why can’t I get feedback about why I was rejected for a job? by Alison Green on November 3, 2020 A reader writes: Do any interviewers give feedback anymore if you don’t get the job? Since being furloughed, I have been frantically applying, interviewing, and getting to second and sometimes third rounds of the hiring process, and then I get rejected. With so many out of work, I understand that the job market is tough […] Read the full article →
how can I be less emotionally invested during my job search? by Alison Green on July 30, 2020 It’s the Thursday “ask the readers” question. A reader writes: I am about a year into my job search and it’s really wearing on me emotionally. I finished grad school about a year ago in a STEM-related (but not lucrative) field. I am trying to stay in the area where my partner lives and it […] Read the full article →
a rejected candidate keeps demanding to know why we didn’t hire him by Alison Green on May 27, 2020 A reader writes: Last fall, I left a beloved job with a nonprofit and assisted them in hiring a new “me” — or, rather, two people to take my place with two different aspects of the job. One was an internal hire, the other required an outside interview process. We received over 50 applications, narrowed […] Read the full article →
should I reject job candidates by phone or email? by Alison Green on February 3, 2020 A reader writes: Should you always call to let a candidate know that they won’t be getting a job offer? Here’s the context: I’ve gotten calls and emails letting me know when I wasn’t accepted for a position. And my colleagues and I all agree that we hate getting phone calls. It’s awkward! If you […] Read the full article →
how do I get over being rejected for a job I’m perfect for? by Alison Green on September 10, 2019 A reader writes: I know there’s no point in taking it personally when you’re rejected for a job. And when I do get rejected, I can usually come up with a reason why I wasn’t a good fit, even if I’d been excited about it previously. For example, I was able to realize after the […] Read the full article →
personalized rejection letters are crushing my spirit by Alison Green on July 16, 2019 A reader writes: I recently graduated from college and am trying to find that first full-time job in an increasingly shrinking industry: book publishing. I’ve volunteered at small presses, had three six-month long internships, and have a great network of publishing professionals. If I send out my resume, I’m getting responses and doing really good […] Read the full article →
I responded angrily to a rejection — can I get them to consider me again? by Alison Green on July 8, 2019 A reader writes: I’ve applied twice to a long established small theater troupe on a farm. I followed the specific instructions to apply to this summer and last summer’s first session apprenticeship. Well, last year I was rejected and here starts the problem. It seems I must have missed the deadline because their response said […] Read the full article →
why won’t employers tell you why they rejected you? by Alison Green on June 19, 2019 A reader writes: I recently had a great phone interview for a position I was very excited about. Because the hiring manager was going to be out of the office for awhile, he was planning to interview some candidates that week and other candidates when he got back. But I received an email this morning […] Read the full article →
why don’t employers send job rejections anymore? by Alison Green on November 12, 2018 You take time off work for a job interview, spend a few hours preparing for it, maybe buy a new suit, maybe even travel from out of state, and then … crickets. You hear nothing. Maybe you contact the hiring manager or the HR rep who scheduled the interview to inquire about an update on […] Read the full article →
if I didn’t have enough experience, why did they bother to interview me? by Alison Green on September 19, 2018 A reader writes: I found out a couple days ago that I didn’t even pass the 20-minute phone screening to the next round of interviews for a job I applied for, and it’s really a huge blow of confidence. I applied to a position a couple weeks ago at a dream company and I got […] Read the full article →