"Joe6pack" (joe6pack) 04/10/2015 at 20:45 • Filed to: None

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Ok, ordinarily I wouldn't share that which might be viewed as a failure. But, since it is automotive related and this is a sharing site (and I couldn't come up with anything better), I thought I would tell you about my recent job rejection by Porsche Cars North America.

Mercedes Benz recently announced that they would be moving their North American headquarters from New Jersey to Atlanta. Intrigued, I decided to see if they were hiring and for what positions. One thing led to another and I found myself on Porsche's website. In perusing their job openings, I noticed this one:

As I have bragged written before, I own a 1987 Porsche 911. I also happen to have a mechanical engineering degree and an MBA with a concentration in marketing and I am a registered Professional Engineer in the state of Georgia. I also happen to have been a product manager in a previous life. I don't necessarily have merchandising or retail parts sales experience, but I do have retail pizza sales experience - practically the same thing. And, I have bought parts - classic Porsche parts, so that's got to count for something, right. Oh, and did I mention that I have a 1987 Porsche 911.

Now, I actually happen to like, dare I say love, my current job. It really suits me well and I have been there long enough to have a little seniority. I work with good people, I don't have to travel and I don't have to worry about profit margins. And I am not just saying this in case my boss might be reading it. But, a job working for Porsche, particularly with classic Porsches - well, let's just say I could dig it.

So, I spent all weekend cleaning up my resume (Pro Tip: kids, always adjust your resume to fit the job for which you are applying) and writing a nice cover letter playing up my classic Porsche ownership experience, my PCA membership and the fact that I do all my own maintenance. I then submitted everything through PCNA's website. I even thought about writing one of those "Letters to Doug" asking for a reference figuring at the very least I could give him some fodder for one of his columns. After all, only seldomly do I take my shirt off when I am drunk.

Once everything had been tossed over the wall, the fantasies began. You know the one where I become the first American to head Porsche and then Volkswagen AG. Or the one where they tap me to lead the development effort of their newest GTLM cars. Or the one where I somehow get to drive at LeMans despite the fact that I have never driven a car in anger on a track in my entire life.

Buuuttttt, two days later, I get the following:

Dear John,

Thank you for submitting your resume to Porsche Cars North America for consideration.

We are fortunate to have many qualified candidates apply to each of our positions. We have reviewed the qualifications of each candidate and after careful consideration, we have determined that the credentials of other candidates may better fit our needs at this time.

Please accept our best wishes and thank your for your interest in Porsche Cars North America.

Cordially,

Human Resources

Porsche Cars North America

Wow, not even the old "we will keep your resume on file" BS. Back in undergrad, we called these "flush letters". That's only because "flush email" hadn't been invented yet.

Here is the thing. I really did think I might be offered an interview. I keep rationalizing that they turned me away because I asked for too much money on the application or because I don't sprechen Deutsch or because I chose not to answer the question about my undergrad GPA. Hey, math is hard.

Though working for Porsche looked good on paper, it probably wouldn't have been a good fit. The truth is that I hate traveling, I hate being away from my family and there is a reason that I am a former product manager. I suspect that at the end of the day, it would have just been a job.

Oh, and by the way, did I mention that I have a 1987 Porsche 911.

ly2v8-Brian > Joe6pack 04/10/2015 at 20:50

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you know what they say about getting too close to your heroes...

ranwhenparked > Joe6pack 04/10/2015 at 20:52

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Welcome to my world. Two fairly encouraging interviews with Fiat Chrysler, followed up by two automatic rejection emails from their TMS. And all other resumes get completely lost in their system. The whole thing has soured me enough to go back into the nonprofit sector.

samssun > Joe6pack 04/10/2015 at 21:14

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Thought about firing off a letter to Mercedes, given how much hiring they'll be doing in Atlanta. Your old 911 and wrenching skills might get a little extra initial attention, and would be great fodder for the actual interview aka storytime, but may not mean much to corporate HR.

Can't hurt for you to reach out to Mercedes. Bet you're just as likely to catch the attention of a gearhead or enthusiast hiring manager, and they're really not going to care that you're in the Porsche camp. Maybe say you're ready to graduate from Beetles with leather AC vents into something with true refinement.

Doug DeMuro > Joe6pack 04/10/2015 at 22:12

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I'm sorry to hear they rejected you summarily. In my experience, product manager jobs like this get more resumes than practically anything else. Don't be discouraged — I bet they hire someone dramatically overqualified who just wants Porsche on his resume.

Try your luck with MBUSA.

DrJohannVegas > Joe6pack 04/10/2015 at 22:40

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As someone coming from a specialized field where 75-100 applications with no interviews is more common than my sanity is willing to accept: this is okay. Positions like this get a metric ton of applications, and sometimes the things which jump out at a hiring manager are idiosyncratic. You are likely a strong candidate, and should take no more from this than the knowledge that you gave it a good shot. There are many good jobs out there, and you should keep applying. Apply for everything, as long as the process isn't too onerous and the business doesn't ask for money.

In short: AFTDJ (Apply for the Damn Job.), and godspeed.

Stef Schrader > Joe6pack 04/10/2015 at 22:48

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Man, I would have moved to Hotlanta in a second if I could've worked for Porsche. Surely, there's an employee discount. Cheap parts! CHEAP PARTS.

Unfortunately, though, I've noticed a lot of ads go up to go through the process even though companies have a hire in mind. Shoot, I found an ad about the opening that I was going to take at a prior company before. I asked about it and they were like "that IS your job." Oh. Well, then.

So many jobs seem to happen nowadays because of an in somewhere—a personal connection. I suggest making BFFs with err'body at Porsche corporate, just in case, and can I email you about cheap 944 parts?

Joe6pack > samssun 04/10/2015 at 23:04

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Ha ha.Beetles with leather AC vents. I actually saw a 996 with them. Looked dumb and they did not hold up well.

Joe6pack > Doug DeMuro 04/10/2015 at 23:24

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Thanks, Doug. My wife, much to my surprise, actually encouraged me to apply. I'm serious when I say that I like my current situation. Still, I was a little surprised I didn't get more traction. I hire staff professionals and I do know that sometimes the HR screeners hold sway. I once had a friend who wanted to move to Atlanta apply for a project manager job opening I had. When I asked HR why his resume hadn't come down, they told me he asked for too much money on the application. I asked if I could interview him anyway and they told me no. Candidates who ask for significantly more money than a job pays are automatically disqualified as they will not stay long even if hired.

Btw, I am a fan. I have been going back reading some of your older stuff. Top notch.

Joe6pack > ly2v8-Brian 04/10/2015 at 23:25

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Thought about that - seriously.

Joe6pack > DrJohannVegas 04/11/2015 at 09:44

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Yeah, back when, Siemens was always advertising for engineers in my field with my experience. I must have applied 10 times. Later on, I actually met someone who worked there and mentioned my experience. According to her, they just do that so that they can collect resumes in case they have any real openings later on. Seems kind of disingenuous.

Also, I just checked and the Porsche Product Manager position is still advertised, so I guess it hasn't been filled.

Joe6pack > Stef Schrader 04/11/2015 at 09:48

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That's kind of what I was thinking. Even if it didn't pay as much as I make now, the perks might make it worth it.