The wait is over, but no good news

I did it!  I e-mailed the HR department to find out if I had been chosen for the second round or "if they had moved forward with other candidates".  I didn't want to be a pest, but I wanted to figure out if I was still being considered.  Unfortunately, I did not get selected for the 2nd round of interviews, but I do think I built a little bit of a relationship with their HR department which if I apply to them again may be helpful.

I am still wondering why they chose someone else instead of me.  The job was for a Manager of Network Infrastructure and telecommunications.  that is may job title currently, and I thought I did an excellent job answering all the questions in the interview.  So now, I am forced to evaluate the intangibles such as my enthusiasm, verbal delivery, did I sound like a know it all or someone disagreeable who wouldn't fit in with their organization.  I keep coming back to things like this because I have now made it to four interviews where I felt I answered their questions, presented my self professionally, and yet I am still looking.  What am I missing?  If there is anyone out there who conducts interviews regularly and has an idea for me i am all ears.

That brings us back to the start.  Rip the piece of paper off and start with a fresh drawing board open to any ideas.  I am still actively looking for a new job.  I can continue to check company websites and internet job boards, but I have been doing that for the past few months and nothing yet.  my wife says that there must be a reason I am still at my current job, but she is my number one cheerleader and the person who keeps me going.  Even after the fourth no in a row.  I was thinking of trying a new approach and sending my resume to companies where I want to work, even if they have no job openings posted.  I do not know how an unsolicited resume goes, but it can't hurt to try.

The waiting game...

I had an interview last week and as always I asked at the close of the interview, "what are the next steps?"  The hiring committee said that they had one more day interviewing candidates and then they would make their decision.  They were hoping to move forward with their decision quickly.

So, it has been seven days since my interview.  Do I call and follow up and possibly look desperate for the job or do I wait?  On the other hand, if I call maybe they will say, "Wow!  Mike is really anxious and really wants to work here!  Why look anywhere further, we have found our candidate."  I wouldn't want to miss that opportunity.

I do this every time I have an interview.  I wait and I wait, even when it is beyond what most reasonable people would expect, because as long as the company has not called me back and told me no, then I still have a chance.  At least that is what I try to convince myself of.  And then I hear the inevitable that they "have chosen to move forward with other candidates" or me personal favorite, "we were unable to find the type of candidate we were looking for" and I then review every answer I said or things i didn't say and wish I had and wonder if that is what went wrong with this interview.

I think I need to take a break or at least vary my approach, but then I worry that there will be the perfect job that comes available and I never saw it advertised.  For now, I will keep on plugging along, tailor my choices, and be a little more selective in the jobs I apply to.  Maybe a change of pace is needed...