HELP!! Something I need to understand!!!A while back, I interviewed for the position of Business Analyst with company XYZ. It was the strangest interview I ever had. They wanted someone with very sharp Microsoft Excel skills who were very familiar with doing formulas that involved monte carlo methodology. I admitted that I never used Excel in this way before but they kindly showed me how it would be done in the interview. Much of the interview felt more like an exam testing my computer and technical skills instead of like an "interview". Although I admit there were some things I was kind of rusty on, for the most part, I really don't feel as if I performed that badly in the interview. I definitely felt that I was qualified, and somehow, in some ways, I thought that I may have impressed them in the most important ways. Anyway, the hiring manager called me back and told me the position had been filled and didn't bother to go into any detail as to how I did and why I wasn't selected. About two weeks later, the exact same position appeared on the job board again and has been there ever since. Am I to assume that the person that got the job over me didn't work out that fast and they are searching for another candidate so soon? Should I call the company and inquire about this? I honestly felt that I could do the job. Also, I didn't recall them advertising how much the position paid the first time and I gave my salary requirements on the application that I filled out for them. In the second posting for the job, the salary range for the position was posted and was WELL BELOW the salary range I put down on their application. Do you think my asking for too much money in the first place is the reason why I didn't get the job? Do you think I should contact them and let them know that I am willing to negotiate on the salary? Or should I just let sleeping dogs lie? Need some advice on this one...anyone, please.
If only there was some way to make "them" be honest with us!!! Did they have your salary requirements before they called you? If so, then that wasn't the problem. If you filled it out and gave it to them while you were there and they reviewed it before you left, then they probably would've told you that that isn't the range they were considering. Chances are, if it's an analyst position and they have a specific way they utilize excel, than that was why you didn't get the job. There are so many people out there now that have excellent excel skills, and they know they could find someone they wouldn't have to train. Look at the bright side- now you can practice the method and now you'll know it if it should come up in the next interview for an analyst position! (I am an Excel geek and LOVE learning new ways to use it.) That being said, it's probably best to just to move on and practice your new skill. Best of luck in your search!! Littlebear514: Thanks for the response. The only funny thing is, when you read the job description, they were willing to consider "entry level" people, which to me translates into them willing to train the right candidate. I know for a fact that I impressed them in other ways, and with the highly specialized way that they use excel, I wouldn't be surprised if they couldn't find anyone who could "hit the ground running" which is why that position is being posted again so soon. I just can't help but wonder....any more comments from littlebear or any others are greatly wanted and would be greatly appreciated.
I wonder if they saw your application, realized that they couldn't afford you so asked you if you knew some obscure excel method and acted like that's why you didn't get the position. If that IS what happened, you don't want to work for them anyway, if they just can't come out and tell you that they can't afford you. littlebear514: That's not it, I gave them the application after the interview. I know it feels like the whole thing is centered around the lack of excel prowess, but still, my background is great and I do have the aptitude to do the job, and I honestly believe they realize this. I don't think a little training to bring someone up to speed should be that big a deal. Do you or anyone else out there think it would be good idea to pursue them again willing to negotiate my salary? Other than the pay, I really do think this would be an excellent opportunity. Based on past experience, I think the answer here is pretty simple. If they advertised that they were willing to take entry-level applicants and train them--and you did well in the interview and impressed them--they clearly weren't willing to pay what you were asking. They're probably hoping to find someone with your skills and pay them an entry-level salary (I don't think you are entry level, based on your post). Even if you had walked in the door with everything they needed, they would have discounted you based on salary. If you want to work for this company, I suppose you could drop them an e-mail or call them and say you're still interested in the job and are negotiable on the salary, but why would you want to work for them if they couldn't be honest enough to just say they couldn't afford the salary you were asking? Anne_Marie_0618: Very good point. It just would have been excellent experience for me. Sometimes to take two steps forward (get valuable marketable experience) you have to take a step back (settle for lousey pay for a while). Though the pay was definitely beneath my means, it was still something I could live on for at least a while anyway. I may still contact the company just to see if I can get some feedback. I do appreciate all of the responses. Anymore responses are still welmcomed and encouraged. I had similar experience 2 years ago, and it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. I had two interviews with a company, both went great. The hiring manager told me that my salary range was slighly above what they had in mind, but given that they really liked my work, and my background was a perfect fit, she was confident they could work it out in terms of salary on their end, and that I should expect a call back within a week either way. A week later, I received a rejection letter in the mail saying that they found a better qualified candidate. I guess they forgot they had told me I was the last candidate they were interviewing. So, either she lied when she said my background was a perfect for the position when in fact they had another candidate whose background was a better fit (don't really see how that's possible given that I fit 100% of the requirements and 100% of the "preferred qualifications"), or they lied in the letter. What do you want to bet they ended up hiring a recent grad who took the miserly salary they were offering in hopes that they could train him/her to perform on the same level as someone with 8 years of experience? Three weeks later, the same job was advertised again. Imagine my surprise, the "perfect" candidate didn't last. The ad disappeared after a while and re-appeared again a month later. Hmm, I guess you just can't trust these "qualified" candidates willing to work for a below market wage. Who knew? (I'm being sarcastic, in case it's hard to tell the tone in a written post) I'm willing to bet your case was yet another example of an employer wanting to get something for nothing. Now, the person you interviewed with may be a great individual. But this doesn't have to be their fault. If this is one of those companies that put their bottom line before quality and hire the cheapest as opposed to the best candidates, I'd ask myself if this is really the type of environment I want to be part of. Taking a salary that's too low can have tremendous long-term consequences. It's safe to assume this company doesn't give exorbitant raises. So, your salary will likely remain below average for the duration of your stay there. And what happens when you're finally ready to leave? Irrational as it may seem, employers do use your salary history to determine how little they can get away with offering you. It's EXTREMELY hard to make the leap from where you are to where you should be in terms of salary once you've been short-changed by an employer. Generally employers don't like offering new hires more than 10-15% above what they are currently making, even if their current salary is below market. Even if most people with your background are making twice as much as you are making, you'll have trouble convincing a prospective employer to bring you up to the same level, even if they would have no problem offering a higher salary to someone with comparable background who is currently making more than you. That's just how it is. I've been through this recently, and it was a pain to negotiate a fair salary after being underpaid for years. Unless you are in desperate need of experience, or you have no other prospects at the moment and need a job bad, or there are "red flags" in your background because of which you have to make extreme compromises in order to land a job, you should think twice before putting yourself in this situation. You may be setting yourself up for being underpaid for years to come, and the sacrifice may not be worth the reward. Anyway, that's just my personal opinion. I went through this with a job I applied for too. Great interviews with everyone, thought I had nailed it etc. Then got a letter a week later stating they had hired another candidate. Moved on to another facility and got the position there. Our field is GROSSLY undermanned nationwide so finding another position with my years of experience and credentials fortunately was not difficult and it was hard to understand why the other facility had passed me over but que sera sera.
It was six weeks to the day after the letter, and my entire house was packed for the move down to the new location for the job I had accepted when my phone rang on a SATURDAY no less. It was the first place: was I still interested in the job they wanted to extend an offer. I politely explained the situation: had accepted another position, was moving in the morning 1.5 hours south, thank you anyway. NOW they were miffed that I wouldn't take their job! HUH?? You didn't want me six weeks ago now you are ticked that I can't take the job? I even explained that it would be unprofessional to back out on the current employer at this point and they were unphased. Silently I was wondering WHY the job was suddenly vacant after six weeks. To this day that job comes open about every 18 months to 2 years and in our industry it is widely known which positions NOT to apply for because they are undesirable because of low salaries, poor advancement opportunities, directors or coworkers you DON'T want to work for/with, or all of the above! Be comfortable that for whatever reason you have dodged a bullet and move on. The right position will come along and you will be much happier. I sometimes 'test' candidates on the first interview. If they appear to be braggarts, I sit them down at a computer and ask them to demonstrate how to operate a certain computer program. Then I ask position specfic questions that they should know. I only had a small handful of candidates who did not know that they were talking about and thus left the interview at that point. You have to understand the hiring process. If you are sending good vibes to the hiring manager, you will be asked to return for another interview. If something didn't feel right, they will probably pass on you. That is how hiring managers are. | |
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