Why Didn’t I Get The Job After The Interview?
You dressed right. You told interesting stories that proved your qualifications. You did your research and asked insightful questions. You thought you nailed the interview—but you didn’t get the job. What happened? Here are six reasons you may not have been offered the position, and how to combat those issues for next time:
It’s Not What You Said, But How You Said It
How do you speak in interviews? Do you turn statements into questions? Are you overly casual or overly formal? Do you come across as too passive to manage a team or too aggressive to handle customer complaints? Do a mock interview with a friend or colleague to see how you’re coming across.
You Didn’t Use Common Scents – er, Sense
You hopefully showered. But did you overdo it on the cologne or perfume? You want to be clean and inoffensive, and having a strong scent either way can be a major turnoff for employers.
You Were A Little Overzealous
Yes, you should show up 10-15 minutes early to an interview, but anything more than that is excessive. And offering to do the job for less than you deserve, or basically acting desperate in any way will knock you off the list. Yes, you want to be enthusiastic and flexible, but desperation will raise a red flag to employers. Show them that you know the company and the position, then show your interest with a great thank-you note.
You Were Over-Confident
Confidence in an interview is essential. Arrogance is a turnoff. You don’t want people to think you’re unlikeable or hard to manage. So be sure you can , and apparently it’s even good to be a little narcissistic. But don’t step over back up your claims with concrete examples, and show that you’re willing to listen and learn by asking thoughtful questions.
It’s Not You, It’s Them
Sometimes, the interviewer just feels they didn’t click with you, or that you wouldn’t fit into their department or team. It’s not your fault (unless you came across as arrogant or desperate). On-the-job chemistry is tricky and can’t be faked.
You Didn’t Already Work There
It’s frustrating, but true: the hiring manager may have wanted to hire an internal candidate all along but was required to do a few external interviews. There’s no way for you to know if this is the case, and nothing you can do about it if it was.
There are some things you can control about the interview process and some you can’t. If you do your research, practice interviewing and put your best foot forward, your planning should lead to a good interview performance—and hopefully to a great job! If you’re still wondering why your interviews aren’t leading you to where you want to go in your supply chain career, call ZDA Supply Chain Recruiting today. We’d be happy to work with you.