Job searching takes a lot of time and effort. You have to tailor your resume, write cover letters, fill out applications, research, write thank you letters, and go through interviews. That is why being rejected after an interview is always a hard pill to swallow. If this happens more than once you will start to wonder if something is wrong with you, or if you are not as good as you thought in your profession. If you find yourself in this position, know that the fact you are getting interviews means you qualify for the jobs you are applying for. Instead, the problem lies in other factors that you might or might not be able to work on. Here are the reasons you are getting interviews but not job offers.
- It’s not you, it’s them
Sometimes you will not be able to get a job no matter how much experience, qualifications, or professionalism you have. This can happen for a multitude of internal reasons that you will not be notified about, like budget cuts, changes in leadership, or an internal promotion. The latter is one that happens often and at any time during the hiring process. Employers prefer to hire internally because they save money and time on onboarding, the employee is already familiar with the culture, and it helps create trust within the company. Therefore, internal employees have an advantage over every other applicant. Employers might even decide to hire an internal employee from the very beginning and still run interviews because of company policy, or an internal employee might apply for the position after interviews have already started.
If you just can’t figure out why you got rejected for a position, write a thank you letter to the hiring manager and ask for feedback in your interview. This way if the hiring manager replies, you will be told exactly what you need to work on or if it was an internal decision that you couldn’t do anything about.
- You are communicating your personal brand incorrectly
Interviewers first interact with your personal brand through your resume. Therefore, they already have expectations of who you are as an individual before the interview. If you get called for an interview it means that the employer not only sees that you can take on the responsibilities of the job, but also are a potential fit to the company culture and have other desired soft skills. If you are not able to communicate this brand that your resume portrays during your interview you are harming your chances of getting hired. For example, if your resume communicates that you are an excellent communicator and have attention to detail through your writing and formatting, but in the interview, you constantly use filler words and lose train of thought you are harming the good impression that the interviewer already has of you.
To make sure you communicate your personal brand in the interview, first critically read your resume and see what qualities you are portraying about yourself. Then figure out how to communicate these qualities in person by recording yourself, and then analyzing and tweaking your speech and body language to match.
- You are not communicating your value
As mentioned before, your interviewer already has an idea of who you are as an individual and how capable you are of taking on the responsibilities of the position. Your job during the interview is to build upon that trust and portray confidence in yourself and your skills. Show your interviewer that you are an expert in your field and that your skills will bring value to the company through examples of your previous achievements. Make sure you are detailed in your examples, especially when you mention how your skills allowed you and your employer to achieve success.
- You are not showing excitement
Employers want someone that is excited about the position and the company. You might be the most qualified applicant for the job, but if you don’t show that you are excited and committed to the role, the employer will hire someone else. An easy way to show excitement is by asking about the interview process and what to expect in the upcoming days. If you really want to get your point across, write a thank you letter after the interview letting them know that you are looking forward to the next steps.
If you need help writing a successful thank you letter you can watch our Job Seekers Secret Sauce on the same topic to help guide you.
- Someone else was more qualified
The fact that you got an interview means that you were qualified enough to take on the job, but another applicant could have had more experience, higher education, or could have been more specialized in a specific skill set. If you made it to the final interview, then the deciding factor could have been a specific experience or skill that the employer found useful for the role. For example, you and the chosen candidate could have the same qualifications and years of experience, but the chosen candidate previously worked for a direct competitor in the same role. Another similar deciding factor could be that the chosen candidate had just a bit more experience in a specific software or skill that the employer found necessary for the position. Sometimes the deciding factor is not about whether you can or cannot do the job, but instead of how well your story aligns with the company and the role.
As you can see the reason you are getting interviews but not job offers is multifaceted. Some factors are out of your control, but others can be worked on. Practice your communication skills with a friend, family member, or by recording yourself. Make sure you communicate the same personal branding that your resume reflects, your value to the company, and show your excitement to join the employer’s team. If you are currently looking to be matched with jobs that fit your career story, check our open positions here or send us your resume to engagement@isgf.com.
Good luck in your next interview and keep pushing forward towards career success.
Written by
Jose Caceres
Marketing Manager
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