At the Same Level or Higher

I heard back from a place I had applied to. I didn't get the job. It didn't feel good, but the feeling didn't last as long as it used to.

It wasn't a position I had paid much attention to, but I applied anyway. I interviewed with the hiring manager, and they didn't leave a good impression on me. It was easy to see that they were trying to look down on me and show how busy they were. Yet their model performed poorly and they seemed to be looking for someone to rescue it. But rather than a team, they wanted one person to carry it all.

Then why should I feel bad about their rejection and spend my feelings on it? I could thank them for their time while stating my view politely but clearly: I was not impressed either.

When they reject someone, they say, "Unfortunately, we decided to move forward with someone who is a better fit for what we are looking for." It's an automatic template, but it's still true. The same is true for the applicant. If the position isn't what I'm looking for, and the team rejects me anyway, there's no reason to hold on to them.

So I replied:

I also came to the conclusion that the team's expertise and the scope of the role were different from what I had expected. Given that, I agree that it is best not to proceed further.

I think I have applied to many teams that didn't fit me, looking only at the money or the company name. I'm not under financial pressure to find a new job right now, so in a field with so many inept managers, I see no reason to lower my level just to move somewhere else.