Is there anything to get you in your head more than a job search? A job search during an pandemic perhaps? After several cycles I have become far too acquainted with the frustration and self-doubt that accompany the intervening months between election and new adventure. I had promised myself when I was a hiring manager last cycle that I would take note of the more precarious and ridiculous aspects of a job search and remind myself of them when I searched again. And yet I find myself tempted to give in to the familiar angst and ennui.
It feels particularly cruel to be ghosted by a job for you which you were eminently qualified. If that is the case for you in this moment allow me to do my best to provide some reassurance that the reasons for your rejection (or lack of their even deigning to reject you, a practice we must abolish at once in our industry) might have been entirely out of your control. Below are 5 reasons you may have been passed over for an offer or even an interview at job at which it seemed you should be a shoe-in.
1) You were overqualified. Sure ,I know this sounds like something you might tell yourself to feel better but it is also sometimes true. While some bosses embrace the possibility of a subordinate who could be a thought partner, others are intimidated by the prospect of managing someone who has similar qualifications to their own. In other cases, the resume screener might have gotten your resume and identified you as someone who will likely want to make more money, have more responsibility or generally not be happy in the role as it exists which leads to...
2) They are bad at writing a job description. Maybe that job only sounded perfect because the organization didn't describe it well, or didn't realize what they were looking for until they started getting back resumes. They may have requested someone with "3 to 5 years campaign experience" but specifically want that experience to be on an issue campaign while your experience is electoral. They may want someone with experience organizing a specific community but neglected to mention that. The job you were a "perfect fit" for might not be as good fit as you thought.
3) Other people were more qualified than you. This seems like such an obvious reason not to get an interview or a position that it is scarcely worth mentioning. But remember that just because someone else was more experienced than you are does not mean you would not have been great and well qualified at that job. Several times in my last job search I had great interviews where I was excited about the work and totally vibing with my interviewer and was very disappointed not to be called back only to see who eventually got the job and think "oh, good call."
4) They had an internal candidate. Ughhhh. Sometimes it seems that the entire application process is a farce. In many instances an organization's internal hr procedure requires that they post a job even if the hiring manager already has someone in mind. This sucks and I wish there were a way to signal that but alas, at least you've gotten more cover-letter writing practice.
5) Their funding situation changed. If you have been applying to a non-profit organization it may be that that position is no longer funded or that the funding is being delayed. A donor or organization's priorities can change and it's better to discover that before being brought on than after.
I hope you find my list somewhat comforting, Campaignsickles. How else can I be supportive to you during this time? Tweet at me @CampaignSick for fastest replied. We're in this together!
Campaign Love and Mine,
Nancy
