The Rejection Letter

Friday morning...
I checked my mail as usual and noticed  a letter from the company representative who had interviewed me last week. Before I opened the letter, I took a guess and figured it was a rejection letter. After all, wouldn't he call me to say, "You're hired!" (Then again, it's better to be optimistic and hope for the best. I took a deep breath, exhaled, felt a little anxious, excited, and curious.)

I opened the letter and cringed as I saw the words, "You were not selected for the position."  I told myself this was just the beginning of the job search, not the end. When I took the time to think about it, I had done well: I had had both a phone and face-to-face interview.

I have learned from my experiences and now it's time to review my job strategies. Before I file away this letter, I plan on sending a follow-up letter. I think it's a good idea to show my appreciation for having been considered for the position. The company representative will hopefully keep me in mind if there any any future job openings. 

I will not give up because I know sooner or later I will find a job.

Monster.com’s Rejection Follow-up Letter Sample: http://career-advice.monster.com/job-interview/following-up/rejection-follow-up-letter/article.aspx

Monster.com’s Take Charge of Job Search Rejection: http://career-advice.monster.com/job-search/getting-started/take-charge-job-search-rejection/article.aspx

Please comment: How did you feel after receiving a rejection letter? What were your next steps?

Contemplation

It has been about a week since the interview and I am thinking about whether or not the job is a right fit for me. Let's just say I was hired, do I really want to work for this company?  I felt satisfied when I thought about working with my potential colleagues and being in the office environment. I reviewed the employee benefits on the Human Resources' department webpage and it seems comparable to what I was offered during my previous jobs. 

 

I think the issue for me is the commuting aspect. Do I really want to take a bus and train every day  for an hour and a half? I know others have accepted traveling back and forth  for hours but when I think about it, I feel exhausted. As you can see, I am weighing the pros and cons. But I worry that I am being "immature"...in this economy, if I am offered a good job that meets a lot of my needs and offers me a lot of opportunities, would I be silly to turn it down? As you can see, I  still have a lot to consider, but I know it is ok to weigh multiple factors when deciding to accept or reject a position such as your ambitions, work environment, colleagues, job function, location, opportunities to advance, salary, and benefits to name a few.

The following resources are helping me to look at these factors and may help you as well:
Occupational Outlook Handbook Evaluating a Job Offer http://www.bls.gov/oco/oco20046.htm

Kiplinger's How to Choose the Right Job http://www.kiplinger.com/columns/starting/archive/2007/st0418.htm

What are some factors that you consider when searching for a job?

The Face to Face Interview

I had 3 days to prepare for the interview. I felt uncertain  so I referred to “A Guide to Career Planning and Job Hunting.” The guide provided interview preparation tips and suggestions which was exactly what I needed. I learned 

• how to market my accomplishments to the employer, 
• practice answering sample questions, 
• how to dress, and 
• what to bring to the interview.

It was a cool, breezy Monday morning and there I was on the bus at 7am, on my way to the city. I arrived about 15 minutes before my 9am appointment time, greeted the receptionist with a smile, and filled out a job application.  When the director came to greet me, I introduced myself with a firm handshake. I was feeling confident with copies of my cover letter, resumes, and references just in case he requested them. (And I was dressed in my new black suit that I have been told really looks good on me.) 

The director asked question after question. Some questions I had been asked before in previous interviews and some were challenging. I made sure that I paid attention and maintained eye contact as I answered each question keeping in mind  my education and work experiences. When it was my turn to ask the director questions, I wanted to find out if the company was the right fit for me.

My questions entailed asking about the company’s culture, the director’s thoughts about working for the company, his expectations of a new employee within the first 3 months of being hired, and the next step in the process.

The interview lasted for an hour and now it is just a matter of waiting. You know how I feel if you  have  ever taken an exam and wished that you would get your results right away. I just have to wait and be optimistic.

SUBMIT YOUR COMMENT: What about your experience with interviews? How did you prepare? What did you learn?

Resume tips from “A Guide to Career Planning and Job Hunting:” http://www.montclair.edu/CareerServices/Feb2011GuidetoCareerPlanning.pdf

Phone Interview!

I was checking my voice messages and to my surprise the receptionist from an employer I had applied to 3 weeks ago called me. She asked that I schedule a phone interview with the Director of the office. I  was in shock and disbelief. Did I just really get a call from an employer wanting to interview me over the phone? 

The fact of the matter is…yes, I scheduled a phone interview and had 3 days to prepare. I used Optimal Resume's Interview Prep Mock Interview program to see and hear myself as I practiced answers to traditional and behavioral interview questions. I researched the company’s website extensively to learn more about their mission and services.  Before I received the call from the Director, I had my cover letter, resume, and research notes right in front of me. The phone interview questions included:

“Tell me about yourself.”

“Why do you want to work for us?”

“Why should we hire you?”

With the job description, and my skills and accomplishments in mind, I answered the questions to the best of my ability. I can conclude that the 30-minute interview must have been a success because the Director scheduled me for a face-to-face interview! Follow my blog to find out what happens next.

Setup an account with Optimal Resume: https://montclair.optimalresume.com/

I have an interview!

Wish me luck.  I have a phone interview on Friday morning  for a job I would really like.  It is in the city and I would have to take a couple of buses to get there, but so what?  I can do this, I can. I will!

Dad was right!

Last week as I was job searching, I noticed an ad for a position that I really liked.  After reading the job description I couldn't help picturing myself in the position. I saw myself waking up early, driving down the Parkway, and walking into my very own office!  This was destined for me! I created a draft of my cover letter and resume specifically for this job and brought it to Career Services just to be sure that it was ok. My dad said it was always good to get a second opinion.  I met with a counselor during drop-in hours and realized that my cover letter and resume weren't quite as perfect as I had thought. So...

I’m taking into account the counselor’s suggestion about revisions to make sure I stand out in the crowd of hundreds of resumes.   You know your intentions but your wording might not be clear. Dad was usually right: get a second opinion for feedback and avoid mistakes that a potential employer could find.

BTW, Career Services' drop-in hours are Mondays: 5-6:30pm  Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays: 2-4pm