What would you do in this scenario?
Hi all, here's a scenario for you all and wanted to see your thoughts
TLDR - went through process with a firm starting new group and I'd be a right hand; group was very impressed with me but I did not end up getting offer; says may not be the right time and timing between myself/firm might be different; they say may continue to search but I feel like this may be an excuse to save face on saying they're re-assessing and may or may not hire depending on the macro environment shakes out; i want to go over manager's head and reach out to manager's boss (i've met in interview) or manager's boss' boss (i have not met) to convince them i'm a great hire; what would be the move?
Long version
I recently went through a full interview process at a firm that is starting a new group and I would be second in line. I had many rounds and met with different folks from different teams including the hiring manager's boss. I thought the discussions went great overall and the hiring manager liked me. During this process, I also found out in they hired a more junior person in the group and this junior had a personal/work connection with the hiring manager before.
After the interviews, I got news from the hiring manager and said I would not be getting an offer after many long and difficult conversations internally - when pressed as to why, the manager was quite vague and mentioned that the team was extremely impressed with me but it may not be the right time at this point and to keep in touch. Didn't give me any more context other than going through this process with them have made them learned a lot and they're continuing to assess. Said they may continue on the search.
I felt like I was a great fit for the firm and could help them significantly so not getting the offer was extremely disappointing. I'm still torn after this time and have been 'stuck' on my next move.
My line of communication throughout this process has been with HR and the hiring manager - although I am contemplating reaching out to the manager's boss directly (i've met in interview)for some feedback and try to persuade them on hiring me/get more color, or even the manager's boss' boss (i have not met). I know that this may not bode well for some but it does show to a certain extent that I do really want the gig and feel like I can add significant value.
Given that I do not have an offer and essentially have barely anything to lose (other than the slim possibility that I might get a call back (or not) in the future), do you think this is the appropriate move?
I feel like and am guessing the decision internally may have been re-assessing needs based on the current macro environment and taking things slowly at one-step at a time. I felt like they might not have anyone else lined up and I was the top candidate - however, for them to comment on may continue on the search has me confused - is this so the firm doesn't lose face and have to say they're scaling back on hiring since one of the big pluses was that they're hiring a new team and now they're not? The hiring manager did not say this explicity and it's kind of frustrating for me to guess, but what do you think might have happened internally? Did one of the interviewers just not like me enough?
What would you do in this situation? Any advice is appreciated.
quite a dilemma - calling on some of the more experienced pros on here for advice APAE, kanon, CompBanker
I’m honored to be in that list, but i think I’m still a bit aways from being on APAE and CompBanker’s level. Someday though.
OP - I’m not sure I can give you any meaningful, actionable advice here. Is the hiring manager the person to whom you’d ultimately report? If so, going above this person to their boss is a pretty high risk maneuver. In some cases people might take it in stride and think of it as gumption and tenacity, but it can also come off as you not respecting that person, and they can take it as a data point for how you’d be as their direct report (I.e. it can be seen as tactless).
This is a new group (that’s presumably a very small team atm), and they’re trying to hire a right-hand. That means fit is incredibly important - both in work style/personality and skill set. And given the current environment, I think the group is probably trying to be very particular about their hire. It could be that you were a good or solid candidate, but you didn’t check all their boxes, and they feel they can afford to shop around.
I don’t think you can change their minds because these hiring discussions are likely done as a group. The Hiring manager and their boss and anyone else you met probably all had discussions. The hiring manager giving you the news is just the ultimate messenger. It may potentially be their ultimate call whether to hire you, given you’d be their report, but that decision would’ve been done with the acknowledgment of their boss, and would be respected.
I think all you can do is stay in touch with the hiring manager (and their manager IF you had established some rapport with them). And after they do a thorough review of other candidates, who knows, maybe they’ll go “oh we should maybe check in with OP, he was pretty solid”.
Without knowing more the hiring managers feedback sounds to me like they’re trying to let you down easy and you weren’t as good of a fit as you felt you were.
Still, like you said you don’t really have anything to lose by reaching out to the managers boss so would at least ask him/her for feedback.
I have been in your shoes before. Sucks to go through a long, detailed interview process with great feedback along the way only to feel like the rug was ripped out from under you at the last second. You can do what you want, and maybe the hiring managers boss might have some incremental feedback for you, but you are fooling yourself if you think you can somehow change their mind. If there was an outstanding concern they felt could be addressed, the team would have reached out to you. Sorry, this one didn't work out. If it helps at all, I think your disappointment is pretty one sided as they almost definitely were interviewing others along with you which is just another way of saying the best course is likely moving on as they certainly already have.
If it's about getting more color to the feedback, do it. However, trying to go over the direct manager's head to get the job is a stupid idea ... how do you think that will go long term? The guy will feel you one upped him and will likely crush you ...
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