Alan Stutts | Professor | Author

Finding Out Why You Didn’t Get the Job

July 28, 2006 on 12:09 pm | In Turning Around Rejection and Stress |

When faced with rejection, there are three questions you want to ask yourself:

Is the rejection due to something beyond my control?

Did I do something to cause the rejection?

Am I applying for the right positions?

When you are not offered a position an interview that you think went very well, don’t take it personally. There could be many reasons that have nothing to do with your qualifications. To avoid guessing, ask.
You probably will not hear any of the following as an answer to your question:

The job was advertised and you were interviewed because company policy required it, but an internal candidate was already selected for the position.

You are neither white or not white; male or female; homosexual or heterosexual; six feet tall or 5′ 7″ tall; blonde or red haired; under 40 or over 40; or some other stereotype that the hiring manager considers suitable for the position.

The hiring manager has no training or experience in conducting interviews and making hiring decisions, and made a bad decision.

Some event happened after or during the interview and they changed their mind. Perhaps the incumbent decided not to move to Fiji or the guy who held the job three years ago called and said he wanted to come back.

Hopefully your question will be answered honestly and you will learn something that you can use to improve your chances at the next interview. The placement director at a University called 153 companies who had interviewed university candidates and asked why the candidates were rejected. The companies’ answers are a list of ways to fail in job hunting:

Lack of career planning

Inability to express themselves clearly - poor diction, poor grammar, poor voice.

Poor personal appearance overdressed or underdressed.

Lack of confidence and poise - nervousness, failure to look the interviewer in the eye, ill at ease.

Poor scholastic record showing no improvement over time.

Narrow interests or failure to participate in school or community activities.

Makes excuses - evasive, blames others, condemns past employers, hedges on unfavorable factors in record.

Unwilling to start at the bottom.

Late to interview without a good reason.

Ask no or poor questions about the company.

Not prepared for the interview; did not research the company or the job.

Little interest or enthusiasm

Overemphasis on money or status.

Lack of tact or courtesy.

Lack of maturity.

Lack of experience.

Intolerant, unaccepting of others.

Poor handling of personal finances (garnishments on salary, bankruptcy).

Unclear on salary range.

Limp handshake, not assertive.

Marked dislike for school work.

Overbearing, aggressive, conceited.

Sloppy application form or resume.

Only wants a short-term job.

Unwilling to travel or relocate.

Can you honestly say that you did not commit any of these mistakes? If you have doubt about your own behavior, take some time to review your behavior or materials and do whatever must be done to fix it.
Lastly, if several employers tell you that you do not have enough experience for the position, that you lack the training or education needed for the position, or that you seem unwilling to accept conditions such as shift work or travel that are a normal part of this job, then you may be applying for the wrong jobs.