Posted on Jun 26, 2015
Why would somebody with 23 years of military experience be passed over for an entry level position with no experience required?
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Applied for a job with a cable television company and just found out I didn't get the job. I don't understand why I didn't get, did the phone interview thought it went well and the face to face interviews with the managers who stated they to were ex-military. Waited to hear something because recruiter said that training will start on June 29, kept going to the the company website checking my status which was still in "In Process" so I didn't hear nothing since my interview on May 19, so I decided to contact someone the other day to find out if I had the job, that was probable a mistake. Get a email stating they were going with others candidates. I am trying to understand why I wasn't qualified for this position, it is a entry level position with no experience required will train, my background, I have 23 years of military service in signal and a B.S. degree in IT but I don't qualify. Not mad just had my hopes up in getting this. The company advertise they were hiring veterans and that was one of the reason I applied. I know just because I was in the military doesn't entitle me to any job I want. But when you sit in the waiting room and looking at the other candidates, knowing that they don't have any military or maybe 4 years max, no experience. Have this happen to others or is this overthinking.
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Civilian Career
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 108
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The truth is, you're over qualified. Their concern is that you would only work there until you find a better job. It's happened to me before.
Best of luck to you SFC Derrick Gordon!
Best of luck to you SFC Derrick Gordon!
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LTC (Join to see)
I agree with SGT. La Branche SFC Gordon...do not give up! they see you as a threat!
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CDR Kenneth Kaiser
Sgt Joe LaBranche - THat may be the case and in that case you don't want to work in that environment. You would not learn anything and you would waste your time. If you look at it from the company's perspective, they spend a lot of time and money in the recruiting process (setting up interviews, doing the interviews, evaluating the applicants training them etc) they do not want to hire someone who is overqualified because that person in an ideal situation would be promoted out of the position or move on to another opportunity and you would have to start the recruiting process all over again.
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Sgt Joe LaBranche
Keep in mind that my statement does not apply to all hiring decisions, but does apply in many cases. I agree with your statement regarding the investment made in any new hire. As a former business executive, I have been around insecure managers that would not hire individuals they felt would be a threat. Unfortunately I have also been associated with the hiring of individuals who did not work out or moved on after being trained.
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LTC (Join to see)
and age discrination too....my dad had trouble in his 40s finding a job, in the 1970s, after being retiring and receiving disability from the Sheriff's dept. age, the employer wanting to pay a college or tech grad less and the overwhelming experience you may have may be a few reasons or hurdles you have to overcome. just my observation/theory to add to this complicated issue...
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Suspended Profile
I would recommend calling the interviewer and requesting feedback on the process....either they provide you with candid feedback, blow you off or as it worked out for me call you back for a job later. My story went like this. I also applied for a job in a field i have over 20 years experience in and was not hired. When I called and asked what would have made me more competitive they said nothing it just boiled down to the another candidate having experience on a specific piece of equipment that I did not. They told me I was more than qualified and asked if they could keep me on file.......I told them yes and figured that I had just been handed a line of BS ....then three weeks later I got a call from them and offered the job because the first candidate did not work out...no interview, nothing....they were basically happy they had me in the "warm up circle" and did not have to start the hiring process all over again.
Anyway just my two cents and advice.....good luck in your job hunt.
Anyway just my two cents and advice.....good luck in your job hunt.
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I wish this kind of thing didn't happen. As PO1 John Miller says you are probably "over qualified". Sometimes this also translates directly to "We're scared he is going to take our job if we hire him."
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