Oh my God, everything has gone wrong!

[CerberusIV]

Originally posted by Provost Harrison
When will there ever be a level playing field?

Not as long as decisions are made by human beings with their irrational prejudices and petty likes and dislikes.

I have had three jobs in the last 16 years but done less than a dozen interviews. Over the same period my SO has done at least 200 interviews and got nowhere, to the point she has stopped applying whilst we try and figure out an alternative. There simply isn't a rational explanation for it.

Rich - when the day comes that you are sitting on the other side of the table don't forget how you feel now. Don't take pity on the candidates, it is necessary to choose the one you think will work out best, but allow for how they are feeling sat in that chair since you know what it's like.

[Ecthy]

this just in: "the spotty brat" got the job...

[Ecthy]

ah, it was already posted...

[Provost Harrison]

I doubt that day will ever come. I just seem to be getting nowhere. No matter what I do, I will always be f*cked over. Years and years and years of soul searching, improvement, education. For nothing. Is this as good as it gets? As I said, I think death would be easier. I try and get back up, but someone always kicks you down.

Is this how we reward talent in modern society?

[Provost Harrison]

I am returning to my previous job on Monday. Now that is good in itself, but in other ways I feel humiliated. Everyone was cheering me - Rich's big chance at last to get what he deserves. And once more I have fallen flat on my face. What gives?

[MikeH]

Rich...

You seem to have the attitude in all this that you are the victim of some grand conspiracy by people to screw your life up. I think that's unlikely.

You are always saying that you are more intelligent, socially better blah, blah, blah and you can't understand why you didn't get the job.

Perhaps some of your assumptions are wrong?

One thing straight of the mark, if you are giving people the impression that you think you are better than them (more intelligent, productive, better educated) etc. then they will react badly to it.

On the other hand, there is also the possibility that no-one seems to have mentioned that there are some (possibly subconcious) elements of racism at work here. Not that that would be easy to find out or prove.

[SpencerH]

Racism?

[Buck Birdseed]

You mean they're prejudiced against short people?

[Provost Harrison]

I just can't win Mike...all I have is some confidence in my own abilities.

[MikeH]

Well PH is half Chinese. Something that only occurred to me after puzzling about this for a few days.

Hell, I dunno. The main thing is not to see it as an insurmountable obstacle, it's just a set back (or a series of setbacks) you'll get through it in the end. Especially if you move out of Yorkshire down to somewhere where there are actually loads of jobs in your field.

[SpencerH]

Ah!

It could be a factor then, but I think its more likely to be what others may see as his 'arrogance' bleeding through during the interviews.

[Provost Harrison]

Why would my assumptions be wrong? I have figured this stuff out myself, I have good qualifications and experience, especially for the position I went for yesterday. All I was was enthusiastic and interested.

No one has been able to fault my technical ability. Yesterday they said my technical ability was second to none. Novartis said my technical ability was second to none. The only reason I could have been discriminated against was because I am confident in what I do. I was not boastful or arrogant, I just tried to answer their questions and describe how I think my experience was relevent to the job. No matter what you try and claim, there is nothing that can validate this past few weeks. It makes no sense whatsoever. All I am doing is trying to make a life for myself. Is this so impossible?

[Provost Harrison]

I'm not half Chinese, I just happen to have very dark hair.

I have had years of struggling trying to be content with who I am. And now I am told that I shouldn't be, that I have to be undemonstrative and shy and retiring. It's like a f**king dangling carrot. You lot seem to get jobs, have a normal life. Why is it always out of my grasp?

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by MikeH
You seem to have the attitude in all this that you are the victim of some grand conspiracy by people to screw your life up. I think that's unlikely.

Originally posted by MikeH
One thing straight of the mark, if you are giving people the impression that you think you are better than them (more intelligent, productive, better educated) etc. then they will react badly to it.

Either that, or just luck of the draw. Since everybody gets bounced, you cannot expect to bag a job with a single interview. That's right, your best chance is to have multiple interviews all going at the same time. This way, you can use offers to leverage a better package, or at least to give a positive bonus to yourself.

One thing for sure though: it's much easier to find a job when you have one.

[SpencerH]

Many people see confidence as arrogance.

One thing that hasnt been mentioned is that they may feel you are over qualified i.e. you're gonna get bored and not stay with the job. So they interview you based on your resume, but when you blow the interviewer out of the water during the interview, you're finished.

Maybe you need to move south and look for a entry-level job with more challenge?