rejected from another interview

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abc123
Toucan
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Age: 45
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13 Oct 2011, 3:44 pm

I'm upset as not got yet another job I interviewed for. Feeling like I'll be stuck in rubbish secretarial temp jobs forever. It feels like whatever job I go for there is always someone better and I can never be that person no matter how hard I try. I'm better at interviews and now keeps getting lost on "experience."
Logically it seems pointless to keep applying when I am getting nowhere like the definition of madness is to keep doing the same thing expecting a different result.

The psychologist I am seeing just said some comment about how frustrating it must be. My husband just argued that it wasn't pointless as the situation does change e.g. different job and set of people. I don't feel any better. I posted on facebook about having a bad day and no-one cares and yet everyone else gets loads of sympathy.

I am very stressed. It has been going on 4 years since my PhD. I've had 19 interviews and just had 3 interviews in the same place - one was a 2nd interview for the same job. It went to someone with more relevant experience even though think I interviewed well, and had adjustments. They encouraged me to apply for something else, which my husband says is a good sign but doesn't make me feel better.
I also feel like the jobs are expecting more for less money than a few years ago. I spend hours investing in tasks and presentations just to be turned down yet again. It feels utterly hopeless. I am 30 and feel like I will never get my career started.

I just want to feel better. It's affecting my sleep for days every time and making me very depressed/stressed and I can't resolve it in my head and feel better as can't get a job and get past it. :(



LittleBlackCat
Deinonychus
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13 Oct 2011, 6:51 pm

I go through something similar every time I am changing jobs. I get rejected and my "all or nothing" thinking kicks in and I start bemoaning the fact that "I will never work again" or "I will always be stuck in this lousy xxx job" etc. These days when I engage in that type of thinking my husband just laughs at me because we've been together long enough he can now rattle off a list of all the times I've thought this way, and all the corresponding times it hasn't been true... I end up feeling a little silly and much better :)

I'm sorry you're having a rough time at the moment. The jobs market is pretty dire, I know, but there are jobs out there, and if they're bothering to interview you, you must have something to offer - many, many people are having their applications dismissed without even so much as a rejection letter these days - so don't give up, it will just be a matter of time I'm sure...

Is there anything at all you can do to improve your chances in the meanwhile? If they have suggested applying for something else, will you take them up on it? If lack of experience is an issue, is there any way you can get that experience (e.g. some part time voluntary work or an internship)? Do you get any feedback from your interviews (do you ask for it) to see if there is anything else that seems to be holding you back?

I do hope you have some better luck soon x



abc123
Toucan
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Joined: 26 Aug 2010
Age: 45
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14 Oct 2011, 11:41 am

Thanks. I do have another interview but not keen as would involve quite a bit of travelling which would affect my routine e.g. I go to the gym regularly and want to help with a horse. It's whether I could stick it out long enough to have a proper job/employer to help my career.
They have not been ideal on the adjustments front and they are a private pharmaceutical company and I quite like the public sector ethic and these places are great with adjustments-and local. My friend says I sound like I am talking myself out of the job.

The feedback for both jobs have been that my skills are good and have appropriate experience but that the other people had better experience. In my first interview they said I performed really well. I have 2 years clinical research experience through a temp job.

I'll apply for the other job. I'll think about the all or nothing thinking.

I must admit it doesn't help that I feel the interview process is pointless that you have to say things aloud that you could just write down and have done already in the application. It's a social convention that penalises shy/anxious/AS people.