Frustrated - Payne,OH

I work in HR and just some insight. Someone mentioned earlier about personality and that is a HUGE part of it. They look for someone who has the qualifications and the personality to best fit the company atmosphere. Not to mention there is a huge job pool out there so there are a lot of qualified people vying for the same position.

As far as calling, in my opinion a waste of time. No one is going to tell you the real reason and will only give you a generic answer or we went with the most qualified person. They don't want to be held liable for anything so they will never give you a straight up answer.

The market is so difficult right now. Doctors and lawyers are working as wait staff. Everyone is so overqualified. Sometimes, it gets down to whether the personality would fit in with the current company personality. (This is not to say that you aren't a great person, but every company culture is different.) My husband interviewed for a position that was brought to him, recommended to him within his company. The higher ups keep telling him he should have/get this position. He interviewed for the fill in position and then the permanent one when they listed it. He didn't get it either time. He is actually happy now because he likes the division he is in, and really didn't want to abandon them.

I also interviewed for a local company because I didn't want to travel anymore. I didn't get the job, and went with a job that I still have to travel with, BUT, the first company filed for bankruptcy and I still have my job.

Right now there is just a lot of qualified people for every job, a lot of competition, try really hard not to take it personal and just keep trying. In fact, I would put both of these companies on a rotation list to call back in 60 days in case who they hired did not work out. I used to be in HR and so I can tell you a few things that make a difference in an interview besides training and background. You may well have done ALL these and in this highly competitive environment still didn't get the job but just in case it helps you or some one else:
1.Yes, unfortunately, who you know makes a difference. That's because from the employer's point of view, you don't really know a person from an interview, app and resume so if a well respected employee has recommended someone, that makes a difference. It's also true that if a not so well respected employee has recommended someone, it works against the candidate. So make use of your friends, but only those who like their jobs and their companies.
2. How you dress for the interview and how you present yourself makes a difference. Your presence/demeanor should be professional, yet not stand off- ish. Wear something nice and be friendly, positive and upbeat with good eye contact. Seriously, that's probably as important as your knowledge, you want to look like someone who is easy to work with, who is going to fit into a team easily. Interpersonal relationship dramas consume a lot of time for HR departments so we always want somebody who gives off a vibe that they can get along with anyone.
3. Expressing sincere interest in the company you are interviewing with. This can be something as simple as saying you have been driving by their building for years and always wondered what they did because it's so close to your home to saying wow, that sounds great when they describe their benefits package. I wasn't overly impressed with anyone who did contrived research via the web before the interview but I loved people who said "oh, the receptionist was so nice to me, I was impressed the moment I walked in"
4. Expressing sincere interest in the position you are applying for. For example, if applying for a customer service job: "I have a really good work ethic and tend to go the extra mile on all my job responsibilities, but the time I am personally most happy is when I feel like I've helped a client and made a difference for them - that's why I am so excited about the possibility of working in customer service." Pick something true and real in your personality that matches up well with the position's responsibilities. We want you to be a good fit and be happy in your job because a lot of our time is used up on people that aren't happy in their job.
5. If it is a group interview situation, don't assume you know who's the most important person. Speak to all of us. Sometimes I would interview with the manager who had the opening but people would speak to me and not so much the manager. Or the dreaded assumption that the male in the room was the most important person to impress. Speak to us all, smile at us all. Nod a lot.
6. Do follow up with a written thank you note. This does make a difference.
7. If you don't get the job, ask if the company keeps resumes on file. Express your disappointment and relate it to how impressed you were with them, with that company. Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that because I was really impressed with your company. Can you keep my resume on file because I think your company is someplace I'd really enjoy working so I hope I could be considered for another position in the future.
Keep your chin up..it is really hard to get a job right now..I think the average time is 10 months right now! Hard to keep smiling through that but it's not you, it's that there are so many candidates for every job.

I know it's hard but try not to take it too much to heart. When I've interviewed in the past, I usually knew when I didn't connect or do well during the interview, so when I didn't get the job offer, I wasn't surprised. Of those times where I did feel like I did a really great job, the interviewer and I connected, and my experience matched what they were looking for but I still didn't get the job, I figured that they may have interviewed someone who was a little bit more qualified than I am or possibly they may have had someone else in mind for the position all along (a family member, a current employee) but were just going through the formality if interviewing just to say they did it. In any case, I just kept getting my resume out there and interviewing and I eventually did land the jobs that I was looking for. Keep the faith. Job interviews can be kind of crazy-making sometimes so just know that you will eventually land the right job at the right time.

It's ALWAYS a case of not what you know, but who you know.
That's the way it works, at least in the corporate world that I'm a part of.

The only way to get your foot in the door is to continue networking, so you have to be VERY careful not to burn any bridges while upset about not getting the job.
Whatever your field is, attend any social functions you can be a part of. If you have a local college with a program, go talk to counselors and professors to find opportunities that way. People are always connected in ways you don't know. Attend jobs fairs.

In other words, don't let this get you down, out and bitter. Lots of qualified people aren't getting jobs right now. Just keep doing your homework and making connections, ESPECIALLY since it's hard for you. It'll help you improve. Eventually, it'll hit for you.

I have interviewed for a specific field for 5 years. And I finally got hired. I have had odd and ends jobs to make ends meet until the big break. I have noticed that things would go well in the interview, but then I was not picked.
I think that possibly they will hire who they know over qualifications......I think that is not right, but I can see how that can happen.

All I know is that I did interview this last time and it took them 5 weeks to call me back for hire. I think people are just disorganized. The holidays throw everything off with training and transition .

This could just be a very discouraging time for you right now, but think of it as experience with the interview. I think we all benifit from each job interview. Makes us strong. There is something that is out there for you and will be a good fit......maybe these were not going to be and for that it will be a good thing.... I don't know. It will come.........it has for me after 5 years .

Speaking as someone who works in sales- you say right out that you don't handle rejection well, so you rarely 'put yourself out there'. Believe me, I understand! My entire JOB is calling people and believe me, I get rejected a LOT in this economy!

It can be frustrating, depressing, etc- especially if someone has encouraged me on the phone, asked for more info, made follow-ups and indicated that they were interested in advertising with my publication ( I sell advertising) -so I invest a lot of time and effort into them- and then NOTHING!

But- here is the key thing, that I can pass on to you as a salesperson:
Don't Take It Personally!!

You may have had all the qualifications. You may have had a great interview.But if they still said no- MOVE ON. Seriously, just do not dwell on. It was not you personally- just that the position, for whatever reason, was not the right fit.

Tell yourself that even though you may NEED the job- if they honestly didn't think it would be the best fit and had hired you anyway, you might have been miserable there!

At any rate- next time, before you go on an interview, have 5 more places lined up to call as soon as you get out. No matter how well it goes, call those 5 other places. IT IS NOT PERSONAL- it does not reflect on you being a good person, a good mom, a good anything. It's just the way it is- don't allow it to get you down on yourself!!!

My youngest daughter is in the same position. She graduated in May with a 3.98 gpa and did an internship for the summer. She started to apply for positions in August and has put in at least 200+ job applications. So far she's received 3 per diem positions and has only actually put in hours at 1. The other 2 have not called with any hours. She was just hired at Macys for a temp sales floor position for 16 hrs a week figuring that something was better than nothing. 4 yrs of college, $15,000 student loan debt and they only thing she can land is a temp job at Macys and a couple per diem jobs at group homes.

So it's not you but the economy. There are a ton of qualified people out there and employers can pick and choose who they want. Continue to put yourself out there. At least you'll get more opportunities to work on your interview skills.

As someone who frequently serves on hiring commitees I can tell you: it is a difficult position.
We are a department that deals with people and we have been burned by employees who did not fit our team well in the past.
While it makes no difference in our decision "who you know", we have turned down well qualified applicants in the past for lesser qualified ones that seemed a better "fit" for our team.
In addition it's a tough employement marklet and there are many well qualified applicants our there, so the competition is tougher. Last time we hired we received well over 150 applications for a position that we usually get 30 apps for.
I think if you really want to get your foot in the door, just be persistent and it will open up for you at one point or another.
Good luck!

My answer was to start knowing people... not sure what field you are in, but if there is any kind of professional organization, join it. Also look into local service oranizations. Now because of my preofessional abilities and who I knew I have been able to work P/T at home since my daughter was born!

Good luck!

Don't cry. There is a reason for everything. That position was not meant for you...and keep moving on. I had that so many times with different companies when I was looking for a job. It took me a year to find a job and get my foot in the door. Of course the job I got only paid $30k and was not great in a lot of ways, but it definitely was a GREAT place to start my career. Now just 4 years later I am making $50k MORE and have had so much experience! Don't get down on yourself. The right one for you will come along...just keep pushing forward!!