Reasons Why Might Not Be Getting Hired After An Interview

Sometimes, even if you have the right experience and qualifications for a job, you still might not get offers despite landing the interview. Matching the job requirements can take you far, but they aren’t the only aspect of landing the job.

Assuming you’ve made appropriate changes to your resume, application materials, and social media profiles, it might be your interpersonal and interviewing skills preventing you from getting the offer. Do some self-scouting and consider if these reasons apply to you.

Your interview skills need work

Your resume gives employers a taste of what you’ve done and what you can do, but it’s up to you to reinforce that during your interview. You can have all of the qualifications in the world but won’t get the job if you aren’t persuasive. And don’t forget that your personality is just as important as your skills. Hiring managers are looking for good team fits that they’d enjoy working with.

We’ve previously covered some ways to stand out during your interview, but don’t skim on the basics, either! Keyede Erinfolami reminds us to practice active listening, intentional body language, storytelling, small talk, and researching the company beforehand. The more preparation you do, the more confident and interested you’ll appear.

You’re desperate

Not every job you apply for will be your dream job. You’ll occasionally need to accept a job to build the skills to advance your career or to simply pay the bills, and the job market isn’t kind. But even if you really need the job, you don’t want to appear desperate. Just like in dating, desperation is a major turn-off for hiring managers.

“If you make it seem like hiring you is a big favor, the interviewer is likely to pass over you for someone who frames it as something that would benefit them and the company.” -Sara McCord

You might really need the job or you’re thrilled about the company, but try to downplay it a bit. Zippia’s Maddie Lloyd suggests talking about what you like about the company and including the ways you think you can help them. Your job during the interview is to show that you can provide value to the organization rather than just being a fan.

You don’t seem passionate

While it’s good to not appear desperate, don’t go so far in the other direction that you appear disinterested in the role. Looking detached won’t impress anyone, and the manager will look for someone that does appear interested.

“Employers can sense if excitement for a position isn’t quite there. Skills can be taught, but employers desire to see passion and enthusiasm when considering applicants.” –Indeed

Small things like showing up late, not making eye contact, and giving quick answers to questions may make you seem disinterested even if you are.

Ashley Stahl says to avoid getting to that point by finding things to be excited about when you’re researching the company. See if their mission statement meshes with your goals, find a project you’d be interested in, and come up with some enthusiastic questions. This will help pump you up for the interview as well as provide excellent talking points.

You’re boring

Unfortunately, even if you abide by the aforementioned tenets, you still might get passed over. You may feel okay about your interview and think your skills might make up for any interview gaps, but the truth is that if a hiring manager finds you to be boring, you likely won’t get the job.

The modern job search involves a ton of candidates, and if you aren’t standing out, you may be forgotten. The Muse’s Jeremy Schifeling says the ideal candidate is someone capable of doing the job and being someone people want to be around—“warm and competent.”

Try practicing your conversational skills with a friend and make an attempt to be genuine. If you can find a way to connect with the interviewer in an earnest way, you’ll stand out in their memory. Little connections can go a long way.

Wrap up

The skills to thrive in an interview aren’t necessarily the ones you need to do your dream job well, but you need to master these soft skills to get that job! Consider how you approach your interviews, take additional steps to practice, and adopt the right attitude and you’ll find better offers coming your way.

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How To Create A Post-Interview Thank You Note

During a job search, there are a plethora of little details a candidate can make that can lead to landing the job or being rejected. Perhaps one of the easiest—and most forgotten—tasks a job seeker can do is to send a “thank you” note after their interview.

In fact, ZipRecruiter CEO Ian Siegel called not sending a thank you note the No. 1 mistake job seekers make. Taking the time to send a note of gratitude shows that you’re truly interested in the job and willing to go the extra mile. If a hiring manager is between two candidates, the thank you note could be the deciding factor. If you’re looking to craft the perfect thank you note, consider the following tenets.

Send it soon

While you don’t need to send your note the second you leave the interview, it’s best to do it quickly while the interview is still fresh in your interviewers’ minds and while you remember key points you’d like to address.

Sending one too quickly risks your note looking canned or generic, but you should strive to send it within 24 hours after your interview, writes Upwork’s Sean Cope. Indeed says that 24-48 hours is acceptable, adding you want to do it quickly but to make sure you carefully craft your note. Context is important as well. If your interview was at the end of the day on a Friday, waiting until Monday to make sure it doesn’t get lost in the weekend shuffle is fine.

Send it to everyone you spoke with

You want your thank you note to be as personable as possible, so if you had more than one interviewer, make sure they each get their own note.

“Remember If you are talking to 3 or 4 people in an interview it is crucial to make a good impression with each one. A thank-you note goes a long way towards this step.” –Apollo Technical

If you can add a personal anecdote specific to each interviewer, thank will make your response much more genuine, show that you’re a good listener, and prove that you’re willing to put in a little extra work. Christopher Littlefield adds to make sure every name is spelled correctly and to address each person by the name they introduced themselves to you.

Be brief

A good thank you note doesn’t need to be long. If you are clear and can address your points quickly, the note should only be around 300 words or so.

Ian Segal says that if you address the following points with one or two sentences each, you’ll be covering the necessary ground:

  • Thank your interviewer for their time
  • Reiterate your interest in the role
  • Mention a detail you learned about them or their experience
  • Remind them why you’re the right candidate for the job

“Your follow-up is not the place to add all the things you wish you had highlighted in your interview,” –Lourdes Olvera-Marshall

Be specific

When answering the above prompts, make sure that your responses are as specific to the job and interview as possible. Sending a thank you note is good, but if that letter sounds generic or scripted, it won’t come off as sincere.

How can you make your note sound personal? MasterClass says to include something you learned about the workplace culture, something you discussed during your questions, or new insights about the job. Tying it back to something you discussed shows that you’re a good listener and that what you discussed really stuck with you.

“If there was an anecdote or a shared interest that both you and the interviewer seemed to connect over, you may briefly nod to that in your email, but only if it feels natural and appropriate.” –Deborah Acosta

Add value

While you don’t want to rehash your entire interview and cover things you forgot, you do want to point out the value you’d bring to the position and to reiterate your sincere interest in the role.

JobHero suggests that you elaborate on something you discussed in that interview, such as adding a suggestion or an idea that can highlight the skills you’d bring to the position. That’s why being specific can help—you can add to the points you’ve discussed with tangible ideas to show your knowledge and passion.

Be sure to actually directly thank the interviewer as well!

Wrap up

If you’ve embraced these tips, you’ll have created a brief but value-loaded note to your interviewers in a timely manner. Crafting the perfect thank you note only requires a little bit of time, and you can even have a template to work off of to save you even more time. But that little extra time will be noticed after your next interview!

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Self-Promoting Without Being A Burden

Whether you’re looking for a new job, highlighting your latest project, or sharing your noteworthy deeds, chances are you’ll want to promote your accomplishments online. Self-promoting is great, but if you go about it the wrong way, you’ll earn animosity!

“In today’s business world, self-promotion is indispensable. It is the key to landing a new job, securing a client or running a business altogether.” –Nancy Marshall, Forbes

Promoting yourself is crucial, but going about it the wrong way will come across as obnoxious, annoying, or bragging. If you want to make sure your accomplishments are being noticed, and noticed in a good way, stay true to these vital thoughts as you craft your posts.

Don’t spam

While this first tip may seem obvious, sometimes, you get excited and want to shout your accomplishments to the world. But resist the urge and make sure to choose your moments wisely.

Mike Ghaffary, general partner at Canvas Ventures, recommends reading more than you post, the online version of “listen more than you speak.” You’ll gain a broader view of how others post about their accomplishments and you can learn to mirror the well-forged posts.

Find the right channel

More than just not screaming your legend into the void, you need to find the right channel to promote yourself. Make sure to truly understand the tools at your disposal and use them correctly. Take advantage of tools like company newsletters and choose the right, appropriate time during a meeting,

Author Meredith Fineman suggests three primary online spots to list your accomplishments: your LinkedIn biography, your website and social media profiles, and your email signature. These are places where your accomplishments would be expected to be found and come across as organic. Your LinkedIn “About Me” in particular is one of the best marketing tools at your disposal. Make sure to use it wisely!

But coach Kim Neeson warns about overly selling yourself on social media. Try to use those profiles to add to a conversation rather than to solely advertise.

Focus on results

Now that you know when and where to promote, what should the content look like?

Fast Company’s Dina Smith says to stay focused on the facts. By focusing on the tangible outcomes and how they relate to important adjectives, you’ll not only show that you’re credible, but your accomplishments will seem factual and honest. You aren’t bragging when you’re stating indisputable facts.

“Like how you might write a résumé’s bullet points, briefly state what you accomplished, or contributed, and the impact or results of your efforts.” -Dina Smith

The Muse’s Anne Libby says that good self-promotion isn’t just about you. When you focus on these facts, you’re making the entire organization—and your bosses—look good.

Build credibility

The more you accomplish, naturally, you’ll be viewed as an expert in your field of choice. But that doesn’t just mean bragging about your accomplishments.

TopResume’s Tyler Omoth suggests becoming an industry expert by engaging with others on social media and commenting and sharing their posts. By joining the dialogue, and not just pushing your points, you can add your own credibility and value to posts. Soon, others may turn to you for your expertise and find your accomplishments organically.

“Beyond the virtual world, you can promote yourself as an expert by writing or speaking about your area of expertise. Industry publications and websites often need contributors—check out the guidelines for the ones in your field, and propose a topic or submit an article.” –Anne Libby

Intoo’s Caroline Vernon adds not to actually call yourself an expert, though. Calling yourself an expert makes it appear that you believe you have nothing more to learn and becomes braggy again. Show, don’t tell. Find ways to add value and help share your knowledge rather than announce it.

Share the credit

The best way to promote your accomplishments and gain positive notice is to make sure to elevate everyone on your team that helped. If you’re taking credit for the work of others or hogging the spotlight, you’ll turn your audience off.

“By offering support after completing your work, you demonstrate your proficiency at accomplishing important job tasks, and you can also have the opportunity to assist coworkers with your unique knowledge and skills.” –Indeed

Dina Smith says that by elevating others you appear authentic while also showing appreciation and generosity. These are the kinds of traits you want to be noticed for. Not only will your accomplishments be noted, but you’ll appear as a great team member people want to work with—providing more opportunities for great accomplishments.

Wrap up

If you’ve followed the above strategies, you’ll position yourself in a positive light without going overboard. By choosing the right time and place, showing that you can provide value without bragging, and using your space to elevate others, you’ll be noticed in a positive light!

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Increasing Your Visibility At Work

Hard work pays off, but if you’re looking to get far in your career, you need to make sure that work is getting the right attention. Learning how to increase your visibility at work will make sure your accomplishments get noticed by your bosses, helping you land promotions and leadership opportunities.

The rise of remote and hybrid work models may add additional challenges in getting noticed, but those obstacles can be overcome with a little effort. Join us as we uncover some of the best ways to increase your visibility in today’s work climate.

Be an active participant

The obvious first answer is that the more active and vocal you are during the work, the more visible you’ll be. By speaking up in meetings, volunteering, and even simply turning on your camera during Zoom meetings, you’ll be engaged and visible to your team.

“Use your company’s platform to share important updates in respective channels, discuss ideas and encourage others to brainstorm. Be the one to break the ice.” –Stephanie Wells, Formidable Forms

Soulcast Media CEO Jessica Chen says it only takes little extra work to speak up effectively in meetings. Before a meeting, make sure you understand the objective and what you can add to the conversation, and chime in when the moment is right. Just adding a little extra value to the meeting, only if you speak once, is enough to be noticed.

Partake in events

If you really want to take the next step. Go above and beyond where you can to get your presence out to many more people.

If your organization offers to chance to be part of an interdepartmental team, join a cross-department meeting, or have any sort of leadership opportunity, be one of the first to volunteer. This shows initiative, leadership, and ambition. It may be a little extra work, but if you’re looking to move up, it’s a good way to get noticed.

“Demonstrating a willingness to learn is another way to show initiative and boost your visibility at work. Improving your skills and qualifications can also lead to raises, promotions and other advancement opportunities.” –Caroline Castrillon, Forbes

Of course, not all opportunities like this need to be extra work. TalentBridge suggests going to conferences, charity events, and company parties when the opportunity arises. Even if you work remotely, your organization may offer remote happy hours or social periods you can join. By being at these social events and having casual conversations, you’ll be remembered.

Embrace social technology

If you work remotely, you’ll have to work a little harder to get noticed. But even if you meet in person, it’s still a good idea to get familiar with all technological tools at your disposal to maximize your communication potential and to become an expert others can rely on.

Jonathan Prichard of MattressInsider.com says to take advantage of collaborative software. Using a chat tool like Slack can increase your visibility while increasing others to do the same. Meanwhile, embracing project management tools can ensure everyone is involved and on the same page, leading to increased teamwork and productivity.

Maddyness suggests that becoming an expert on something is a great way to increase visibility, and mastering the technology your department uses is a great way. You don’t need to be a tech expert, either. If you master the ins and outs of Zoom, for example, you’ll be the go-to person for those in your department, and you can help new hires as well. You’ll carve a niche and be noticed.

Elevate others

Perhaps the best way to be seen in the workplace is to elevate everyone else around you. It’s good to make your bosses aware of your accomplishments, but it’s even better to help elevate your team and highlight their accomplishments.

Forbes’ Caroline Castrillon suggests sharing the spotlight by sharing your team’s accomplishments on any social tools your company uses and directly thanking people. This can build morale, enhance company culture, and put everyone in the spotlight together.

“Of course, be selective in your praise, but do go out of your way to recognize when others are doing a good job and that will make its way back to your work and your value added to the business. “-Matthew Capala, Alphametic

Harvard Business Review found that 51% of Gen Z workers feel unprepared to enter the workforce, and the pandemic also made work-related social skill use take a hit. Doing your best to offer help to those who may be struggling, including working with them on projects, highlighting their accomplishments, or simply thanking and appreciating their work can elevate their self-esteem and teach them how to communicate better at work. In the long run, this will highlight your empathy and leadership skills, but more importantly, you’ll be helping someone.

Wrap up

Increasing your visibility at work doesn’t mean asking, “Look at me!” Being actively engaged and enthused, making the most of communication tools, and helping others communicate and highlighting the work they’ve done will show you’re an actively engaged, helpful team member. These behaviors will also show that you’re a good coworker and can help build confidence as well!

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  • Matt Hendershott
  • Culture
  • December 7, 2022

Becoming A Better Workplace Ally

More and more companies are focusing on increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the workplace, but there’s still a long way to go before we truly reach a place of acceptance and embracement. In order to create a true culture of value, everyone must embrace DEI—not just those at the top. However, it can be challenging to be a true ally if one doesn’t know where to start.

CNBC Make It’s Ashton Jackson recently interviewed Megan Hogan, chief diversity officer at Goldman Sachs, about how to become a true ally to your peers. Hogan defined allyship as “making sure people feel seen, heard and valued at their organizations. And quite candidly, not just in times of crisis.”

We’ll examine Hogan’s three best practices for becoming a better ally in the workplace, along with additional advice from various other experts.

Engage

Hogan states that true allyship starts with awareness and knowledge. Knowing the perspectives and experiences of diverse groups is crucial in becoming an ally. This means educating yourself on various issues and becoming aware of your own privilege.

Harvard Business Review’s Tsedale M. Melaku, Angie Beeman, David G. Smith, and W. Brad Johnson state that while it may seem easy to ask members of different diverse groups about their experiences, this can create an unfair burden of labor on your coworker. Do your best to do your own independent research beforehand, and always ask for permission before discussing these topics with others. Recall that not everyone from these communities will have the same experiences and that each person is a unique individual.

The Post’s Grace Koennecke stresses the importance of continuing to learn even if you make mistakes along the way. New terms and concepts will continue to emerge, and it’s normal to make a mistake. Take responsibility, apologize, and strive to do better next time.

Act

With the power of knowledge at your side, you can now take active steps to be a better ally. Understanding the struggles faced by different groups allows you to actively help relieve their burdens.

“For example, if you’re a professional hosting events, are you aware that during certain key religious holidays people have to fast? Are you thinking about time zone differences for different colleagues? Are you thinking about when you put on multi-day events, that there’s nursing rooms for mothers? These are everyday acts of allyship that are quite practical and make sure that people feel included.” -Megan Hogan

However, during this stage, you must be careful to not make assumptions. You may be more informed from your education, and it’s nice to do your best to help your colleagues, but different people have different viewpoints and different needs. Forbes’ Holly Corbett cited Rachel Thomas, co-founder & CEO of LeanIn.Org and OptionB.Org, who mentioned a non-binary colleague who was misgendered. Rather than correct the offending party, Thomas instead asked the colleague how they would prefer the situation be handled. Ultimately, the colleague preferred that Thomas do nothing.

Awareness is great, but don’t assume it gives you all of the answers. And while this section is devoted to action, remember that listening and learning are still actions!

Empower

The final step in Hogan’s method involves recognizing your own discomfort and being an ally anyway. By acknowledging your mistakes and dedicating yourself to change, you can empower your colleagues and help create an inclusive workplace. Even if all you can do is publically admit a mistake and express a desire to do better, you’re still highlighting the importance of the issue.

Gannett Fleming’s Masai Lawson writes on the importance of being a supportive ally rather than a performative one. Make sure to truly uplift those in diverse groups and work with them to achieve progress. Being an ally is about support, which means never speaking over others or taking the glory for yourself.

“Performative allyship occurs when those with privilege publicly support DEI&B topics or marginalized groups to distance themselves from scrutiny, but they do not take concrete actions to effect change or shift the benefits of their privilege to marginalized groups.” –Masai Lawson

Wrap up

There’s a long way to go before we reach a true culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and we learn new ways to be better every day. While it’s good to see companies more frequently embracing DEI initiatives, we can all do our part to create a more inclusive workplace. By following Hogan’s methodology of engaging, acting, and empowering, we can become allies that lift our coworkers up and create a better environment for them.

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