July 24, 2014
Top Reasons Why Job Candidates Don’t Get Hired
July 24, 2014
Top Reasons Why Job Candidates Don’t Get Hired
“Although we were impressed with your qualifications, we have decided to go with another candidate.”
The hardest part of a job search isn’t receiving a rejection letter, it’s not knowing what went wrong during your interview. We’re often asked by candidates why they weren’t hired and in our recruiting experience, it could be any one of a number of reasons.
Learn from our TOP Reasons on Why You Didn’t Get Hired:
1. Lateness: We can’t emphasize enough the importance of arriving ON TIME for an interview. Arriving late for your interview is not only rude to your interviewer; it also cuts down on your interview time. It’s fine to arrive 5-10 minutes before your scheduled interview, but not earlier since you don’t want to rush your interviewer.
2. Lack of Preparation: Always show up at your interview prepared with a portfolio, a list of written questions to ask, a tailored printed resume and several copies (in case you end up meeting more than 1 interviewer), and a basic understanding of the company and position you’re interviewing for.
3. Failure to Make an Impact: If you want to stand out as a job candidate, use P-A-R stories, and show your interviewer specific examples of how you can make a quantifiable impact on the business, regardless of the position.
4. Failure to Ask for the Job: Sometimes candidates go through all the motions of an interview without really showing they want the position. It’s completely acceptable to be perfectly candid about asking for the job. Be honest with your interviewer and tell them that you want this position, and you’re willing to do whatever it takes.
5. Poor Questioning Skills: The “Do you have any questions for us?’ portion of your interview is not the time to start relaxing and thinking your interview is over. Maintain your interest in the position and ask specific questions about your role in the company, the person you’re directly reporting to, the department in which your position is in, and other relevant questions. Don’t ever decline and say that you don’t have any questions since it may signal to your interviewer that you’re not really interested in the position.
6. Body Language: While it’s no secret that interviews can be nerve-racking, a lot of candidates spend so much time worrying about what they will say during their interview, only to blow it all with their body language. Sit up straight and maintain your posture, always maintain eye contact, show your enthusiasm by keeping an interested expression, and don’t forget to smile!
7. No Follow-Up: Many job seekers believe that the interview is over once they step out of the interviewer’s office, but that’s simply not the case. How you follow up after an interview depends mainly on the culture of the company, but be specific in your thank you e-mail and card (see next step). Mention something specific about your interview or important items that were brought up. Emphasize your interest in the position, and your recognition of the next steps in the hiring process.
8. Failure to send a Thank You Note: Regardless of the company culture, ALWAYS send a hand-written thank you card. It’s fine to send a thank you email immediately after your interview, but it’s a good idea to send a physical thank you card in the mail. Include the hiring manager’s name, the position you interviewed for, and mention your appreciation for their time. With all of this feedback for you, please keep in mind that rejection happens. You could do everything right and still not land the job, at no fault of your own. If the position was a good fit and you did your best to present yourself as the best possible candidate, then all you can do is pursue as many other options as possible using the same effective approach. Sooner or later, you will be the preferred candidate!
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