Great interview but no offer
Q: How do you know if you got the job when you go to an interview? Many times I go to an interview and is well qualified for the job but don’t get it.
A: Great question but unfortunately there are probably many reasons why a candidate does not receive an offer after feeling an interview went well. Some of the possible reasons include:
- Several strong candidates were interviewed. For some reason, another candidate was selected. Especially since 2008, there have been fewer opportunities available. When an opportunity does become available, many candidates apply. Sometimes these candidates are overqualified or beyond what the company even expected from the candidate pool. I have had several clients share with me that they feel like they could have offered the job to any one of the final candidates because all were qualified and capable.
- The opportunity no longer exists. It is uncommon, but sometimes an open position is put on hold and the company is no longer actively recruiting for the role.
- Sometimes an internal employee is moved into the vacant position.
- Often HR or the hiring manager does not want to give candid feedback to candidates who are rejected. A candidate can sometimes become angry, hostile or downright nasty if you give them candid feedback. Or a candidate can be argumentative about the reasons for not selecting.
- Sometimes a candidate’s skills, background, qualifications or compensation expectations are not on target for the role. Interviewers can sometimes learn a lot during the hiring process. A hiring manager might think that 7-10 years of experience is required in the early stages of the recruitment process. Yet when the hiring manager interviews a candidate with 5 years of experience, the hiring manager now thinks that candidates with fewer years of experience should be considered.
- Or you might think that you aced the interview, but the recruiter would not share your assessment.
The good news is that with each interview, your interviewing skills should be improving. You should feel more relaxed and confident when meeting with recruiters, HR or hiring managers.
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Meet the Jobs Docs
Patricia Hunt Sinacole is president of First Beacon Group LLC, a human resources consulting firm in Hopkinton. She works with clients across many industries including technology, biotech and medical devices, financial services, and healthcare, and has over 20 years of human resources experience.
Elaine Varelas is managing partner at Keystone Partners, a career management firm in Boston and serves on the board of Career Partners International.
Cindy Atoji Keene is a freelance journalist with more than 25 years experience. E-mail her directly here.
Peter Post is the author of "The Etiquette Advantage in Business." Email questions about business etiquette to him directly here.
Stu Coleman, a partner and general manager at WinterWyman, manages the firm's Financial Contracting division, and provides strategic staffing services to Boston-area organizations needing Accounting and Finance workforce solutions and contract talent.
Tracy Cashman is a partner and the general manager of the Information Technology search division at WinterWyman. She has 20 years of experience partnering with clients in the Boston area to conduct technology searches in a wide variety of industries and technology.
Paul Hellman is the founder of Express Potential, which specializes in executive communication skills. He consults and speaks internationally on how to capture attention & influence others. Email him directly here.
