Why Didn’t I Get That Interview or Job? Part Two
In Part One of this blog article, we looked at some reasons why you got rejected either at the resume stage or the interview itself. Here we will give you some more strategies on how to narrow the odds in your favour and get over the finish line.
No matter how qualified you are for a particular role or how well you believe you will fit in with the organisation’s culture, there are simply some things you should never say or do if you are lucky enough to get picked for the interview.
If you go in overconfident, you may say something that is just simply stupid. For example, do not be overconfident and ask what the company does. Do you think that is far-fetched? Believe it or not, recruiters and hiring managers say they get asked this question all the time. Before you go into your job interview, research what the company does, and produce some specific ways you can help it do whatever it does better.
Why exactly are you here in the first place? Did you lose your last job? Whilst we always advocate honesty, there are more graceful ways to explain that you were fired. “My boss and I had very different ideas about what our department should be focusing on, and it soon became clear that I’d be happier in a new role – like this one.” Keep the focus on what you learned from the past and bring the focus back to why the job you are interviewing for is the right one for you. Or you could simply say you reached all the goals you set for yourself in your last role and thought it was time to move on.
If you are asked a question, and you do not know, you do not say “I don’t know.” If you honestly do not know the answer to an interview question about you or your background or the role, try “I’ll find out and get back to you by the end of the day.” But if the question is about what you would do in a hypothetical workplace situation or is a completely off-the-wall or abstract question such as “How many golf balls would it take to fill this room?” your response should show your thought process. Go ahead and think aloud: “First, I’d have to determine the volume of the room. Then I’d have to subtract the volume of the furniture.…” And so on. Recognise that the interviewer is deliberately throwing you a curveball to see how well you think on your feet. If you are not expecting such a question, you could easily freeze, and its game over. If you go in half expecting a completely random question, no matter what it is, your brain will be halfway there to tackle the question in some way or other, even if it is not entirely on point. Something is better than nothing, even humour. Half the time, there is no right or wrong answer; it is a test of your ability to stay calm under pressure. So be prepared to rise to the challenge.
Was your last boss a monster? This is quite often the reason people move from one job to another. But do not say that. Complaining about your last job only reflects badly on you. Even if you are telling the truth, it makes you look like a complainer and poor sport (exactly the type of person no one wants to work with). It is great to talk about challenges you faced, but the focus should be on the positive results you achieved.
Finally, try some simply Neuro-Linguistic Programming techniques in your interview. These will help transform a potentially nerve-wracking ‘interview’ into a mutually beneficial ‘experience.’
Firstly, build rapport with your interviewer. Think about not only what you say but also the gestures you make. Subtlety mirroring, acknowledging, and becoming attuned to the other person’s tone of voice, speech patterns, and mannerisms all exhibit a good display of rapport.
And body language is a vital one to remember. Imitate what the interviewer does. When you arrive for the interview, sit or stand up straight, make good strong eye contact, smile and be commanding with a strong handshake in order to make a good first impression. Use open palm gestures to emphasise certain points you are saying. Nod when they nod, use the same tone of voice, lean in to better connect, and remember to be clear and concise in all interactions in order to project confidence.
If you are still nervous about your interview, Select Resumes offer an Interview Coaching Service that will get you battle-ready for the big day. And obviously, if your resume does not properly reflect your qualities, we’re here to help there too.
