Didn't get the job? Relax.

No matter how clear-headed you are or how many years of work experience you have, interviews that don't materialize will hurt a bit. It's natural to feel disappointed when things don't go as planned, but it's important to remember that you're not the sole contributor to the interview result. There are so many factors at play, many of which are beyond your control. This article will help you understand those factors and why you shouldn't be too hard on yourself.

How Recruitment Works in Large Organizations

In large organizations, recruitment is often a complex and lengthy process. Job openings might arise due to the company's growth, a new project, or simply a vacancy that needs to be filled. However, these needs can change suddenly. For instance, a project might be put on hold, the budget could be reallocated, or internal candidates might fill the position.

As a result, even if you were a perfect fit for the role, you might find yourself put on hold for an extended period, only to eventually learn that the role is no longer available. This isn’t a reflection of your abilities or interview performance—it's just the nature of how things work in big companies.

Surprisingly, change of management and organizational priorities that come with such changes are more frequent these days than before, thanks to short product life cycles, technology transfer across borders and relatively free flowing capital. These gave rise to increased dynamics in the areas of talent acquisition aspects of an organization. With change of management come change of firing order for the projects, including projects that are in flight. In some cases, even replacement positions would be reallocated to projects that require faster completion or an increased capacity because the organization might want to add a few more features at launch.

As a candidate who is outside the organization you would not be privy to any of these dynamics and would be natural feel that it is because of how you performed in the interview that you didn't get that job.

How Recruitment Works in Small Organizations

In smaller companies, the dynamics of hiring can be even more unpredictable. Funding constraints, shifting priorities, or changes in business strategy can all impact recruitment decisions. Sometimes, a company might decide not to hire for a position they initially advertised due to a sudden lack of funds or a shift in focus.

In such cases, candidates are often told they were not selected, when in reality, the company simply couldn't proceed with the hire. This situation has nothing to do with your qualifications or interview performance.

Cultural Misfits

Cultural fit is a crucial aspect of hiring, and not every candidate is a match for every company culture. If you didn't get the job, it might simply be because your values, working style, or personality didn't align with the company’s culture.

While this might feel like a rejection, it's actually a blessing in disguise. Joining a company where you're a cultural misfit can be more detrimental to your career in the long run than not joining them at all. It's better to find a place where you can thrive and be yourself than to force a fit where you won't be happy or successful.

Career is a Long Journey, Not a Race

For fresh graduates and early-career professionals, it can be disheartening to see your peers getting job offers while you're still searching. But remember, your career is a long journey, not a race. Everyone's path is different, and success doesn't always come immediately.

Take the time to reflect on your experiences, learn from each interview, and keep improving. The right opportunity will come along, and when it does, you'll be more prepared and better equipped to seize it.

When it comes to building a career, it's easy to feel the pressure of comparing your progress to others. But remember, a career is not a sprint; it's more like a long train journey. In this journey, everyone has their own destination, their own pace, and their own path. Just as a train ride offers different experiences depending on how well you’ve packed, your career will be smoother and more enjoyable if you've prepared yourself with the right skills, capabilities, and a well-thought-out plan.

A facvorite anecdote I remember from my early days as a project manager - I don't remember if I read this in a book or one of my senior managers told me was seeing career as a long train journey. Imagine setting off on a long train journey. If you’ve packed all the essentials—snacks, a good book, comfortable clothes, and maybe even a map to understand where you’re headed—you’re likely to enjoy the ride. Similarly, in your career, if you’ve taken the time to develop your skills, build your capabilities, and create a plan, you’ll find that the journey, with all its ups and downs, becomes more manageable and even enjoyable.

Just as you wouldn’t rush through a scenic train journey, trying to reach the destination as quickly as possible, you shouldn’t rush through your career either. Take your time to learn, grow, and appreciate the experiences along the way. Each stop on your career path offers opportunities to gain new skills, build relationships, and understand more about what you truly want from your professional life.

So, when you see others getting ahead faster, remember that their journey is different from yours. What matters is not how quickly you reach the destination but how well-prepared you are for the ride and how much you grow along the way.

Conclusion

Not getting a job after an interview doesn’t mean you’re not good enough. There are countless factors that influence hiring decisions, many of which have nothing to do with you. Take each experience as a learning opportunity, stay positive, and keep moving forward. Your career is a marathon, not a sprint, and your perseverance will pay off in the long run.

If you didn't get the job after interviews, reflect on what you could have done better, if any, just purely from your point of view. Ask yourselves questions such as whether the questions you didn't answer to your satisfaction were because of a lack of preparation or lack of knowledge or skills.Whatever you find out the gap to be, work on it and practice your answers a couple of days ahead of the interview next time.

We overestimate our capabilities at times and the stress of an approaching interview can sometimes give us a false sense of over-confidence leading us to believe we do not need to prepare in certain areas. For experienced candidates, these are usually results they achieved in their previous employments and how they achieved them.

Good luck with your next interview.