Home › Forums › General Chat › Job Rejection – Right? Right. FML.
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May 30, 2012 at 1:55 am #28028
Ahhh i can SO relate. Job searching is the worst. It’s SO up and down, but one day soon it will be over! And you’ll be soo happy. Just keep looking and don’t get too excited about one position and stop looking at others until you’ve signed the contract.
As for this letter I would say it’s a rejection but they obviously really liked you. In my experience anytime they mention how many other candidates there are or how its a difficult decision, that’s going to be a no. It sounds like they might already have a target hire or someone internal. If you already outlined why you thought you’d be a good fit for the position in your original thank you letter, I wouldn’t respond again. If you don’t get the position, I would then ask for feedback so you could work to become a stronger candidate next time blah blah.
Something that helped me in my last job search was to not tell anyone about my interviews. With this first job I was interviewing for (same company as i work for now btw) I told my parents, my friends, etc etc about each stage of the process. It actually ended up making me MORE nervous and it totally sucked when I then had to tell everyone I ended up not getting it. From then on I only told my boyfriend and my mom about interviews and it helped me relax. Maybe that’s just me though.
May 30, 2012 at 2:01 am #28029May 30, 2012 at 6:55 am #28032I wouldn’t try to read too much into that email. He is one of six you interviewed with so others will have input into the final decision. You can really read his email as positive or negative, so view it as neutral and don’t read it again. And don’t run it through your mind any more either. Easier said than done I know! If you haven’t heard anything back at the end of the timeframe they gave you for making a decision, do another round of emails re-iterating why you are interested and qualified. I have been part of many team interviews and we frequently run behind on making a final decision. Plus at least twice we hired a second runner up within a month or so because of an unexpected termination. And one time our selection turned out to be terrible and was let go at 90 days. We called up our second choice to see if she was still available and she was and we hired her immediately. Job hunting sucks, total emotional roller coaster. Work your connections, keep looking and try to stay positive. Sending job search success out into the universe for you!
May 30, 2012 at 7:19 am #28037I guarantee they send that email to every single person they interview- just change a few words. That way can leave you hanging for a while. It takes the pressure off them. Don’t worry abut it.
Your part is done- all you can do now is wait.
May 30, 2012 at 8:11 am #28050The fact that you got the email back so quickly MIGHT mean that it’s just like a stock response they send to everyone. Right?
What was the job, if you don’t mind me asking?
May 30, 2012 at 8:30 am #28055Ohhh, that’s good – I’m trying to convince my brain that it was a form reply he sent to everyone! The job was for an in-house counsel position. So I’d be an attorney employed directly by the company instead of at a law firm. The position is EXACTLY what I do. Though, the job description says “prior in-house strongly preferred,” which I don’t have. But they knew that and still invited me back for interviews after my first phone interview. Sigh, it’s such an awkward predicament. Companies want lawyers with law-firm AND in-house experience, So you need in-house experience to get in-house experience… Tough t do without in-house experience.
I want to open a breakfast shop so I can combine my loves of egg burritos, coffee, waking up early, the morning time, and talking to people.
May 30, 2012 at 8:49 am #28057i agree with anna- if it didnt outright say you are not in the running anymore, you cant assume anything. and yes, it was probably a stock response they send to everyone, like the emails large companies send out from noreply@company.com saying thank you for you interest in our company! bla bla bla
good luck!
May 30, 2012 at 8:53 am #28058@Zepp: I’m just like you when it comes to something exciting that could happen in my life. No one knows about it but me. I always look at my glass as half full, until I have control over the situation. I can get too worked up and have my hopes wrapped up in something that is not guaranteed. Try and remain positive, but still know that you could be overlooked for the position.
May 30, 2012 at 10:21 am #28089I hope you get it, AP! I’ve got my fingers crossed for you.
May 30, 2012 at 10:32 am #28094I think you may be jumping the gun here – he liked you enough to respond fairly immediately. I took from that “I liked you, not sure if I will like you enough to hire after we sift through all of the candidates, but either way good luck” It is also quite possible he doesn’t have the authority to acknowledge. I would lean more towards they don’t know yet. If I wasn’t still considering to hire you I would not have responded like that…I just would not have responded.
May 30, 2012 at 11:25 am #28118Addie, I love you with the power of a thousand suns. You know this well already. But come on. You’re not only a lawyer, but you’re a specific kind of lawyer (which I can’t recall if you’ve mentioned on here before, so I’m being vague), and you don’t recognize that as a carefully-worded, “lawyer-speak” email? I’ve written in that kind of tone to my clients all the time when I want to tell them I think we have a positive aspect about our case but don’t want them to get their hopes up. I’m wagering you’ve probably written similar emails to clients too in the past, haven’t you?
You’re a very talented lawyer with a good reputation who worked for one of the bigger-named firms in Chicago. It’s not like you’re a nobody out of law school. Being able to hire someone with your experience is a coup for organizations. So instead of focusing on whether they pick you, focus on whether YOU are the right fit for THEM.
(Also, keep in mind that I free-lanced for 6 months and basically destroyed my limited savings account before I got my current job, which I’ve had for almost 3 years now, and I felt the same way you do now. So have faith, because this is just going to be a blip on your radar 10 years from now.)
May 30, 2012 at 11:36 am #28120Addie, I’m right with you. I put in a for a transfer at my firm from my NYC office to our boston office, WHICH IS HIRING. I interviewed, which went great. I was supposed to find out 3 weeks ago and I haven’t heard a peep. I ASSUME its a rejection, I am taking it as a rejection, but it might not be. It’s the uncertainty which is killing me (and my landlord). Like you, I am emininently qualified for this position; I HAVE THIS POSITION. So WTF is the holdup? Yes or no, people! Keep applying for other jobs (which I can’t do because I don’t want to burn any bridges) and you’ll get one. The lawyer market is actually pretty hot for people with experience, which you have.
May 30, 2012 at 11:41 am #28122As I nobody just out of law school, I’m offended Guy Friday. Look at it this way Addie – you have 7 years of experience and they might give the job with someone with more experience than you. Imagine how I feel!
(Okay I’m done making this about me)
But Guy Friday has a point, I’ve received those coded e-mails before or written them myself. It’s for a good reason. Maybe if you gave your thank you note orally over the phone you would have a much better clue, but when you’re writing something that will be there forever you have to word things very carefully. Although I understand why you’re freaking out. It did seem like a wind up to a let down. I am super cynical so if I were you I would take that as a rejection. That way if you get it, YAY! happy surprise. And if you don’t it’s not a huge let down because you didn’t think you were going to get it anyway. When were they going to let you know by?
May 30, 2012 at 12:29 pm #28130Don’t be offended, Sampson. Not everyone coming out of law school is a nobody. You’re a somebody. You’re a Sampson, in fact. Or at least someone who wants to talk to a Sampson
(P.S.: My firm actually is hiring right now, so if you don’t mind working in Wisconsin . . .)
May 30, 2012 at 12:33 pm #28135ITA with Budj, if I wasn’t going to hire someone and they contacted me I wouldn’t respond at all. I’d be like “this is one for HR to handle” and forward the email along.
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