This is a “Tales from the Cubicle” type story.
I had an interview a while ago … it was one of the best interviews I’ve had in more than 40 years working in this profession. It seemed I had a good rapport with those I interviewed with, I liked the people I met, and the company had interesting projects that fit very well with my background.
I was excited at the prospect of working on some of these projects – and at lunch, one of the statements was “Can you start last week?“. It was mentioned that there were several projects for which my skills would aid the company. I truly felt during lunch that they were ready to make an offer then and there. I saw what seemed to be an excellent fit and was prepared to accept.
It took an excessively long time to get a response – too long really – but along about a month later, I was notified that the company “would not be able to fully utilize my skills“.
Say what?
I knew it was coming – if “they” want you, they want you now. At least enough to get a commitment and the paperwork going.
Once upon a time early on in my career I might have been quite discouraged with such a rejection … but experience unfortunately gets one used to such things. Think of interviewing as going on a blind date and needing to make a decision of marriage based on that date.
This rejection saved me from moving to a place I likely wouldn’t have enjoyed living from this place I now consider home even if the company’s work was something I was deeply interested in.
But as I found out later …
The reason for my rejection wasn’t that my skills were not a match for the position; it was that they exceeded the company’s needs. They were looking for someone a bit more junior – but not being able to fully utilize my skills indicates to me a company not in a position to expand its capability (expansion is an expensive gamble). A good match needs to work both ways.
This is not a fault of the company – they know where and what they are and the direction they wish to head … and I might have led projects into a direction the company was not prepared to work with. Perhaps not … but it’s that “make a decision based on a single blind date” thing that works both ways again. They did me – and probably themselves – a big favour in rejecting me; I know I might very well have been unhappy working in such a static environment – if indeed I read the situation correctly.
So, some advice for job-seekers:
If you get hit with a rejection letter, realize it’s part of the career life and that there are viewpoints different than yours regarding employment and that specific position. Companies are not in business to provide employment – employing people is simply a necessary expense – and you accepting a “not-good” fit simply for the sake of employment does no one any good – and may do you some harm in the long run.
You may be the best in your field … but that doesn’t mean the company wants to hire “the best in the field”; there’s more to a position than that technical excellence thing universities push on students.