Why you aren't landing the job
Ever come out of a job interview feeling fantastic and positive that you'll be hired, only to not end up with the job? There are many reasons as to why this could happen, so don't take it too personally.
Reason 1: You're Not Qualified
Having the right qualifications is the foundation of getting a job. Do some research before you apply to make sure it is possible for you to be hired. Perhaps you're not old enough, or do not have enough education or experience in this field to be hired. Maybe this job requires you to have taken certain courses in school, or previously completed a co-op or internship.
If you don't fit the qualifications or have the right skills for the job, there's not a great chance that you will be hired. “Carefully review the job posting or description. If there is no posting, do some research into that type of work to determine the skills and qualifications generally required for it — for example, review occupational profiles, postings for other companies, conduct information interviews,” said Larissa Campbell, a former student service specialist for Career Services at Fanshawe College.
Reason 2: Your Resume Stinks
An accurate and well-written resume is one of the most important aspects of attaining a job. If your resume is not specific to your job, is disorganized, contains spelling errors, is not up to date, or has any false information, you will most likely not be hired.
A resume is basically a brief summary of yourself, so if you want to impress your employer, you should take the time to do it correctly. “Resumes must be targeted for each position, highlight relevant skills, and easy to read with no errors,” said Campbell.
This applies to the cover letter as well. It is important to ensure your cover letter is very specific to the job you're applying for — otherwise, it looks like you just want a job and you don't care which job you get.
Reason 3: You Have A Bad Attitude
Job searching is tough, and being rejected multiple times can certainly put a damper on one's attitude. But it is important to always be friendly and personable when being interviewed.
Interviews are the most important part of the hiring process. This is the time for your possible future employer to see what type of person you are. You have to be yourself and be friendly, confident and personable, especially when you make your first impression. Your employer will be able to tell a lot about your character by what you are wearing, and what your facial expression and body language convey.
Being interested in the job you are applying for is key. If you come off as bored or uninterested in the interview, your employer won't choose you — they'll find someone who actually wants to fill that position instead. “Employers want workers who are interested in the position/company, want to be there, and are reliable and committed to giving their best effort to get the job done,” said Campbell. “An inability to keep a job, and/or no positive references demonstrates to an employer that you are not reliable or serious about working.”
During the interview, don't focus on the job's salary, benefits and perks. If your employer feels as if you are only applying for the money, they may look for someone better suited for the job — someone who's not just there for the paycheque. Let the interviewer bring up the salary when they feel the time is right.
Your attitude is also reflected through the clothing and appearance choices you make. “How you dress and your hygiene represents your personal brand and is part of your first impression,” said Campbell. “Clothing and cleanliness must be appropriate for the workplace and the level of the position because it represents your willingness and preparedness to do what the job requires. If you are hired, it also represents the company.”
Reason 4: You Don't Know Anything About the Company
Knowing a bit about the company will help you impress the employer in the interview. If you go into the interview without doing any research beforehand, you will most likely be caught off guard by questions such as, “What do you know about the company?” and “Why do you want to work here?” There are plenty of websites that have sample interview questions that are great for practice. The more prepared you are, the easier it will be to relax during your interview.
Reason 5: Your Private Life Doesn't Stay Private
Not only will your employer learn a lot about you from your resume and interview, but there is a growing chance that they will look at your social media pages as well. It's important to portray a professional image of yourself online because an increasing amount of employers are beginning to check social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter to learn more about a person before they hire them.
“More and more employers are turning to social media to screen and see what potential candidates are like, and inappropriate pictures or negative and unprofessional status updates become that candidates first impression — most likely they won't make it to the interview even if they are qualified for the job.” Think about it from the employer's perspective: would you rather hire the hardworking individual who has pictures on Facebook of himself volunteering at a homeless shelter, or the person who has a picture of herself doing a keg stand as their profile picture? Be wise about what you put online, or it could cost you a job opportunity.
“Job searching takes time, so we encourage students to start early,” Campbell advised. “If you're looking for work, whether it's full-time, part-time, related or unrelated to your program, Career Services is here to help. We provide workshops and one-on-one appointments to help with resume and cover letter writing, interview preparation and job search tips, as well as job opportunities for students and grads on our jobsite.” So don't be afraid to ask Career Services for help! Check them out in D1063 for more information.
Reason 1: You're Not Qualified
Having the right qualifications is the foundation of getting a job. Do some research before you apply to make sure it is possible for you to be hired. Perhaps you're not old enough, or do not have enough education or experience in this field to be hired. Maybe this job requires you to have taken certain courses in school, or previously completed a co-op or internship.
If you don't fit the qualifications or have the right skills for the job, there's not a great chance that you will be hired. “Carefully review the job posting or description. If there is no posting, do some research into that type of work to determine the skills and qualifications generally required for it — for example, review occupational profiles, postings for other companies, conduct information interviews,” said Larissa Campbell, a former student service specialist for Career Services at Fanshawe College.
Reason 2: Your Resume Stinks
An accurate and well-written resume is one of the most important aspects of attaining a job. If your resume is not specific to your job, is disorganized, contains spelling errors, is not up to date, or has any false information, you will most likely not be hired.
A resume is basically a brief summary of yourself, so if you want to impress your employer, you should take the time to do it correctly. “Resumes must be targeted for each position, highlight relevant skills, and easy to read with no errors,” said Campbell.
This applies to the cover letter as well. It is important to ensure your cover letter is very specific to the job you're applying for — otherwise, it looks like you just want a job and you don't care which job you get.
Reason 3: You Have A Bad Attitude
Job searching is tough, and being rejected multiple times can certainly put a damper on one's attitude. But it is important to always be friendly and personable when being interviewed.
Interviews are the most important part of the hiring process. This is the time for your possible future employer to see what type of person you are. You have to be yourself and be friendly, confident and personable, especially when you make your first impression. Your employer will be able to tell a lot about your character by what you are wearing, and what your facial expression and body language convey.
Being interested in the job you are applying for is key. If you come off as bored or uninterested in the interview, your employer won't choose you — they'll find someone who actually wants to fill that position instead. “Employers want workers who are interested in the position/company, want to be there, and are reliable and committed to giving their best effort to get the job done,” said Campbell. “An inability to keep a job, and/or no positive references demonstrates to an employer that you are not reliable or serious about working.”
During the interview, don't focus on the job's salary, benefits and perks. If your employer feels as if you are only applying for the money, they may look for someone better suited for the job — someone who's not just there for the paycheque. Let the interviewer bring up the salary when they feel the time is right.
Your attitude is also reflected through the clothing and appearance choices you make. “How you dress and your hygiene represents your personal brand and is part of your first impression,” said Campbell. “Clothing and cleanliness must be appropriate for the workplace and the level of the position because it represents your willingness and preparedness to do what the job requires. If you are hired, it also represents the company.”
Reason 4: You Don't Know Anything About the Company
Knowing a bit about the company will help you impress the employer in the interview. If you go into the interview without doing any research beforehand, you will most likely be caught off guard by questions such as, “What do you know about the company?” and “Why do you want to work here?” There are plenty of websites that have sample interview questions that are great for practice. The more prepared you are, the easier it will be to relax during your interview.
Reason 5: Your Private Life Doesn't Stay Private
Not only will your employer learn a lot about you from your resume and interview, but there is a growing chance that they will look at your social media pages as well. It's important to portray a professional image of yourself online because an increasing amount of employers are beginning to check social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter to learn more about a person before they hire them.
“More and more employers are turning to social media to screen and see what potential candidates are like, and inappropriate pictures or negative and unprofessional status updates become that candidates first impression — most likely they won't make it to the interview even if they are qualified for the job.” Think about it from the employer's perspective: would you rather hire the hardworking individual who has pictures on Facebook of himself volunteering at a homeless shelter, or the person who has a picture of herself doing a keg stand as their profile picture? Be wise about what you put online, or it could cost you a job opportunity.
“Job searching takes time, so we encourage students to start early,” Campbell advised. “If you're looking for work, whether it's full-time, part-time, related or unrelated to your program, Career Services is here to help. We provide workshops and one-on-one appointments to help with resume and cover letter writing, interview preparation and job search tips, as well as job opportunities for students and grads on our jobsite.” So don't be afraid to ask Career Services for help! Check them out in D1063 for more information.
