Reapplying to a company that previously turned you down 2

[spongebob007]

About a year ago a head hunter called me about a job that I was really excited about, except for one thing. They were looking for an ME with a very strong EE background. I knew going into it that I had some practical EE background beyond the 2 EE courses I was required to take in school, but I susupected that I didn't have quite what they were looking for. I went ahead and had the recruiter submit my resume anyway. I figured I could stress what I was skilled at and demonstrate my intellegence and eagerness to learn whatever it took to fill in the gaps. I got and passed the phone interview and was invited to come in for what was the longest job interview of my life-I was at the company for 8 hours! In the end they passed on me because I didn't have the EE background they were looking for, and despite my eagerness to get the knowledge, they felt they needed somebody who could hit the ground running. I was told that if an ME position came along in the future that was more matched to my skill set they would give me a call. The phone never rang.

Fast forward to last week. I noticed on one of the big job websites that this company is looking for a structural analyst. This is right up my alley. I really wanted to work for this company and I would be a perfect fit for this job. What do I do?

A) Don't bother, if they really meant what they said about keeping me in mind for future openings I would have heard from them by now.

B) Get on the phone to the HR lady and tell her this is spongebob007 and I interviewed for the XXX position last year and I noticed there was a new opportunity and I would be very interested in discussing it with you.

C)Do the same as B above except write it in my cover letter rather than making personal contact.

D)Write a cover letter and send a resume, making no mention of my previous interview with the company.

 

[EQguys]

Here is my 2 cents..

Unless they have a very good office staff who keep up with filing resumes, they would have lost your resume in a year. I personally would write a cover letter, send a resume and talk to the HR lady on the phone and tell her that you had previously interviewed for a position and at the time they didnt think that your skills would fit in the position. However, you are still available and would be very much interested to talk to them about the Structural Analyst position. And dont forget to mention that in the cover letter as well. That might get you through the door. Good luck to you.

 

[MintJulep]

B and C.

Also, if you still have contact info for the "main guy" that you interviewed with, call him.

 

[TheTick]

I know at least two people who got in after an initial rejection.

 

[MiketheEngineer]

B & C as suggested - but don't use Spongebob as your e-mail name!!

Even at 59 I find SpongeBob to be "cute" and funny - if somebody sent that to me as an e-mail ----- round file -- as in the trash!!

Unless they were 9 years old!!

 

[jmw]

Agree.
If you don't try you won't succeed.
If you do try, treat it as a completely new opportunity.
Be honest about why you think you didn't get the last opening, which you seem to be, and if you think you are a better fit for this job then be confident and open.
If they wonder why you are applying for different jobs over time, just let them think you like their company and it is not so much that you are dissatisfied with where you are now.


JMW

http://www.ViscoAnalyser.com

 

[jpankask]

Worst that can happen is that you don't get called for an interview this time...and then you know. HR has probably cleaned out their resume file in the last year. Send them a new resume and contact them again.

 

[dvd]

I vote with the never_take_no_for_an_answer contingent. The worst that can happen is to get a more recent rejection.

Spongebob as an e-mail address is questionable, but I think that the 007 at the end adds some real legitimacy. And it also depends on the domain name: whereas "spongebob@my-pretty-pony.com" seems unprofessional, "spongebob007@big-uns.com" seems cool.... Also, you might try it in another language, say french, "robert_d'éponge_VII@white-house.gov" seems okay.

 

[jmw]

Er, how many people apply for jobs using an Eng Tips handle?
Just wondered where all the concern about "spongebob" came from.

JMW

http://www.ViscoAnalyser.com

 

[MikeHalloran]

I vote for E, := D, except if they ask if you've applied before, say yes.

Don't say much more; this is a different job than the one for which you were not a perfect match, so the former rejection should be irrelevant.



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[weab]

I guess I'm the only one voting for "D". You will likely interview with different individuals. If your experience matches the requirements, it will be seen.

Most companies don't look at old resumes for people they have interviewed. They assume that you have found another job already. Besides, they may say "sponge bob who?" I don't see a great benefit to your previous experience.

 

[TheBlacksmith]

I wrote a "rebuttal" to a rejection letter from a company when I was retiring from the Navy, ended up working there for 5 years, so definitely reapply and I'd mention the previous interview, when they see your name they may remember, so be up front. In my opinion, the "we'll keep your resume on file" is roughly equivelant to "I'll call you in the morning." Nothing mean implied, but there are so many applications to file and review it's an empty promise.

 

[jmw]

Unless, of course, you made a memorable interview but really did fail to get the job based on suitability.
The only real reason to worry about a previous interview is if you bombed badly.
Even then, what have you to lose by applying for this one?
You are no worse off than now and you might get the job.

....and was invited to come in for what was the longest job interview of my life-I was at the company for 8 hours! ......they felt they needed somebody who could hit the ground running.

Now why would you not want to have that interview remembered?
OK, if it was a short interview and you got the standard letter saying "We felt we needed somebody who could hit the ground running." then there is room for doubt because sometimes HR like to let people down easily even if if they really bombed at the interview.
In this case, no one wastes 8 hours interviewing a single candidate because they will either be obviously unsuitable early on and the interview terminated or they will be obviously impressed and keep the interview going and genuinely choose some one who hots the ground running. It may even be that the interviewers were over ruled by top management.

In some cases companies look for people who do not have the exact job match because they hope to bring in new skills and ideas confident they can provide suitable training on the job and help you grow into the position.

At one company I worked for HR policy seemed always to be to recruit ready made fit for purpose candidates. They would also often favour recruits drawn from competitors - their loss our gain... except that sometimes backfires because the other company gloats that their "loss" is "their gain" when they manage to pass off a dud or brown noser.
But I never understood why they always wanted to recruit someone familiar with the products because they came from a competitor. If the company can't teach about its own products, why are they in business? They should look for recruits who bring something new and simply teach them hat they need to know. This is, after all, how they usually recruit managers - for their management skills, not their specific knowledge.

If you really interviewed well then you might want to contact your previous interviewers and ask them for some friendly advise. You may even hope they will be interviewing this time.
You should certainly look to bring it up in the new interview and you should anticipate some of the questions and have some bonza answers prepared.
If they ask "why do you think you didn't you get the job last time?" the unprepared mind might blurt out "There was a better candidate." or I wasn't good enough for that job" where the prepared mind will say "Despite a really excellent and extended interview, I believe the company found it really was necessary to recruit someone who could hit the ground running as your letter to me said. If there had not been that need I think my skills set and attitude might otherwise have tipped the scales."
Or whatever.
really, try and talk with one of the previous interviewers.



JMW

http://www.ViscoAnalyser.com

 

[MiketheEngineer]

All I was trying to imply was that IF you have an e-mail of "Spongebob" or something that CUTE - change it or use an alias!!

 

[btrueblood]

"I wrote a "rebuttal" to a rejection letter from a company"

Wow, what a great idea. Star for that, Blacksmith.

 

[KENAT]

B & C. If the job is in a different dept, or they've had changes in staff, or the folks you interviewed with have bad memories...

There are lots of reasons they might not have called you, doesn't mean you can't apply anyway.

Posting guidelines faq731-376

http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?

(probably not aimed specifically at you)
What is Engineering anyway: faq1088-1484​

 

[macmet]

I used to apply to a company on a regular basis to the manager of the department I wanted to work for. I had it in my outlook to send an inquiry every 4 months.

The manager was good about it and would email me back to say they had no openings or I wasn't a good fit for what was opening. Then, one day he had an opening and called me and asked me if I wanted the job...

Moral of the story... doesn't hurt to keep trying as long as you act professional and courteous about it.

 

[supercub]

I would treat it as a new application and no mention the prior interview, except if you have to fill out an application and there is a check box for former applicants, orif it comes up in an interview.

 

[OHIOMatt]

One thing, you may want to exercise caution/disclosure. There was some agreement, either between you and the headhunter or the head hunter and the company (maybe even both). If that is the case, the head hunter may still try to exert ownership over the relationship.

A head hunter sued a friend of mine, the whole thing got ugly for him and the new employer.

 

[ischgl99]

I was rejected during my first interview with an employer, they ended up hiring someone that was recommended by an employee, who did not work out. I applied for a different job with that company again two years later, they did remember me, the HR manager said, "so, you want to try again?" in a joking manner when she called to set up the interview. I was offered the job at the end of the interview, so I would say send in your resume and call the HR Manager to mention you interviewed before and are interested in the position they currently have available.