Interviews and waiting...

sims22

I had a second interview on yesterday for a job that I had only heard about on Monday. I wasn't even sure I wanted it but went along to the first interview and found that the more I learned about the job, the more I wanted it.
There are two of us in the running and we'll find out early next week. At the end of the second interview the interviewer said we were both very strong candidates and both had different but equally attractive qualities. I'm convinced they're going to go with the other candidate, no rhime or reason for why I feel that way! Just a gut feeling. I've tried to prepare for the disappointment by making a list of the reasons it isn't the right job for me. I'm sure that won't stop the disappointment when I get the runner up call!

Has job hunting and multiple rejections turned anyone else into a pessamist?! I used to be such a positive person!

DCFC79

In a way yes im like that, I used to be ok with getting job offers in the past but since i started last job they all dried up but im putting it down to more competition around

hopefully theres something not far round the corner

DizzleUK

As arrogant as it may sound, I have gotten every job I have ever interviewed for (which is not the same as getting every job I have ever applied for). Despite my track record, I always come out of the interview thinking I could have done better, could have answered a question differently, or just a general feeling there's no way in hell they'd hire me. There will come a point one day where I will have an interview and not get the job, and every interview I have, I think this will be the one I don't succeed with.

I also find that the more I want the job, the more I think that things went badly and I wouldn't be offered the job.

You have reached a point where it is between you and one other. You have done very well to get this far, try not to put yourself down. I'm sure you have done all you can do. The waiting is hard and frustrating and I wish you all the best.

Good luck.

Stew68

Multiple rejections will get you down. We all come out of interviews thinking we could have done better than we did, we think of the answer we should have given or the killer question we should have asked.

As Dizzle says you've done very well to get down to the last two, when you think of the number of people that are applying for jobs out there at the moment, try and use that as a positive.

I hope you get good news, please let us know how you get on.

sims22

DizzleUK wrote: »

As arrogant as it may sound, I have gotten every job I have ever interviewed for (which is not the same as getting every job I have ever applied for). Despite my track record, I always come out of the interview thinking I could have done better, could have answered a question differently, or just a general feeling there's no way in hell they'd hire me. There will come a point one day where I will have an interview and not get the job, and every interview I have, I think this will be the one I don't succeed with.

I also find that the more I want the job, the more I think that things went badly and I wouldn't be offered the job.

You have reached a point where it is between you and one other. You have done very well to get this far, try not to put yourself down. I'm sure you have done all you can do. The waiting is hard and frustrating and I wish you all the best.

Good luck.

It's not arrogant at all. I was the same when I started my last permanent job in 2005, never got rejected after interview. I was made redundant in February last year and it's a much tougher market now.

Thank you very much for the good wishes.

sagalout1954

I was once shortlisted for a job I didn't want. Had applied for a similar part-time one though failed at interview, but they asked if they could pass my application form to another dept who wanted a full-time person as I'd been a strong candidate.

I definitely didn't want a full-time post but thought it would be good interview practice so I went along and didn't do too badly (I thought). I'd prepared my thanks but no thanks response for 'when the call came'........pity the 'call' was them telling ME thanks but no thanks!!!!***

That's been the only real occasion when I've been knocked sideways by rejection. On other occasions I've been aware I could have done better, so have been disappointed but not wholly surprised by the rejection.

Fingers crossed for you.

sims22

Update:

I was hoping to hear back today and e mailed the agent at 10 am. After not hearing from him I called around 3 pm and he was being a little cagey saying he was going to speak to the client shortly and will be able to let me know today. I asked him if he had any interim feedback and he said no. I didn't hear back from him at all. After a fair few interviews over the last 12 months I've learned to take no news as a no.

One of the reasons for me feeling uneasy and negative as above was that towards the end of the second interview the guy interviewing me started to say that if I don't get the job I will get a glowing recommendation to the agent which will hopefully encourage them to keep putting me forward and he was sure I would be snapped up soon. This seemed like a bit of a negative thing to say after such a positive interview and after he had told the agent I was "exactly what they were looking for, technically and culturally".

I left the second interview with a gut feeling they were going to go with the other candidate even though my second interview was first and they were yet to see the other candidate.

That is my 14th interview now with 3 job offers given then withdrawn, 2 jobs withdrawn and 1 contract job that I did get. The rest unsuccessful despite positive interview feedback from the last 4. I'm getting sooo tired and depressed with this now! Yet there is nothing I can do but pick myself up and hope something else comes up soon.

soupdragon10

Sims you are doing well to get interviews so look on this as a positive that your applications etc are spot on. You won't know for definite until you actually have the news - it seems a bit odd what the interviewer said, don't dwell on it though. They obviously thought highly of you as a potential employee.

sagalout1954

sims22 - getting that job offer can also have an element of luck. As disheartening as it is to get the 'rejections', you are doing very well getting the interviews, some can't even get that far.

Keep going, it'll be your turn to get lucky soon. Are you doing any courses/training or voluntary work in the meantime (though trying to find a paid job is practically a full time job in itself). I did find that just a few hours as a volunteer (it's not all charity shop) did make me feel valued.