#JobRejection #InterviewFeedback #CareerAdvice #EmotionalSupport
Have you ever felt the sting of being rejected after a final interview, only to hear that you were labeled as “special” in a derogatory manner by the recruiter? It can be a tough pill to swallow, leaving you feeling confused, hurt, and frustrated. But fear not, as there are practical solutions to help you navigate through this challenging situation and come out stronger on the other side.
Receiving the Feedback
After putting in hours of preparation and going through a rigorous interview process, being rejected can feel like a blow to your self-esteem. It’s important to remember that feedback, even if delivered in a less-than-ideal manner, can provide valuable insights into areas where you can improve. Take a moment to process your emotions, but don’t dwell on the negativity. Use this as an opportunity for growth and self-reflection.
Understanding the Label
Being called “special” by a recruiter can be interpreted in different ways. While it may have been intended as a negative comment, try to dissect the underlying message. Are they referring to your unique skills and talents that may not have aligned with the role? Or are they highlighting areas where you may need to develop your interpersonal skills? Understanding the context behind the label can help you make sense of the feedback and move forward.
Embracing Your Uniqueness
As someone who identifies as a Mensa member and potentially on the autism spectrum, your cognitive abilities and perspectives may set you apart from others. Embrace your uniqueness and use it to your advantage. Highlight the strengths that come with your neurodiversity, such as attention to detail, problem-solving skills, and creativity. Show potential employers how your differences can be valuable assets to their team.
Moving Forward
It’s normal to feel bad and angry after being rejected, especially when faced with derogatory comments. Allow yourself to grieve the loss of the opportunity, but don’t let it define your worth. Take this experience as a learning opportunity to improve your skills, enhance your self-awareness, and strive for personal growth. Seek support from friends, family, or a mentor who can offer guidance and encouragement during this challenging time.
Remember, facing rejection is a natural part of the job search process. Stay resilient, stay positive, and keep moving forward. Your uniqueness is not a limitation, but a strength that sets you apart in a competitive job market. Turn this setback into a stepping stone towards a brighter future, where your talents and abilities are truly valued.
Ignore and move on.
As long as you master the technical aspects of your trade + behave professionally in client-facing situation => nothing is professionally wrong with you. Also, you might be “special” to them but great fit to another company.
Keep applying.
Sounds like you dodged a bullet
You definitely dodged a bullet. From what you said it sounds like you did 23 hours of unpaid work for them during the technical part. You don’t want to work there anyway. Hell, there may not have even been a real job there, they may have just been looking for some consulting work they didn’t want to pay for.
They treat you SPECIAL to get the free work then call you special when you fall for it🤷♀️
If you have proof maybe you have legal grounds for discrimination?
well… you said yourself you on spectrum so being called special is pretty accurate.
It would be helpful for you to get feedback from a neutral third party. You may wish to try a good personal growth or career coach, who could assist you in learning what to say/not say or how to edit yourself in conversation. You definitely never want to tell people you’re Mensa (I think that’s what you meant by mensan?)
Rethink your interview strategy, work on people and speech skills.no one wants to work with a nut job. You said you talked a lot during interview, perhaps don’t talk do much, listen more.
Well of you expect to be loved and have your intellect and “true worth” recognised by every recruiter you’ll meet….see where I’m going ?
What’s the catch here ? You want to work there why ? Pay ? Is it your dream company ?
They are allowed to choose the right personality fit for their internal team and external facing works was this for work outside of the US?
There are no spheres.
I think that was insensitive for someone to say about you, I’m sorry it happened. I hope you find something great – I think you will because you seem to prepare well and care.
Good luck
The truth is that it can be a long process finding the right position, but when you do it will be worth it. If a company doesn’t want you, then that alone is a red flag that you shouldn’t want them and it will be a hellish place to work.
Stop wasting time on long interviews.
You should be able to interview the team you’ll be on, their boss, the CEO, and maybe hr, and each should be at most 1 hour. Any more and it is a complete shit show of a company and you should leave.
I have done interviews for 20 years and I can tell who’s full of shit pretty quick. After that, we just have to find out by having you take the job and seeing what happens.
You know what? What’s stopping you from billing them? I mean seriously. Bill them as a contractor for the work you put in. Charge $100 hr and when they don’t pay, start adding on penalties and act as your own collection company. Cut them a deal once in a while to see if they will pay it. What do you have to lose?
Edit:
I had to do something similar as a 1099 photographer when a client neglected to pay me. Original bill was $175, I started to add interest and late penalties. Did this for 3 months and contacted them with a “deal.” Ended up with something like $500 afterwards.
I interviewed with Odoo 2 or 3 years ago, biggest waste of time and the interviewers were all unprofessional and downright rude. I went though 3 or 4 rounds of interviews which took up roughly 9 hours all said and done. I didn’t get the job but got a better position Ata different company. Few months later, the guy they hired rather than me got a job in my department at the other company and had nothing but negative things to day about working there. You dodged a bullet, that company is toxic.
One of the biggest mistakes some recruiters make is assuming we know the type of personality that will work well in roles like IT.
I have interviewed some people I didn’t blend well with at all but I always leaned on the trams to see if they could work with them.
Rarely does the recruiter make the hiring decision, so curious what feedback is provided but if you were rejected because of personality, then that is just poor hiring.
Sorry that happened and sorry that got back to you because that doesn’t feel good.
I guess getting into Mensa doesn’t prevent you from wasting 3+ days of your life on a job interview. You need to work on yourself and practice interviewing. I have trouble maintaining eye contact, if I found out they found me odd and distrustful after an interview, I’d be annoyed and disappointed, but they also wouldn’t be wrong about the things they perceived that made them think that, and that’s my fault. I hope you do better next time and nail it.
That sounds like a discrimination case to me.
mensa lol
and yet recruiters swear up down and sideways they don’t discriminate based on disability
I was called a nerd by the interviewer, who was the CEO of the company, after I solved a simple math test they had during the interview process without a calculator.
It was literally the two trains moving in opposite directions problem.
He also said he preferred some other guy because I didn’t seem good at talking on the phone.
Recruiters sell you the dream, beware.
Fuck odoo, i had one of my rudest experiences from a recruiter there
I know it is hard to not take it personally but whenever I’m rejected by a job I think to myself that I was not right FOR THEM. Just that. Nothing about me, just not the right fit.
In this case, the HR person was very unprofessional commenting on a candidate, while on an afterwork activity. If I had to say something, they’re not right for the job in general. And that is personal.
Move on to better things, you’ve got this!
Dude, don’t ever mention MENSA unless you know specifically that the company/interviewers are into that crap. I’d remove it from the CV too.
People that think a number makes them special are not viewed positively.
What do you mean they called you special in a bad way? Special as in special needs?
15h assignment feels like a red flag to me already.
I am currently waiting for the company I am interviewing with to reach out for final stage, so I can refuse to take homework.
Don’t have time for doing free work.
15h assignment feels like a red flag to me already.
I am currently waiting for the company I am interviewing with to reach out for final stage, so I can refuse to take homework.
Don’t have time for doing free work.
Lol. That’s funny.