If you're left wondering why you didn't get the job, there could be a few reasons. Here are some of the most frustrating applicant mistakes that cost candidates the chance at their next big break.
You've gone through the whole interview process, and you didn't get the job. Was there something missing in your resume? Did you flub an interview question? Did you come into the interview with a working knowledge of the organization?
What happened? In this article, we'll review 11 common reasons that job applicants miss out on their next opportunity. If you can rule these out, you'll be ahead of the game.
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1. Lying
Let's just get the most obvious out of the way first, shall we? You should not lie in the interview, but this also applies to "white lies," "stretching the truth," and certain forms of "spin."
Especially at larger companies, the recruiter or hiring manager will cross-check your work history and call references. Plus, lying means you'll likely have difficulty keeping your story straight. Use the interview to start building trust.
2. Not Writing An Interview Thank-You Note
Lauren, Career Contessa's CEO, has a hard and fast rule that she's applied to the interview process since working as a recruiter for Hulu: if you don't send a thank-you note (preferably within 24 hours) after a job interview, you're not the right candidate.
A thank-you note shows that you're excited, but it also shows you're capable of tying up loose ends on a project which, frankly, is a quality every company needs more of. Honestly, I'd recommend sending it within 2-3 hours of leaving the interview room.
Send it to everyone who interviewed you that day—if you don't have the contact information, make sure to mention something like, "I'd also like to thank Karen for meeting with me as well, but don't have her contact. Could you please let her know I appreciated her time?"
3. Being a Jerk to the Receptionist
Or on the elevator coming into the building—wherever it might be. "Our front desk assistant used to message me when interviewees arrived," says Lauren, "And there were a couple of times where she'd say, 'Heads up, this guy's so rude.'"
On tight-knit teams, everyone's opinion matters. And you never know whether that day, it just so happens that the receptionist is actually your future colleague filling in for a few minutes.
So start the interview as soon as you get out of your car and walking into the building and don't break your interview state of mind until you're safely back in the car, which brings me to my next point...
4. Making Phone Calls While In The Building
I can't tell you how many times I've walked out into the hall to a conversation an interviewee is having on the phone either before or after their meeting, often discussing very clear details/grievances/sometimes even a lie (see #1 above) they got away with.
Other recruiters told me similar horror stories where another member of their team happened to catch the elevator down with a candidate, only to hear everything they had to say about their experience. Not a good look.
Think this can't happen virtually, either? if you are actively interviewing with an organization, be careful what you share on social media, too. Translation: don't share anything.
5. Sounding Too Rehearsed
So many articles tell you to prepare, prepare, prepare and research, research, research because you should. You absolutely should. You should also have your personal pitch down pat so you can sail confidently into an interview. But a job interview is also a conversation, which means that you should be able to flow naturally through these questions without giving canned answers.
The easiest way to solve this problem? Slow down. I know you're nervous, so if you can't crack a joke or two to break up the dialogue, that's okay (although a friendly quip is always a great thing). But don't hesitate to ask for clarification on a question or pause to think about how you can answer in a way that specifically applies to the job at hand. Pauses are much better than a robot vibe.
6. Or Not Rehearsed Enough
Do not come into a job interview without knowing everything you can. If you want the job, study up on all aspects of the company, not just the department that you'd be working in. I can't tell you how many times I've had someone talk to me about what they'd like to improve on in the editorial department but not know a single thing about the other projects we work on.
If you want the job, plan on spending at least several hours researching the company, your interviewer (head for LinkedIn for this), press about said company, and anything you can find out about current projects. And if you're not subscribed to their newsletter/following important social media accounts, you should be.
7. Oversharing / Talking Smack
There will be questions about why you want to leave your current company or what you're biggest challenges have been in your current role. You can be candid without telling your interviewer about how much you hate your boss or what a toxic coworker you have.
But there are some more subtle ways that oversharing takes a toll as well. One that we often talk about is how often people tell us that they applied because "I want a more flexible schedule so I loved that you have work-from-home days." This is a great perk, but it's not a compelling reason to want to work here.
Keep the focus on what you can do for the company you're interviewing with and how excited you are about the potential role. By doing that, you'll avoid most of the danger of oversharing.
8. Not Making Eye Contact
A job interview is not just about seeing whether you're qualified, it's also about seeing whether you'd make a great part of the company culture.
So try to keep yourself from fidgeting, make comfortable eye contact, sit up straight, and (try to) relax as much as possible. Of course, you're going to feel nervous, but try to remember that the person on the other side of the table or computer screen is human—plus they're probably a bit nervous, too. In the end, they'll remember your personality as much as certain answers you give.
Editor's note: It has been brought to our attention that this particular tip lacks the inclusive tone we strive to achieve here at Career Contessa, so we wanted to amend this tip with sensitivity toward our audience that may not be neurotypical.
Lack of eye contact can actually signal that a candidate is not neurotypical. It can mean the interviewee has an autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, or something that cannot be chalked up to being "rude," "disinterested," or "too nervous." We love hearing from our readers—especially when we are afforded the opportunity to be better and do better.
For more on this topic, head over to this article, 10 Behaviors at Work That Might Be Due to an Invisible Disability.
9. Not Having Questions For Me
I will ask you whether you have any questions about the position. So will 99.9% of other hiring managers and recruiters. You should have at least two questions prepared (one always seems awkwardly limited to me), but you should also take note during your interview of one question that comes up as you're talking with the hiring manager.
This shows you were really listening to them while they were listening to you.
10. Not Having a Clear Idea of Your Salary Requirements
You may get asked for your salary requirements, you may not.
But if I ask you (which, frankly, I almost always do) and you say, "Well, I'm flexible..." I'm going to want to pull out my hair. Have a clear salary range—usually a span of $5,000—and say it with confidence.
Because in the end, if it's close to our budget and we want you, we'll find a way to make it work. And if it's not? Then it's not meant to be, and you've saved yourself the exhaustion of follow-up interviews.
Here are more resources to help you determine your salary ask:
- How to Answer "What Are Your Salary Expectations?" In a Job Interview (With Examples)
- How to Answer "What Is Your Desired Salary?" (With Examples + Scripts)
- How to Determine Your Salary Requirements
- The 8 Best Tools to Calculate Your Salary + Know Your Worth
11. Arriving Too Early
We all know it's not acceptable to come late to a job interview, but frequently, people show up for interviews 20 minutes early (and sometimes 30).
Here's what's going on behind the scenes: I'm rushing to finish a project before my interview arrives, and suddenly, I get a call that a candidate has arrived.
I then have to put down what I'm working on and shuffle things around. Sometimes at smaller companies, there isn't even a reception area, so you're disrupting the whole team by arriving early. It's great to get to your meeting with time to spare, but if you do, stay in your car until ten minutes before.
