Last month, I started interviewing with my all-time dream company. I got through the first stage and got a project to work on. In their own words, they were very very impressed and wanted to schedule a debriefing with the Head of Marketing and the CEO. The debriefing is the final stage before the reference check and all that. However, that day was terrible for me. There was a huge storm so my internet was crazy, someone from back at home kept calling my mobile and had called me 40 TIMES! So I thought something bad happened back home because of the storm. My anxieties kicked in and I kept stuttering my answers out. In hindsight, I should have rescheduled or reached out immediately after for a second call, but any overthinker here knows that the brain already provided lots of what ifs to counter that! As expected, yesterday, they reached out that they won't be moving forward even though I was in the top 1% because my answers weren't informative enough. I love that company. It is hard to see myself working elsewhere. They have my dream product, my dream team, I would be honored to write for them. I have content plans going as far as Q4 in my head for them. I have wanted this for a long time and it's just gone??? I can't take that. I am about to go and stalk the Head of Marketing on LinkedIn. I need advice before I go overboard. Help!?
I know I deserve another chance and I DONT want to settle for less
Jannay·May 06, 2022Jannay·May 06, 2022I’m so sorry you went through that.You can try and reach out and explain the situation and see if you can get a do-over.I know this is your dream job, but it might not be. You won’t actually know this until you started working there.Even if they say no to you, you did everything you can to show you are the right candidate. If they don’t understand the extenuating circumstances during your last interview, I’m not sure I would want to work there. Things happen in life and we need to be a little more forgiving. Please don’t beat yourself up over this. Fortunately for you, I’m sure there are lots of other fantastic companies will see you as a great addition to the team.
You are right Jannay, I really should stop beating myself up. I will reach out once on the grounds of giving it my all but that will be it. Thank you for the kind words. Who knows, the universe might just be protecting me from something.
ceskin·May 06, 2022ceskin·May 06, 2022Honestly, I am such a believer of the "universe might just be protecting me from something" mentality. I'm not religious, but looking back on some closed doors, it all made sense and was for the best.Totally worth it reaching out one more time, but just remember - you had a bad day and they made the call based on that, not based on ALL of the other things you did right. What does that say about how they'll treat you once you're there?
Exactly! I had the chance to listen to the universe in the past, about a role, but didn’t listen. I eventually left. Sometimes, the companies we think we want are simply not right for us.
I would write a well thought out letter to the hiring manager and cc the CEO. Tell them that day was a struggle for you and that you really hope they will give you the opportunity to try once again to prove why not hiring you is going to hold them back-creatively word it that way. Tell them about the storm and that your concern for your family during that storm took your mind elsewhere during the pre-planned meeting. If they don't give you a chance chalk it up to the fact that if you had a difficult day after they did hire you that is how they would behave. Dreams are often not reality at work so move on if this goes nowhere. Good luck!
Thank you to everyone who responded. I feel so much better and I am no longer stuck on the perspective that I lost my dream job. Because honestly I lost nothing. Thank you everyone. Really.
The advice I always get is I can try again if there's an opening in 6 months. It's terrible advice but it'sThe advice I always get is I can try again if there's an opening in 6 months. I hate when I get that for a response when I'd rather have the job or a redo.
@Emilie40 I think you can definitely send a very specific, thoughtful, authentic, clear email explaining what happened, what you learned from it, re-answer some of the questions you fumbled, and suggest the next steps (another call perhaps). BTW, I'm Rachel, a Career Coach (iamwoken.com), and I offer a ton of free videos and blogs on my website here - iamwoken.com/resources. For anyone who is a) seeking clarity on your best fit/ideal career path or next step/direction, b) debating upskiling opportunities, c) improving your personal branding, d) pursuing a strategic job search or e) advancing along their path and navigating their current workplace, that's what I help with! Let me know if you'd like a free initial career coaching call --> calendly.com/woken/demo
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