Why Did I Not Get That Job?

Why Did I Not Get that Job?
Karae White, BEd, eCC
April 2009

As a career coach, I am often asked why someone didnot get a job. If you search Monster.ca there are job forums where the same question is asked repeatedly. So how do I answer this question “why didn’t I get that job?” There are a few reasons I have noticed over 14 years of helping people find work.

1. Attitude – just because you got the interview doesn’t mean you will get the job.

2. Preparation – yes you do need to practice for an interview. Most employers like to use behavioural interview questions and you CAN practice answering these types of questions. It will help to calm your nervousness and let you think clearly when answering questions. I prep my clients as often as possible. Darrin M says, “The biggest thing I gained from you was the confidence that I would eventually be successful and the confidence that I possessed the skills and such to be successful. Your help with the interviews was invaluable as shown by the fact that I did so well with both."

3. References – some people do great in the interview and then their references are contacted and the company changes their mind. Do you have good references who know what to say? You CAN talk with your references about the position you are interviewing for, the skills you need to do that job and when you used those skills when you worked with your reference. Try not to provide personal references.

4. Competition – do you know who your competition really is and what skills and experience they have? Sometimes there are just more qualified people out there.

5. Company – does the company know exactly what skills they want and do they have an idea of who will best fit with their team? Sometimes after interviewing an employer adapts their wishlist of skills in their future employee in exchange for a personality that will work well with their team. Most employers believe skills can be taught but attitude can not.

6. Follow Up – When you don’t get the job, ask the interviewer what you could do to improve your interviewing skills. If you came 2nd, try following up with the employer in a few months to see if the new hire did actually work out. You never know when it might be your turn.

Take these points into consideration when you are looking for work and making a career change. At Morgan Ebbett Career Services, we believe life is too short for the wrong job so we specialize in career transitions. For more information on Morgan Ebbett Career Services check out our website at http://www.morganebbett.com/ or phone us at 250-338-1343 ext.2