Is this a compliment or an implied criticism?
Discussion
Hi,
I'd like to hear your opinion on a feedback letter I got following a job interview. This was the job:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
This was the feedback:
Dear Pistonhead, thank you for attending your recent interview (...) we will not be pursuing your application further.
The feedback I have received from your interview is that you came across as very self confident and you do have relevant qualifications for the position. You have a clear vision for your future but the interviewers weren't confident that this would be a long term career move for yourself. As you are currently studying at University, you advised that you would only be available for 15 months before returning to university to finish your studies. As a result, we are unable to progress your application at this time as it will take a longer period of time to develop someone to become a "technical specialist" to the desired level.
Now, I might just be paranoid and reading too much into it, but as a foreigner I sometimes miss the nuances of British irony. So I'd like to understand - when they say "you came across as very self confident" - do they mean it as a compliment, or is this a subtle way of calling me an arrogant prick?
Probably not a reason to hold myself back either way, but I am curious. What do you think, based on the evidence?
I'd like to hear your opinion on a feedback letter I got following a job interview. This was the job:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
This was the feedback:
Dear Pistonhead, thank you for attending your recent interview (...) we will not be pursuing your application further.
The feedback I have received from your interview is that you came across as very self confident and you do have relevant qualifications for the position. You have a clear vision for your future but the interviewers weren't confident that this would be a long term career move for yourself. As you are currently studying at University, you advised that you would only be available for 15 months before returning to university to finish your studies. As a result, we are unable to progress your application at this time as it will take a longer period of time to develop someone to become a "technical specialist" to the desired level.
Now, I might just be paranoid and reading too much into it, but as a foreigner I sometimes miss the nuances of British irony. So I'd like to understand - when they say "you came across as very self confident" - do they mean it as a compliment, or is this a subtle way of calling me an arrogant prick?
Probably not a reason to hold myself back either way, but I am curious. What do you think, based on the evidence?
Edited by Derish on Saturday 2nd April 02:16
Possibly, although I don't think they're being that nuanced with it as it's not the reason they didn't take things further. Normally you'd expect to hear, "...you came across as very confident..", possibly "...you came across confidently.." or even as "self-assured".
Either way it's probably moot; it sounds like you conducted yourself well but the fact you told them it would only be short-term was what lost it.
Either way it's probably moot; it sounds like you conducted yourself well but the fact you told them it would only be short-term was what lost it.
so called said:
When you say you are a foreigner, is this because your from West Yorkshire ?
No, a bit further out. 
Thanks for all the replies, you've put my mind at ease.
I'm usually upfront about the time limit, as these are customer-facing jobs that do require some degree of stability. That said, I mentioned in the interview that after the 15-month period I won't be going away, just switching to part time employment for a while and then coming back. I'm also well aware of how long it actually takes to train a 'technical specialist' in this field, as I've been doing similar jobs for the last decade. It would have taken 3-6 months, leaving plenty of time to be productive.
I hear a lot about how it's difficult to recruit talent in organisations, but when talent knocks them on the front door and asks for some flexibility - most managers just don't have the capacity to see the big picture or think long term. If you can't give them exactly what they're looking for at the moment, they're just not interested. And while that's perfectly acceptable, it's also not the kind of manager or company I want to work for, so the search continues...
Final point about the HR person - I was also surprised to get this feedback. They actually teach this now in HR courses (I did one last year) that you have to turn people down with a proper explanation, but I dismissed it as academic fluff that would never happen in the real world... yet there you have it. I've applied for jobs in several countries in the past, and nowhere has the (negative) answer been so quick and detailed, so for this Ricoh UK deserve a pint.
Edited by Derish on Saturday 2nd April 12:13
Derish said:
so called said:
When you say you are a foreigner, is this because your from West Yorkshire ?
No, a bit further out. Thanks for all the replies, you've put my mind at ease.
I'm usually upfront about the time limit, as these are customer-facing jobs that do require some degree of stability. That said, I mentioned in the interview that after the 15-month period I won't be going away, just switching to part time employment for a while and then coming back. I'm also well aware of how long it actually takes to train a 'technical specialist' in this field, as I've been doing similar jobs for the last decade. It would have taken 3-6 months, leaving plenty of time to be productive.
I hear a lot about how it's difficult to recruit talent in organisations, but when talent knocks them on the front door and asks for some flexibility - most managers just don't have the capacity to see the big picture or think long term. If you can't give them exactly what they're looking for at the moment, they're just not interested. And while that's perfectly acceptable, it's also not the kind of manager or company I want to work for, so the search continues...
Final point about the HR person - I was also surprised to get this feedback. They actually teach this now in HR courses (I did one last year) that you have to turn people down with a proper explanation, but I dismissed it as academic fluff that would never happen in the real world... yet there you have it. I've applied for jobs in several countries in the past, and nowhere has the (negative) answer been so quick and detailed, so for this Ricoh UK deserve a pint.
Edited by Derish on Saturday 2nd April 12:13
If it was me I would have not mentioned any of that hopefully got the job and with 6 months to go I would have requested that I go part time to complete the uni course. They are likely to be more flexible then as they have invested time in you.
In this case they were looking for someone to manage a local 'enclave' reporting directly to the Netherlands. I could offer them several advantages over the local crowd due to my family status and some past experience working with the Dutch and the Flemish. I know there were a few dozen other candidates, but if if they ended up hiring a UK native - may the force be with them.
Like I said, this situation was a good filter for them as well as for me. If they can't be flexible in 2016, it's a red flag. Flexibility is important these days, and so is long term thinking and strategic HR management. Corporations are the ones hurting the most from lack of young managers in the pipeline, and this was a good opportunity for Ricoh to take one on board for future development. They preferred to concentrate on the task and the dept. at hand, time will tell how smart of a decision it was.
Like I said, this situation was a good filter for them as well as for me. If they can't be flexible in 2016, it's a red flag. Flexibility is important these days, and so is long term thinking and strategic HR management. Corporations are the ones hurting the most from lack of young managers in the pipeline, and this was a good opportunity for Ricoh to take one on board for future development. They preferred to concentrate on the task and the dept. at hand, time will tell how smart of a decision it was.
I read the original job advert https://www.linkedin.com/jobs2/view/108082918
I must be getting old cos I can't see what you actually have to do in the job. Wharra load of puff & nonsense.
I must be getting old cos I can't see what you actually have to do in the job. Wharra load of puff & nonsense.
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