Job Interview Feedback from HR

[QE]

Coves

I got a feedback from HR function stating that you are one of the top candidates and were very strong in several areas. We dont want to close the door at this point, however we are extending the offer to a electrical engineer at this point.

Now I am kind of confused and asked her to call me tomorrow at 8.00 to discuss more. what I want to do is
1) gracefully accept the denial ?
2) know more about why they didn't move forward ?
2) Leave the door open for the future ?

Coves can you help out if I am on the right track or do I need to change my startergy. should I ask for some thing else ?

I still wonder why they came with the Electrical Engineering, because they knew my background prior to calling me onsite ?

QE

[Jim Wynne]

In Reply to Parent Post by QE

Coves

I got a feedback from HR function stating that you are one of the top candidates and were very strong in several areas. We dont want to close the door at this point, however we are extending the offer to a electrical engineer at this point.

Now I am kind of confused and asked her to call me tomorrow at 8.00 to discuss more. what I want to do is
1) gracefully accept the denial ?
2) know more about why they didn't move forward ?
2) Leave the door open for the future ?

Coves can you help out if I am on the right track or do I need to change my startergy. should I ask for some thing else ?

I think you're OK with those three things. For #2 you'll probably be told that while they liked you, they thought another candidate was a better fit to the position. They probably won't go much beyond that. With #3, it's fine to say that you're interested in working for the company and would like to be considered for future openings. Many places will keep applicant information for only a limited amount of time, though.

In Reply to Parent Post by QE

I still wonder why they came with the Electrical Engineering, because they knew my background prior to calling me onsite ?

Without knowing more about the position and the company, it's hard to say. It could be that the EE degree was considered desirable (as opposed to the degree being a requirement) and it just tipped the scale for the other candidate.

[Coury Ferguson]

In Reply to Parent Post by QE

Coves

I got a feedback from HR function stating that you are one of the top candidates and were very strong in several areas. We dont want to close the door at this point, however we are extending the offer to a electrical engineer at this point.

Now I am kind of confused and asked her to call me tomorrow at 8.00 to discuss more. what I want to do is
1) gracefully accept the denial ?
2) know more about why they didn't move forward ?
2) Leave the door open for the future ?

Coves can you help out if I am on the right track or do I need to change my startergy. should I ask for some thing else ?

I still wonder why they came with the Electrical Engineering, because they knew my background prior to calling me onsite ?

QE

Most companies have the top 2 choices for a position (sometimes 3). You may have been ranked # 2 as a back-up of their first choice if they would have declined. You were probably were strong in certain areas, but they were looking for someone that had a stronger electrical background.

As for what to do, well, you don't want to burn the bridge. I would keep the door open, because they may hire this person, and find out that they don't fit their needs. They could come back to you and extend an offer. The key here is are you willing to wait? If, you are currently working then that would be ok to wait, but don't get your hopes up. If you aren't working, continue searching and if another job comes up and you like it, take it.

Don't ever burn bridges. You never know when something could happen.

This is my opinion, and you need to evaluate if my suggestion is right for your specific issue.

[michellemmm]

In Reply to Parent Post by Coury Ferguson

As for what to do, well, you don't want to burn the bridge. I would keep the door open, because they may hire this person, and find out that they don't fit their needs. They could come back to you and extend an offer. The key here is are you willing to wait? If, you are currently working then that would be ok to wait, but don't get your hopes up. If you aren't working, continue searching and if another job comes up and you like it, take it.

Don't ever burn bridges. You never know when something could happen.

This is my opinion, and you need to evaluate if my suggestion is right for your specific issue.

I agree with you...

There are many instances that people apply for one job and end up with an offer for another... It happened to my husband. He applied for the director of operation in a company and was offered the director of engineering position.

Good Luck to the OP!!!

[QE]

Jim

Thanks for your feedback, but than they knew that before calling me to the east coast all the way from west coast. So I am kind of lost......that they went through the entire interview process and than they thought that there is an electrical engineer that they need.

[Joe Ren]

In Reply to Parent Post by Jim Wynne

Without knowing more about the position and the company, it's hard to say. It could be that the EE degree was considered desirable (as opposed to the degree being a requirement) and it just tipped the scale for the other candidate.

Agree, maybe they eagerly want to hire an electrical engineer instead of a QE, or they want to hire a QE with strong electrical engineering background to fit for their job position.

Anyway, don't worry, please keep door open always. One Chinese saying, one more friend, one more road. Maybe one day in futurn, you can get a luck call.

[tyker]

A couple of years ago, the factory I worked in closed and, like all my colleagues, I went job hunting.

The first company to turn me down assured me I was near the top of their list of preferred candidates and had interviewed well but they'd offered the job to someone who just slightly better met their requirements. So I wasn't too disheartened.

My second interview went the same way with almost exactly the same feedback.

The third interview was for a job I wasn't remotely qualified for and the interview was a disaster. The feedback though indicated I was, yet again, second choice.

Talking to colleagues, I found that most of them were also coming second.

HR departments seem to have adopted a common approach of not always giving honest feedback. Perhaps they think it's kind to let people down gently or they're scared of discrimination claims (I am extremely old).

Gradually, however, we all found organizations at which we made first choice.

Good luck to all the job hunters out there.

[Jim Wynne]

In Reply to Parent Post by QE

Jim

Thanks for your feedback, but than they knew that before calling me to the east coast all the way from west coast. So I am kind of lost......that they went through the entire interview process and than they thought that there is an electrical engineer that they need.

The reason(s) they gave for not hiring you might be different from the actual reasons. HR people can be fairly inscrutable in these situations and there's probably no way of knowing anything about the situation other than the fact that you weren't hired.