I’ve been going on rounds and rounds of interviews since May of 2022, in some instances, getting as far as the final round, only to be told “we regret to inform you that we’ve decided to go with another candidate.” I have more interviews lined up and I continue forward with my job search, but this is disheartening, to say the least.

20 Comments

1. AnonymousSeptember 10,2022 at 3:25PM UTC

   Quick question - how do you know it’s the final round? Perhaps they promoted from within or had someone in mind already and are just going through the motions for compliance sake (nothing on your part here that you can do). I’ve had the same thing happen to me. It takes a lot of people to come to the decision on whom to hire and sometimes it’s luck or timing. Is there anything on your resume or profile that you can change to tailor to each role? Recommend reaching out to your network as sometimes firms hire but don’t have postings. Finally, take a deep deep breath and I promise it will work out. You’re clearly on the right path if you’re making it that far in the interview cycle.

2. AnonymousSeptember 10,2022 at 4:40PM UTC

   I know it’s the final round because they’ll tell me and let me know they’ll be making their decision within X amount of days. You are absolutely right about firms ending up promoting from within; I have definitely given that some thought! Thank you for the encouragement. I know the right role will be offered to me at the right time, it’s just been discouraging!

3. AnonymousSeptember 10,2022 at 5:02PM UTC

   I totally get it. I searched for 1.5 yrs before I found a role and quit my job. Try doing some free courses in the meantime to not only boost your resume but get your mind off of the interviews.

4. RaquelSeptember 10,2022 at 4:05PM UTC

   Hi There! Hard to say w/o knowing your excperience BUT some things you might want to try are 1. State your answers to a peer or someone in your industry and ask them for feedback on your responses. 2. Record yourself answering and give yourself feedback 3. Are there specific skills you would acquire via udemy, linkedin , etc to stand out- like quick certificate to up your credentials -- Check out Tiktok account like @careercoachcid or other career accounts for tips! hope that helps!

5. AnonymousSeptember 10,2022 at 4:41PM UTC

   These are great tips, I’ll be sure to get feedback from industry folks as well as record myself!

6. Crystal HowellSeptember 10,2022 at 4:16PM UTC

   Keep sending resumes that meet the qualifications stated on the job description. Seek a resume writer (Top Resume) helped me. Good Luck

7. AnonymousSeptember 10,2022 at 6:26PM UTC

   I've been job searching since June and it's a tough out there. While people say it's a hot job market, there's been a lot of layoffs and cancellations that are making companies postpone or rethink hiring.

   I'm getting interviews as well and while I get frustrated, it only takes one offer to change things. Keep pushing, making connections, reaching out to recruiters / hiring managers and don't forget to target people that are currently working for your preferred companies. Connections go a long way and you have an 'in' you might hear about a job before it's listed. Use each interview to redefine your pitch, utilize multiple platforms and above all, take care of yourself. I know firsthand the daily struggles. Sending positive vibes your way and don't give up! You got this!

8. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistSeptember 11,2022 at 1:02AM UTC

   It's a very competitive job market - made more so by remote work. Candidates are now competing with a larger - sometimes global - pool of candidates.

   The good news is you're getting interviews and making it to multiple - even final rounds.

   I would recommend you make sure you're letting them know how interested in the position you are. When ending the interview make sure you're conveying "I'm very, very interested in this position and would love the opportunity to contribute to your team".

   Make sure you echo this in your thank you emails - you can add in a few details there as to how you would contribute. During the interview, find out what their pain points are and address how you can help with those.

   One thing I recommend to candidates is to tape themselves asking themselves questions and then answering them. I promise you, that answer will sound a whole lot better the 10th time you say it than the first.

   This will allow you to edit your answers to precisely get across what you want. I used to practice in the car, in the shower. Doing this can help improve your confidence if you get nervous or help you stay on point if you sometimes ramble.

   And please make sure you listen and answer the question you were asked. I've had candidates talk for 5 minutes and not answer the question I asked them.

   Also, make sure you have good questions to ask.

   Please let me know if you have any questions. GOOD LUCK!!!!!!

9. AnonymousSeptember 11,2022 at 6:08PM UTC

   This is great advice, thank you! Will definitely start recording my answers to listen back on. Do you have any suggestions on good questions to ask the interviewers? I have a couple I ask at every interview, but I welcome any others! For added context, I’m in the HR industry.

10. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistSeptember 11,2022 at 8:17PM UTC

    The google is your friend but here are some from my running list that I keep (some of these are repetitive):

    — Why do people leave this company, your team, this role?

    — How would your team describe your leadership style and the senior leadership team?

    — What are the unspoken rules of work at this company?

    What was a recent change made based on employee feedback? How did was the change received? What impact did it have?

    FROM INC:

    1. "What have past employees done to succeed in this position?"

    2. "How do you evaluate success in this role?"

    3. "How do you see the company growing over the next few years?"

    4. "I read about your CEO in Inc. magazine. Can you tell me more about this?"

    5. "What's one of the most interesting projects or opportunities that you've worked on?"

    what does it take to be successful here?

    I read on Linkedin that you have been in your current role for x, can you tell me from your perspective what the top priorities of this role are?

    Work in:

    Can you tell me how this role supports you and what you would need from this person to best support you and your priorities?

    ***What resources are available to the recruiting teams

    ***How would you describe your company culture

    Can You Share Data On The Organization's Diversity?

    **Can you share a bit about what your efforts around DEI look like?

    Before taking a job offer, it’s worth asking: do I want to become more like the people here?

    Why is this position open?

    “Thinking back to people you’ve seen do this work previously, what differentiated the ones who were good from the ones who were really great at it?”

    “How would you describe the culture here? What type of people tend to really thrive here, and what type don’t do as well?”

    “What do you like about working here?”

    “What’s your timeline for next steps?”

    What will a person get to learn in this role?

    “How will you measure the success of the person in this position?”

    “What are some of the challenges you expect the person in this position to face?”

    “Can you describe a typical day or week in the job?”

    “How long did the previous person in the role hold the position? What has turnover in the role generally been like?”

    “What are you hoping this person will accomplish in their first six months and in their first year?”

    How do you deliver feedback?

    What would you say employees like most about working for this company?

    Is this a new role that was recently created? What are your expectations for someone hired in this role?

    — Tell me about the most recent challenge this team faced. Who was involved? What was at stake? How were decisions made/by whom? What were the results? How did the team feel about the situation and how it was handled? Hindsight being 20/20, what did you learn and what would you do differently?

    Please let me know if you have any questions and keep us posted. GOOD LUCK!

11. Mary0612September 11,2022 at 1:22PM UTC

    Don’t show desperation for any job. That never works out. You need to be very confident and project that you and the company are on equal footing, that it is the company who is lucky to have you. During the interviews, answer their questions but make sure you interview them as well in equal measure. Only go for jobs you truly want. This worked for me and landed my job on first try with a global company!

12. Jennifer FingerSeptember 11,2022 at 6:33PM UTC

    Unfortunately, trying not to appear "desperate" can get you not hired because you "didn't appear sufficiently enthusiastic and confident."

13. AnonymousSeptember 11,2022 at 2:07PM UTC

    Hang in there. The right people and role are out there. You just haven't found each other yet. I got a lot of interviews over the course of 5 months and ended up with 4 offers in the span of 2 weeks, but it took a lot of intestinal fortitude and perseverance. Every morning, I had to get into the mindset of excitement of what the future held. Keep going. You're going to get a great job!

14. Jackie GhedineSeptember 12,2022 at 11:37AM UTC

    It's a really good sign if you are going to the final round often. It isn't that you are losing the job, it is just that someone else got the job.

    The job search is one of the toughest things we have to go through because it is so ambiguous. You know what you're supposed to do or say but. you never know what the person is really looking for in a candidate.

    When I work with clients, I always have them think about all their success. Unfortunately, we equate interview success with getting the job and that is like equating batting success with a grand slam every time. It isn't realistic. Instead, praise yourself for every milestone in the process, every advancement to the next level. Reflect on what small improvements you might make and how powerful your answers were.

    The last thing I would say is make sure your answers are succinct and specific. Hit your main point home for each answer, confidently communicate the immediate impact you can make in the company and know your worth.

15. Jennifer TaylorSeptember 12,2022 at 2:04PM UTC

    Be patient. Most job searches last 6 months or longer. It took me almost two years to find a full-time job. I worked in contract positions that gave me much-needed confidence, skills, and income.

    In your interviews, remain upbeat, focused and confident. Ask the hard questions, "what is your team's greatest challenge right now" and "how will I make an impact in the first 60 days?"

    Make sure you are the stand-out candidate by giving them a nugget of inspiration about you.

    Most of all, don't lose faith in yourself. Each "no" brings you to the final "yes."

16. Lesa Edwards, Career Coach & Master Resume WriterSeptember 12,2022 at 2:56PM UTC

    As a career coach who specializes in the job search, I tell my clients to expect the following:

    10 applications = 1 interview

    10 interviews = 1 job offer

    It may be that your expectations are:

    1 final round interview = should get job offer

    While I can't say if there's anything you could do differently in your interviews, I can suggest you give yourself a pat on the back for getting any interviews...and recognize that you'll likely need to go through several before getting any offers. Hope this helps!

17. AnonymousSeptember 12,2022 at 3:21PM UTC

    This is so tough! As someone in the same position and have seen colleagues move on to AMAZING jobs and offers-- it is really draining and hard emotionally/mentally. I keep saying that the right position will come at the right time. Keep applying, message recruiters, reach out to contacts, etc. Be persistent and fingers crossed it will pay off!

18. AnonymousSeptember 12,2022 at 11:42PM UTC

    My heart goes out to you! It truly is draining, but I will keep powering forward.

19. Maegan, Nike Sales Rep & Career CoachSeptember 12,2022 at 4:43PM UTC

    Are you strongly positioning your strengths/experiences and how they will bring unique value to the role ?
    Happy to dive in further with you if you want to set up a consult call with me : https://maeganmillercoaching.as.me/consultcall

20. AnonymousSeptember 15,2022 at 1:37PM UTC

    That's tough!
    And really frustrating when you are among the finalist and then get the bad news.
    I'll quote Tara Mohr 'feedback says more about who's giving you the feedback and the context than about yourself'.
    Don't let those past instances discourage you, there's so much you can offer!

    https://www.taramohr.com/tools-and-inspiration-for-playing-bigger/some-loving-reminders-about-feedback/