Dear Ed,
I’ve gotten to second interviews three times already, but each time, I was rejected and told it came down to me and the other candidate. Why does this keep happening? Can I ask the editors what I could have done differently? How can I make myself the standout candidate?
Thanks,
Erica, New York City
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Dear Erica,
Oh, Ed feels your pain! The same happened to him as many times, but guess what? He eventually got offered a gig that was exactly right for him—and he’s sure the same will happen for you.
But Ed knows that’s not super-comforting right now!
The truth is, there may not be anything you can do. Your resume and cover letter are in good shape, otherwise you wouldn’t be getting interviews, and your interview skills are solid, otherwise you wouldn’t be getting second interviews. When your experience and talent are equal to another candidate’s, the editors will just go with whomever they clicked with more. So you can try asking these editors what you could have done differently to get the job, but since it came down to personality, they probably won’t have anything to tell you.
Again, probably not what you want to hear.
Here’s the good news: If you’ve been the runner-up choice for three jobs, that means you’re getting closer to being an editor’s first choice. You’re getting more interview practice than the average candidate and you’re learning about more magazines, both of which will come in handy in your future interviews. So keep at it! That next job may be yours.
