5 Reasons People Don’t Get Hired

There are a number of reasons – both in and out of your control – that you don’t receive a job offer after an interview. Let’s focus on some of those reasons that are within your control. These reasons come from a survey of more than 2,000 hiring managers and human resources experts.

1. Poor personal appearance. There is no excuse for ignoring your appearance in the job search. Your image conveys your professionalism, attention to detail and work ethic. Ensure you pay attention to the details of your clothing and grooming, whether you are attending a career fair or going to a job interview.

2. Inability to express information clearly / Nervous, lack of confidence and poise. Interviews can be very stressful, especially if you are unprepared. Before every interview, research the company, read the job posting and define how you can benefit the company. This preparation will help you express yourself clearly and will calm your nerves. In an interview, confidence is equated with competence, so you must appear confident in your ability to excel in the position or company.

3. Overbearing, over-aggressive, and arrogant attitude. As stated previously, confidence is very important in the job search process. However, there is a fine line between confidence and arrogance. Avoid the attitude that the company can’t live without you. They can and they will. However, you should present the ways in which you believe you can make a difference for the company.

4. Lack of interest and enthusiasm / No genuine interest in the company or job. An employer wants to feel special, as though you have chosen to work for them. Enthusiasm and interest can be demonstrated by thoroughly researching the company in advance. Determine why they are hiring, what they need, and how you can meet those needs. Start with their website, then conduct an informational search on http://www.google.com/, and finally look for details on sites such as http://www.hoovers.com/, http://www.knowx.com/, and http://www.glassdoor.com/.

5. Over-emphasis on money and benefits. The only appropriate time to ask about money and benefits is when a company is making you a job offer. The company does not want to discuss what they can do for you; their focus is to define how you can benefit their company.