Finishing in Second Place?

Have you ever gone on an interview, thought you did extremely well, and were told that you were a final contender for the job-only to find out that someone else was offered the position? Rather than dwell on a sense of failure or rejection, analyze your actions to improve your performance for your next interview.There are many reasons why you may not have been chosen for a position. The good news is that you were one of the top candidates being considered for the job. That means your experience and skills are impressive, and you have most, if not all, of the qualifications needed to succeed in the industry and at the level for which you interviewed. Now, your challenge is to find out why you were not offered the position.

You can obtain pointers and advice from your interviewer or the prospective company's HR manager. More often than not, these professionals will give you significant insight into your performance during the application process, and may even offer advice on how you can improve your presentation during your next interview. Their feedback could run the gamut of reasons why you were not offered the position-from professional appearance to skill set.

Keep in mind that you should treat this conversation with your interviewer or the company's HR manager as you would any other professional discourse. In other words, treat the conversation as if it were your first interview, and show your professionalism and respect for the company's representatives. In fact, it is not unheard of for professionals hear back from an HR manager months after they were rejected, only to find out that the position has suddenly been vacated.

By requesting feedback on your performance, you gain many benefits. Not only can you obtain pointers on how to improve your interviewing and presentation skills, but you also strengthen your professional network with hiring managers. And, eventually, you will be considered first in line for the position for which you are interviewing.