There is nothing more frustrating than attending interview after interview without success; especially if you don’t receive any feedback. Employers are often reluctant to give feedback for several reasons. They may not want to say something that could hurt your feelings, they may be worried that it will escalate into an argument, or they may just be interviewing too many candidates. It is difficult to understand where you went wrong without this feedback though and it can be extremely demoralising. These are some of the possible reasons you are not being offered the job.
Lack of research
Unbelievably, some candidates attend interviews with absolutely no idea about the company. Not only does this seem lazy, but it also raises questions as to why you are even interested in a job you know nothing about. Make sure you know the company, what they do, and key information – such as the size of the company and the locations they operate in. It is within your best interests to understand the company and whether they are a good fit for you too.
Uninterested in the job
When asked why you want a job, it is important that you come across as enthusiastic. Saying things like ‘I wasn’t really looking, but thought I would just apply anyway’, is not going to positively impact the interviewer. Make sure you go into the interview with enthusiasm about the role and the company.
You do not have the right skills
Make sure you read the job description properly before applying and ensure you fit ALL the essential requirements of the role. If a recruiter has approached you, ask them what the non-negotiables are before you attend an interview. It can be embarrassing to be asked if you have certain skills during an interview when you don’t have them.
Negative attitude
The employer wants to hire someone who has a positive attitude that will benefit their business. The last thing they want to hear during an interview is a negative attitude and negative chat about a previous employer. Bring your best self to the interview – even if you are not feeling in the best mood on the day.
Making requests
The interview is not the time to start making requests to the employer. For instance, saying things like ‘I can only work 2 days in the office’, or ‘I need a week off every two months.’ If you have specific needs, wait until you receive a job offer before you go into these types of discussions. If you need to work remotely, make sure you know if this is possible before attending the interview, otherwise you are wasting both your own and the employer’s time.
Not the right fit
It might simply be that you don’t seem like you would fit into the culture of the organisation. This is not something to take personally; every company is different in this regard. We can’t have a good relationship with everyone, and it might just be that your conversation with the interviewer didn’t flow the way they’d have wanted
Internal hire
Some organisations go through an interview process which also includes an internal candidate. Of course, they are most likely to get the job, but they may just need to go through this process.
You talked too much
The interview should be a two-way street and while it is important to come across as enthusiastic during the interview, it is also vital that you listen to the interviewer. If you keep talking over the interviewer, it shows disinterest in what they’re saying and may come across as rude. Most people do this because they are nervous, but you should be aware of this before you attend the interview.
One-word answers
An interview is a conversation and if the interviewer asks you a question, they expect an in-depth answer. For example, if they ask if you are experienced in using social media, you should discuss how and when you use it, as well as the platforms and any success you have had with it.
Not enough experience
We cannot account for the other candidates who attend an interview, and it may just be that another candidate had more experience than you. There is nothing much that can be done about someone having more experience.
It is important to ask for feedback after an interview – and if you don’t receive it – ask again. Let the recruiter know that you want to improve your interview skills and their feedback would really enable this.
The first step in achieving an interview is to ensure you have a high quality. At Inspired CVs, we provide candidates with high-quality professional CVs. If you are looking for a new CV, you can order today or contact us for more information.
