After going on job interviews, waiting for a call back is the hardest part. You usually have no idea if you will even hear back from them, and it is tough to know when to start looking elsewhere. Many people wonder why they never get called back after interviews, either to get the job or to interview again. There are a number of reasons why you may not get called back after an interview, and knowing these things can increase your chances the next time. Here are some top reasons why you never heard back about that job.
1. You did not interview well - Sometimes we do not put our best foot forward and stink up the interview. This happens to even the most experienced interviewees, and one should not lose too much sleep over it. The important thing is to dust yourself off, and try to do better the next time. Communications are not everyone’s strong suit, so you have to practice to get better at it.
2. The position was filled by someone more aggressive - This happens far more often than you might think, and it can be very frustrating to those people that are shy. An aggressive individual will not wait for the interview call back. He will contact them about the job, or ask for the job before he even leaves the interview itself. There are advantages and disadvantages to this method. Some employers will look at this as pushy, while others will see it as ambitious. The one advantage to this method is that you usually get your answer right away.
3. You did not fit the position - Sometimes when we do not get called back, it is simply because we did not fit the idea or skill set the company was looking for. If you are interviewing for a job that you have little experience in, then this is probably the case. It is always a good idea to aim high when you interview for a job, but you should also consider jobs that are in your skill set. If you only interview for jobs that are higher than your skill set, this will happen often.
4. You gave wrong information on the application - Sometimes we make mistakes when filling out our application and this can be a problem. For example, if you give out your phone number wrong, then the chances of a call back are very slim. When I was in management, about ten percent of the phone numbers that I dialed to call someone back in were no longer in service. Make sure that you fill out your application accurately.
If you are getting large numbers of interviews that turn out this way, then maybe you need to check the above list and ask yourself which category you fall in. The most common problems with not getting called back is that you are not interviewing well, or you are interviewing for jobs you are not qualified for. If you are not having success, then you should concentrate on changing something. Take a class on interviewing. It is a highly effective means of learning to interview well because you get to do practice interviews, and then get immediate feedback on how you did.
Getting called back after interviews is often a matter of practice and experience. Many people interview for jobs even after they land the job they are looking for. The reason? Because you never know when you might be back on the market and looking for a job. Another good reason is because it allows them to stretch for more. Interviewing for a job that is higher than the one you are currently in puts you in a position of power. If you get the job, then you can make a choice. If you do not get the call back, then no skin off your back.
It’s always hard to miss out on an opportunity when you feel you’ve done your best. At least this article gives you some clues as to what happened.
Comment by Rich — June 25, 2009 @ 5:22 pm