Why didn’t I get the job?

 Chris Wodke

http://www.summittrainingpublications.com/

     Maybe you had and interview and you think it went really well. You were certain you were going to get an offer, but you didn’t get the job and you wonder why.  If you had good rapport with the interviewer and you feel comfortable doing so, give them a call and ask for feedback. This may leave a very positive impression. If may just be that you were narrowly edged out by a more qualified candidate. The fact that you took the time to get feedback leaves a favorable impression. That could lead to them letting you know about positions they know are open in their organization or openings they are aware of through their network.

     If you have a network contact within the organization, perhaps they can find out how the interview went and provide you with some feedback.  Your contact at the very least may tell you a little about the person who was hired and their qualifications. Either form of feedback can be very important to prepare for the next opportunity.  The feedback could be on the way you present yourself in the interview and can be corrected.  If your credentials are not strong enough, take steps to get the skills and/or experience you need.

     What if you aren’t even getting interviews? Check in the following areas:

Networking

You need to network effectively. Use you network to find out about openings. Use your network within an organization to give you the scoop on the position and the company. This type of information can help you prepare to impress for interviews. Get a professional profile up on networking sites like linkedin and facebook.

Cover Letter

Pay attention to the cover letter. Don’t be tempted to use a generic letter or skip using one.  Customize the cover letter for each job and use it to introduce your skills and experience.

Job Search

Use a variety of sources when conducting a job search. Use the internet, your network, alumni organizations, professional organizations. Tell everyone you meet you are searching for a job.

Resume

Target your resume to companies identified by your network, job postings and informational interviews.  Do not blanket the market with your resume, then sit back and wait for things to happen.

Follow-up

Check with the human resources department to make sure they got your resume. E-mail is not always reliable and you want to get confirmation of its arrival.  Do not pester HR and the hiring manager with endless phone calls.

Burnout

You can’t spend all day every day looking for a job.  Write a goal of the type of job you want. Make a task list of the things you need to do to accomplish the goal. Spend a few hours a day of focused time on your search.

Throughout the process show your interest in the position.  In the cover letter and during the interview express your interest in the job and your desire to join the organization.

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