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I work for a state institution, for whatever that is worth. I am wondering if I have the right to ask my HR department why I wasn't chosen as a final candidate for a job opening within this institution. It was a lateral move and I was encouraged by the dept. powers that be (not hiring managers) to apply. We're talking a dept of 10 people. You can imagine my shock when I wasn't chosen for the job.
Its our nature to ask why on things, it could be the most stupid reason ever and still wonder why. I hate it much as the next person does, but a good honest feedback wont hurt and you can put a disclaimer on it to cover you or the company on the reason why.
It gives the appearance of a sore loser. I wouldn't bother, you could gain little if anything from any feedback they gave.....and they'd likely not give you a reason.
I tried posing that question too back when I was searching, and I always got some super lame BS along the lines of, "we just need someone more in line with our requirements".
Well DUH! I obviously wasn't "in line" with what they were looking for, hence me being turned away; what I'm asking is, WHAT ABOUT ME is it that wasn't what they were looking for?! All they do is just rephrase your rejection without one iota of useful information. I never got anywhere. I hope I'm never looking for another job again, but if I ever find myself in that situation, I'm not going to bother trying to solicit any feedback. It's an act in futility.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
44,585 posts, read 81,206,701 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Suburban_Guy
You have the right to ask anything you want.
What rule is there stating that any employee or applicant must never ask why they were not chosen for a position?
That said if I were you I'd let it go. I know you won't, but just, let it go.
You'll never be happy whatever reason you are given, and you sound like someone that might even take it further (lawsuit, etc.).
I've been turned down many times for lateral positions, and never asked why.
Yes, but don't expect an honest, helpful answer. The "safe" answer is usually given, something like "we went with someone that we thought was better qualified." That is usually true, but is also a way to cover up illegal discrimination, or something like the hiring manager not liking the person's appearance or personality.
What is so bad? You were fighting 9 other people. It's not exactly a winning hand. You don't know what tricks the other applicants had up their sleeves or who they knew. You had a 1 in 10 chance. You blew it. What a surprise!
How can anyone guarantee a win in that situation? They can't. It's impossible to do so. And yet you're still feeling bad about it? How could you have possibly won?
Don't feel bad for losing, feel good for trying. That's what it's all about.
We can feel good all we want. I care about what was i missing that you was looking for and didnt advertise it?
That is what i like to know, so i can better my self and chances at the next one. Did i had too much experience, not enough, missing a skillset, was it my looks, attitude. Give a recommend feedback to a person to help them find that next job. You can tell them, sorry we went with another canidate because he had a Net+ while you only had a A+, and that is what we need. I would be like, ok now i need to go and get a Net+ because my next interview might be look for that too.
They won't tell you the truth, anyway, probably. For instance, one of the hiring managers may be bffs with the one they hired, or maybe they just liked him/her better. They're not going to tell you that. Maybe the one they hired is moving up, and that makes more sense to the hiring managers. Maybe they think it's pointless to do a lateral move, that maybe you wouldn't be happy with a lateral move.
One thing I've learned over decades working: Who you know and how well you are liked matter much more than work quality or education (unless the job requires a certain level of education).
I interviewed for jobs and got them right away. Why? Not sure. I interviewed for jobs that I thought I was perfectly suited for and would fit in, but didn't get the job. Why? I don't know. It happens.
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