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The Reasons You Weren’t Hired Part 1
by Calvin Bruce, CPC |
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Losing out on a job opportunity is usually disappointing, but the lessons learned can be valuable in future job-hunting.
It’s very disappointing to interview for a job that you really want, but don’t get. There is a tendency to speculate on all the things that went wrong during the interview. The imagination works overtime, conjuring up all the “could-have, would-have, should-have” things that, upon retrospect, might have made a difference in the outcome.
Replay recent interviews
Rather than berate yourself over what went wrong, view each interview as a learning experience. In so doing, you can better prepare yourself for future interviews. For starters, mentally replay your last several interviews and ask yourself some soul-searching questions.
1. “Was I mentally prepared for the interview?” Being physically rested and mentally refreshed makes a great deal of difference whenever you interview. If your body language and verbal cues signal to an interviewer that you are present physically but not mentally, she will doubt your seriousness in wanting the position.
Mental preparation involves doing your homework prior to interviewing. The key is to learn something about the organization that most interviewees might not know. What are the organization’s growth plans? What problems does the employer face that you can help solve? Get the point? Be prepared in an interview to indicate how your presence on staff can make a difference. This will give you an important competitive edge as a job seeker.
2. “Did I act courteously?” Especially in a first interview, it’s important to mind your manners and be as professional and courteous as possible. Giving a firm handshake, using the interviewer’s name, listening intently and not interrupting, smiling when appropriate, and thanking the interviewer for his time—these are small gestures that count a great deal in an overall interview evaluation.
If you struck out in several of these areas, pay attention next time. The idea is not to give a “canned” performance of saying or doing the right thing on cue, but to engage in a relaxed, informative conversation that makes the interviewer comfortable. Demonstrating fundamental courtesy helps considerably in this regard.
3. “How well did I sell myself?” This is a key point of self-reflection. Some professionals mistakenly believe that presenting top-notch written credentials and favorable references is all it takes to land a top-notch job. Not so. Regardless of how impressive your background is, recognize the importance of selling yourself to everyone who interviews you.
Put yourself in the interviewer’s shoes. If you were interviewing several comparably qualified professionals, what would prompt you to favor hiring one over the others? Without a doubt, you would favor the person who demonstrates: confidence in her abilities, eagerness to do a great job, realistic earning expectations, and determination to achieve important professional goals. As you mentally replay your last several interviews, rate how well you sold yourself in this regard.
4. “Did I ask inappropriate questions?” One of the biggest turn-offs in interviewing is to ask inappropriate questions. Candidates with less interviewing experience are more often guilty of committing this faux pas. Unintentionally, they cross the line in asking sensitive questions that the interviewer would prefer not to ask, or asking legitimate questions at the wrong time.
Examples: “When will the first salary review take place?” “Would I be expected to work a lot of overtime?” “Am I eligible for a sign-on bonus?” “What is the company’s vacation policy?” Asking questions like these would put a damper on any interviewer’s enthusiasm in referring a candidate for further hiring consideration. Even if you didn’t ask these particular questions during your last few interviews, did you broach other inappropriate areas of inquiry?
5. “Did I ask for the job?” As simple as this may sound, it’s important to let the interviewer know that you want the job—if, in fact, you really do want it. Don’t assume that he should intuitively reach that conclusion. After all, most candidates are experienced enough to put their best foot forward during an interview. But that doesn’t mean that they would actually accept a given employment offer.
A cautionary word is in order. It’s important to keep in mind that there is a thin line between being enthusiastic about starting a new job—and appearing to be desperate. Candidates who convey a sense of desperation usually make interviewers recoil as a knee-jerk reaction. No one wants to feel obligated to hire someone who is desperate for a job.
So how do you ask for a job? There are ways to ask for a job without appearing to be in a supplicant position. Example: “I am very impressed with everything I’ve learned about the company and the opportunity. I sincerely believe that I can make an outstanding contribution to your organization.” Making your intentions known in wording such as this conveys confidence and determination, which is something every employer respects.
6. ”Did I follow up appropriately?” Many outstanding candidates don’t receive the hiring nod due to one thing: failure to follow up in an appropriate fashion. For starters, it’s a matter of professional courtesy to send a thank-you note (or at least an e-mail) following the interview. This is one way to express further interest, and leave the door of communication open should the employer have further questions or concerns to address.
Appropriate follow-up is demonstrated in other ways. For instance, if the interviewer wants to check additional reference sources, don’t delay in providing such information. If she requests a second interview right away, don’t play “hard to get” and mention that you have other first interviews that you feel obligated to honor.
Has your interviewing been less than totally successful? As discouraging as that may be, if you can learn something constructive from each interview experience, that knowledge can help you shorten your job search considerably.
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