Tip No. 157
Q. I recently interviewed for a position as a resident counselor. It required a high school diploma. I have more than 1 year of college and a certificate in career advancement human services. The company said my qualification didn't suit the position. Is this a polite Kiss-off or is it because I'm an older person?
A. I am sorry to hear that you did not receive the job offer that you wanted so much; that is always disappointing. Without getting feedback from the interviewer, it is hard to know what the reason was that you were not the successful candidate. It could be for any number of reasons ranging from you possibly being over-qualified and they thought they couldn't afford you, to your being an older worker, to they already had someone in mind for the position, who had been referred to them by someone the interviewer knew. If you are over-qualified, it is sometimes difficult to convince a potential employer that you really want the position and that you won't be looking for something better if they offer you the job. This agency is most likely a non-profit business and they usually don't have the budgets to pay very competitive salaries, so if you discussed salary with them, they may have realized that they could not afford you and eliminated you from the slate of candidates before you had a chance to show them the contributions you could make and how much you wanted the position. Your best bet is to convince the interviewer that you have many valuable contributions to make, then give a specific example of how you can help them solve their business needs. If the person selected for the position was referred by someone the interviewer knows, you would have a difficult time competing with that person, because they already come with a recommendation by someone the interviewer trusts. You are already aware that you made some mistakes and I am sure you will learn from them so that you do not find yourself in a similar situation again. I would suggest that you pick up a copy of Martin Yate's Knock 'Em Dead to learn more about successful interviewing and all the ins and outs of the interviewing process. Yate also discusses "Snatching Victory from the Jaws of Defeat" and how you might try to convince them to give you a chance on a trial basis to show them that you are the person for the job. Who knows whether the letter you received was a "polite kiss-off" or their true sentiments. Again, without further feedback, you cannot tell. Since they have stated that they will keep your application, I suggest you contact them periodically to see if they do have a need for someone with your background. Also, since they were impressed with your abilities and accomplishments, you may want to see if you could network with them and ask them where they would see someone with your abilities and accomplishments fitting into the marketplace. Then ask them for the names of two or three people who would be helpful to you in exploring those types of opportunities. This is a way for you to find out more, get some assistance from them, and further your career by learning more about other areas where you may find satisfying employment. Best of luck as you continue to pursue career opportunities.
CMI Career Management International
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