Wednesday 13 March 2013

Dealing With Rejection… During an Interview

Looking for a co-op or internship is a lot like dating. You dress up, you meet new people in your field, and you try to convince them to pick you by highlighting the qualities that they are looking for. Sometimes things don’t work out. And whether it’s after the first meeting or the last round before making it official, getting rejected from a job opportunity you really wanted hurts. Here’s my horror story:

When I entered college I was an industrial engineering major interested in consulting. My freshman year I had an interview with a company I was really excited about. The on-campus interview went wonderfully. The interviewer seemed as excited as I was about the possibility of me coming to work for their company, and I got an email inviting me to interview at their offices the next week. I was told during my initial interview that they were continuing the process with the top four candidates from the on-campus interviews, so naturally I was ecstatic.

I arrived at the company’s offices dressed to impress and eager to please. After being called into the interview room, I met with the person I had interviewed with on campus. He was excited to see me and dove right into the first part of the interview. That part went as well as the on campus one had, and my heart was racing in the best possible way. I was one conversation away from landing a consulting gig at 18 that would lead me to what I imagined would be a glamorous career in consulting. The door opened and a middle aged man walked into the room. He gave his name, his position within the organization, and a bit about himself and where he went to school. He took one look at my resume and snorted at my GPA (3.4). Then he asked me, “What leadership roles have you held?” I started listing my roles from high school, and he stopped me. “What have your leadership roles been in college?” I paused. I had a leadership position in one of the clubs, but it was more of a prep position because the guy who held it was graduating that spring. As I thought about how to respond, my interviewer got up, walked out, and slammed the door.

I cried when I got back to my dorm after the interview. I was scared, scared that I was not employable despite having a good GPA from the #1 IE program in the country. What was wrong with me? What made me less desirable than the other girls on my floor, who by that time had all secured co-ops and internships with great companies? It wasn’t until I had landed a job with another company that I figured out it was him, not me. Like in dating, everyone is looking for something different. Some people are super picky, and there’s no sure-fire way to get around that. Just because you get rejected doesn’t mean you will end up alone or unemployed. The best thing to do is to dry clean your suit, practice your lines, and get back out there. When the right position comes along, you (and your new employer) will know. And then you’ll be so glad it didn’t work out between you and What’s-Their-Name.

This article was written by Virginia Dobson. She is a 4th electrical engineering student and in the honors program at Georgia Tech. She has done three coop rotations and was asked by her employer to do a fourth term with a major automation firm. As well, Virginia Dobson has experience in interviewing potential coop candidates with her bosses.

9 comments:

  1. this is what every newcomer says...even i did....!...but eventually you learn and fake it..hehehehehehe

    ReplyDelete
  2. I had somewhat of a similar issue. It really ticked me off, too, because from what I had understood in the interview, the position was all mine (even one of my interviewers had said "When you come to work here..."), and then, two months later, I received the "Thanks but no thanks" phone call. I was seriously upset and had a hard time coming to grips with it. But, a few months later, I had the opportunity to chase my dream job - and I got it (and I moved across the country)!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Very informative post thanks for share this with us i highly appreciate you for this information thanks once again for sharing information like this Very informative post Thanks for sharing with you, I appreciate this information thank you again for sharing information like this!.............:)
    Data Logging

    ReplyDelete
  4. This is the bitter truth we all face in our life. How we can have experience until we doon't find any job?? Same story sir ad what i can say we mostly rejected just because of this particular sentence. Well people should never waste their time so keep writing and have http://www.cheapresumewritingservices.net/services/cheap-cover-letter-writing-service/ for more help.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Writing resume is necessary for applying in particular field. You must consider best resume as your priority which will enable you to get dream job. I'm working on http://www.rnresume.net/our-services/rn-resume-writing-service/nurse-practitioner-resume/ for those students who is the fresher of the nurse field.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Businessman wants to make their profile up-to-date. Because they attract the attention of the customer and then they'll advertise their product. Here is my site http://www.liprofilewriter.com/upload-resume-in-linkedin-or-not-the-experts-view/ just come and get benefit.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Good site, The pending issues should be settled now and potentially these issues will take some main problems. I am looking forward and need to comprehend this check it and it is helpful for the all inclusive community.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Good post, This video cut is nearly nothing yet gives the basic information and now and again you didn't see such kind of the video. I consistently observe this performance and this visit the website scene was excessively awesome. You should post about the product designing accounts since I require these chronicles.

    ReplyDelete