Why You Didn’t Get the Job (And What You Can Do About it)
Posted April 22, 2014 & filed under Job Search
It can be hard to figure out why you didn’t get the job, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t narrow down the possibilities. If you are suffering from constant rejection, try sitting down to reflect on where you could be going wrong. It could be any of the following aspects of your job search.
Your resume or cover letter sunk your chances
If you not only didn’t get the job but couldn’t even get to the interview, your resume or cover letter are the likely culprits.
If you are unsure as to where the problem lies, ask yourself the following questions:
Are you tailoring your resume and cover letter? – Sending out one copy of your resume and cover letter en masse are a surefire way to get them discarded in a hurry. Both should be customized to fit the requirements of the position as well as the goals of the company.
Are you using the right words? – You only have a matter of seconds to capture the attention of the hiring manager. Make sure you are using the right words in your resume to properly showcase your skills.
Are there any errors? – No matter how many times you read over your work, you still run the risk of missing a typo or two. Let someone else review your resume and cover letter before you send them out to check for spelling and grammar mistakes.
You weren’t prepared for the interview
You may have hit the target when it comes to resume writing, but the reason you didn’t get the job could be your performance during the interview. Before each interview, take some time to review how you are going to showcase your skills and your worth to the company. Consider preparing for the following:
The questions you could be asked – Most interview questions aren’t designed to be innovative, and you can prepare your answers for most of them by reviewing this list.
The questions you should ask – Never leave an interview without asking a few questions of your own. This list can give you a few ideas as to what to ask, but you should come up with a few specific questions about the company. Do some research on the company beforehand, and never ask anything that can be answered by the company website.
You didn’t follow up – Do you think that your job is done after the interview is over? If you do, this is probably the reason you didn’t get the job. Following up after the interview is a great way to show how serious you are about this position. It can even help you stay at the forefront of the hiring manager’s mind.
There was nothing you could do about it
The reason you didn’t get the job could have nothing to do with your resume, your skills, or your performance during the interview. In the end, some employers just find their perfect fit (culturally speaking) in someone else. Working with a recruiter can help to prevent this. They take the time to get to know you and can place you with a company that matches your skills and your personality.
By Kevin Withers
