Lost the will to live...

Podge52

DKLS wrote: »

I would second this, and thats one of my stock answers and is rarely the real reason.

When I interview I look for 3 things:

1. Do they have skills and Experience to do the job (or trainable if some skills lacking)
2. Will they stick around for a while (enjoy the job)
3. Do they fit the current team dynamic

Its easy to get 1 & 2, finding all three isn't so easy.

OP it really is a numbers game, stick at it and you will land that job.

What holds you back from giving the real reason for not employing somebody?

Gavin83

Podge52 wrote: »

What holds you back from giving the real reason for not employing somebody?

I'll answer this for him, the potential for an interviewee to start throwing the 'sue' card around. It's easier to give a safe answer than risk legal action. The employer is gaining nothing but potential trouble by giving factual feedback so why bother?

In a sense of irony the anti discrimination laws that were created to protect people attending interviews is actually harming them by not allowing the company to give honest feedback. It makes no difference to the applicant either, if the company doesn't want to give them the job they won't, regardless of a few laws.

I say scrap the anti discrimination laws for job applicants completely and allow the company to be as honest as they want. It'll benefit everyone in the long run.

Gavin83

DKLS wrote: »

1. Do they have skills and Experience to do the job (or trainable if some skills lacking)

I'd assume that you would probably have this point mostly covered pre interview via their CV?

DKLS

Gavin83 wrote: »

I'd assume that you would probably have this point mostly covered pre interview via their CV?

Pretty much yes, but In person I can dig a little deeper to confirm if they can actually do what they say they can, not all candidates can do what they say they can on CV mainly around things like someone may say they are an Expert in Excel on their cv, but then you ask about pivot tables, data validation and Macros and discover they can actually create a shopping list.

Thanks for answering the other question, you hit the nail on the head, I would love to be truly honest but I can't.

Gavin83

I actually had an interview once that contained an excel exam. I didn't know this beforehand but during the interview they handed me a laptop, gave me a sheet of what they wanted doing and told me to get on with it. Was certainly a good way to test someones excel skills!

You are right however it is easy to lie on a CV. Not so easy to lie on the spot when your being questioned.

TELLIT01

I would also say to look at the positives -

You have been successful in getting interviews, averaging one a week is pretty good in the current climate. That suggests that your CV is good.

Feedback is positive despite the fact that you have been pipped at the post so far.

The important thing is not to let the outcomes get you down, difficult as that is.

Murphybear

I sat on interview panels for secretaries in my last paid job, for a University.

As employers they were highly desirable and we received many high quality applications. We didn't want to interview more than 12 so took 3 days and by the end of that my head was spinning! Given that their qualifications and experience all matched the job spec it was difficult to select the best and sometimes we had to go on gut feeling. This usually worked but we still had to reject 11 good candidates.

So take heart, you are doing something right as you are getting interviews.

mattcanary

TELLIT01 wrote: »

I would also say to look at the positives -

You have been successful in getting interviews, averaging one a week is pretty good in the current climate. That suggests that your CV is good.

Feedback is positive despite the fact that you have been pipped at the post so far.

The important thing is not to let the outcomes get you down, difficult as that is.

Feedback is not a positive thing if they give you a load of crap

robatwork

You will never get the honest answer on why you were "pipped by the other candidate" - because the answer may be as suggested something you could sue about, or may just be very nebulous in the interviewer's head.

If you were told "the other candidate would fit into the team/company better in my opinion" that wouldn't help you much, but may well be the actual reason.

Perhaps the interviewer found the other candidate more attractive, or their voice was more appealing.

Interviewing isn't nearly as objective as candidates would hope.

Make sure you're smiling a lot during interview (not like a goon), make lots of eye contact and come across as a happy person. Good luck.

t0rt0ise

I was told after one interview that I was the second placed person. The first person then failed the health check and they called me and offered me the job. So it isn't always a lie that you are second best.

If you are getting interviews you will get the job eventually. It is soul destroying but keep going.