[Closed] Best reasons to be turned down for a job...

Same evey time

"far too sexy for the other staff to concentrate" 🙁

"I know him"

Application for a teaching post (head of ICT with management points available)- I got whittled down to the last 2 but didn't get the job.

Asked for feedback afterwards and got told that I taught a better lesson than the other guy but did not interview as well 😕

Posting in the bike section rather than chat?

Too business/results focussed for a role in public sector. Got turned down as they thought I would get frustrated by the slow pace and paper shuffling they have to deal with.

Didn't get the job as they didn't believe I did everything I did for such a low wage - they thought I'd go a bit mental with the hike in wages I'd get...

Curses. Wrong forum.

Mods!

Kept getting told in multiple interviews many years ago that I wouldn't work for the businesses in question for very long as I'd want to go back to lecture at college.

I was really desperate to get out of education and still not gone back over 20 years later.

The last 'proper' interview I had, about 10 years ago, I was told by the regional manager that although she would love to offer me the job there and then I'd be better off stopping where I was as the benefits were better and they couldn't pay me what I was worth. 😯

OS graduate scheme feedback from their Hr team many moons back was 'wow, I don't know why we didn't offer you a place, you've scored really well on everything.' Gee thanks guys.

Obvious stuff on my cv

Eh? Was the job a pay rise? Crazies be crazy.

I've been in the position of hiring once or twice before.. And I've had to get my own new job a few times.. It's pretty weird.. You get some people making extraordinary demands from both sides.

[i]The application had asked for all sensitive equal opportunities information to be removed from the required CV.
I had removed this from my CV, as asked, but including a picture of myself on my CV meant that I had shown them I was white.
I was booted out at first sift as I had breached the 'no sensitive equal opportunities information' request. The head of department 'cannot go against HR'.[/i]

Poor attention to detail then.

[i]Too business/results focussed for a role in public sector. Got turned down as they thought I would get frustrated by the slow pace and paper shuffling they have to deal with. [/i]

Had this a few years ago.

Most common one for me (once past 40 y/o) was "too experienced"...

Either my first or second teaching interview during my PGCE, I was told that I was considered 'too safe a pair of hands'. They went with someone who had taught a worse lesson, but who was considered 'more exciting' - their exact words.
I found out later from a friend who got a job there, that they were so 'exciting', that they had copped off with a 6th former and left after 6 months.

I was turned down for a trainee position with yorkshire water because they thought i was too clever for that role so they put me forward for another position that might be better suited. I didnt get that job and ended up unemployed for another 12 months!

Just make sure to mention you're a Mongolian transgender lesbian..

The public sector will fall all over themselves to give you a job.

Found out about an interview less than 24 hours before, in the middle of packing my family's belongings into a van to move house. At the interview I explained the situation, admitting to being unprepared due to my life being in boxes and the short notice. Didn't get the job due to not being prepared enough for the interview! Words escape me.......

I was psychologically assessed and was incomparable with the organisations mission statement....I was classed as a social anarchist.

Found out about an interview less than 24 hours before, in the middle of packing my family's belongings into a van to move house. At the interview I elained the situation, admitting to being unprepared due to my life being in boxes and the short notice. Didn't get the job due to not being prepared for the interview! Words escape me.......

So presumably someone had applied for the job on your behalf?

Through an agency, so yes, in a manner of speaking.

I think we've all buggered up applications / interviews over the years - I certainly have. I just don't think it's useful to convince yourself that you've somehow been treated unfairly.
BUT if interviewers are so naive as to try to fob candidates off with numpty excuses for why you were unsuccessful, then you probably don't want to work for them anyway.
A stock answer of their being stronger candidates is the only feedback that should ever be given IMHO.

Not me, and not an actual job, but a couple years ago the Loon was on JSA and was being chivvied to take that unpaid however many months long 'work experience'. So he dutifully went to see the shipping company he was being steered to. But failed to get taken on. The reason? Not enough experience.....

I was psychologically assessed and was incomparable with the organisations mission statement....I was classed as a social anarchist.

I'd take that as compliment 🙂

The application had asked for all sensitive equal opportunities information to be removed from the required CV.

That's the way it should be IMO, I'm happy to fill a form after I've been rejected or hired but not before so never do.

Never had a ridiculous interview rejection but have had BS reasons at the application stage. Being less experienced than the younger guy with less qualifications, less time in the company and less competencies. Or more likely not moving in the right social circles.

#nepotismohnonothingtoseeherenevermettheguyhonest

A while back when I was applying for a graduate scheme I went through various stages (Tests) made it through to an online maths test and promptly scored 100%, was told I was not a suitable candidate and not given the chance to go on to the next stage.

Wasn't given a reason for being turned down but...one morning two letters came through my letter box -one offering me the role of chief executive of a contemporary art gallery and the other turning me down for the role of part-time temporary gas meter reader.

There's a few jobs I would have turned down if the employer had been in the slightest bit honest about the job...

I've only ever been for one interview. It was at the Royal Academy of Arts in London. I wore a red tie. They asked if I was a communist? I said it was the only tie I had. I won the scholarship.

You actually did the annual appraisals for all your team? Madness.....

😯

I was told in an interview that I would 'do a great job'... of what was advertised.

The problem was that they hadn't included a particular qualification in the advert but did need it. Obviously I didn't have it so wasn't hired.

Then the interviewer took a call on his mobile and flirted with HR. We politely declined to work together and they readvertised the role with what they really wanted. I see it as a very lucky escape.

Lost a really bad job the day before handing my notice in for being dishonest on my CV, it turns out if you DO NOT put you have a masters in aeronautical engineering and a foundation in marine engineering. The job was a stop gap for me at a very poorly run and in my opinion very hazardous theme park in Norfolk.

Got turned down for not having enough photocopying experience!!

Not a job but I failed a test on god when being interviewed for a six form place by the head teacher of a catholic school.

I was rejected following an application to work at Tesco as a general dogsbody, having just finished A levels. The exact phrase was 'not of sufficient calibre'.

The amusing thing was that I had just passed the Regular Commissions Board and was due to start at Sandhurst the following spring...

Passed the psychometric testing for a uni sandwich placement with a large blue chip company - went for interview, sat there thinking, I don't want to work here, why did I apply for this job.

Guy comes in part way through the interview and asks me how it is going, tell him the truth, that I'm just not interested in the role, and maybe I had misread it.

He then shows me my application, that I had put my first and second choice the wrong way around, and would I like to interview for the correct position. Got it as well I did.

Turns out I hated it as well after two days.

Had loads of rubbish reasons for not getting a job, three of which are:
We don't think you will stay in the role for long, the job was advertised at least 3 more times over the following six months.

The annual salary is less than your last job, well no shit sherlock that was a full time job and this was a part time role, break it down to an hourly rate and it was actually more.

And the one that annoyed me the most, you do too much voluntary work, well yes being unemployed in find time on my hands working would replace most of the voluntary work.

Took a psychometric test as part of one recent application. It said that I am a quick learner and give accurate results. The job description demanded somebody who is able to [b]learn [/b] new test procedures quickly. Didn't get the job after an interview, because I haven't worked with the procedures before. Mind boggles.

Businesses (and staff) who are recruiting tend to be stressed and extremely busy. Time and money would be saved if they were more honest about what they want.

Went for a programming job. Everything they wanted me to do was very straightforward so I was confident I could do the job and then some.

'Too confident' was the reason for the rejection.

I got turned down because the organisation had another job coming up that they thought I'd be more suited to. They then delayed advertising the new job for another 6 months (random admin cock-up). Ultimately they were right and it all ended well but it was a stressful time!

Also got rejected for too little/narrow experience by someone who, rather than reading the application and CV, had obviously assumed that the little he had heard about me was all that there was. Annoying to get that as feedback as it would have been easy to handle at interview (I was surprised he had focussed on just one thing I'd done...). Of course, there may have been other reasons I didn't get the job.

[quote="PsyCorp"]Found out about an interview less than 24 hours before
[quote="geoffj"]So presumably someone had applied for the job on your behalf?I've had the same, applied for a graduate training role as soon as i left uni (the scheme interviewed in July, started in September, 3-4 years.)

Heard nothing except the standard "thanks for your application, we'll be in touch".

Had a call one day mid september, just after i'd walked into the house after a night/early shift asking me to come in for an interview the following morning. 80 odd miles away, spent the whole day (i should have been sleeping!) sorting a hire car, time off work, finding my suit (in a box in the attic IIRC).

Aced the interview, got the job. So not all bad. Started 2 weeks after the interview.

On the same graduate scheme that i'd heard nothing about for 3 months........

Have been turned down for a role as i wasn't suitably qualified or experienced. Ended up 3 or 4 years later (through a series of mergers/acquisitions/sideways moves) as the boss of the guy who did get the job.

Another interview i completely failed to impress in as i'd spent the previous 48 hours in hospital having tests/observation done. So not slept for 3 or 4 days, got home at 10 ish, interview at 12.
I must have looked like shit. Apparently the job was a joke and the guy who did get it quit after 8 weeks.

"We can't match the scope of the role with the level of your ambition."

I read that as: "Your prospective boss was worried you'd make him look bad."

I hadn't formally applied for a job, but the Army made it clear that I was:

(a) too light; and
(b) probably queer.

🙂

Three reasons why I turned down a job in 2012.

1) They offered me 12% less than it was advertised for, stating that even the revised figure was breaking their pay structure.
2) I did a test run on the commute and it was horrendous.
3) The guy that was hiring and would be my direct boss wore an open neck shirt, a chunky gold chain with matching bracelet, rings and watch, brown slip-on shoes (with little golden ornamental buckles) and light grey trousers that were a bit too tight for his chubby ass. This combined with his 70’s style Luke Skywalker hair cut that had been enhanced with streaks and his sun bed tan prompted me to think that he was an arsehole. I bet that the Jag outside was his.

Points 1 and 2 meant that it was a non starter. Point 3 meant that I had no regrets in knocking them back.

expressed an interest in an internal role at current place a few years ago. it was 2 grades higher than my current role. i was told by the colleague handling it that i lacked the necessary experience to carry out the job....funny thing is that they are now employing people fresh out of uni with zero experience to do the same job on the next grade above mine....most of them stick it for about 6 months and then bugger off. the ones who stick around do nothing except making massive database mistakes that my team have to clear up.

3) The guy that was hiring and would be my direct boss wore an open neck shirt, a chunky gold chain with matching bracelet, rings and watch, brown slip-on shoes (with little golden ornamental buckles) and light grey trousers that were a bit too tight for his chubby ass. This combined with his 70’s style Luke Skywalker hair cut that had been enhanced with streaks and his sun bed tan prompted me to think that he was an arsehole. I bet that the Jag outside was his.

I was told that I would bring too much instability to their development. This is after I had explained that a solid, structured test process was needed to make their product better.

Odd that this would get in the way of things, but then their whole business plan was "make stuff until we get bought by Cisco". Start-ups, got to love 'em.

It is a probability game for me ...

I have never asked for the reasons why I did not get the job in the past.

If they don't want you they can make up 1001 reasons to reject.

I find that the standard reply tends to be " ... there are better candidates then you ...".

Also I don't understand why people think they should insist on being offered the job ...

I got turned down for an account manager job (covering Scotland and N Ireland) for being English.

Turned down for funding for a training course because I wasn't already working in the department, it was given to someone in the department who has already got the qualification from a different institution, and now I'm in the department, someone else has the same qualification twice and I've none, go figure.

franksinatra - Member
I got turned down for an account manager job (covering Scotland and N Ireland) for being English.

Fair enough coz your life might be put in danger covering those areas ... 😛

dammit - other thread!

I find that the standard reply tends to be " ... there are better candidates then you ...".

I'd hazard that in the vast majority of cases this is the real reason. Just that no-one likes to say that to people.

I work in maintenance and at the last interview I was told that I gave too much detail in my answers.

I'd hazard that in the vast majority of cases this is the real reason. Just that no-one likes to say that to people.

Or more simply 'I don't like the look of you'.

I applied for loads of graduate schemes last year of uni- I even applied for Toys R Us graduate scheme- Only to get a letter back stating 'I was over qualified'. It was a bloody graduate scheme!

I got turned down for an account manager job (covering Scotland and N Ireland) for being English.

Another education one.

"You just don't look like what I think a Head of Department should look like."

...one morning two letters came through my letter box -one offering me the role of chief executive of a contemporary art gallery and the other turning me down for the role of part-time temporary gas meter reader.

'thank you for your application to work for [company name] but unfortunately we don't have a suitable position for you right now, however we will keep your details on record....'

Was once told in feedback that I didn't get the job because my personality was too strong and while I was well suited to the job I would probably end up dominating my line manager.

An 'friend' went for a reasonably high power job, panel I/v as part of it, dawned on him slowly that he had had proper hi jinx funky woop woop time with one of the panel. Was uncomfortable.

colournoise - Member
Another education one.

"You just don't look like what I think a Head of Department should look like."

You have a beard? My Dad got turned down for similar to you - the beard was a factor. For his next interview he shaved it off; the main interviewer (of course) had a beard 🙂

Maintenance Electrician in an Aluminium smelter.
Aced the interview and technical tests, offered the job, given a starting date, passed the medical assessment, quit my old job and then got a phone call to say that they were retracting the job offer due to my mild asthma (despite all the lung function tests in my medical being fine!)

Had to go un-quit my old job sharpish!

mrwhyte - Member
I applied for loads of graduate schemes last year of uni- I even applied for Toys R Us graduate scheme- Only to get a letter back stating 'I was over qualified'. It was a bloody graduate scheme!

Is that even legal?

No, it is not. Some fights just not worth having though.

...told I was too young (no longer a problem).

Just after finishing my degree course in IT, I applied for a stop gap job as a data entry clerk. I was turned down on the grounds that I didn't have sufficient qualifications in information technology 😯

Had a great interview. They liked me, we talked about the assholes at my previous employers ( who they all knew) and we got on really well.
As I left they said " we'll be seeing you soon Laurie".
I pointed out my name was John, and Laurie was someone I worked with (not an asshole though).
I didn't get the job, Laurie did. I met one of the interview board at a party who confessed it would have been too embarrassing to employ me...

Another education one.

"You just don't look like what I think a Head of Department should look like."

My dad used to work for an LEA and had to sit in on interviews for teachers. In one school where they were interviewing for a deputy head there was a too-young, under-experience applicant who hadn't interviewed well. As the panel were whittling down the selection to decide on who to offer the post to my dad would move the young guy off the centre of the table and the Head would move him back into contention. Others would get moved off the table, the young guy would be moved off again, moved back on by the head and so on.

My dad had to take the Head aside and ask what was going on - it turned out the school had some pretty feisty parents to contend with. You young guy, who the Head had encourage to apply was fairly accomplished , sizeable, rugby player, although the school had a Deputy Head post to fill, what they were effectively trying to do was use that vacancy to recruit was a bouncer.

So perhaps in this instance 'You just don't look like what I think a Head of Department should look like' meant 'you don't look like Terry Tate'

Royal Navy AIB told me I came from

a rough northern town

Why it took three days to suss that out when my home address on the application form gave the game away is beyond me