If you didn’t get the job you wanted, it might not be because you weren’t qualified enough, but because of these 10 reasons why you didn’t get the job. The good news is that most of these reasons are things that can be improved over time, so once you know what mistakes to avoid, you can continue to apply for jobs and eventually land one. To help give yourself the best chance at getting hired, review this list of reasons why you didn’t get the job in the first place.
1) Not enough experience
For many jobs, you need some experience. Whether it’s a summer internship or an after-school job, getting some hands-on experience with your field can go a long way when applying for jobs. While looking for work, try to participate in as many group activities and on-the-job learning opportunities as possible. The more relevant experience you have, the better you’ll be able to show that off during your interviews.
2) Too much experience
Hiring managers and recruiters typically don’t like a history of job hopping; it means you can’t hold a job down. If you were honest about your experience in your interview, but it turns out that your past employers didn’t give you glowing reviews, that’s an automatic red flag for future hiring managers and recruiters. One way to fix it is to emphasize how much your circumstances have changed since then: You learned valuable skills that will benefit any company and you were forced to get innovative in how you went about doing things because other team members didn’t pull their weight. That shows you have what it takes to succeed in any environment.
3) Gaps in Employment
This is a big one. When you’re trying to explain why you took some time off in your resume, be honest and own up to it. Let them know that you took a sabbatical to spend more time with your family or volunteer abroad, suggests Banfield. However, don’t get too detailed about these areas on your resume because that may seem like a strange gap in employment for an employer. If an employer were really interested in knowing about your specific endeavors, they would ask you about it on their own during an interview—which leads us to our next point…
4) References were incorrect
It happens. A typo, a missing number or a misspelled name can have an affect on your resume. Even if your references say glowing things about you, it’s important to double-check that you have their information correct and up-to-date. The worst thing is to assume that everything looks good because you don’t want to take the time to double check when it comes back to bite you in a big way! So be sure to verify—at least twice—that contact information for references is up-to-date before submitting applications for jobs.
5) Cover letter was sloppy
A sloppy cover letter will often be a big turn-off to hiring managers. Use concise and formal language, don’t make spelling or grammar mistakes, and pay attention to formatting. It only takes a few seconds for a recruiter or hiring manager to form an opinion of you—don’t waste those precious seconds by providing bad information! Remember that your cover letter needs to grab their attention, demonstrate why you would be a good fit for their company, show them how your skills relate to what they’re looking for in an employee, and convince them that you can do what it takes to succeed. If it doesn’t meet these expectations, you could be one strike away from being out of the running.
6) Résumé was sloppy
One of my biggest pet peeves with job seekers is sloppy résumés. Although, I understand that some people just don’t know how to write them (although you probably do), a professional looking résumé tells a hiring manager two things: 1) you take your job search seriously and 2) you are detail oriented. Rejecting a candidate based on their resume is insulting but so common. If it looks like you are putting in half-hearted effort for something as important as getting a new job, then why should an employer believe that if they hire you, you will put in half-hearted effort at work?
7) Spelling errors
Speaking of typos, an application with spelling or grammatical errors is a surefire way to lose out on your dream job. It makes you look lazy, or at least careless. Even if it’s not your forte, try to find someone who can give your cover letter and resume a once-over before you send them out. Your education is important, but more than half of employers will toss it in the trash if they spot one small error. Once again: always proofread!
8) Incorrect formatting or font type on résumé
A poorly formatted résumé is more likely to get a rejection letter than a face-to-face interview. Make sure your application materials are in line with company standards and ensure you send them with a cover letter that explains why you’re well suited for that job and what you can bring to their team. Don’t have time to do it right? Just make sure it doesn’t look like you did.
9) Bad attitude/showed up late/came unprepared/didn’t ask questions
This is how your interviewer knows that you’re not interested in their company or job. If you really want to land a gig, make sure that you show up with a positive attitude, on time and prepared. It’s also wise to ask questions during an interview—this will show you’re actually interested in learning more about the position. Whether or not you get hired is generally dependent on whether or not an employer believes you want to work for them over all other potential employers. Employers are businesspeople who are looking out for themselves and they want to make sure they don’t invest in someone who doesn’t have their best interests at heart.
10) Applying for a position that doesn’t match your skillset
If you don’t fit with a company, it doesn’t matter how much you want a job. There will always be another position out there for you—one that plays to your strengths. So take care when deciding which jobs to apply for and make sure your skills match what a company is asking for. At least then, you have an even chance of getting hired—whereas when you try to force a square peg into a round hole, it doesn’t work out so well. So before sending in that application or attending an interview, carefully review all of your past experience to make sure it matches up with what is being asked of you.
Conclusion
There are many reasons why you didn’t get a job. Not all of them are negative. Maybe they couldn’t find someone to fill that exact role, or they did not have funds to hire anyone new. So even though you didn’t get your dream job right now, there may be something better in store for you down the road if you keep going and never give up!