Reasons You Might Not Get a Job Offer

Searching for a job can be a brutal process. It’s inevitable that you’re going to deal with rejection. And while there will be circumstances and situations you can’t control, there are plenty of things you can do to boost your chances of receiving an offer instead of another rejection. Here are 10 reasons you might not get a job (with 10 pro tips that can help you increase your likelihood of an offer):

1. Not Showing Passion or Enthusiasm

You may have been simply trying to remain calm and collected during your interview, but if you didn’t demonstrate a level of excitement for the role, you won’t be on the list for a job offer. Employers want passionate employees working for them. Show the interviewer that you have genuine interest and will fit in within the company. Then, they can envision you enjoying your job and you’ll be more likely to get an offer.

‍

Pro tip: If you struggle with nerves and typically come off as aloof because of it, spend extra time practicing for your interview to hone in your pitch and your way of showing excitement for the role. Be sure to express your excitement about the opportunity, as well as your passion for your job and how you can personally contribute to the team.

2. Lack of Preparation

Proper preparation is a key element for a successful interview. If you didn’t research the company beforehand in order to understand their products or services, important values, and mission, that could have affected the outcome of your interview. Adequate preparation also includes knowing how your skills and experience will be beneficial to the company and in the position. If you’re unable to articulate how you’ll be an asset to the team, or can’t answer standard interview questions smoothly, this will adversely affect your chances.

‍

Pro tip: Make sure you’re ready for the interview beforehand. Understand the job description well, research the company, and practice your responses to potential questions (read about the top 19 behavioral interview questions you might be asked). Have specific examples ready of achievements from your past roles that fit with the job description. 

3. Lackluster Interview Skills

A poor interview can stem from poor techniques on your end. How you present yourself in an interview is more than just answering questions, an interviewer will also notice your body language, tone, and conversational ability. What you wear sets the tone as well—wearing an outfit that isn’t appropriate for the interview might result in the interviewer not taking you as seriously. Arriving either too early or too late, and oversharing personal information, are also bad signals to the interviewer. Avoiding these things will go a long way in helping the interviewer see you as a good fit.

‍

Pro tip: Look up the company’s social media accounts or website to see what their typical work attire looks like in photos. You can also ask someone you might know at the company, or the recruiter if you’re working with one, for some insights into the company’s specific dress code.

4. Poor Communication

You need to communicate clearly, both so that the interviewer knows you’ll be a strong communicator in the role and so they can understand your skills and value in the span of a short interview. If your thoughts were unorganized or if your answers didn’t clearly answer the questions you were asked, the interviewer will have a difficult time seeing you as a fit for the role. 

‍

Pro tip: Part of good communication is asking thoughtful questions. When they ask, “do you have any questions?” at the end of the interview, you could be missing the mark if you don’t have anything to ask the interviewer. 

‍

Here are a few example questions:

• What does success look like for this position? Can you be specific about milestones for the next 30, 60, and 90 days?
• Is there a growth plan for this position?
• Is there anything I have said that would make you doubt I’d be a great fit for this position? 
• Am I missing anything in my resume that would make me a good fit for this job?

5. Culture Misfit

Everything else could be going right—you have the right experience and the right skills— but if you don’t jive with the team, your chances of an offer are low. The interview is a critical time to connect with each person on the team who you have a chance to meet and work quickly to make a good impression. 

‍

Pro tip: Assess the company’s culture beforehand. By reading company reviews or checking out their website and social media pages, you can start to gauge if you’ll be able to assimilate to their culture. If you believe that you would make a good addition to their culture, convey that during the interview.

6. Negative Attitude

While you likely don’t plan on going into an interview with a negative attitude, talking poorly about your current job or a past boss is a slippery slope. Even if you have had negative experiences in a past job, an interview isn’t the place to disclose that information. 

‍

Pro tip: If you’ve had a company or boss treat you poorly, try to spin the experience positively and focus on what you’ve learned from it instead. Maintaining a positive attitude throughout your interview and speaking professionally about your experiences will help you stand out. 

7. Discovering Misaligned Qualifications

If you discover during an interview that you are either over or underqualified, that may quickly affect your chances of getting an offer. If you are overqualified, the interviewer may be concerned that you will lose interest quickly and won’t last in the position very long. And if you are underqualified, the interviewer might worry that you won’t be able to perform the job functions. This can be a difficult hurdle to get over if it was unclear in the job description beforehand that your skills might not be a fit for the role.

‍

Pro tip: If the interview highlights that you are overqualified, be sure to communicate your passion for the industry or specific interest in the company to reassure them of your commitment. If you are underqualified, do your best to speak to any concerns and express your willingness to learn any skills that you may be lacking.

8. Inadequate Networking

Lean on your network before you even get an interview set up with a potential employer. When you have someone on the inside vouching for you, your chances of receiving a job offer increase dramatically. With any interviews you have scheduled, check your network on LinkedIn to see if you know anyone that already works at the company.

‍

Pro tip: If your network feels light, take this as an opportunity to give it a boost—invite old colleagues out to lunch, check in with Zoom calls, and connect to folks on LinkedIn. 

9. Not Following Up After the Interview

If you didn’t follow up after your interview, you might have inadvertently conveyed that you’re not interested in the role. Conversely, if you do send the interviewer a quick follow up, this shows your seriousness and enthusiasm. It can also be one last chance to reiterate why you’re the right fit for the position. A follow up is a simple action that can go a long way in helping you stand out as a top candidate.

Pro tip: Send a follow-up message within 24 hours of your interview, and keep it concise and thoughtful. This will help leave a positive impression.

10. Their Follow Up Didn’t Go Well

Maybe the interview itself was a success, it was after the fact that things went awry. If the interviewer checked your references and found outdated or irrelevant contacts, those contacts might not have been able to give you a useful reference. To ensure the interviewer’s follow up goes smoothly, only use references that you have had recent contact with, and let them know ahead of time that you’re using them as a reference so they’ll be prepared. Try to use contacts that you directly reported to or worked with closely. 

‍

Pro tip: Keep your social media profiles, especially LinkedIn, polished enough that an employer could follow you and you wouldn’t be embarrassed. 

Need more resources? Check out these links:

7 signs you will get the job after an interview 

Common sales interview questions and answers

10 questions you should ask the hiring manager in a job interview

You must do these things when you get a job offer

How long does it take to hear back after an interview

‍