Why didn’t you get the job? Ask a hiring manager.
You finally landed an interview for your dream job. You went through a series of interviews and assessments and you felt things went pretty well. Then you receive the dreaded rejection letter – on the bright side at least you weren’t ghosted. You’ve read the letter several times and still don’t understand why you didn’t get the job. Rejection letters are vague about the reasons for elimination by design. Hiring managers craft the letters to be short and to the point. They avoid putting reasons in the letters so that they don’t have a piece of their corporate letterhead floating around with what could be perceived as disparaging information about a candidate. So why were you eliminated? Hiring managers say these are the most common reasons.
Qualifications
This is very common and very straight-forward. If you lack the required skills, education, licenses, certifications, etc. you’re not going to get the job. You can save yourself a lot of time and frustration by not applying for positions where you do not meet the minimum requirements.
You Were Beat Out
You’re qualified for the job. You had great rapport with the managers who interviewed you. The interviews went well, and you fit in nicely with the corporate culture. Why didn’t you get the job? The simple answer is likely that another candidate beat you out. Coming in second, even if it is a close second, can be disappointing. The upside is that if you are this close to the top, you’ll probably find the right job quickly.
Poor Timing
It goes without saying that arriving late to an interview will likely be the kiss of death. If you show up late, make sure that you acknowledge it and apologize. This will likely not help, but it is your only chance for salvaging the process. On the other side, arriving too early can be perceived as desperation. Plan on arriving 10 – 15 minutes before the interview is scheduled to begin.
You Didn’t Ask Enough Questions
At some point during an interview, usually toward the end, the hiring manager will ask you if you have any questions for them. You should prepare an array of questions before the interview. Asking too few, or too shallow questions will make the interviewer think you are disinterested. Click here for tips on asking questions. https://bct-corp.com/jobs-in-dallas-tx/Jobs-in-Dallas-TX/what-should-you-ask-a-hiring-manager-during-an-interview/
Poor Preparation
Remember the old alliteration, “Proper planning prevents poor performance.”? You wouldn’t go into any competition without preparing and practicing. This is a competition and it is important you view it this way. If you want to win the job you must be on the top of your game. Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse.
They Think You’ll Quit
Recruiting, hiring, and training a new employee is expensive. Employers want you to stick around so that they can recover these costs over time. If you have bounced from job to job it may send the message that you are not reliable. Other clues recruiters look for are when your experience and education are not aligned with the position you applied for. For example, if you have built a career as an IT professional but you applied for a marketing job, the recruiter may think you are desperate for a job. When another IT position comes along, they think you will jump ship.
Obviously, there are countless reasons a candidate may have been rejected. The main thing is to look at every interview as an educational process. Get better with each one and soon you’ll get that acceptance letter.
Danielle Foppe is a Recruitment Manager at Business Centric Technology. If you are interested in learning more about how to get the best IT talent in the Dallas metroplex, contact Danielle specializes in recruiting IT talent in Dallas, Ft. Worth and North Texas. If you are looking for a rewarding career contact us today.