By Steve Beseke, beseke1@earthlink.net
Go figure…
You just finished a fantastic job interview that could not have gone any better that day. Your friend also just completed a month-long work assignment feeling confident and refreshed. You both stop at the local pub and have a cool one to share the moment.
Managing Expectations
Your friend the next day meets with his executive team but doesn’t get the terrific response he thought. While he has attained “rock star” status at his company, his superiors tell him “nice job” on the project and “we come to expect such work from you.” He comes out of the meeting a bit mystified that a project potentially saving the company millions was treated so matter-of-factly.
You are just waiting for the company to call for the next interview, which it said for sure would happen in a couple of days. You write a very gracious “thank you” e-mail to the interviewers but nothing happens that day…the next day…or three weeks out even after politely e-mailing them a second time for an update. Then, finally they called back and said another candidate was a “better fit.” Your world comes crashing down…at least for the moment.
All of us have been in similar situations in life…been there, done that. From personal experience in both scenarios, the key for you and your friend is to truly know how to manage your expectations…
You were a great candidate. You had all the skills, experience and know-how to do the job wonderfully. The company’s culture, it seemed, fit you like a glove and the interviewers were very impressed by how you’ve handled job situations in the past. What could you have done differently or better? Absolutely Nothing!!!
I’ve heard this nebulous comment of being the “right fit” too often as I’ve talked with so many friends who are trying to find their next great work adventure. I’ve also been personally part of such interviews in the past, and it is like your gut is kicked several times with increasing intensity.
Your friend also was so use to hearing glowing accolades at work that the “what we come to expect” statement was just not on his/her radar screen. Your friend still did fabulous work but he has set the bar very high because of his past, exemplary work.
In both situations, there was nothing that could have been done any differently on you or your friend’s part. The impressions of the interviewers and superiors were in a sense remarkably the same. “Yes, we know you are very, very good but show me that X factor to get me to react differently.”
In the interview situation, you should have made it into the final group. Your friend should not have his wonderful work taken for granted. Unfortunately, in today’s society, companies never want to be wrong, so they have 10 interviews instead of the more than adequate one or two. Many companies in this economy also look at high performers as oranges waiting to be squeezed dry. They don’t realize that their reactions can prompt a supposedly valued worker to shut down and/or move on.
Because of these tight employment times, some companies will use their advantage to not have the proper personal resp;ect for employees or would-be employees. If we don’t understand these types of unfortunate and unnecessary realities, our expectations come at a sometimes unhealthy price for our mindsets.
Instead of leaving my friend hanging for weeks about the potential job, why couldn’t the company have simply answered his inquiries with a short note like: “We definitely enjoyed our conversation with you and the decision process is taking us longer than we thought. We will be in touch as soon as a decision is made.” Sure, they have a lot on their plates. A five second note, however, is definitely doable…
With your friend, his superiors could have easily said: “Another great job for the company and we appreciate your work.” Today’s economic meltdown should not mean a freeze in the way companies should treat any of us.
I will get off my “soap box” but the point is you cannot control the actions of others. You can control how you manage your own thought process and getting too concerned over the semantics of life. Yes, the companies in both circumstances should have responded differently. Yes, your friend should have received more recognition, and you should have been part of the next interview phase.
The economy is rough and so many good folks are desperately looking for their next paycheck or a little increased recognition by their present employer. I, however, suggest thinking about what I’ve mentioned before in my articles. The only thing you can truly control in your life is your attitude, values and ho you relate to people.
There’s no need to go down the “dark side” and let such incidents disrupt your confidence and belief – as I have sometimes travelled in the past. You are too good a person to let others unduly control your present and future happiness.
Please stay strong my friends. Until next time, take care!
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