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I’m getting frustrated with job search and almost losing hope.

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Anonymous

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I’m getting frustrated with job search and almost losing hope. I have interviewed a few times, the hiring managers say how impressed they are and some have said they’ll move me forward to the next step. Then silence…after several follow ups, they say they moved on with another candidate. I’m starting to take it personal and think I’m getting rejected because of my skin color. The last interview I attended was organized by a recruitment agency and once I walked into the hiring manager’s office, she couldn’ t hide her ‘shock’ at seeing me. She looked at me from head to toe but I decided to ignore that and focus on the interview. Needless to say the recruited got back to me a few days later with feedback that “I interviewed well, had the skills and experience they needed” but they’ve decided to move on with someone else. I have a feeling there was something else that was said but the recruiter couldn’t tell me. I’m I over reacting about my skin color being a factor or this is the reality?

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  1. Anonymous

    The Market is extremely tough for everyone right now. Of course bias exists but I'm not certain that is 100% the issue here.

  2. Anonymous

    I'm going to shoot from the hip. If you noticed someone with a shocked look, ask yourself, did I wear the appropriate clothes for an interview, do I have an unusual and maybe not a very conservative approach to my interviewing outfit, my hair color, my jewelry? I'm happy to share it's not your skin color. But it's usually something that doesn't reflect an interview-type of outfit. Or you walked in with your personal business hanging out, like a short skirt or a low cut shirt. If you walked in with a suit, and you looked conservative (as in interview outfit conservative) then they wouldn't have a shocked look. But if you walked in and you didn't look well kempt, this could be why. I've hired many many in my years in recruiting and in my current role. I've done tons of mock interviews as well. Big feather earrings, for example, are distracting, cute but distracting in interviews. If you tell me what you wore, how you looked I'll do my absolute best to help you. But I cannot fathom anyone had a shocked look on their face based on skin color.

  3. Anonymous

    Thanks for the response. I was interviewing for an admin position in a high end furniture store and the clientelle is high net worth so I had been advised to dress to impress and I did that. I was formally dressed in pants, blouse, high heels , had a handbag, subtle makeup, hair in a bun and minimal perfume. I was dressed for the role.

  4. Anonymous

    That's incredibly odd. I have a feeling they thought someone else was interviewing and got their wires crossed. Maybe they expected a male to walk in. You dressed to impress and what you wore wasn't a shock value. I would go to the recruitment office and go look, I did my very best but this last interview, what were they expecting? Why the shocked look on their faces? It made me uncomfortable and I didn't find it comforting at all. See if they can get feedback. You sound very professional so it could be you have a crappy recruiter. I recruited for years and had very diverse candidates. All shapes, sizes, cultures, ethnicities and never one time did anyone share that sort of feedback. Something just seems off. I think the common denominator is your recruiter, not you.

  5. Anonymous

    The hiring manager, not the recruiter, had the adverse reaction. This screams of bias, especially considering she dressed exactly as directed and did not overdo anything.

  6. Anonymous

    Off the bat, I wouldn’t jump to skin color as the reason for the shocked look. I suggest reaching out to the recruiter you worked with for that role. Ask them if they could provide more details on why you were not selected to move forward. If they’re in your city - suggest meeting up for coffee. It might provide more insight.

  7. Anonymous

    Thanks. I’ll do that

  8. Anonymous

    Agree except for the coffee meet.

  9. Anonymous

    The EEOC isn't going to take a case where someone has a hurt feeling and wasn't chosen from a recruiting agency open house event. Get real!

  10. Laura

    Have you held a mock interview with someone with interviewing experience? If not, this may be something to look into. There is something holding you back from getting offers even though you are landing interviews. Having someone with recruiting/hiring experience run you through a taped mock interview and provide their feedback may help uncover areas you weren't even aware of. Good luck!!

  11. Tiasha Stevenson

    If I don’t get an opportunity I really wanted I candidly ask the recruiter or hiring team if there’s anything I could have done differently to secure the role. They are often honest & upfront. It ranges from you’re good at A,B, & C, but we decided we wanted a C specialist; or your salary expectations were too high; or we just met someone who we could not say no to. To the last one I looked up the person they hired & she was spectacular - a way better fit for the role than me.

    So be encouraged. Gather data, optimize & keep pressing for the opportunity that will fit you.

  12. Lilye Stallworth Chaffin

    Don’t get discouraged. Your current job is looking for a job/career. You never know when it will all fall into place.

  13. Anonymous

    There are some interviews skills courses.

  14. Anonymous

    Think about it this way: what would it have been like to work there if the company that reacted the way they did in your post, and this was how they feel about people of color? Trust me, you do not want to work there, so you dodged a serious workplace issue. You are doing things right, and there will be a company that cares more about your skills and experience than anything else.

    By the way, I have had the same reactions, not because of my skin color but because of my age. Having two Master's degrees and a doctorate since 2006 made them think I was much younger, but I was 50 when I got my first Master's degree. Keep plugging, you're doing many things right. You may want to talk with a friend or mentor about helping you practice your interview skills and observing your body language when these issues arise, as that may be part of any adjustments you need to make. I know my face speaks much louder than my voice, and I was unaware of that for a long time until someone pointed it out to me.

  15. Anonymous

    The job market is simply terrible currently. Keep looking. I'm caucasian and experiencing the very same reaction and feedback. If anything, in my experience, companies seem to favor the person of color over me. So no. I doubt it is about the color of your skin.

  16. Anonymous

    Oh brother... NO to contacting the EEOC! Be realistic. Job market is tough this year!

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