Not every job can be the one…
Unfortunately, that probably doesn’t stop you from overthinking every single interview. Whether you’re wondering what you did wrong, or you’re just looking for some closure – finding a way to deal with rejection can often be the best way to move forward.
We’ve already covered five things you should never do if you don’t get the job – but to stop you from beating yourself up, here are six reasons you didn’t get the job:
There was no chemistry
Let’s face it, you can’t get along with everyone.
And although you and the employer might seem like a perfect match on paper, you might not click as well in reality. Maybe the foundations are there, but there’s just no spark.
Whether it’s that your work ethic is too different, you’re looking for company culture that they can’t offer, or you just couldn’t nail a smooth back and forth conversation – there are many reasons why an employer might question your suitability at an interview.
After all, your CV doesn’t tell them everything.
But don’t take this kind of rejection personally. If the employer doesn’t think you’ll fit in with the company, they might be doing you a favour by not giving you the job.
Eight signs an employer is not the one
They didn’t believe you
So you’ve just had an interview – and you thought it went well.
You have all the relevant skills and experience, and you felt like you really hit it off with your interviewer. So why didn’t you get the job?
Chances are, they may not have believed in everything you said. Even if you’re fully qualified, having the essential requirements is only half the battle. To convince the interviewer, you actually have to prove how capable you are – as well as take pride in what you do.
The perfect candidate will be aware of what they’re worth, able to provide examples for their skills, and show a high level of confidence in their abilities. Someone with self-doubt (and a tendency to sell out for any job) will only signal a big red flag for recruiters.
Remember: confidence is far more impressive than desperation.
12 things you should never do at an interview
You forgot to prepare
When it comes to an interview – ‘winging it’ is never enough.
So if you didn’t give your interview preparation the attention it deserved, it might have hindered your performance.
Whether you didn’t study the role enough to demonstrate the most relevant skills, you couldn’t share any knowledge on the company, or your last minute travel routing resulted in you being ten minutes late – many things can indicate how (un)prepared you really were.
Not only could you risk underselling yourself, it’s also a direct reflection on your own work ethic – which will ultimately demonstrate a lack of interest in the position.
After all, even the best candidates can be let down by laziness.
How to prepare for an interview
You lied on your CV
It can be tempting to exaggerate on your CV in an attempt to stand out.
But before you put your imagination to bad use, think about the consequences. Sure, your lies may have gotten you past the application stage – but at what cost?
Once they’re questioned further at an interview, it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to keep them up for very long. And your inevitable slip up could be the reason you didn’t get the job.
Remember the awkward response you gave after the qualification you don’t actually have? The interviewer does. And your lack of elaboration on your ‘advanced expertise in Photoshop’? They noticed that too.
In other words, they’re totally onto you.
So stop focusing on the skills you don’t have, and start focusing on the ones you do.
You didn’t follow up
Not following up after an interview is never an option.
If you really want the job – a thank you note is a great way to push the interviewer in the right direction, not to mention emphasise your enthusiasm for the role and company.
And if you don’t do it? You could be opening the opportunity up to others who do. Because even if the employer was planning to hire you, they might question your eagerness if you don’t get back in touch.
After all, recruiters don’t like wasting time. And if they’re worried you might not accept their offer, they’re less likely to give it.
Four ways to follow up after an application
What to do after a job interview
Someone better came along
Unfortunately, you won’t always beat the competition.
This doesn’t necessarily mean you weren’t good for the role, it just means that someone else was a better fit. Whether it’s that their skills and experience were more specifically matched, or they just had that spark you were missing – some candidates are impossible to beat.
And with many employers advertising vacancies internally beforehand, there’s a chance that they already had someone in mind before they even met you.
But before you start doubting your own skills, remember: not being picked doesn’t mean you’re terrible at what you do. It just means that someone else was in the right place at the right time.
Stay positive, and try and learn what you can from the experience.
That way, you’ll only increase your chances of being that person next time around.
How to deal with interview rejection
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7. You’re too old. The company doesn’t believe all the politikally korrekt guff about older people being better at senior jobs like long term forward planning, forensic accountancy, negotiating with trades unions, helping dissatisfied and unhappy customers, and instructing their staff in the safe use of software and machinery. As far as this company is concerned, anyone over thirty ought to be in a residential home cleaning his false teeth and staggering around on two walking sticks or staring at a wall making uncoordinated jerky movements. To them, experience is what you get from one week of training. Why did they ask you to the interview in the first place, if they knew you got your first class degree in 1972? Your brain must have rotted long ago.
Exactly, why did they if they were going to turn you down on age grounds? Face it, if that were the case you wouldn’t have got the interview. Employers don’t turn down experienced people for no reason and ‘it’s my age’ is a handy hook to hang it on. I see plenty of people in their 50s plus finding jobs and without exception not one ever thought they were ‘too old’ for anything. It’s more likely a dated attitude, or dated skills. Even experience is no good if you don’t keep up to date.
By the way, I’m 61 and still got a job as a waitress at the age of 49, with experience from years back, because I didn’t think twice about being too old. It was attitude and confidence.
Ken and James – absolutely correct. I’m 60 and have had a few interviews recently. I get good feedback and not a job offer. “Another candidate would be a better fit for the team” (the team and what it would take to fit in was not discussed at interview); “another candidate had more recent experience” (er, you could see what experience I had from my CV); “another candidate had better technical skills” (did you actually read my application?). Problem is, I’m well qualified so will get interviews if only to tick boxes.
Agencies won’t discuss ageism, of course, because age discrimination is illegal. All that means in practice is job ads. need to be worded carefully. I wouldn’t be able to prove discrimination in any of the above cases (even if I could afford the cost and the time of going to a tribunal) – and, fair enough, sometimes another candidate will be better for the role. My record used to be around 1 in 2. Since turning 60 and needing to find something new – nothing yet.
It’s okay. I’ll go my own way. Employers, you really need to get your act together and not just appoint the slickest haircut and pointiest shoes.
Im 52 and retraining , im currently at college learning accounts. Recently a team from an accounts agency came in called Adel carr, they asked if we thought personality or experience was more important to an employer, and yes you guessed it personality came out on top. so I guess experience is out the window, and who is likely to be experienced, yes older persons. so wether I will get a look in getting a job at all will be an eye opener.