Hi all,

I just got the official word that I was not selected for a sr management position for a company and wanted to also share the "how" as it might have some insights about the long view of career building. Short story, My career was forward until a couple plus years ago when I was aksed to resign , caught in political crossfire. After exploiting a self-employment opportunity I then went back to job hunting and got a management job that I would describe as transtional. It was a career backward step but from this position I have been building new skills and a more local network. I recently applied for a sr management job that would have put my career back on track...

The position was minimally advertised (a sign of an internal candidate) but I was asked to an interview panel consisting of the Department VP and 6 or 7 lead staff I would be supervising. It was a 2 hour interview. I absolutely slammed the interview, knew the job was mine... except that the company had gone through an internal reorg and several internal candidates with management experience were applying. The VP, said he really looked forward to talking to me and even followed up on my email thank you note saying how much I had impressed the committee... a week later I got the call.

However during the call the VP said, "there are times that I just can't overcome the internal candidate." We had a frank conversation about the future and about my fit in the organization. The bottom line is that this VP is now an advocate for me in the company. Am I upset that I did not get the Job? Yeah. Do I feel good about my future prospects with that company. even more.

So here are the lessons:

1. Prep for the interview. I researched the company online, tracked down googled information and spoke with a dozen people across the country who work for this company (heathcare filed) via some online networking groups I belong to. I knew How the department worked, the major challenges and fully understood the functional competencies I would oversee.

2. Relax and be natural. Practice your butt off if you need to but be personal, engaged. During the interview I had a note pad open on the table. wrote the names of everyone I was talking to so I could address them personally, I jotted notes and references back to them. At one point I picked up a marker and did some flip chart illustrating of concepts. I focused my answers and asked follow up questions. The interview was an amazing conversation framed around "inteview" questions.

3. Send thank you notes. Mine was one to the entire committee, an email, and a second email to the VP. I did not try to sell myself but it was personal and relationship building....

4. I let the process take its course knowing that when my references did not let me know they were being contacted, that I did not get the job.

5. Try to debrief the interview when you get your dear john call. Of course, it is easier when your later in your career to get a decent debriefing --its a professional courtesy thing at the least or, as in this case, it was a serious networking conversation -- BUT ALWAYS ASK no matter where you are in your career.

6. Last I asked if the VP culd be added to my roladex. He quickly said yes. So next time I apply for a position at this company, I can cc him and then poof, internal advocacy...

Finally, what I would have done differently? I would have point blank asked about internal candidates --it was the elephant in the room and I did not address it. I should have asked and then done my best to try and create a rationale for breaking the internal candidate code.

But hindsight is 20/20 and it is our job to take hindsight forward and not beat ourselves up, Overall an ideally this is where we all want to be at the end out our unsuccessul interviews.