Interviews stink
Have you ever had an interview for a job, for admittance into a school, for a potential partner, or any other type of interview? How did the preparation for the interview feel? How did the actual interview being conducted feel? How did you feel after the interview awaiting an answer?
Interviews just stink in my opinion. Of course logically I understand why they are conducted; however, knowing that we subject ourselves to someone else’s opinion of us seems so damning. Although not so much if after going through the grueling process one puts themselves through in order to be considered for a ‘position’ pans well in their favor; however, when the outcome is not favorable to the interviewing applicant it feels so devastating.
Even when it’s a dual interview, meaning both the applicant as well as the interviewer is sizing each other up for a particular position and if both parties are not on the same page there’s going to be a loss.
Of course there are some whose temperaments just slough it off as no big deal and yet others that take that experience to the depth of their souls and wonder what or where they went wrong.
If we as humans are sitting in a position of decision making when considering an applicant for any position----including personal relationships, and decide the person they are ‘interviewing’ is not a match for them, why do they not feel an obligation to at least have the courtesy to tell the applicant their decision rather than merely remaining silent. Or merely advising them didn't get the position. Would it not seem more humane to be honest with the person you are interviewing and letting them know what your thoughts or feelings are when you’ve made the decision they are not the right “fit”? I know, I know there is some that feel they would be hurting the person’s feelings if they told them, why, which in my opinion is even worse than at least being honest with your feelings about your decision. Again, if we are to subject ourselves, which we do everyday in so many situations to be considered for ‘something’, then it would seem only reasonable to explain one’s decision. For it seems when the interviewing party actually selects the applicant best suited for their position, they seem to willingly explain to the applicant why they chose them, so why isn’t the same done for those applicants that were not selected. If one is willing to make the decision not to select an applicant then the least they should do is have the forthrightness to extend why in their opinion they didn’t choose the particular applicant. Of course the applicant chosen always has the right not to accept the position, but feel the same rule should apply. The applicant denying the position should also explain why they didn’t except the position. It seems like less negative feels or wounded egos would be unnecessarily injured as a result.
Moreover, if an applicant keeps going through interviews but is never successful in being selected for a position, wouldn’t it stand to reason that perhaps the applicant might need to work on something to improve in whatever area may have been lacking or undesirable to previous interviewers?
I’m curious to know your thoughts on the subject.
1 comment:
I never think too much about interviews, I prepare for the written exams and questionnaires; but that's about it. I think, the more you focus on the face to face interview talk the more stressed and nervous you become and it usually shows, so I try to not focus on it.
"knowing that we subject ourselves to someone else’s opinion of us seems so damning. "
Hmmm... even though our personalities may be partially judged, but I think our experience and knowledge and the parts of our personality that are crucial for the Job ( honesty, integrity, punctuality ) are what are really being judged more than anything else, to which they are entitled. Its like when you buy something, you want to check it first, employers buy employees services, so they are entitled to see what we have to offer.
"when the outcome is not favorable to the interviewing applicant it feels so devastating."
Yes I agree with you on that, but we learn from experience and things like this are supposed to make us stronger.
"yet others that take that experience to the depth of their souls and wonder what or where they went wrong."
I think people who think like that are being too tough on themselves and taking things to the extreme. Not getting a job doesn't mean that there is something wrong with you. It could be that you are under qualified, or that there are other applicants who are better or more qualified in some cases it could even be a result of being overqualified. I've been told not to pursue my graduate studies beyond a certain point, because then it would be harder for me to get a professional, non-academic job in my profession.
"why do they not feel an obligation to at least have the courtesy to tell the applicant their decision rather than merely remaining silent."
I'm only taking the above sentence to reply to the whole points in the paragraph, because I think it sums up what you are saying.
I agree with you on the point about an applicants right to know why he was denied the position, and for all the reasons you mentioned as well.
But in retrospect if you were the interviewer, how would you act, keeping in mind the following things :
1- An applicant could file a law-suit or complaint against a company for refusing his application, if he knew the reason why.
2- Many applicants apply to jobs that clearly do not comply with their resumes, which is very frustrating for the interviewer, whose time is wasted, so why should he waste more time telling them the obvious and getting into a diabolical argument over it ?
3- In many job interviews there usually are many applicants all of whom have varying levels of experience, so the choice is usually because there is someone better and for no other reason. Telling this to some applicants will lead them to attempt to find out how got 'their' job from them and can lead to arguments/fights and what not.
"Moreover, if an applicant keeps going through interviews but is never successful in being selected for a position, wouldn’t it stand to reason that perhaps the applicant might need to work on something to improve in whatever area may have been lacking or undesirable to previous interviewers?"
There are mock interviews and some companies visit campuses during job fairs and provide anyone there at the time with feedback on their resume and their personality skills. I think even job centers provide those services and I think for free.
Sorry if I was too blunt, I think I know where you are coming from on this; but i try to put myself in other peoples shoes and if I was the interviewer. I know that I wouldn't have enough time to tell everyone why I wouldn't consider him for the job and I know that the majority of people everywhere can't take an honest straight answer, which means I have to be polite and sugar coat it........ just too much for me :).
salaam
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