Interview tips : Interviewing 2 years later

So...here's the story. I had a great job woking for my current ad agency. I had been told I would be promoted within the next six months and everything was great. I wasn't even looking for a new job. But a new opportunity literally feel in my lap. So, not wanting to dismiss it, I went to the interview. It was a great job at what would be my soon to be promoted level and more money. I decided I wanted to accept the new job and went to my HR manager to ask her advice on how to break the news to my team. (We were close).

When HR, the Managing Director, the SVG and my boss (VP, Director) found out OI had another offer, all hell broke loose. I was brought into meetings and forced to listen to all the reason they loved me and how the new company would not be as good for me. Thet all wanted to know what they could do to get me to stay. I told them thank you for making the effort, but my mind is made up and I am taking the new job. I called the HR manager at the new job and told her I was on board.

That was a Friday. Over the weekend, I had some second thoughts, but I still felt really good about my decision. When I got to work Monday morning, I got a call from the President of the company telling me that he did not accept my resignation. I was a valuable employee and they really wanted to keep me. I spent all day with them pretty much bully-ing me into staying. (I had ben there 4 years). So, I called the other company and declined the position. They seemed dissappointed but understood.

Three months later, I realized what a mistake I had made. I ended up parting ways with the agency and took on some freelance projects to get me through until I could find a permanent position.

Now I see that the other company I had turned down is doing mass hiring. I saw a posting and sent my resume. I got back an email with an invitation to attend their internal job fair. Of course I am going.

Do I bring up the previous offer I turned down? It was two years ago, will they even remember me? I am not sure how i should handle it. I am sure that I am making more of it than I probably should thoguh.

What do you think?

If they do remember it they either won' t interview you (or won' t pass you along to the next step), or they may ask you about it. Don' t bring it up unless they do. If they do ask, I' d just say that your boss at the time put a lot of pressure on you to stay and you didn' t want to disappoint them. You later realized that you should have made the move and gone ahead with the new job and you now know so much better.

Follow up:

I went to meet with HR today. It was the same HR person I interviewed with 2 years ago. She remembered me. But she didn't seem angry about it all. She laughed and gave me the playful "I told you so". I was honest and said that I thought I was making the best decision at the time, but I realize it was a mistake and now I was back where I should have been all along. She said she was glad to see me. And hse passed me along to interview with two managers. So, I think we're ok.

I have to laugh, cause two months ago I was in the same, exact situation. I accepted a new position with a company almost three years ago, and gave notice to the company I was then working for. I, too, had second thoughts on leaving over the next weekend (I had only been with the company three months, and they were having financial problems.) I decided to stay with them, and try to help them out (I was the company Bookkeeper). So, I called the new company and also declined. Biggest mistake of my life. I did, however, manage to stay another 18 months. I quit in December 2005.

Flash forward to January, 2007. I answered a blind ad, and it turns out to be the same position at the same company I turned down in 2004. The only thing different is while the owner/CEO who interviewed me this time did meet me last time, he wasn' t the one who had offered me the position. His former COO (who has since left the company) did. The CEO didn' t remember me. But the Controller, who I had met last time, did. Well, I also told both of them I really regretted turning them down last time, that it was a huge mistake, and hoped they' d not hold it against me. I guess they did, cause I never got the job.

So, you never know. I hope they think enough of you to give you a second chance. Let us know what happens. I am really pulling for you!!!

"It' s a bit funny to find myself sitting in this chair again. I just thought I' d let you know up front that I interviewed at this company two years ago and, at the time, I received an offer. I' ve regretted until just this moment that I didn' t accept it at the time. I realized soon after that I had made a big mistake. Now I REALLY want the position and I ASSURE you, if it is offered I will accept immediately, without pause. It' s great to have another chance to be part of this company and I' m ready to start immediately!"

Career Tips

Interviewing 2 years later