A more aggressive version of the Rejection Reversal Technique and the Isolation Technique is to commit yourself to turning the situation around and getting another interview. The Kamikaze Technique works well when you have been closed out at an early point in the process, especially with on-campus interviews that have gone awry.
What happens if you blow the initial interview with Human Resources or some other non-hiring manager? End of the line? Roll over and die? Not necessarily. Try going kamikaze. It’s not necessarily crash and burn, although it does help if you have rather daring tendencies to help make it work. Allow me to explain.
You cannot lose that which you do not have.
What you need to do is contact the Hiring Manager (not the person you wowed—or bow-wowed, as the case may be—in the initial interview) and explain the situation. You have already met with the HR person and they have informed you that your background is very interesting, but not what they are looking for at this exact moment. If you sincerely had a bad day (illness, recent brain surgery, dog was being held for ransom, etc.), let them know. Valid excuses do count. The key is to let them know that you really want to go to work for their company and you would be willing to fly, drive, hitchhike, whatever, to be there and meet with them, even if just for fifteen minutes. “Would you please give me the chance to prove myself with you personally?” You can even play to what is hopefully a giant “I am the manager” ego with the “After all, you are the Hiring Manager, right?” line. Let them know you truly want to work for their company and will do whatever is necessary to make it happen.
Crash and burn? Sure, it happens. But remember, you have already taken a direct hit. So why not go kamikaze? The results might surprise you.
A recent college grad used this technique to secure a company-site interview after he got the standard rejection letter based on the campus interview. He called the Branch Manager, told him he would be in the Chicago area the following week, and asked for further consideration so that he could show his full experience level, including a recent project he had completed. The manager agreed to bring him in and put him through the paces. He aced the company’s aptitude test, impressed all the key managers, and had a job offer in hand by the end of the week!
Yes, miracles do happen. Especially when you do your part in bringing them about.
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