. I wish they would look at my resume and TELL me I don't have enough experience instead of letting me think I have a chance.

[SunnyCee]

In my limited experience, I have not had one person actually tell me "We're going with another person." With all the jobs I interviewed for, I found out from another person, or by calling the person I interviewed with, that I didn't get it. I have no idea why I did not get the jobs, and it irks me. I'm not going to ask, but I still would like to know--why didn't I get it? Argh.

[yankeeyosh]

Every interview I've ever had involves the same result: they hired someone with more experience. Unfortunately, I have no doubt they are telling the truth. I wish they would look at my resume and TELL me I don't have enough experience instead of letting me think I have a chance.

Pretty much the same here. HR will never tell you the truth. They always use some roundabout excuse.

And boy I hate form letters. Once in a while, I get someone who is kind enough to call me (although usually not the hiring manager), but those are few and far between.

[PenforPrez]

I've been told quite a few times that I'm "overqualified," and therefore would not hire me. OK, what am I qualified to do then??

I'm STILL angry at the staffing agency that ignored my significant clerical and customer service experience, looked only at my writing experience, and basically said they probably had no use for me or my BA degree and probably would be unable to find any position for me. That was six months ago, and I'm still so astounded by that I still get upset about it. I took a huge chance on that one too. :mad:

Paul