September 29, 2010 1:00 AM
7 Surprising Reasons You Didn't Get a Call Back for that Job
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By CAREEREALISM-Approved Expert, Heather Huhman
It’s natural to wonder why you didn’t get an interview – or perhaps make it to the second round – for a job you thought was a perfect fit. While I always feel it’s best to ask the hiring manager what went wrong, do a little self-analysis first. Perhaps you made one of the following mistakes:
1. You didn’t follow-up, and someone else did. At every part of the job search process, it’s important to follow up with the hiring manager. My general rule of thumb is to state you will follow up in one week on your cover letter. Thereafter, it’s appropriate to follow up once a week for a few weeks. You can e-mail the manager, give them a call or even write them a small thank you note and drop it in the mail. A follow-up can make the difference between landing a job and being another submission in the pile.
2. You didn’t sell yourself. When you walked into the interview, were you just desperate for a job, any job? Hiring managers can tell if you aren’t necessarily interested in their open position, and they will ask you questions accordingly. You need to be prepared to answer what your short-term and long-term goals are, how you can help the company and why your past experience makes you ready for this position. You also need to identify any weaknesses or areas of inexperience you have. Tell the hiring manager why they don’t need to worry about these.
3. The position was filled by an employee referral. More often than not, referrals end up getting the job over online applicants.
4. You didn’t seem passionate or interested enough. Did you ask questions about the organization? Did you research it well, and identify how you can be of service to the company? Although job searching can be a frustrating and long process, you still need to convey your interest for the organization and position in order to seem like an ideal candidate.
5. You didn’t listen. A big red flag to a hiring manager is a candidate who doesn’t really answer the questions they’re asking. You need to be completely focused on all aspects of your search, whether it’s an e-mail correspondence or an interview.
6. You didn’t have any stories to share. When managers ask about specific situations you’ve been in or mistakes you’ve made, you need to have a few interesting stories ready to tell them. Compile these stories from past experience and education.
7. You didn’t seem natural. Smile. Relax. Take a breath. These sound simple—but many people can’t seem to do them in an interview! A hiring manager wants to get to know you, the real you. Although you still need to be professional, don’t be afraid to act naturally and be relatable.
What else would you add to this list? Have you done one of these and it cost you the job?
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CAREEREALISM Expert, Heather R. Huhman is a career expert and founder & president of Come Recommended, a career and workplace education and consulting firm specializing in young professionals. She is also the author of #ENTRYLEVELtweet: Taking Your Career from Classroom to Cubicle (2010), national entry-level careers columnist for Examiner.com and blogs about career advice at HeatherHuhman.com.
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Christine
All these are good points. I would add one additional reason and it is overselling oneself in the resume. Sometimes we can be too eager to get a certain job that we may stretch the truth in our resumes. Not lying, but writing ambiguous statements that could be misinterpreted by the hiring manager. Our intention may not be to be mischievous but just to increase the chances of landing an opportunity.
So they invite us to the interview based on certain expectations they have about our skill set only to find out during the interview that we don't fulfill the requirements of the job.
01:46 pm, Sep 30, 2010
Don
Another............... Your to old
11:24 am, Oct 18, 2010
Barb
What is considered too old? I am 47 and have applied for several jobs which I am qualified.
02:16 pm, Oct 18, 2010
amy
yea Don what is to old to you mean?
03:36 pm, Oct 18, 2010
Randy
Your NEVER too old. It shouldn't matter. (but I know it does sometimes!) As long as you have the qualifications.
I'm 49. (don't think I look my age.) lol.
03:54 pm, Oct 18, 2010
Emad
Many places don't have a position but they only put adds for
get more people in your field to know the company
and it is good for them to make the already employees feel unsafe to work harder
04:16 pm, Oct 18, 2010
Nate
Based on what was written above: 'to' when it should be 'too' and 'your' when it should be 'you're', and 'adds' when you mean 'ads' (short for advertisements, nothing to do with addition or subtraction)............I bet CVs are full of errors too (yes, ‘too’ (not two, or to) meaning 'as well'.......see how I did that, I used proper spelling to convey meaning).
And before you label me as some dweeb who is really particular about spelling, it isn’t so; I, along with a lot of hiring managers, simply like to associate with people who can actually communicate.
06:10 pm, Oct 18, 2010
Jill
I'm a 60 year old woman who lost her job because of a company takeover. I have applied to 100's of administrative assistant jobs where I have more then 30 years experience. I have had dozens of interviews and make sure I know about the company. I avoid pitfalls and sell myself. But I am 60 years old. I thnk that is too old and I think the situation is hopeless.
08:19 pm, Oct 18, 2010
David
Jill, discuss your situation candidly with the interviewer and be flexible at what salary you are willing to start at. With your experience and after your prove yourself, they'll do anything to keep you!
08:40 pm, Oct 18, 2010
A.R.
TOO OLD MEANS JUST THAT! HIRING MANAGERS ARE LOOKING FOR THE YOUNG FACES TO FILL IN THEIR JOB POSITION, WEATHER BE A WAITER OR A RECEPTIONIST, OR JUST TO ANSWER THE PHONE! IF IS IN A WAREHOUSE IF YOU ARE MY AGE(62) FORGET IT! YOU DON'T QUALIFY.SO WHAT'S THE BEST THING TO DO: "KEEP TRYING"...
08:47 pm, Oct 18, 2010
Steve
Too old is above 50 and a lot of experience without a degree. The just don't want to pay for the experence.
Keep trying and someone will hopefully want that experience and pay for it!
Wishful thinking
08:58 am, Oct 19, 2010
Unemployed Nurse
With the unemployed scene, I have a dilemma, a lengthy criminal history, and a participant of the Fl. Board of Health Intervene Program for Nurses... I recently recieved a letter dropping restrictions from the license and an updated exemption from the
Boards for the privilige to work... How do I compete w/ Nurses that
don't have these ball and chains to there license... I have 25 yrs. of experience in my field... But the shame and guilt these employers make me feel, and of course coming up short of a job just the same...Any comments on this, by the way the criminal activities date back over 17 years ago...
10:16 am, Oct 19, 2010
pwg
after that many years you should be considered rehabilitated. There are many people with your problem so just keep trying. good luck
01:28 pm, Oct 19, 2010
Joseph
Recently I have been surprised: Recruiter do not care. They do not follow-up or return calls or E-mails. Often they are a flight by night and they are nowhere to be found...
I for one follow on all "opportunities."
There is nothing that lacks more in recruiters than integrity. Does it sound harsh? Well it is what it is
05:46 pm, Oct 19, 2010
dmb
I believe that employers tend not to hire people over 50 anymore. Several years ago, older employees were wanted because they were reliable as well as experienced, while younger people tend to be unreliable, inexperienced, or just lazy. Younger people now have the advantage over older people, because employers don't have to worry about retirement, benefits, and paying for the experience of someone who has more experience.
10:00 pm, Oct 19, 2010
Older RN
For the RN - with a criminal history, I'd be reluctant to hire you too; however you might want to try working for a psych/CD/public health facility - they are generally more tolerant towards working with recovering persons.
On the discrimination side, I am now experiencing, what I think, is weight discrimination - have not had to deal with this, and am not extremely obese (about 190), but have lost a few consulting jobs that sounded extremely good until the face to face interviews. Competition is also much more fierce now - never had so many fruitless interviews. I just keep trying - luckily, I still have a good job - just want to move up.
12:01 am, Oct 20, 2010
Older RN
Another note - recruiters are also a pain in the ### for me, too - put an "RN" on your resume and you'll get just about any job referral, regardless of your resume. I have gotten to the point I email them back and nicely request they read my resume first... Also, get these high-powered young ones that want to blast my resume around, which I do NOT condone. You have to really pick and choose, but remember, they are not working for you, either.
12:05 am, Oct 20, 2010
jmonte64
Interesting comments. I am 46 yrs. old & have been out of the work force for the past 5 years. I have 3 degrees (2 Criminal Justice 1 in paralegal /Litigation). I have not been able to find work in either fields due to a lack of experience. For that matter, I have not been able to find work because of my lack of work experience. Where I am now living there are no jobs available, so I will go to NY to stay with my brother to try my luck there. Seems like once a person turns 40 the job opportunities disappear. Any suggestions?
12:30 am, Oct 20, 2010
john
the subtle and sometimes flagrant discrimination forms are prevalent in medicine-age,gender and race
01:50 am, Oct 20, 2010
Fred
Resumes, techniques, are all crap. Networking in this market is the only method that works. This is because it is an employers market and anytime this occurs dishonest accountants and analysts run company policy which simply says we will hire minimal experience for up fifty percent less than the ethical market rate and turn over employees every couple of years with no raises except insult raises of maybe 2 percent a year with a perfect evaluation..
07:04 am, Oct 20, 2010
Alan
My advise is to never get old. Since you cannot do that, you best put away every penny you possible can for retirement because...
Once you turn 50 it is lights out in the employment market. Companies are not interested in your knowledge, experience and maturity. As Fred said, they want cheap, young talent they can work 80 hours a week without complaints or family issues. Age discrimination is very much a reality. Employers have found ways to get around it. The only value in the current laws are if you have a job. But getting a job? Better hope Congress drops the Medicare eligibility age, cause you are gonna need it!
11:17 am, Oct 20, 2010
WriterWriter
"Another............... Your to old"
Spelling and grammar are dead giveaways to less education than one might claim. For instance, your (referring to something that belongs to you) and "to," as in "going to," indicate this person didn't bother to spell-check, doesn't understand basic grammar and didn't care enough to have an editor check his/her work.
Spelling and grammar mistakes - especially those related to the name of the person to whom you're applying will make for an instant binning of your resume.
02:33 pm, Oct 20, 2010
gina
I can't comment on age discrimination since I haven't tried looking for a new position, but I'm 61 and I do plan to. For that reason, I've been researching everything I can about it so that it is the least of my concerns.
I agree with the comments about poor spelling and bad grammar. Get 2nd and 3rd pairs of eyes to review your spelling and sentence construction.
I also think that whining, complaining and holding a negative attitude are the quickest ways to lose an opportunity. No one wants to work with such a person, whether as a boss or coworker.
03:08 pm, Oct 20, 2010
Steve
The job situation in Central Michigan is so bad, that you have people with college degrees
fighting over minimum wage jobs. The employers know this, and basically feed off people’s misery.
I have a degree in Business Management, and 15 years of managerial experience. I owned a successful small business for most of my adult life. I’m working at McDonalds right now, and lucky to have a job.
People say, “move out of the State“. Good luck selling my house that has depreciated 40% in the last 2 years.
12:54 am, Oct 21, 2010
Jimmy
I passed the 8" requirement.
01:51 pm, Oct 21, 2010
mike
I was 99% sure I had landed a position with a hotel, as I had spoken to the HR manager, followed by the F&B mgr, who wanted me to meet the GM immediately, which did not happen. I interviewed with the Dir of Ops for the Northeast of the company, who said I seemed qualified, all the managers were saying the same thing. I received a call on the morning of my final interview and was told I no longer qualified for the position. Perhaps someone can explain to me what could have happened?
01:53 pm, Oct 21, 2010
Caty B
Hey Nate,
I agree with you, I was abot to write the same when I read your (yes your in this case) post. I can't believe people make so many spelling mistakes. English is not even my first language and I noticed it. If I was hiring I would expect the candidates to at least use spell check
06:06 pm, Oct 22, 2010
Ken H
Spelling is important. As a hiring manager I must figure that if the words are not spelled correctly on your application/resume, you will perform you're duties just as sloppily. take the time to use spell check, if you know what that is. if the word is underlined in red, it does'nt mean "good choice". Otherwise, make your last line "profishent in fonix"
08:12 pm, Oct 22, 2010
alc
I find it somewhat amusing or sad that the last two posts that slam poor spelling or grammar both have mistakes. Take your own advice! ("abot" and no period in Caty B's , and "you're" instead of "your" and a lack of period in Ken H.'s.
02:09 am, Oct 23, 2010
Dave
I have to agree with Steve on the job situation in central Michigan. I recently had an interview for a position in a field that I have enjoyed for the past twenty years. I have not received a response and it is very frustrating. I also believe I am falling into the older applicant syndrome but have no intention of giving up.
03:12 pm, Oct 25, 2010
Jayme
Age is not the issue with me-I am 28 years old however, my issue is my height it seems. I am only 4' 9" and while I generally can score the interview, I rarely get the job. So, if any of you have suggestions for me, it'd be appreciated! Recently, (actually this past Tuesday) I had an interview at CVS. Someone who did not identify herself called me and left the message that there was nothing available for me. Unfortunately, I wasnt able to catch the call myself as I was a little busy showering. I do advise trying to score some volunteer work though...I have one but am in need of a paying job and I am not picky at all. I just need a paycheck
01:39 pm, Oct 28, 2010
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