# I guess they REALLY don't want me! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 1, 2008, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-guess-they-really-dont-want-me/466035 "2008-10-01T18:21:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-guess-they-really-dont-want-me/466035/1 "2008-10-01T18:21:14Z")
A year or so ago I posted about a promotion I applied for, and the impersonal, opaque, and IMO irrational process whereby I was told my 20+ year career did not qualify me to even complete the application process. Well, it opened up again, and like an idiot, I reworked my materials and submitted them. Long story short, I got rejected again. Which is no big deal, because if nothing else the process convinced me that I really didn’t want the job (which I maintain I am exceptionally qualified for and would be tremendous at). And I’m pretty pleased with my current job. I pretty much viewed this last applic like a lottery ticket. So it really didn’t bother me much to learn I was bounced again. However, today as I hear of one after another of my co-workers with half my experience or less making it past this first cut-off, I can’t say it is putting me in a great mood. 😛 I guess by whatever their standards I really am not qualified for the position! ---
**Author:** ![BaneSidhe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c5a1d2/32.png) [@BaneSidhe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BaneSidhe)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-guess-they-really-dont-want-me/466035/2 "2008-10-01T18:22:47Z")
I had that happen to me recently, and it was the same job I’d applied for a year back. I should take some comfort in the fact that the job keeps coming up as no one will work for this particular person for very long. Hmm. Perhaps being rejected is a GOOD thing! ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-guess-they-really-dont-want-me/466035/3 "2008-10-01T18:32:50Z")
It’s possible that you have more experience than the person who is hiring, and they might not want that. ---
**Author:** ![TroubleAgain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e480ec/32.png) [@TroubleAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroubleAgain)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-guess-they-really-dont-want-me/466035/4 "2008-10-01T18:38:49Z")
I would inquire as to _specific_ areas in which I was not qualified. You could couch it in terms of wanting to know so you can better prepare for the position, in order to avoid appearing to be a troublemaker. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-guess-they-really-dont-want-me/466035/5 "2008-10-01T19:22:38Z")
> [@TroubleAgain](#): > > I would inquire as to _specific_ areas in which I was not qualified. You could couch it in terms of wanting to know so you can better prepare for the position, in order to avoid appearing to be a troublemaker. Big bureaucracy, form communication. No explanation of any kind given other than “you are not among the most highly qualified applicants…” You can appeal - but how the hell do you appeal something that opaque? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![susan\_foster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@susan\_foster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan_foster)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-guess-they-really-dont-want-me/466035/6 "2008-10-01T19:38:01Z")
I have a friend who got to the interview process at a company and got rejected by email. Then he got another email about a month later, rejecting him again. Guess they wanted to make sure it stuck! Susan ---
**Author:** ![Zeriel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/58956e/32.png) [@Zeriel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeriel)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-guess-they-really-dont-want-me/466035/7 "2008-10-01T19:42:29Z")
Usually when I heard that it meant two things: 1. Someone, usually underqualified, was already groomed/chosen for the position out of nepotism or whatever. 2. I needed to get out of a place where that stuff happened. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-guess-they-really-dont-want-me/466035/8 "2008-10-01T19:46:26Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Big bureaucracy, form communication. No explanation of any kind given other than “you are not among the most highly qualified applicants…” > > You can appeal - but how the hell do you appeal something that opaque? 😛 Hell, since you’re not going to get the job anyway, report them to EEOC for age discrimination.