Job Interview--bad sign?

January 13, 2009 11:34 AM

Bad Interview that seemed good filter: Am I for certain not getting this job I just interviewed for?

I had a job interview today at the company where I am currently employed, looking to transition into management in my same department. The hiring manager is my boss' boss.

The interview seemed to go well, I was able to answer all of their questions, and at the end of the interview many of the people interviewing me (it was a group interview, 6 people) told me that I gave great responses to their questions, leaving me feeling positive. They also stated that they thought I would be successful at the job. They mentioned there were several strong candidates, of which I was one.

But then as the interview was coming to a close the hiring manager told me that if I don't get this position I should not be discouraged as they have many other opportunities coming up. He said this in the interview, in the presence of all the other interviewers.

So...was that a torpedo during the interview? Am I pretty much not getting this?

posted by anonymous to work & money (12 comments total)

There is no way to know based upon what you've said above.

Often interviewers have scripted responses and it sounds like that's what you got here. Also, these people generally have an idea who they want to hire beforehand, and conduct interviews just as a formality to give the appearance of objectivity.

I wouldn't sweat it either way.
posted by wfrgms at 11:39 AM on January 13

Not necessarily.
It could also be interpreted as "If, by some bizarre happenstance, you don't get this position, we'll definitely have something else for you very quickly, so please don't go anywhere else."
posted by Thorzdad at 11:40 AM on January 13 [1 favorite]

Yeah, I would really not worry about that, it's pretty standard in interviews. Also, as an internal applicant, your current boss's review plus your reputation in the company will probably have more influence than anything you said in the interview.
posted by lunasol at 11:48 AM on January 13

I agree with lunasol, since you are internal they most likely talked to your boss/coworkers and already made their decision before you walked into the room.

So, perhaps they already interviewed someone else that they liked better. But, since your boss said awesome things about you, they didn't want you to think that getting denied for this specific position meant that everyone thinks you are awful.
posted by sideshow at 12:14 PM on January 13

They might say that to everyone deliberately to ensure that if you compared notes with a coworker who is interviewing, them having said that wouldn't seem to be a sign one way or another.
posted by salvia at 12:17 PM on January 13 [1 favorite]

A very similar thing happened to me recently. I was told that my chances were great, but that I shouldn't be disappointed if I didn't make it. I got the position. (Caveat: I probably work in a very different field from you, and not in the US.)

Good luck!
posted by amf at 12:33 PM on January 13

I have no idea how these things work, but one option that crosses my mind is perhaps you were the best so far, but not the last to be interviewed? Maybe you're good enough, but in case someone comes along after you better suited for this particular position, they don't want to lose you for another open position.
posted by losvedir at 1:35 PM on January 13

I don't think that his comment was an indication of where things were going. it sounds like standard business-school lingo. look, he is relatively smart to manage your expectations. he knows they will have to deliberate without you all being present and that some people may not have said something in your presence ("did he smell funny?") and has to make sure that if anything comes up that might change the expected outcome he needs to keep his employee -in other words you- relatively okay with that. his job as your manager is to make sure you are a productive employee and a frustrated employee is not.

so chalk this up as you being nervous and a bit neurotic, which is actually rather normal given the interview situation. I don't think it's anything more and that you should wait with a smile to hear what the outcome will be.
posted by krautland at 2:19 PM on January 13

What Thorzdad said.
posted by flabdablet at 3:44 PM on January 13

It sounded like he really liked you and was just saying he didn't want to lose you, even if, for some random reason, this job didn't happen for you. I would take the words he said completely literally.

It was a compliment, and should simply be taken as such.
posted by Vaike at 6:11 PM on January 13

He meant what he said.

They meant what they said about several strong candidates as well.

Bottom line is you may have hit a home run and the next guy through the door could hit a grand slam. He doesn't want you to get discouraged if that is how things turn out.

Don't forget to give some sort of thank you for the opportunity to try for the job to each of the interviewers tomorrow, and then hope for the best!
posted by meinvt at 8:47 PM on January 13

I interviewed for a position several years ago, that I wasn't exactly qualified for, in my company, that would have been a lateral move. Didn't get the position. A similar position in the same department opened up about a year later, and while I didn't get that position either, they ended up restructuring the department a week later, and hiring me for something similar. The head manager in the department told me that they were impressed that I was still with the company and really wanted to have me.

I would take the interviewer's words as an encouraging sign that you are wanted in some capacity - that they just may need to figure out exactly where they want you.

And if you don't get the position, I would ask some follow up questions and/or ask to get some management training, or attend a management seminar. You didn't really mention it, but it sounds like you may not specifically have management experience, and they might be waiting for you to get a little more seasoned or waiting for an opening that wouldn't require as many people to lead.

In any case, good luck!
posted by eggplantia5 at 6:23 AM on January 14