You could have several more individual, as well as group, meetings. People who have different kinds of responsibilities in the organization tend to have different perspectives. The president, for example, may just want to "check you out," briefly, but might also be interested in you as a person. You might expect a broader perspective from that individual than the person you're reporting to. But there are no guarantees.
In general, your best strategy is to do what you've done so well already. Be positive, confident, and friendly. Listen. Focus on them and their needs. Be reassuring, show how well you'll fit in, and emphasize how you can benefit them. Eventually, you'll reduce their anxiety about making a decision and they'll make you an offer.
If You Don't Get the Job Murphy's Law
"The interview really went well. It looked like the job was mine. But now, they're not returning my phone calls."
OR
"They decided against hiring anyone after all."
It's not unusual. You thought everything was fine. Then you reach an impasse. Why? The hiring process is very complex. Their decision not to hire you might have nothing to do with you. It could be that their need (or their perception of it) changed. Maybe a Janet (or a nephew) appeared from nowhere.
How Do You Look at It?
Rejection is part of the job search process. No matter how good you are, it's going to happen. But it's not the setbacks that count as much as the way you handle them. When you read the biographies of notables in virtually every kind of endeavor, from Abraham Lincoln to Art Buchwald, it's amazing how many hardships and difficulties they had to overcome. "Success," said Winston Churchill, "is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm." Life gives all of us lemons. Here are some suggestions for making something out of it.
Recipe for Lemonade
Mix in some self-assessment: If you can learn something from the experience, that helps. Review your Interview Debriefing Form to see if you can pinpoint where things may have gone wrong. What could you do differently or better next time?
Mix in their input: You can ask why you didn't get the job. Getting some honest feedback would be great, wouldn't it? After you've cooled down, you might decide to approach the hiring authority this way: But how does this make Ms. Simpson feel? Uncomfortable, may be a little guilty. The person she chose may really be better qualified. Or maybe she was simply more pleasant. What can Ms. Simpson say? Even if she really wants to help, she has to worry about the legal consequences of anything she says. So she avoids mentioning age, gender, disability, race, weight, appearance, personality, accent, etc. - any one of which could have been the real reason for her choice.
You might luck out and get some useful suggestions. But more likely, you'll hear that you interviewed very well but that the other person simply had more experience.
Make a friend. Another approach is to salvage the situation by encouraging an ongoing relationship. That could work well if you have something in common with the decision maker.
That's better, isn't it? You've spared Ms. Simpson a guilt trip and begun a new relationship. She's now a part of your network and could even become a business friend. And, if the "more experienced" person doesn't work out, what a perfect position you're in!?
Ms. Simpson was, in fact, so relieved by the applicant's positive response that she gladly met for lunch. Before long, she heard about a similar position and happily recommended her new friend.
Obtain referrals. Another response to being turned down is to write a nice letter or call, thanking them for considering you and asking for the names of 2 or 3 non-competitors who might benefit from meeting someone with your credentials.
Maintain contact. No matter how disappointed you are, keep a positive relationship with them-and stay in touch. They might need you in the future.
- The Fruits of Follow-Up
- Persistence Pays
- Eventually, your patience and persistence will pay off, you've persuaded them. They want you!
- When You Get an Offer
- You may want to accept it, if it's what you want, and if you have enough information to negotiate effectively at this time.
