It was an ordinary day, and I was expecting an ordinary job interview. Little did I know that I was about to experience a huge disappointment and a moment of realization about the current job market.
I had been unemployed for a long time and had been searching for a job for months. Finally, I found an opportunity to work as a manager in a small company, and I was so excited to finally have an interview.
I was well-prepared for the interview, and I thought I had answered all the questions satisfactorily. I left the interview feeling confident that I would get the job.
I ran into one of the interviewers in the restroom at the office, and I couldn’t help but overhear their conversation. They were discussing the interview process, and one of the interviewers mentioned that they had chosen to hire someone else because the candidate was willing to work for a much lower salary than I had proposed.
The conversation continued, and I soon realized that the person they had hired was a foreign worker who was willing to undercut all the other applicants.
I was stunned. I had worked hard to prepare for this job and had even gone to the trouble of researching the company and its industry. I had also spent a lot of time and energy crafting my resume and cover letter. I had done everything I possibly could to prove that I was the best candidate for the job.
A few days later, I received an email from the company informing me that they had decided to hire someone else for the position. I was shocked and confused. I had been so sure that I would get the job that I had not even considered the possibility of being rejected.
But it seemed that the company had chosen to hire someone who was cheaper, despite my qualifications.
Companies often prioritize cost-efficiency over quality of work, even if it means hiring someone who may not be as qualified or experienced as other applicants.
It was a hard pill to swallow, but it taught me an important lesson I go move to another country better.