What to make of this feedback?

Anonymous

July 27,2023 at 1:08PM UTC

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What to make of this feedback?

I applied for a job last week as a Program Officer. It's a role that I have two years of experience in with my previous employer before parting ways. Last night, I received a rejection email from where I applied for this new position stating that, basically, they were rejecting me because they felt the position was too junior for me and wouldn't offer adequate career growth and development for someone with my experience and credentials.

On the one hand, it's a lovely way to tell someone no thanks, but it's also a little frustrating as I have been applying for roles at this level and higher for a while now, and here I am still applying.

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AnonymousJuly 27,2023 at 1:50PM UTC
I think any kind of rejection notice would be frustrating, as would be ghosting.
I myself hate curtly worded emails that amount to "We will not be moving forward" that follow several days of writing cover letters, filling out ATS applications, coming up with questions for job interviews, going to those interviews and then trying to give good answers to questions while waiting for opportunities to ask my own questions, taking tests and personality assessments, sending thank-you emails after the interviews, going to callback interviews, and waiting however long for final answers. I hate even more finding out that the employer planned to promote an internal candidate or hire someone with a pre-existing relationship with the boss, but wasted the time interviewing me and other external candidates in order to appear "diverse" or "competitive" or attract government or other funding it couldn't otherwise get.
AnonymousJuly 27,2023 at 2:14PM UTC
I'm so sorry to hear you have had such a rough go.
AnonymousJuly 29,2023 at 3:01PM UTC
If you’re under 40 they’re probably afraid of you getting bored with the job and jumping ship when “something better comes along.” If you’re over 40, that’s almost textbook paraphrasing for “you’re too old.” I’m almost 60 and I’ve seen both so many times. And both stink. Something better is coming your way.
AnonymousJuly 29,2023 at 3:48PM UTC
Are you maybe undervaluing your skillset and applying for jobs junior? I find women often do this, I do this too. When I interview someone I do take that into consideration and may choose a different candidate based on my belief that someone is over qualiified and won't stick around.
Yes, it can be a nice way to brush you off but it may be the truth. That may be why you haven't gotten an offer yet. Take a good look at your skills and then apply for jobs where you have many but not all of the requested skills. Something that would challenge you a bit.
AnonymousJuly 29,2023 at 4:54PM UTC
Try reaching out directly to the head of the company. In fact write to the CEO, share the note and your resume and ask for a conversation because you are super interested in their company. If you don't hear back, let it go. I would bet you get a call from someone as a follow up. Good luck.
AnonymousJuly 30,2023 at 6:11AM UTC
Higher pay could be a reason to reject with an overqualified note. It happens. Apply for higher positions as well.
Caroline CastrillonJuly 31,2023 at 4:41PM UTC
I would take any feedback like this with a grain of salt. Employers rarely if ever give interviewees honest, direct feedback when they aren't selected for a role.
Grisel Scarantino, Career and Work-Life Fulfillment CoachAugust 21,2023 at 7:53PM UTC
Could you be selling yourself short? Was the position, in fact, too "junior" for you?
I'm also wondering if it's a role you were really excited about? Because if it wasn't, perhaps they read that about you in your body language or in the way you engaged with the interview.
I say that because when employers are considering candidates, they are also simultaneously looking at the risk of each candidate leaving the organization 6-12 months after stepping into the position. Turnover is expensive and they want to make a choice that in some ways mitigates this risk. So, it's possible that their feedback was honest. If they ascertained that career growth is important to you and they knew they couldn't give it to you, perhaps this was a blessing in disguise.
Just a little food for thought.
And one more tidbit... are the higher-level positions you're applying for also be too junior for you?
Keep applying for those higher-level roles!
AnonymousAugust 22,2023 at 6:04PM UTC
I'm in the nonprofit space, and I've been applying for Director level and above roles. I have 12 years of experience in the space and have held Director level roles for the last 8-9 years. I've participated in a few interview processes for Executive Director roles at small national and medium local nonprofits but often don't advance beyond the first few rounds of the process.
Grisel Scarantino, Career and Work-Life Fulfillment CoachAugust 22,2023 at 7:04PM UTC
How have you felt during the interview process? Feel free to connect with me here on FGB or LinkedIn if you’d rather have a more private conversation about this.