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Not sure how to feel...Is this a Red Flag?

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Not sure how to feel...Is this a Red Flag?

A few weeks ago, I applied for a senior-level role at an organization. Four days later, I received one of those annoying automated rejection emails. I was bummed but accepted defeat, mainly because I didn't waste my time interviewing. Two weeks ago, I received an email requesting to be interviewed from the same company that initially sent me the rejected message. When I reached out to the contact, I told them I was initially rejected and asked if I was still being considered. My prescreen is in 33 minutes, and I feel something but can't quite make anything of it. Is this a red flag, or should I chill out and proceed with my candidacy?

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  1. Megan Leasher

    Could be a red flag. Inquire more and see what they tell you about your initial rejection.

  2. Anonymous

    Update: It last roughly 6 mins out of 20mins, and they are in the first phase with prescreening candidates.

    I didn't ask why they decided to interview me after the initial rejection. If all goes well, I am assuming they will follow up.

  3. Anonymous

    Curious to know how screen goes. I'd not say anything about the rejection, but yes, it doesn't bode the best! There may be other issues with this company.

  4. Anonymous

    Update: It last roughly 6 mins out of 20mins, and they are in the first phase with prescreening candidates.

    I didn't ask why they decided to interview me after the initial rejection. If all goes well, I am assuming they will follow up.

  5. Liz Perry

    In your words, "Chill out and proceed with your candidacy."

    It could be that the company had someone in the pipeline (interview or offer process) and were anticipating that they were near the end of their recruitment cycle, then something fell through and they had to return to their candidate pool to continue the process.

    No company is going to waste their time interviewing anyone, so if you are contacted for an interview, they chose you for a reason.

    Good luck!

  6. Anonymous

    I would stay open to talk. What do you have to lose?

    Once you move into more seasoned interviews with senior leaders I would bring it up and see what they say about the messaging.

  7. Anonymous

    Update: It last roughly 6 mins out of 20mins, and they are in the first phase with prescreening candidates.
    I didn't ask why they decided to interview me after the initial rejection. If all goes well, I am assuming they will follow up.

  8. Shelly Edwards

    I'm glad you went through with the process. These automated candidate screens are not the greatest. I think for resume reviews, it is still best to review the candidates by human, not AI. I hope they follow up with you and you get to move forward in the process.

  9. Julie Humbird

    This happened to two of my colleagues. It was a mistake and the recruiter had no idea why a rejection email was sent. One got the rejection email shortly after scheduling the 2nd interview.

  10. Anonymous

    Should have never inquired and did the interview if it was scheduled. Because even if they intended to reject you, it still would have given you an opportunity to blow them away and crush your competition. Remember sometimes God works in mysterious ways.

  11. JC Lindquist

    Good luck! Sounds like they had a system issue.

  12. Anita Getz

    Definitely proceed with the process. If anything you gain experience with interviewing. Good luck

  13. Anonymous

    As I've guided many candidates within the recruiting world, this isn't a marriage, you're dating. If they offer you a free meal = to an interview, accept it graciously, learn what you can from them, express your best self, and if they want more of a relationship, they make an offer. If it suits your needs grab it. You are the driver.

  14. L

    In our system the hiring manager sees all the resumes that apply, recruiters are not all tech savvy and new recruiters will reject a candidate based on lacking key words that the hiring manager knows can just be described a different way and requests an interview.

  15. Shannon Wright

    That's similar to what I was going to say. Recruiters meet with the hiring manager that emphasizes X has to be a skill set in their resume so unknowingly decline.

  16. Anonymous

    i received a rejection letter in error, almost the same scenario, but got the call the same week. things happen, human errors happen, if you are interested in the job...go for it.

  17. Anonymous

    It could have just been a glitch or an honest mistake. I would move forward with the interview. The rejection might have been automated based on certain criteria but then when an actual human looked at your submission they realized they wanted to consider you. Or maybe someone very junior initially put your submission in the ‘rejection pile’ but then someone more experienced took a look and saw that they should interview you. In any case, go through with the interview process and then see how you feel.

  18. Sue Gordon- retired Career Coach

    Curious how it went? Any red flags in the prescreen? If not, go with the process and see what you feel after you've given it a chance.

    If it wasn't a new posting, it could also be that when you were "rejected" it was because they thought they'd made a hire, but then the person backed out for some reason (or failed a background check). So back to the pool they went. There are many reasonable explanations so not an immediate red flag.

  19. Shari

    I wouldn’t hold it against them. Good luck!

  20. Anonymous

    Something like this happened to me except I was contacted 2 months later when their original candidate decided not to take the position. So I decided not to go through with this interview because I didn’t want to be someone’s sloppy seconds. I saw it as a red flag. Hopefully during the pre-screen you noticed any additional things that made you uncomfortable or not.

  21. Melissa Verdoni

    wow , imagine thinking you are the ONLY valid candidate. get a grip , this is work , there are many qualified applicants and choices are hard to make , but it is NOT about sloppy seconds. with a comment like that i see WHY u were not first choice , unprofressionnal at best , petty is another desription when try to act a a job is a lover....

  22. Anonymous

    this is a good attitude to have if you want to lose out on opportunities.

    i was hiring for a role and had a final pool of five candidates—any of whom i would have been happy to hire. the candidate i ended up hiring left four days after starting bc she'd gotten an unexpected offer from a global company (we are a start up) she felt she couldn't refuse. i just offered the job to another candidate in my final group. i don't consider her sloppy seconds. she was just as, if not more, qualified for the job and i'd be just as happy to have her working with me.

  23. Mhairi Dunn

    Yeah I’d go through with it. It’s probably a hiring manager actually reading the cv vs the automated system. Good luck!

  24. Ashley Basilio

    Go fit it! Same thing happened to my husband twice with the same company. HR and the Hiring Manager are often not on the same page. Good luck!

  25. Christi Miller

    Go for it. Automated emails go out all the time by mistake. Good luck.

  26. GirlBossanova934974

    One word. Sloppy. That is what this company is telling you. Maybe it is an overriding theme with this company.......Maybe not. You will find out shortly.

  27. Anonymous

    I work in HR Recruiting Operations at a large financial institution. Especially now, we see candidates rejecting offers for various reasons. My suggestions is take advantage of every interview and prove you are the best candidate.

  28. Anonymous

    Head up, do the pre-screen, move on. If it had any merit, you'll see soon.

  29. Anonymous

    Just take the prescreen for what it is. ‘Prescreen’ which goes vice versa. We regret the chances we don’t take.

  30. Rachel C

    Working in HR for many years, I can tell you that HR people also make mistakes. Sending those automated emails could be a quick click of a button, or sometimes getting two names mixed up and rejecting the wrong person. I would assume that's what happened. I have also seen many times when the second choice "on paper" ended up being the first choice in the end. Hope your screening call went well!

  31. Anonymous

    Don't overthink this. Go with it.

  32. Crystal Howell

    It could have been a glitch,chill interview and smile.

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