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Grand-Diamond-4696's journey

Milestones, reflections, and progress updates connected as your layoff-to-next-step story unfolds.

  1. 2

    I recently faced a frustrating rejection after applying for a role at a company I used to work for from 2017 to 2019. I've been job hunting for over six months, submitting more than 1,200 applications and interviewing with about 50 companies, making it to nine final rounds without any offers. When I saw the opening for a position I originally built in 2018, I felt it was a perfect match. I left the company on good terms when they decided to focus on Europe, and since then, they've been known to rehire former employees. I applied for the role, reached out to my network, and even got a recommendation from the CTO. During my chat with the recruiter, I highlighted my direct experience and how my technical skills have expanded over the years. However, ten days later, I received a rejection stating there was a lack of "technical alignment." This baffled me because I helped create the role and my experience aligns closely with the requirements. Even my career coach was confused by this feedback. What frustrated me even more was not even getting a first-round interview with the hiring manager. I felt like my background wasn't communicated properly to the hiring team. In an effort to understand the disconnect, I reached out to the Head of HR, who initially referred me to the recruiter. I don't like going over someone's head, but the rejection reason didn't match my qualifications, and I felt compelled to seek clarity. Has anyone else dealt with a situation where the feedback seemed completely off given their history with a company?

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  2. 1

    European cybersecurity company · Technical Account Manager

    2 updates Same company and role

    Rejected
    Show updates in order

    I need to vent about my recent job search experience with a European cybersecurity company I used to work for. I joined them back in 2017 during their initial U.S. expansion as one of the first employees in a hybrid pre-sales and technical role. We had a successful run, but the company eventually decided to pause U.S. investments and focus on Europe, so I left on good terms in 2019. Fast forward to now, the company has grown significantly and is reinvesting in the U.S. market. Many former employees, including myself, have returned to the company over the years, which made me feel confident about applying again. I have connections with around 50 employees there, including the CTO, which I thought would give me an edge. When I saw an opening for a Technical Account Manager role, I applied and reached out internally. I tailored my resume specifically for the position, even though their version of the role is more technically focused than my recent experience. We had multiple discussions about my technical expertise, especially my previous work with the company. However, after about 10 days of silence, I received an automated rejection on LinkedIn without any personal feedback. I reached out to the recruiter for clarification, but it took another follow-up email to finally get a response. The recruiter mentioned that the hiring manager was looking for someone with a background more closely aligned with the technical requirements. This is where my frustration lies. I had already handled those technical responsibilities when I worked there, and I have a deep understanding of their environment and products. It feels like I'm being gatekept by someone who doesn't fully grasp my history with the company. In today's hiring process, it seems like candidates are filtered out based on keywords rather than actual experience, which is incredibly discouraging.

    Company: European cybersecurity company

    Job title: Technical Account Manager

    Unresponsive Rejected Mixed signals
    0 1

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