10 Reasons You Didn’t Get the Job

We’ve all been there. We applied for jobs and didn’t get there. It sucks, especially if you need a new job ASAP. The truth is that no one is offered every job they interview for. Sometimes it can take a while to get a new gig. A few years ago, I interviewed with six companies before I was hired as a financial aid counselor. There are numerous reasons you didn’t get the job you applied for. If you are asking yourself why didn’t you get the job, you will want to read this post.

Top 10 Reasons You Didn’t Get the Job

1. You Weren’t Prepared for the Interview

Believe it or not, some people are not prepared for their interviews. They don’t research the company. That’s a huge mistake. You should always take the time to research the company that you’re interviewing. Some key things that you want to know are the founder and the date the company began. You also want to know who the president or the CEO is. If you don’t take the time to learn a little about the company, you will be screwed. In every interview that I’ve had after college, someone asked me what I knew about the company. Make sure that you can answer that question once you get asked.

2. You Didn’t Dress the Part

You have to dress the part for the interview. Even though it seems common sense, you’d be surprised how many people don’t dress correctly for interviews. For most interviews, you should dress up for your interview. A black or navy blue suit should work for men and women. Don’t expect to get a job coming to an interview with your jeans sagging and a t-shirt on. That’s not a good look. Your first impression means a lot.

3. Your Hygiene Was Not Good

Some people don’t get hired because of their hygiene. You would think every adult would know to shower and smell their best for an interview. Unfortunately, they don’t. Make sure that you use deodorant. Don’t smoke weed before your interview. The smell can linger in your clothes. Also, don’t drink heavily the night before your interview. If you are the type who sweats a lot, the alcohol smell can seep through your pores. If the person interviewing you smells that, you can kiss that opportunity goodbye. Do what you must do to ensure your hygiene is good before the interview.

4. You Didn’t Have Enough Experience

Sometimes people aren’t hired because they don’t have enough experience. That has happened to me before. Sometimes it’s understandable, and sometimes it’s not. How can you gain experience if you can’t get into the industry?  If this happens to you, don’t give up. You have to keep on applying. You will eventually get your opportunity. Don’t give up.

5. You Talked Too Much

The final reason you didn’t get the job is that you talked too much. Talking too much can turn off your interviewers. You could say the wrong thing and piss the interviewer off. When being interviewed, ensure you actively engage with your interviewer, but stay on topic. Don’t talk yourself out of your future job.

6. Poorly Written CV

It is often said that your CV is just like your passport; the interviewer gets to meet you before they meet you. It mirrors who you are, from your background to your educational history and your working experience. It is very important that you present your CV in a way that attracts the reader’s attention.

Sell yourself in your CV first before doing so in person. If you do not know how to construct a presentable CV, you can readily give it to a company that does the work for a fair price.

7. You Were Late For The Interview

Everyone knows it is standard for you to arrive at least 15 minutes before your interview time. Being late sets a bad record before the company, and they wouldn’t like to start on a bad note with you. So, make arrangements a day before if your interview location is far for you to arrive in time. Basically, do all necessary for you to be among the first five candidates. You never can know if this will be the determining criteria for you to get the job.

8. Company’s Budget

Every company has a budget for every candidate employed in their organization, and they would try hard not to exceed it. If you asked for a much higher salary pay than what they’re offering to pay you comfortably, the chances are high that you will not be called back to work for them. If you cannot compromise, another person will give you the job.

9. Too Much Experience

Indeed, there is such a thing as having too much experience for a job or being too qualified for a position. A salesperson’s job in a beauty store may require no higher than a high school diploma, but if you possess a Bachelor’s; this means that your qualifications supersede what the company requires, and they may not be able to comfortably pay you the salary that you are expecting of them. The best solution is to apply for jobs matching your qualifications.

10. You Just Didn’t Stand Out

Let’s be honest; over 20 people were interviewed for the same position; what are the chances you were better than all of them? Face it, you weren’t that good enough, someone in the crowd had a much better CV, had more experience for the job, and maybe virtually all the hiring managers seemed to like that person. You know the company wants to keep you when you’re their favorite candidate- you should work hard enough to be unforgettable. Although there is no way one can know this, all you have to do is to improve yourself more. Develop your CV, take certifications, and do all that needs to be done. Trust me; you will succeed in your next interview and be hired.

Those were the reasons you didn’t get the job. Hopefully, none of those have happened to you. If so, I hope you learned from the situation. That way, it won’t happen again.

Do you know of other reasons people may not have gotten the job? Feel free to comment below.