Feeling blue after Job Rejection

You have to go to that interview tomorrow bolliwoodi! I know it's hard but you really have to just shut off today's disappointment and concentrate on tomorrow.

By the way, I think your boyfriend is right, he may just not have had time or been sick or had something else come up suddenly. Don't give up on it yet because you haven't been told yes/no yet. If you've decided yourself that you're not going to get it then people detect that and don't get as positive a vibe from you. I've interviewed people so I know what I'm talking about. Even over the phone you can tell from a person's voice how confident they are and how much they actually do want the job. I'd say ring the man tomorrow after your other interview and just say you didn't hear from him yesterday and you are wondering if they have made a decision yet (something along those lines). Try and sound positive and upbeat and as if you are expecting him to say yes. Nobody wants to hire someone who comes across as a misery guts because they'll be afraid they'll have a misery guts depressing the whole place forever more!

If he does say no then I would suggest saying "OK, thank you very much for your time. Would you mind giving me some feedback? What aspects of my CV or interview technique should I work on?". Most people will be quite pleasant and forthcoming and give you some good honest feedback on what they thought gave someone else the edge over you. Listen gracefully to what you're told, thank the person and then decide whether you think he's right and implement it. You'd be surprised but your good grace and constructive take on a refusal may make him remember you and actually help you if you later apply for a job in the same place. Also, if you're applying for a particular type of job and he gives you advice on how to gear your CV etc for that, then that's great, it'll help give you the edge in your next interview.

But for the moment put that to one side of your mind and instead try (for tomorrow) and just remind yourself of your better qualities and why you will be good at the job and how much you want it. That's easier said than done I know, but I always find that going in there well dressed, prepared and knowing it, you find it easier to walk in there with your head held level and able to sit comfortably and get across what you want to get across, ie how fabulous you really are....

Now, get to bed as soon as possible...you want to be as bright-eyed and fresh as possible tomorrow. Good luck!!!!

(P.S. Remember to ask a question or two of your own that show you are really interested in working there and know a bit about the business....and I don't mean asking how long your lunch-break is! )

I've had the same thing happen recently like in the past couple of weeks.

I felt like crap and I'm usually positive like you but I got in the car and headed to the interview anyway. I was concentrating so hard on preparation for the next interview thinking things over and what I'd say and it kept my mind off the other interview.

Once your focussed on something else, you'll forget all about it and yeah everyone gets rejected all the time. I've been turned down twice so far from good interviews and am waiting to hear back from a third. Pissing me off but what can you do about it? Just have to keep applying.

Chin up!

Just thought I'd also say my older brother spent almost a year applying for jobs when he got out of college first and he ended up creating one of the top jobs websites because he got lucky when one guy leaving a job didn't care and hired the first person through the door. It is just luck of the draw in some cases. All you can do is prepare and hope for the best. Try to get as many of your good points across as possible.

bolliwoodi wrote:

i did think of that but Id be mortifed If i was told on the phone I didnt get it

Rubbish, you have to confront things at some stage in your life. Let us know how you get on at the interview, if you want to of course.

You went to a job interview and didn't bring a FEW copies of your CV? I regularly interview candidates and would dismiss any candidate if they failed to arrive with a couple of copies of their CV. You need to learn how to prepare properly for a job interview, because right now you're just wasting your time and that of prospective employers. I'm sorry if that seems harsh, but it's the truth and you'd better learn to deal with negative feedback and grow from it.

Your time would be better spent learning how to interview properly than moaning about how an interviewer made you feel like an idiot. You did that to yourself and there's no reason for it. Get up off your arse, get down to Easons, and buy a book on interview basics. Look for an Irish or british edition, NOT an american publication. No job = No money? Go to the library. DON'T waste time online - There's too much rubbish out there about interviewing and CV preparation and far too many distractions for the type of person who doesn't bring a CV to an interview.

Oh, one other thing. Your job facilitator in the Fás office isn't going to give you a job. If s/he told you that your CV is perfect, but you're not getting interviews, you'd better start trying to understand what's at fault. Either it's your CV, or your cover letter, or you're simply not working hard enough at getting the interview.

Gil_Dub wrote:

You went to a job interview and didn't bring a FEW copies of your CV? I regularly interview candidates and would dismiss any candidate if they failed to arrive with a couple of copies of their CV. You need to learn how to prepare properly for a job interview, because right now you're just wasting your time and that of prospective employers. I'm sorry if that seems harsh, but it's the truth and you'd better learn to deal with negative feedback and grow from it.

Your time would be better spent learning how to interview properly than moaning about how an interviewer made you feel like an idiot. You did that to yourself and there's no reason for it. Get up off your arse, get down to Easons, and buy a book on interview basics. Look for an Irish or british edition, NOT an american publication. No job = No money? Go to the library. DON'T waste time online - There's too much rubbish out there about interviewing and CV preparation and far too many distractions for the type of person who doesn't bring a CV to an interview.

Oh, one other thing. Your job facilitator in the Fás office isn't going to give you a job. If s/he told you that your CV is perfect, but you're not getting interviews, you'd better start trying to understand what's at fault. Either it's your CV, or your cover letter, or you're simply not working hard enough at getting the interview.

Wow, well that seems a bit harsh. I have never brought my C.V to an interview either. Like already stated, the interviewer has already looked at your C.V and approved it, if you are called to interview. They should have it present at the interview. I have never been to an interview where they didn't have my C.V, and from my experience, interviewers usually make a point of printing out and looking over a C.V, before the interview.

bolliwoodi, that place sounds very disorganised, and to be honest that interviewer sounds like a bit of a pr**K. would you really want to work there??

And I would have a look at your C.V again. it's not getting you the interviews, which mean's it isn't selling you, regardless of what your fas faciltator thinks. Keep it short, only include relevant information, and tailor fit your C.V for every job you apply for. Read up on what the emplyer wants, and include those skills in your C.V.

marksuttonie wrote:

That is unfair in the context of the second interview. If you look at the fact that the interviewer himself was not prepared, got annoyed at the candidate, THEN asked a question which was not concerned with the position, the interviewer would be the one to require training. Unrelated questions are a big ploy of barristers as in a court situation it can cause the person being questioned to dwell on them. It is really no difference in the stressful situation of a job intreview where a curve ball of a question can cause the person being interviewed to lose the train of thought. Bad Employer interview technique.

An inexperienced (3 years out of school and currently out of work is inexperienced) candidate who can't remember their only exam results from just 3 years beforehand is one thing, but one who also hasn't had the foresight to bring a copy of their spartan CV with them for last minute review is quite simply ill prepared. In my case I have many years of professional experience to discuss at interview and can do so very capably. A CV for those of us with more than a short few years experience is nothing more than a formal accessory. But when I was just a couple of years into my career, to turn up at an interview without a very well rehearsed interview technique and a professionally vetted CV to demonstrate I was organised and motivated would have quickly ended said interview. Curve ball questions aren't new either. They're dealt with easily by those of us who have prepared for them though. The typical 'what are your weaknesses' questions would likely be dealt with very poorly by the OP, from what they write. Call that a curveball? You might. I might. But it's nothing to someone who's prepared. And that's half the battle with an interview.

marksuttonie wrote:

I too have given interviews to candidates (and evidence in court) and always make sure that i am prepared.

I can believe it. Both are serious responsibilities. As should be looking for work. Take it seriously and make every effore to prepare. That's the way to do it.

marksuttonie wrote:

Dismissing candidates for not having a copy of a cv? What, do you have extra copies of CV? no then get out! Thereby potentially losing a great worker. Hey, you really must tell me your employer then i can avoid it.

Perhaps if a candidate were truly considered prime recruitment fodder, you'd have a point Mark. But this candidate doesn't sound like someone I'd actually actively set out to recruit. They're the one wanting the job so it's up to them to impress. That's not to say I wouldn't hire them. But without an impressive and recent list of professional achievements, I need something more to decide if they'd be an asset to my company or a liability to me as the person who decided to hire them.

Mark, if I have two suitable candidates for a 'junior' role, the one who has had the wisdom to bring a copy of their CV, just in case, will be the one who has my preference. Simple as that. People who prepare well cost me less in terms of time and effort. They tend to use their initiative and take up less of my energy teaching them the basics, as they're thinking ahead and considering multiple eventualities. I like people like that. That makes them a better prospect in my books. Like it or not, it's the way it is.... Last year I interviewed over 120 candidates for a handful of positions with my company. In a couple of instances CV's were not to hand as I had to step in to cover for another manager for example, at short notice. Candidates who could hand me a CV instead of sitting there while I went to print one out, saved me trouble and earned my favour. It's the way of the world.

marksuttonie wrote:

OP: Learn from both the interviews, look at questions that you answered well and acknwoledge them. But also look at questions that you didn't answer well and why you didn't answer well and how you should have answered in hind sight. It is a truism that the more practice you get the better you become, so don't get disheartened but learn by it, have a look at appearance, stance, the way you presented things as well as your answers

All good. But also learn to play the 'game' of interviewing. There are some things you just have to do if you want to interview with companies where HR departments control and review all steps of the hiring process, you'll have to play along. Marks advice is accurate, just incomplete.

marksuttonie wrote:

Already you have learned to take extra copies of CV for interviewers who can't be arsed doing their job

Interviewers who couldn't be arsed doing their job but who could still give you a paycheck at the end of each month Mark? I'd prefer to get paid by a lazy interviewer than not. Wouldn't you?

Gil, in this instance the curve ball question was not "what are your weaknesses" which is a bit non-sensical anyways as it really is just a gap filler. Though anyone with any sense knows not to list a weakness, but turn it into a strength, so it is in fact a useless question. Anyway a digression there, in this instance the interviewer asked a question which was unrelated to the position. A curve ball question would be to ask someone who is applying for a junior clerical position... "how would you deal with conflict between two members of staff" THAT is a curveball.

To be honest Gil i would think twice about taking employment with a company with attitudes like that and would take the opportunity at the end of the interview.."any questions?" to ask them.. after all i am scoping them as an employer. It is not the first time i have turned down a job because the interviewer indicated verbally and non-verbally something about the company i didn't like. How does the question "would you have a heart attack for the company?" strike you.

Similarly, if i was aware that points would be deducted from interview depending upon the multiple copies of a CV, I would also have second thoughts in that it may translate into how staff are treated in the workplace.

But that does come from years of experience on both sides of the table.

The point of extra Kudos for being prepared is entirely valid Gil.
BUT the issue i had with your post is the fact that you would "dismiss". You can bet Gil if you came out with that answer in an interview I would be questioning you over it.

I do agree with you on the preparation both cv and personal apperance and attitude, and its not my intention of mollycoddling the OP. But neither is it to crush them still further by turning what was an incredibly poor interview by the interviewer around on the OP.
We could have a PM discussion about interview techniques and open questions and full and frank answers, never exaggerating what you have done etc. Oh and i agree with not following the latest fad in CV writing.

It is a game, but i will add for the OP benefit, that you felt in the first interview you had perfromed well, you do not know who else was being interviewed.

Gil_Dub wrote:

I flick through many perfectly acceptable CV's each month - Most don't pass 'go' because we never actually get a customised cover letter or receive a phone call. Recruiters face the same challenges as employers - Filtering out the mass-mailing applicants from those who are actually interested in a specific role. So, a little personalised tailoring in your approach, and a determined follow up is what is called for. Otherwise you're taking your chances on ever actually getting called to interview for a job you really want. As a first port of call, I'd suggest going to sit down with a recruitment company consultant. It won't cost you anything and if you show them you really are prepared to work, and give them a return for their investment, they'll help you along.

We seem to be agreeing a lot now lol. But i generally had one generic CV but god knows how many tailored covering letters depending on whom i was applying for. After all a CV is there to get you to interview stage.
Recruitment consultants do in fact need to be pushed a little.

While the OP may want to review her CV from time to time, I am not sure the issue is the CV per se, its the interview, the CV is doing what its meant to be doing and getting the interviews in the first place.

Never brought my CV to any interview.

Also OP, I once was expecting a call about a job, (not a serious job mind you) and didn't get the call - so I rang and asked to know either way- they said 'yea you got it'. Just a disorganised HR place and they hadn't got around to call me.