Letter in response to a job rejection email

_This is a slightly modified letter I sent in response to a job rejection for a software engineer position. While some aspects are unique, the general idea persists across the dozens and dozens of companies I’ve interviewed with in this job search._

Thank you for letting me know that I will not be further considered. I really appreciate the time. There is something I feel I need to convey, for your consideration.  

In your feedback, you said that I was not experienced enough for the role, and would not be able to be independent enough. 

While I understandably didn’t pass your examination of me, I think it is premature to judge my skill level based on our conversations. 

In the second interview, I was asked 2-3 technical questions. For one of the questions, I realized just this morning what he was getting at and answered it, belatedly, as is my usual curse. 

This is how my mind works. I am not particularly fast, but I am considered. I find this to be actually faster in the long run as I am more thorough than those who go fast by nature, typically.

As far as I know, day to day engineering looks nothing like a game of Jeopardy, where you have your brain and a clue alone to work with. We have documentation, Google, AI, and I bring foundational experience, having participated in this medium since the 90’s. That’s likely to go further than, for example, someone who can extrapolate context and answer questions quickly, but, say, is not a team player, or experienced in workplace struggles as to be resilient during impediments and roadblocks. 

I was brought into the federal government specifically to pave the way for something new. I was part of a five person team that built a sixty person engineering department in the federal government, though acting as a unique entity, so we had to define everything from scratch, on the fly. I have been lead front end engineer on more projects than I can recall. I am confident that I could work independently off the bat, as much as anyone could. 

Y’all, like all companies, are ultimately interviewing for a particular type of person. I have cognitive impairments and am non-neurotypical. But I am a good software engineer, whether or not I realize I’m being asked about variable scoping and hoisting in JavaScript, during an interview where I’m nervous.

I don’t contest the decision. I just want to make you aware that, by my estimation, you’re missing out on a group of people who could bring diversity of thought and be a benefit to your team. 

Thanks for your time in considering me. 

Best of luck,

Theresa