Rejection always hurts and it's hard not to blame yourself. Maybe you could have prepared more? What if your answers weren't quite right? It can be difficult to work out where it all went wrong.
We're here to help! Here is our list of the 10 most common reasons for getting rejected after an interview.
1. Um, I know nothing about the company!
Job interview research is an absolute MUST for getting a job, and a massive part of this is researching the company you want to work for beforehand. You don't have to learn everything about them, just a few key points like how successful they are, when they first went into business and even what the company is like to work for. All this information should be on their website. Showing you have looked into it is always impressive.
Job interview research
2. What time do you call this?
You arrive hot, flustered and sweaty. And late. This is one of the worst things you can do and immediately puts you at a disadvantage; after all, who wants to employ someone who can't make it into work on time?
Prepartion: How to avoid being late
3. Bored, bored, bored
You need to be upbeat, confident and enthusiastic in an interview. You WANT this job and you can do it... Now is the time to smile and convince the interviewer!
Look interested with good job interview body language
4. Bad dress sense
Mini skirts, shiny shirts, creases. These are just some of the things that can make you look unprofessional. Image is everything and interviewers make a judgement about you within 5 seconds of meeting you. Really!
Dress for success at your interview
5. Not answering the question
It’s SO easy to do! You're asked one thing and you end up waffling so much you actually never tell them what they really needed to know! You can avoid this by preparing your answers in advance.
Job interview questions and answers
6. Failing to sell yourself
You know yourself better than anyone else but can you 'advertise' yourself properly to your interviewer? You need to be able to tell them how good you are – with examples – and not think it's arrogant to say 'yup, I'd be great at this job!'
How to market yourself
7. I have rehearsed this. A lot...
Although you should practice job interview questions in advance, you don't want to sound like you're reading your answers from an autocue!
8. I hated them all!
Never ever moan and complain about past bosses or colleagues. Even if they were the devil in disguise, this will only make YOU look bad. Always keep it positive and focus on what you liked at your past jobs and how successful you were.
9. Not ASKING any questions
At the end of most interviews they will ask you 'So, do you have any questions for me?' If there's an awkward silence and you just answer no, you will look disinterested and unimaginative. The secret to this is preparing a few questions in advance and picking 2-3 for the end of the interview...
Questions to ask the interviewer
10. Not following up after the interview
Thank you. Two simple words and an opportunity to stand out above the 90% of people who don't bother to send a quick thank you letter after the interview... Candidates who send one stand out in the minds of the employer more than those who don't.
Template thank you letter
(And 11). It's not always your fault
You did everything right, you were a great fit for the job and you missed out through no fault of your own. Getting a job rejection can be down to more than messing up at the interview - perhaps they found their PERFECT fit, or maybe the job has been filled internally. Ask them for feedback so you know for your own peace of mind!
How to ask for feedback
