OF INTERVIEWS AND EMPLOYERS

OF INTERVIEWS AND EMPLOYERS………

By Kingford Kalobi

Seven (7) years ago I had just scored 98% in a written aptitude test for a Treasury and Investments role. I was later going to learn that I was the highest and the second best only managed a 66%. The test was highly technical and specific around Derivatives; Futures, Options, Money Markets, investments and company valuations. This was primarily what I was going to be doing in that role. Three (3) hours after the test I received a call from an unknown caller, on the line was a gentleman who introduced himself as the person who was conducting the aptitude test earlier that morning. “I am really impressed that you got almost everything correct. We are super excited about your high scores “, he said. He further went on to ask me if I had seen the questions before the written test because according to him they had set a tough test. I honestly responded that I had studied those aspects in college and prepared myself adequately for the interview having looked at the job description. After that call I was the most excited person because I knew I had nailed it- the gap between the second best and myself was too big. The was not going to be an oral interview but just an appointment to discuss personal terms. A week later I received a short regret email that I was not successful and that the position had since been filled. No explanation (An Employer owes you no explanation anyway), no appointment for a meeting. I was crashed. As you would expect I had so many questions to ask yet there was no one to ask, as I gazed into the laptop screen.

Lesson: In job hunt sometimes your potential employer may simply not buy into your value and it has nothing to do with you and you will never know why you didn’t get that job that you thought you were best suited for. I have shared my individual experience after 7 years hoping it would inspire young and upcoming professionals to keep on keeping on.