We Went with Another Candidate…
Posted March 17, 2014 & filed under Interviewing, Job Search
“We went with another candidate.”
After all the preparation, the stress, and the daydreaming for a new position after an ostensibly successful interview, that 5 word rejection can sting deep. But before you enter a tailspin that ends with three emptied tubs of Ben & Jerry’s and hours lost to binge TV watching, take these tips into consideration.
A Realistic Look at the Numbers
The competition for any open position is stiff. An ERE report found that on average 250 resumes are submitted for each corporate job. Some applicants may be underqualified, but you have to assume that about 20 percent of those applicants are interviewing for your position.
Unless every other candidate makes a colossal blunder, the final decision is going to come down to little details. That means, even if you did your best, you might not be the most apt person for the position.
An Objective Assessment of Your Skills
Sometimes, hiring managers will explain why they went with another candidate. That knowledge can be a great catalyst to help you correct deficiencies in your interview sales pitch. However, most rejection letters only convey that the candidate chosen was a better fit. There’s no need to remain and wallow in the dark about the fate of your interview.
Take a look at the original job opening requirements. Beyond the minimum requirements, do you possess all of the preferred skills? Does your personality reflect what the company wants? Close doesn’t always cut it in these narrow races. Sometimes, you just have to admit that it wasn’t a perfect fit and get back on the horse.
A Perfect Interview?
Your interview may have went well but was your every response pitch perfect? Think about your responses, the questions you asked, and the nonverbal signals you sent to the interviewer. Were they clear? Did they synchronize with what the company expects? If you have done thorough research on the company, you can reconstruct what you might have done wrong and fix any failings for future interviews.
Bring in Outside Help
A recruiter can give you the inside scoop on where your interview went awry. Most conduct recaps with the interviewer after the fact to determine where you went right and wrong, collecting feedback that they can give you to improve your interview skills. And in time, when others hear “we went with another candidate,” you’ll be the person with a new job.
by James Walsh
