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You have just received the message after the 1th job interview that they do not want to continue with you. Phew, that's annoying. You were really well prepared for the interview and then they want to continue with the other candidate.
Is that all over then? Of course not! Here's what you still can do at this stage.
Keep in mind: It ain't over till the fat lady sings!
Don't take it personal
People seem to think that a candidate is selected with objective criteria. This is not the case. Oh, they might have the intention to do so, but in the end the will probably choose someone they just like the most. I had a manager who said: And this time I want a red head. So, not getting selected has probably nothing to do with you.
But what can you do when you recieved a 'no'?
Ask for feedback
Call the person you had the conversation with and ask for feedback. Maybe you can learn something from it. Here's a tip: smile when you dial!
Questions you can ask:
What did you think of my resume and cover letter?
What made you choose the other candidate?
Do you have any tips for me that I can use in my next job interview?
Keep your CV
Apparently your resume was good enough to be invited for an interview. You can ask the company if they want to keep your CV a couple of months. This means that your CV will be archived. If a similar position becomes vacant, they already have your CV.
An additional advantage: if the company had approached an employment agency (which costs a lot of money), they can save those costs.
Keep an eye on the company
It is not at all said that the other candidate was the right choice. If things don’t work out with the other candidate, which can certainly happen, the position will be vacant again in 2 or 3 months.
And with the feedback tips you requested earlier, you can now make an even better impression.
Only when you've tried everything, you can say that this procedure is over. But until then remember: it ain't over till the fat lady sings!