I WANT to work again! HR folks, help!

[flagdaytwins]

A few months ago I had a 2nd interview at a local college. Positive, enthusiastic interviews where I felt the hiring department all but hired me short of signing a contract. I was beyond disappointed when they chose another person.

I e-mailed the HR rep I met with and asked if there was something I could improve on/and/or how can I fit in the organization as I look to apply for other jobs there. No reply.

Now there are a dozen jobs open at this college. Should I just phone the HR rep and tell her I'm still interested in working there? I applied for a job recently, no response.

HR folks....advice, please....I'm so depressed over this.

 

[disneycountrygirl]

Yes, there is no harm in still trying, so I think you should keep going for the other postitions. I would also contact the previous person to ask if they got your previous email (or voice mail or whatever it was).

Good luck!

 

[DisneyBlonde]

No advice, just sympathy. I have had similar instances...interviews/pre-screens with HR that have gone well, 2nd interview with hiring manager, 3rd interview with hiring manager's manager (usually just a formality)...and I end up not getting the job. Frustrating and heartbreaking.

Furthermore, the companies in this scenario (there are 2) now treat me like I have the plague. It doesn't appear that I'm being considered for any of the positions I've applied for recently, even those very similar to the one I was almost hired for.

Good luck to you, in this economy we all need it.

 

[bballmom56]

You can ask, but you will probably only get a generic reply such as "we hired someone who fits our needs better". They most likely will not be specific with you. Back when I worked in HR (when it was called Personnel), if an unsuccessful applicant inquired we would simply say "the supervisor selected another applicant".

I know how frustrating it is as I have been on both sides of the desk. I recently applied for a job and received what had to have been a "courtesy" interview. I was never engaged in conversation or asked any questions except "why do you want to leave the job you have now?" There were 3 people "interviewing" me. The main person simply told me what the job entailed (which I already knew) and stressed how MUCH they travel and how TIRING it is. Ummm, I knew that before I applied. She obviously had not read my resume prior to my walking in the door because she had left the original in the copier and had to go get it, and was not aware that I was an alumna of this college (because she hadn't read the resume!). No one looked me in the eye, but I thought maybe they were uncomfortable with being "interviewers". Then the main person gave me her card and said if I had any questions, to email her.

Fine, so I went home, sent the "thank you for the interview, I am very interested in this position" email and asked a relelvant question. I never got any reply at all. So I knew at that point, they had only given me the interview because a relative works there, she didn't bother to read the resume, and really had no interest in me. Fine, that's ok, but then don't bring me in for an interview!

 

[purplebelle]

I'm sorry you didn't get the job of your choice. That would be very disappointing!

I work in HR and I wouldn't call the HR rep. Many times there's no tangible reason a dept chooses an applicant over another when qualifications are similar. What I mean is, maybe the interviewer got a better 'feeling' with someone else. Or maybe the other person asked for less money than you. Or maybe there was no definite reason they went for someone else but just did. Decisions aren't always as cut and dry as: "well, we went for so-and-so over you b/c they have a higher degree."

I see hiring all day long and many times, it's sort of a gut feeling a manager has if qualifications are identical. Does that make sense?

Did you meet the requirements posted on the website? If not, that's an easy way to find out where you may have missed the mark.

Keep trying! A company that doesn't 'want' you is one you wouldn't have wanted in the long run either!

 

[purplebelle]

You can ask, but you will probably only get a generic reply such as "we hired someone who fits our needs better". They most likely will not be specific with you.

Absolutely! Companies gain nothing by telling an applicant why he/she wasn't hired. If anything, they put themselves in heavy liability. Discrimination claims could occur, etc. We live in a lawsuit society so basic statements like that help. The reality of it is, a better fit is probably what they went for. What 'better fit' means is probably very objective so don't take it personally.

 

[DISNEY1975]

A few months ago I had a 2nd interview at a local college. Positive, enthusiastic interviews where I felt the hiring department all but hired me short of signing a contract. I was beyond disappointed when they chose another person.

I e-mailed the HR rep I met with and asked if there was something I could improve on/and/or how can I fit in the organization as I look to apply for other jobs there. No reply.

Now there are a dozen jobs open at this college. Should I just phone the HR rep and tell her I'm still interested in working there? I applied for a job recently, no response.

HR folks....advice, please....I'm so depressed over this.

Yes, of course call.

Also, do you live in MA? I saw something today that may be of interest to you. Apparently they are opening a satellite branch of Regis College (Weston, MA) in the metrowest area (Southboro/Marlboro). You could look into their staffing needs.

Best of luck.

 

[kidzmom3]

this may have no bearing on your situation, but when I am hiring someone I immediately discard any applications that look like they are trying to "get a foot in the door". If you don't want to work in my dept, then don't apply for a job in it. I refuse to waste my time and energy and budget on someone who will move at the first opportunity.

 

[Jillpie]

Not to hijack this thread, but I must ask this to the HR folks. My DH was out of work 6 years ago. The most frustrating thing in the whole entire world is when he had either a phone interview or an in person interview and you DON'T TAKE THE TIME TO CALL BACK, whether good or bad. Do you have any idea what its like to wait for that answer??????? It is truly the worst thing ever. PLease tell me why you don't just give a quick yes or no, why do you make people wait and wait and wait, for weeks on end??? And then never call at all?

 

[kidzmom3]

Not to hijack this thread, but I must ask this to the HR folks. My DH was out of work 6 years ago. The most frustrating thing in the whole entire world is when he had either a phone interview or an in person interview and you DON'T TAKE THE TIME TO CALL BACK, whether good or bad. Do you have any idea what its like to wait for that answer??????? It is truly the worst thing ever. PLease tell me why you don't just give a quick yes or no, why do you make people wait and wait and wait, for weeks on end??? And then never call at all?

our company policy is not to notify people we interviewed but did not hire. It opens up the person doing the hiring to all kinds of things.
verbal abuse
physical abuse
threats
begging
crying
black mail

you just never know how someone is going to react. I tell everyone at the end of the interview that they will hear from us in 2 weeks if they received the job. if you don't hear, you didn't get it.

I do see what you mean about the wait though.

 

[purplebelle]

Not to hijack this thread, but I must ask this to the HR folks. My DH was out of work 6 years ago. The most frustrating thing in the whole entire world is when he had either a phone interview or an in person interview and you DON'T TAKE THE TIME TO CALL BACK, whether good or bad. Do you have any idea what its like to wait for that answer??????? It is truly the worst thing ever. PLease tell me why you don't just give a quick yes or no, why do you make people wait and wait and wait, for weeks on end??? And then never call at all?

We send letters to each person who's had an interview that we do not select.

By all means, your daughter can call if she hasn't heard from the company. It's just a full explanation of why she wasn't chosen that she may not get.

Jobs are over-saturated with applicants. It's impossible to call every person who's applied. Those that have interviews and are not accepted should certainly be called, but as the poster above says, by law, no official word is necessary.