JOB INTERVIEW TIPS: 5 Reasons Why You Didn’t Get The Job
After months of turning in applications and getting little to no response, you finally got the phone call or the email you were waiting for. The HR department of one of the companies you applied for invites you to come and interview for a position. You go for the initial interview and things could not have gone better. You are invited back for a second interview, and you are tentatively hopeful that you are a serious candidate for the job. When interview number three rolls around, you are sure that the job is yours. However, in the end, you are not the person who they select a hire.
Let’s be honest, being rejected after a job interview, or worse yet, after multiple interviews for the same position is like a kick in the stomach. However, instead of allowing your momentary setback to cause you to wallow in a sea of self-pity, it is better to use this opportunity for self-examination. What went wrong? What could you have done differently? Why didn’t you get the job?
1. JOB INTERVIEW FACTORS OUTSIDE OF YOUR CONTROL
There are many factors that work outside of your control that could have led to you being overlooked. For example, the business could have chosen to perform an internal hire. Competing with a current employee for a job position is tough simply because the current employee has a relationship with the company. They are a safe hire and present low risk for management.
It could be that the person they hired had more connections than you. If an employee recommends a hire, that individual has a drastically higher percentage of getting hired. Budget issues might have led to the job you are applying for being canceled. Or a shift in organizational procedures might have led to the job you are offered being dissolved.
So now we’ve got the feel good, not-your-fault reasons for you not getting hired out of the way, let’s focus our attention on the things you might have done wrong or that you could have done better – that might have led to you getting hired instead of receiving a rejection letter.
2. YOU DIDN’T DO YOUR RESEARCH BEFORE YOU WENT
Not every single person you interview with will have a strong presence on the Internet. But some will. If you are being interviewed by a person who is active on social media or who is an adamant blogger, this is something you should know about the individual before you sit down in front of them. This way, during the conversation you can mention a thing or two that suggests you are interested enough in them to take a few seconds to Google their name and read their most recent post on Twitter. Future employers are impressed by this because quite frankly very few people come to an interview that prepared.
3. YOU DIDN’T COME TO THE JOB INTERVIEW PREPARED
At the bare minimum, it is expected that you bring multiple hard copies of your resume. Also, you should come prepared with a folder, or a portfolio, that shows your work that you feel comfortable leaving with your potential employer. References should be written down on a piece of paper, including phone numbers and email addresses. These references should also be left with a prospective employer. Remember, your goal is to stand out. If you come prepared like everyone else, you’re just going to blend into the pack. However, there will always be that one guy who comes in with a packet that is well prepared that will blow away the mind of the future employer, and he will be the one who gets hired.
4. You Blew the end of interview question
At the end of almost every interview, the interviewer will ask you, do you have any questions or is there anything that you would like to ask? If you simply say, what’s the best part about working here, you blew it. A simple question like that suggests that you were just asking a question for the sake of asking it. You were in front of the individual who had the ability to decide whether you got the job or not. You were in front of someone who had influence in whatever field you work in. That last question is your time to ask them what they think of their competitors. Ask them what they think about the future of the industry. This is your chance to interview someone who might be a potential boss. So take advantage of it.
5. YOU DIDN’T FOLLOW UP
If you are invited for an interview, it is likely that scores of other individuals received the same invitation. Once you walk out the door, unless you accidentally set the building on fire, your name, your face, and your work history blends in with every other interviewee who comes before you and after. If you want to stand out, persevere. Use follow-up emails as a way of reminding your interviewer about you, and also find out where you stand as far as getting hired is concerned.
Searching for a new job is a challenge. Something to remember is that even if you were rejected for a particular position at a company, this does not mean that you cannot apply for something else at that same company. Use a rejection as an opportunity to learn about yourself, review your mistakes, and make a plan to avoid repeating the same mistakes in the future.
We hope you enjoyed this article and found some take-away job interview tips that will enhance your chances of finding meaningful employment!
About the Author: Amy Klimek is an experienced HR recruiter and VP of Human Resources for ZipRecruiter, a company that simplifies the hiring process for small to medium size businesses. Prior to that Amy has held similar roles at Rent.com, eBay and US Interactive.
