Should I pursue or let it go?

May 17, 2007 7:41 AM

I currently work for the government and recently applied for another job in a different location (still with the government). The new job description sounds like it was written for me. I am currently doing the exact same job and more at the same pay grade. I am extremely well qualified and went to one of the best schools in the country for this field. The problem is – I didn’t even get past the first hurdle to be considered for an interview.

The only thing I have to go on is a posting on their personnel site saying that “Your resume was not referred to the selecting official as you were not among the top competitors.” Now, I know everyone thinks that their resume and credentials are the best, but my resume rocks! It includes all the correct “keywords”, KSA’s, etc., and I have received several other job offers (but I wanted this one). Bear in mind, this is not for a glamorous job in Washington, New York, Hawaii, etc. – it was for a small town on a military base in Germany. This sounds egotistical, but I just can’t imagine that hordes of exceptionally qualified people would be applying for this position (in a narrow job field) in this town and I wouldn’t even be considered for an interview. My question is: am I being petty and should I just let it go and move on? Or, can I find out in some way (maybe through the Freedom of Information Act) why I wasn’t considered for an interview or find out who was selected for the position and their qualifications? I also know from working with the government, that when they post a job, they often already have someone in mind and the posting is just a formality required by law (an illegal practice).

posted by anonymous to Work & Money (12 answers total)

See if you can find out who is doing the hiring (which I admit may not be easy) and call them. Be persistent. They just might not have read your resume cafefully.
posted by caddis at 8:02 AM on May 17, 2007

as a state/government employee you probably know that over 50% of positions are actually filled before they are even posted - posting the job is required by law and seen as a mere formality (as are interviews for these pre-filled positions).

it also sounds like you got filtered out by HR, possibly due to their lack of understanding of the job requirements and your experience.
posted by noloveforned at 8:04 AM on May 17, 2007

I guess a good question to ask yourself is what you would accomplish by pushing this issue? I do not see any benefit in pursuing the matter any further. Let's say that you found out and then found a way to push your way into the position; you would then carry the stigma (and resentment of your colleagues, most likely) of having pushed yourself into circumstances where you were not wanted. Please do not do this to yourself. A good family friend always says, "If not this, then something better." When the right thing presents itself, it will all work out.

P.S. I know how you feel, I just recently got rejected by the English grad program at the university I work at. I don't really get it; I too had an excellent application (4.0 undergrad GPA; excellent letters of recommendation; a high verbal GRE score; community service; two undergrad academic awards) and this is a good program, but not even in the top 25. I guess they had a ton of applicants though, but I still thought that my application would be tough to beat. Oh well, a couple weeks before I got the news, I had been having second thoughts and had been considering a different and much less time-consuming, logistically difficult, and expensive career option. I guess it was the universe's way of pushing me through another door. Even though it has only been a few weeks, I am relieved because I didn't have to make the choice and I think I will be happier in my new pursuit.

Anyway, I guess I am sharing this because sometimes there are reasons why we don't get what we think we want. Two years ago, I thought going to grad school was my only option for career happiness, but now I know differently. I wouldn't be surprised if you look back in a couple years and say "thank goodness I didn't get that job in Germany because..." Best wishes!
posted by melangell at 8:04 AM on May 17, 2007

Veterans get points for being a veteran. If a bunch of veterans just as qualified or maybe even not quite as qualified applied, then that may be why you didn't make it.
posted by ewkpates at 9:01 AM on May 17, 2007

I think you need to make a request under the Privacy Act (possibly as well as the FoI Act) for information about yourself. Not that I'm recommending it - I agree with the comments above that you probably wouldn't get anything material out of it.
posted by Phanx at 9:31 AM on May 17, 2007

As a fellow Federal employee I know there is usually a contact person who is "running" the application process. You can contact them and ask them why your resume wasn't selected and you can ask where you ranked on the list. Ask them specifically "What was missing on my resume?" They have to give you this information. Just keep asking them questions about how they came to pick the others who made the BQ list and you didn't.
posted by govtdrone at 9:45 AM on May 17, 2007

It's perfectly reasonable, even respectable, to call and say:

"Though I understand I wasn't among the top candidates, I want to thank you for considering my application. Since I plan to remain dedicated to this field, I wonder if you'd do me the favor of telling me whether there is anything that would have strengthened my application? Do you notice any skills deficiency or a lack of personality fit? I'd really appreciate your constructive feedback."

I've done this, and I've had the conversation with applicants. It's actually a pretty important part of an overall job search strategy that I'm surprised more people won't do. The statement above is carefully composed - you need to first assure them that you're not still plugging for a job you didn't get; then thank them for any feedback they might give you, and -- finally -- suggest a couple of things that might conceivably have been problems. This last is important because it shows you are truly ready for constructive feedback and have even imagined what it might be. People will only tell you what they think you can handle, and usually won't reply to a general 'WHy didn't I get the job?" with a specific response if they aren't sure you may already have some inkling.

Of course it could be that the job had already been given away. Another thing to think about - you say you are very confident you are a perfect match. Could your presentation have been overconfident in any way - did you take any shortcuts or act casually because you were so sure you'd be considered? May not be the case, but it's just a thought.

Good luck!
posted by Miko at 9:53 AM on May 17, 2007 [4 favorites]

Is it possible you were too qualified?
posted by advil at 10:12 AM on May 17, 2007

If you're unionized, you should look at your collective agreement to see if there is an article saying the employer is required on request to provide in writing the reasons that you were refused. Some contracts have that.
posted by teg at 2:22 PM on May 17, 2007

melangell: "P.S. I know how you feel, I just recently got rejected by the English grad program at the university I work at. I don't really get it; I too had an excellent application (4.0 undergrad GPA; excellent letters of recommendation; a high verbal GRE score; community service; two undergrad academic awards) and this is a good program, but not even in the top 25. I guess they had a ton of applicants though, but I still thought that my application would be tough to beat. "

Me too -- well, for an undergrad program. But I had a really strong application and thought admission was a given. I don't have the good perspective of melangell, yet, but I'd like to offer my commiseration. It is tough to not only be rejected but to be surprised too!
posted by loiseau at 4:47 PM on May 17, 2007

ugh, i know how it goes. i think the first answer is probably the case: they had someone in mind already and just posted the job opening as a formality. it happens all the time.

be at peace! look into one of the other offers...it might turn out to be a pleasant surprise.
posted by thinkingwoman at 7:32 PM on May 17, 2007

Let it go. I received the exact same reply plenty of times when applying for Federal jobs last year that I was qualified for. What this means is that for some reason, your application didn't match whatever standard was set up for weeding out the initial batch of applicants. It's most likely that there is no one to talk to about your case, at that first level the process is basically automated and it isn't until your application reaches the selection official/board that anyone actually 'looks' at your file? (And that's if the entire posting wasn't just a formality, as stated above.)
posted by SenshiNeko at 8:31 PM on May 17, 2007