4 Times It 's Not You... It's Me

You just know that you’re going to get an offer! You aced that interview; the conversation was smooth, every question answered concisely and there were no awkward moments. 

You made a strong close and received either an emphatic “yes,” “You’re a perfect fit” or “I will refer you for the job.” You walk out confident that the job is yours. 

 But then, a few days go by and you receive a rejection letter or call stating that the position has been filled.  And all you can do is ask: “Why?” The process seems like a process of smoke and mirrors. No feedback, just guessing. A hole in your heart and spirit, and questioning every move you did and every word you said. What went wrong?

What did I do?

It’s normal to become depressed and confused in this situation. Everything went as planned, yet for some reason the job was filled by someone else. You start to doubt yourself; your confidence is shaken. 

 The hard truth is that employers reject candidates for a number of reasons:

 1.  Sometimes the rejection is due to company reasons: you had nothing to do with the decision. There could have been an internal candidate that was a tremendous performer in another area. Many companies like to hire from within: it motivates other employees to excel. Sometimes these candidates don’t surface until the end of the process.

2. Budget constraints. The job parameters might have changed, thereby changing salary requirements. Sometimes companies have to remove budgets during down cycles. Every position can be closed or re-evaluated.

 3. Territories may have been altered by “hired consultants.”  Logically, you may have been desirable; but now, the territory is not in your area.

4.  The hiring manager could be getting fired, or managers were changed in mid-stream. The new manager may want someone else for the position.

The thing to remember is that the fault does not always lie with you; don’t let it psyche you out. A positive attitude towards your job search must not change.

 Rejection cannot be taken personally. The interview went extremely well, but issues out of your control may have prevented you from being hired. So move forward! Continue to network and search for the next opportunity. 

Work with your network: referrals, social media, old colleagues and friends. Continue to move forward! No excuses,  get back out there! Put up your "Next" sign, and move on. One minute of sadness takes away your happiness. A better job exists. That job was not a fit for a reason. Stop beating yourself up, and wondering what you did. Just as in a relationship, there are many options. There will be a perfect match, but it is a numbers game. Keep moving forward toward your goal.

You may never find out the real reason you were rejected, but assume it may not have been what you did or said. Afterall, you are pretty amazing, a great employee, and any company would be thrilled to have you.