Confused Regarding Rejection

choyaa

shortcrust wrote: »

Well you'll find out soon enough, but it doesn't sound negative to me at all. You really really don't spend two hours interviewing someone you're not seriously considering for a position.

Thank you very much for the kind words, however I know myself the outcome. There were a number of questions regarding the internal workings of the business and the field it operates within the I couldn't fully answer. The main interviewer who seems to be the head of the department was a bit cold towards me and made few notes, the other two were reasonably okay although one had interviewed me a number of weeks previous.

It was very tense and in-depth and I was completely taken aback at this after the introduction advised it would be informal lasting 40 minutes. The laugh at the end by all four of us was quite a nice moment though as I think everyone realised it was extremely gruelling.

Cotta

Apologies if I've came across as very negative, I just had a bad feeling about this. I wish you all the luck in the world with your job hunting and don't let this experience get you down.

shortcrust

choyaa wrote: »

Thank you very much for the kind words, however I know myself the outcome. There were a number of questions regarding the internal workings of the business and the field it operates within the I couldn't fully answer. The main interviewer who seems to be the head of the department was a bit cold towards me and made few notes, the other two were reasonably okay although one had interviewed me a number of weeks previous.

It was very tense and in-depth and I was completely taken aback at this after the introduction advised it would be informal lasting 40 minutes. The laugh at the end by all four of us was quite a nice moment though as I think everyone realised it was extremely gruelling.

I went for a job about 15 years ago and I really really needed to get it. It went very badly. I messed up a practical exercise, had the dreaded shaky voice throughout and was so upset that I cried when I got home. Two hours later I got the call to tell me I'd got the job! It wasn't until I started being involved in recruitment that I realised how easy it is to over estimate how good the competition is. You don't need to be perfect in interviews. You just need to be a tiny bit better than the other applicants.

I hope you're not too disheartened if you're not successful. I really believe it's better to have a go and fail than to not even try. You'll be better the next time you're interviewed for a similar post because of this experience.

choyaa

Interesting points, I think the problem was that I was rejected for the first role at an interview I performed much better at.

Cotta

Lesson here is, if at first you don't succeed at interview, the company doesn't want you.

shortcrust

Cotta wrote: »

Sorry this happened friend, but I did warn you. Once you were rejected the first time the writing was on the wall, lesson learnt though.

Cotta wrote: »

On the contrary but it sounds really bad and the op seems to know this.

Cotta wrote: »

Lesson here is, if at first you don't succeed at interview, the company doesn't want you.

What's wrong with you?!

Magnolia

Choyaa - I agree with others above - no one spends that much time on a candidate they are not interested in.

It still might not come to anything but I would guess it is a close run thing with another candidate or they wouldn't have bothered.

Cotta

shortcrust wrote: »

What's wrong with you?!

Nothing, I made the correct prediction while others filled the OP's head with nonsense.

choyaa

You are probably correct Cotta, it is heartening that some people here still feel it's positive.

shaz77_2

Personally and I'll try to be constructive as I don't want to kick someone when they're down, however there were a number of issues overall that you raised that would concern me.

1. The first interview for the original job seemed quite lengthy, the company would have had a good idea of you by this stage, they felt you were unsuitable for the job.

2. The decline came via telephone which was a little unusual, to tell you then about a more senior role they felt you should look at that had a closing date of the following day was very unprofessional. I think you advised the original decline was due to strong competition, if this was the case you were unlikely to get a higher role within the company.

3. The fast short-listing process would have led me to believe they had their person in mind already.

4. A "40 minute" informal interview turns into a two hour grilling, I've no idea how the company can justify this, did this not set alarm bells ringing??