I need a job opinion, please!- FINAL UPDATE #18

[Local_Girl]

Sorry about what happened. Perhaps it is time to move on...hopefully you can find something that suits you better. Good Luck!

 

[csharpwv]

Hmmmmm - It sounds like you might work in college/career school admissions! HAHA Don't ask me how I know! LOL

There are so many directions - and so many ways to make a life and a living.
If the school you went to - won't give you the time of day for a promotion within the organization it goes to show the faith they have in the quality of education they provide!

PM me - let's talk - I'm sure we could share stories! LOL

 

[smile750]

I've been working at the same university (that I also attended for BA and MA) for 19 years and have worked my way up from a principal secretary making less than $20K to my current job as an Associate Dean making approximately 5x that. I held 4 different positions during that time (2 in the same division, then 2 moves after that). I can't tell you how many times I interviewed for various positions where I thought I would definitely get the job only to be turned down and see someone else (outside and internal) get it. It is SO discouraging.

I will tell you something about my current job though. This was a job that I had applied for 5 yrs. earlier and made it to the final 2 candidates only to lose out to an external one. During that time, I managed to continue to work, get married, buy a house, and have two kids (while still interviewing all along for other positions). I see the job pop up again in the postings and of course apply. Because I've been around so long, I was able to find out where I stood in the process because I hadn't been called. My inside source (higher up administrator) told me that I just missed the short list and I shouldn't get discouraged. Man was I pissed! After fuming at my desk for a few minutes I wrote back my source and instead of complaining, wrote a thanks for letting me know and then a short paragraph describing while I was disappointed, I wished that I just would be given the chance for a face to face interview to tell them how great I'd be in the job because of all my experience doing blah blah blah - you get the picture.

Weirdly enough, I got a call about a week later to come in for an interview. I did admit to the director who called me (who I had interviewed with before) that I was surprised to hear from him. His answer to me was that the world works in mysterious ways. Well as you can see above I got the job (I was in for an interview on Thursday with a group of faculty, met the Dean, met the staff I'd be managing, and then Monday I got the offer.). I must say this job is awesome and worth all of the heartache and good times I experienced in my previous positions.

Don't give up. It is so rare that things are just handed to someone in the job market. You'll always have let downs and deal with duds, but eventually things should work out!

 

[StephMK]

Aw, I'm so sorry. Now it sounds like instead of keeping you & getting the benefit of your work, they have not only upset you but might lose you altogether. Unfortunately, I have seen businesses do all kinds of things like that & you are probably right about the politics. Makes no sense though. I hope your online business takes off for you!

 

[karice2]

I can understand how you are feeling right now because this was an awesome opportunity for you but think of it in these terms. You got positive feedback which means that they acknowledge that you are a valuable part of the team, however, you don't have the experience that they need for this particular position. That doesn't mean that there isn't something else that you may be good for within the company. Ask them what skills you need to improve on so that if something else comes up you are better prepared to move into a new position.

Have you documented all the improvements that you have made. Are they a part of your standard duties but you have found a better way to do them for you or have you actually implemented a new process that is used by the entire organization? If the second is true then you need to have that added to your performance evaluation.

The team may love working with you and think that you are awesome but they are not the decision makers in this case. By interviewing and doing well on the interview, you have shown people within your organization that you are ready to move beyond what you are currently doing. Maybe they didn't realize that before. Politics may be involved but you have to learn how to make them work in your favor.

Second, you said that you wanted to work on your home business. Finding a new job with more responsibilities in a new company will make it impossible for you to do that. Use the time that you have in your current position to focus on building your brand and your business.

I assure you, when you start a new position, there is at least a 6 month learning curve, maybe more. That is time that you will not have to focus on your business. The more you stray away from your idea, the less excited you will be about it.

 

[SDSorority]

Thank you EVERYBODY for your feedback!!! It's going to be a tough day at work today, and all of your responses are just what I needed to hear!!!!

 

[bevgray]

Another possibility. You stated earlier that you were trying to decide between the promotion and starting your own business. Have you confided this to any of your co-workers (i.e., casually on break or at lunch) or mentioned it to your supervisors (i.e., interview question "what are your interests, goals in life")? If your supervisors got wind of this, it may be that they feel you are not whole-heartedly committed to working for them. It takes time to train someone in a position and employers don't take kindly to someone who works for a year or two and then goes off about their own affairs.

Also, if you are in a college or university, there may be some mandate where they have to post any job for outside applications to ensure compliance with government regulations concerning diversity and minority hiring opportunities to ensure they don't lose any government funding.

Until someone is actually hired, you are probably still in the running so I would urge you to write, not email, but write a "thank you" to all of those who interviewed you. For one thing, a thank you letter is a nice, professional thing to do. For another, it keeps your name in front of the hiring folks. Finally, it helps you get past the disappointment and ensures that no one thinks you are pouting over the lack of "start tomorrow". Continue to do your usual duties cheerfully and professionally. Most supervisors are far more impressed by "showing" rather than just "saying" you can do things that will enhance their department.

 

[SweetPeasMom2]

I will never understand the workings of something like this. Same thing happened to me. I worked for an insurance company. I had been promoted and done the required training (2 weeks out of state). I had to transfer out of state about 6 months after completing this training since my husband was being transferred. My particular position wasn't open in the time frame we needed for me to move. So I had to take a demotion in order to keep my job. When I arrived in my new location, I was told that the position I was doing before would be opening up soon. I was trained to do the position that I was hired there for and to do the other position that I had originally been doing (does that make sense). When the time came, I applied for the position and interviewed for the job. I didn't get it. It was given to someone from out of state that had no experience in the position. So she comes, gets some training in the office and then is sent out of state for 2 weeks for training (just like I had completed months earlier). I was pissed. But I just kept doing my job (the one I was getting paid to do) and nothing more. We eventually moved back here and I got my old position back.

I hope you area able to figure out what direction you want to go. I am so sorry that you didn't get a chance to prove yourself.

 

[HeyIt'sMe]

What happened to you is alot like what happened to my DH many years ago - only the reverse. My DH had 3 interviews at a company (let's say Company "A") - we were sure he was going to get an offer. Nope. They decided to hire an internal candidate.

But in the time while DH was waiting to hear back after the 3rd interview he had an interview with another company (Company "B"). When he went for the interview he was so relaxed because he was sure he'd get the job with Company "A". He ended up getting hired by Company "B" because they were so impressed with him at the interview - he was so relaxed and confident. The world works in mysterious ways!

 

[Carter'sMommy]

Hang tight... they may have to post it externally ---- maybe no one will impress them like you and you will get it. Patience and pixie dust!!

Go back to work with a GREAT attitude --- smile and get your job done --- you just never know. It might be a test to see how you will react to difficult situations --- I have been there before and I came out smelling like a rose because I did not have an "attitude" and made the best of the situation even though on the inside I waned to tell them off and what a HUGE mistake they were making. Silence is golden.

But in the time while DH was waiting to hear back after the 3rd interview he had an interview with another company (Company "B"). When he went for the interview he was so relaxed because he was sure he'd get the job with Company "A". He ended up getting hired by Company "B" because they were so impressed with him at the interview - he was so relaxed and confident. The world works in mysterious ways!

This is similiar to my situation today!!!! FINALLY got confirmation on a job just yesterday after 1 month of waiting for all the "checks"...drug...background...credit...etc. -- not worried about passing any of these ...just VERY discouraged at their lengthy and slow verification processes and makes me wonder if they have their "stuff" together enough for me to go to work for them.

During this month of waiting --out of the blue---I heard back from not 1 or 2 BUT 3 other companies that I had interviewed in the past year. I interviewed/applied for these jobs as far back as June of 09. I went to the interviews with a VERY relaxed frame of mind and asked for EXACTLY what I wanted...hours...pay....I had nothing to lose. Guess what.... 2 more job offers!!! -- The details will come in the next week or so as the HR Director is on vacation until 8/16 so the exact specifics on the benefits/salary are unknown. They will be MORE than the current one though as I asked for 10k more and they did not even blink.

What do I do???? I am supposed to hear from my new boss today "welcoming" me to the company and giving me all the details for my Monday start.
I feel for the 1st company as I told them yes...but if they had not "dragged their feet I would not be in this situation.

What do I tell them??? Nothing....see how the others pan out and bail if the offer is too good to refuse??

Yikes..... The world works in mysterous ways!

 

[jedijill]

At my last company I applied for and interviewed for a supervisor position. I knew I was ready but i blew away my management with how well I did. (Was told that they didn't realize I was ready and I would do so well). I didn't get that job, but that interview made me the top candidate the next time the position came open and I become the first person to get promoted into management from the technical staff.

Sometimes, a good interview, even if you don't get the job, is the key to future openings. However, you have to know your company and if this is environment you are in. Sometimes there is a point where based on politics or HR policy that you just don't have a chance.

hang in there! Sometimes things work out for a reason.

Jill in CO