Lost out on a job because I was going on a short vacation.

Jos Waller

March 9,2024 at 6:15PM UTC

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Lost out on a job because I was going on a short vacation. Has this happened to any of you FGBers currently looking? I couldn't cancel because of non-refundable tickets, and was told that we could have an in-person interview when I got back. I was gone Thursday and Friday then flying back on the weekend so I thought that things were fine. Ha, that wasn't the case. Got an email on the Thursday of my vacation that they went with someone else, with the excuse that the chosen one had better technical skills. More likely this person was able to do a 2nd interview while I was gone. I'm so done with this bs since this was the first time since the summer that I have taken a break with my partner. I'm going to apply with a temp agency next week and hopefully that will break my loosing streak.

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AnonymousMarch 9,2024 at 7:59PM UTC
Two things:
1. Any guarantee the offer was going happen had you skipped the vacation?
2. If they said it was OK to interview upon returning and then they changed the process, do you want to work for people like this?
AnonymousMarch 10,2024 at 2:01AM UTC
You apparently dodged a bullet. If they had been trying to recruit you, they would have been on their best behavior. If this is a sample of that behavior, think how much worse it would be if you worked for them and needed to take a vacation!
Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistMarch 9,2024 at 8:12PM UTC
I'm sorry you weren't selected, but can you please explain why you believe you lost out on this position because you took a short vacation instead of that someone else was better qualified.
I've been recruiting for a very long time and I've never had a hiring manager say "I'm not hiring that person because they can't interview until next week instead of on Thursday".
Why would a hiring manager purposely choose someone less technically proficient?
AnonymousMarch 9,2024 at 8:30PM UTC
It happens in some public sector positions when they have a hiring panel that interviews candidates on a specific date. If you can't make that date, you're out of consideration.
Outside of public sector roles, I've never heard of that happening.
AnonymousMarch 9,2024 at 8:43PM UTC
You are correct. Some large private firms as well to elude a sense of fairness.
Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistMarch 10,2024 at 4:56AM UTC
So the hiring manager purposely chooses someone less technically proficient, a less qualified candidate?
Jobseekers are always saying they want feedback and this applicant was provided feedback - and is choosing to ignore it and instead believe something that doesn't even make any sense.
AnonymousMarch 9,2024 at 9:49PM UTC
Because some hiring managers are impatient jerks and would rather hire someone who is in front of their faces than wait and be- gasp- inconvenienced.
AnitaMarch 9,2024 at 9:14PM UTC
The organization may have had an internal candidate that was likely to get the position and it would not have mattered if you were available or not.
AnonymousMarch 9,2024 at 11:46PM UTC
That’s likely a company that you wouldn’t want to work for anyway. Life and God have a way of working itself out as I believe things happen for a reason.
AnonymousMarch 10,2024 at 1:07PM UTC
So you are assuming it’s because you went away for two days but you don’t know gay for a fact? The hiring process takes so long these days, I really doubt two days made a difference. Don’t let it weigh you down. There are good reasons for the way things happen in life. Trust the process.
AnonymousMarch 11,2024 at 3:18PM UTC
Could you have done your interview in a hotel on vacation or were you in transit, flying?
Timing was off, it probably wasn’t meant to be anyway if they can’t be flexible for few days
Jos WallerMarch 15,2024 at 6:13PM UTC
OP here. They wanted me to come in person for a second interview, unfortunately.
AnonymousMarch 11,2024 at 4:30PM UTC
Timing is everything in a job search, the timing just didn't work out. Don't dwell on it move forward and keep upbeat!
Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistMarch 11,2024 at 5:10PM UTC
That's not true. Per the original post, the company gave the OP feedback: they told her they had hired someone who "had better technical skills".
AnonymousMarch 15,2024 at 12:28PM UTC
They could have already decided on an internal candidate but had to interview externally based on company policy. They likely squeezed in somebody else while you were away. It's their loss. Hopefully, a temp agency can find you a temp-to-hire position in your career field. Good luck with the search!
Jos WallerMarch 15,2024 at 6:12PM UTC
OP here, thank you everyone for your input. The tight time line definitely points to them having a candidate already picked out and them just going through the motions. Really the only technical stuff they asked about was my proficiency in Word, if I had managed listservs before and worked with updating websites. I said yes to all three. They were also impressed with my work record which as far as I'm concerned is just cheap talk. Hopefully I will get something out of temping again