COVER LETTERS

JOB SEARCH PREPARATION

FINDING A JOB

JOB INTERVIEW

CAREER TRAINING

When the Offer Does Not Come

When the Offer Does Not Come

There is no worse feeling during your job search than hearing you did not get the job. Whether by mail, phone, or e-mail, the message always seems the same (and possible is, since most companies use form letters for candidate rejection).

But all is not lost! Before you begin papering your walls with rejection letters, consider the following "resurrection" ideas.

The Rejection Reversal Technique You run to your mailbox, with the hope of some good mail. And there it is. A thin envelope bearing the return address of the company you interviewed with last week. A rejection letter. Not precisely the kind of mail you were anticipating. Rejection can be difficult to assume, generally when it comes from the employer you were interested in pursuing. However, you can use this as a chance to grow, learn, and possibly reverse the rejection. After receipt of a rejection letter, instantly call the person who wrote the letter and request feedback. "What was I lacking in meeting your needs?" Then listen closely. If you are connected with a valid area of lacking, take note of it and politely thank the manager for taking time to speak with you. Nevertheless, if the answer is based on a wrong assumption, you may have a chance to correct the error. For example, if the manager states that you did not have a high enough GPA for their requirements and you solely failed to put your GPA on your resume, you have the potential for a turnaround. As difficult as this call may seem, it can offer amazing results. Minimally, you can be informed about an area of deficiency which you can correct for the next employer. Maximally, it can offer you with the chance to reverse what would have otherwise been a dead end. The Isolation Technique If you are not sure you are acquiring the true reason(s) from the employer for your rejection, you can test the validity by isolating the exact reason given. For example, if you were told that you were rejected because of low grades, ask, "If my GPA were higher, would you have been willing to consider hiring me?" If GPA is the only issue, the answer will be affirmative. If not, other issues may come creeping out. This technique can become especially valuable when the primary answer is simply a smoke screen for something the employer is not initially willing to share with you. Isolate the real reason. And change it if you can. The Kamikaze Technique A more intrepid version of the Rejection Reversal Technique and the Isolation Technique is to commit yourself to turning circumstances around and getting another interview. The Kamikaze Technique works well when you have been closed out at an early point in the process, especially with on-campus interviews that have gone awry. What happens if you ruin the initial interview with Human Resources or some other non-hiring manager? End of the line? Roll over and die? Not necessarily. Try going kamikaze. It's not necessarily crash and burn, although it does help if you have rather daring tendencies to help make it work. Here a short explanation. What you should do is meeting the Hiring Manager (not the person you wowed–or bow-wowed, as the case may be–in the initial interview) and explain the situation. You have already met with the HR person and they have communicated you that your background is very interesting, but not what they are looking for at this precise moment. If you sincerely had a bad day (illness, recent brain surgery, dog was being held for ransom, etc.), let them know. Cogent excuses do count. The key is to let them know that you honestly wish to go to work for their company and you would be willing to fly, drive, hitchhike, whatever, to be there and meet with them, even if just for twenty minutes. "Would you please give me the opportunity to prove myself with you personally?" You can even play to what is hopefully a giant "I am the manager" ego with the "After all, you are the Hiring Manager, right?" line. Let them know you really wish to work for their company and will do whatever is necessary to make it happen. Crash and burn? Sure, it happens. But remember, you have already taken a direct hit. So why not go kamikaze? The results might surprise you. The Second-Place Technique If you are informed that you were "second place" or "second choice" in the hiring process, do not despair or lose all hope. Get in touch with the company back in two to three weeks to emphasize again that you are still interested in working there. Why? For two reasons: Their first choice may not have worked out (the new hire may have gotten a counteroffer, a better offer, or just plain cold feet). It keeps you under consideration for any other position or future position that may come available. The reality is that for every one hired, there may be five to ten others that were told they came in "second place." But if that is what they told you, take them on their honor and give it a shot. The Squeaky Wheel Technique One of the more difficult circumstances in doing a job search is attempting to move the process forward with a less-than-enthusiastic employer. You can get caught in the waiting game, hoping for the phone to ring. Your job search has vital importance, but it may be far down the list for the employer. And most job seekers simply give up. Do not include yourself between the quitters. Many jobs have been found through simple diligence and consistent follow-up. If you have an employer who is unwilling or unable to move forward, continue to make regular contact with them. You may find yourself on a weekly schedule of calling only to hear a "nothing has changed" response. If their interest in you has not changed, but has simply stalled, continue your efforts to move the process forward. It may be at the lowest point that the wheel begins to turn.

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