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My column is dedicated to telling it like it is. I will always give you the best information available to me or the best advice I can. I will be upfront and never hide the truth from you.The one thing I will not do is you homework. I will try and point you towards the answer or help you find the answers you looking for. Ultimately you will have to find the answer yourself.
advice
Hi,
I recently applied for a job, but was unsuccessful after the interview, because "the competition was very fierce".
However, there were 550 applicants, and I was shortlisted for an interview along with 24 other people.
When applying for similar positions, should I state this? Because it is sort of impressive, but would the prospective employer wonder why I didn't get the job, and put them off?
So in short, should I state that I was shortlisted for interview and didn't get the job?
Thanks
I agree with Razhi, this is not something you can put on your resume or cover letter. This is also a claim that can work against you with some HR Specialist doing the first review of your resume.
The HR specialist is the one who will be investing time in the initial interview. He or she is the one you need to convince to bring you back for the all important second interview with the department head or person you will be actually working for.
I believe that anyone who has ever had to make a selection of candidates for a position from resumes understands that the resume is written to put your best image forward. What I look for is how the resume is written. Language, spelling, appearance, grammar and how it was presented, with or without a cover letter is important to me. Then I score it on a one to ten basis.
I then call the people I have rated the resumes for the highest in for an interview. In the first interview I look to see how the person is reflective of their resume; again rating them on a one to ten scale. I then call back the top five for the second interview. There are times and not unusual that the top two or three candidates will be called back for a third interview.
Now everyone does this differently; there is no science or written policy on how to do interviews or rate resumes. What I believe though is you and your resume have to be reflective of each other in the first interview to be called back for the second interview.
My advice is to review your resume to make sure it is not overly exaggerating your abilities. A pre-scripted cover letter should have space for a paragraph or to that can be tailored to the job of the company you are applying for.
On thing you might want to do to better your chances for a second interview; is to send a letter or Email to the interviewer thanking them for their time. You may if you wish take a few lines to show your interest in the particular position you are applying for. If the interviewer is on the fence about you this could tip you into the pile for a second interview.
I hope this helps.
(Rating: 5) Thanks! I did email them asking if they would be willing to give me some feedback, because this is common place. So I'm waiting for this feedback, before I thank them.
But yes, thank you!