getting interviews but not the job!

peaceandlove

Hey guys

as the title says I am getting interviews but not getting the job! I am unemployed at the moment and have had three interviews over the last 6 months or so. I have done my best in each interview presented myself well, researched the company, etc,. One of the interviews I got to 2nd interview (down to the last 3) but still didn't get the job.

I have asked for feedback on two of these interviews and it has been postive, and the reason given that one of the other candidates had more experience in the area the job is in. My question here is would they just give postive feedback to fob you off? Or would they give you a few pointers if they think you could have elaborated on answers etc,?

A friend of mine said if you don't get the job that the employers don't like you as a person and that they are basically rejecting your personality
I think this was an extremely negative thing to say to me when I am trying to stay positive.

Another friend told me it is just a sign of the times and to keep at it that's its brillant that I am getting called for interview in the first place as many are not getting that far. She also told me her boyfriends manager resorted to putting 3 names into a hat for a position he had advertised as he couldn't decide who to give the job to.

Any advice or pearls of wisdom for me?

danjo-xx

A friend of mine said if you don't get the job that the employers don't like you as a person and that they are basically rejecting your personality

Think you need to review your 'friends' list.

There are many reasons why you can get so close but not get over the line.

Some applicants will have a bit of 'pull' at interviews while other will have none, etc etc.

So many don't even get the interview, so your doing something right.

Just believe in yourself and keep plugging away, it's never been more difficult to get a job in the past than it is now.

Eoin

peaceandlove wrote: »

A friend of mine said if you don't get the job that the employers don't like you as a person and that they are basically rejecting your personality
I think this was an extremely negative thing to say to me when I am trying to stay positive

That's nonsense, so you can forget about that. It obviously does happen from time to time, but it's by no means a given. All a CV does is get you in the door, it's not just a case of checking the personality in the interview.

I've interviewed candidates who I thought were great people - but unfortunately just didn't have the essential skills that other people did. I know that people complain that they're not given the chance to get experience, but the fact is that there's pretty much always particular skills or experience that a manager just can't afford a new employee to be missing.

If you're getting in the door, then it sounds like your CV is good. Sorry for asking, but it's not too good? As in you're confident that you can back it up in the interview? Some people taking selling themselves in the CV a little too far, and it's seen through during the interview.

peaceandlove wrote: »

My question here is would they just give positive feedback to fob you off? Or would they give you a few pointers if they think you could have elaborated on answers etc,?

They tend to play it relatively safe, and want to be very careful they can't be accused of discrimination or the likes. So the feedback can be quite vague.

There's no harm in trying to get more detail - ask specifically where they thought you didn't have enough experience. I've given that sort of info to our HR dept to pass on to unsuccessful candidates. Don't argue with them if you disagree with their assessment, just make sure you can back it up next time.

peaceandlove wrote: »

She also told me her boyfriends manager resorted to putting 3 names into a hat for a position he had advertised as he couldn't decide who to give the job to.

Maybe it depends on the industry, but I have never ever had candidates who were that close to each other that I couldn't make a sensible decision about.

Tzardine

I think that simply put, you were not the best person for the job. Sounds like you are doing everything right but unfortunately there was probably somebody better suited.

With the amount of people interviewing for each job very high there is no doubt that it is an employers market at the moment.

Do not be discouraged, keep the faith and keep interviewing.

What your friend said is BS by the way.

Ray Palmer

Try not to let it get you down. Most people have been through this at some point and it is a very competitive market out there.

I know when I first was in the market place I was very selective of jobs I applied for so would pin lots of hope on a few particular interviews. This I have learnt is a recipe for heart ache.

The best approach is a scatter shot and apply for as many jobs as possible. If you don't get the perfect job you can go looking again in the future.

Your friend could just be a bit clueless rather than nasty so I wouldn't rate what they said too highly.

SCOOP 64

Could be worst op, i don't even get the interviews, you must be half way there to be asked for interviews, just keep trying ,just a matter of time for you.

dearg lady

I think there is some truth in what your friend said but they worded it very badly. Part of the interview process (especially for smaller companies) will be looking at 'personality fit'. It doesn't mean you're a horrible person, just that they met with someone else who would seem to have a better personality fit with the current staff. this is of course, just one part of what they'd be looking for in interviews, so I wouldn't think too much about it.

peaceandlove

Thanks for the replies everyone, I will just have to keep at it.

Eoin wrote: »

If you're getting in the door, then it sounds like your CV is good. Sorry for asking, but it's not too good? As in you're confident that you can back it up in the interview? Some people taking selling themselves in the CV a little too far, and it's seen through during the interview.

No, I definitely haven't embellished or lied on my CV, it's only things that I have done.

getsome

op, I feel your pain, many interviews and zero job offers, mainly own fault, my answers always suck on questions !

Diziet

I interviewed for several jobs before I landed my current one (which I am delighted with, btw). Keep plugging away and keep reviewing your approach. Have you read any interview prep books?

peaceandlove

Diziet wrote: »

I interviewed for several jobs before I landed my current one (which I am delighted with, btw). Keep plugging away and keep reviewing your approach. Have you read any interview prep books?

No I haven't, can you recommend one? would be a good idea, thanks

sarkozy

Three interviews and three strikes is not enough to go on, really. Come back to me when you've done, say, 30 interviews with 30 strikes.

As one former boss said to me, getting an interview means you can do the job. The interview is an opportunity (in a competitive situation) to show off and give the interviewers an experience of who you are. In other words: could they work with you?

Not getting a job after an interview doesn't mean there's something wrong with your personality at all. They hire people for their own reasons, and so many are arbitrary.

Also: in so many sectors, it's an employers' market. Employers can afford to be choosy. And with so many people going for so fewer jobs, it's hell out there.

I'm looking (again). Even trying to change careers. Grim, grim, grim.

LionelNashe

peaceandlove wrote: »

Hey guys

as the title says I am getting interviews but not getting the job! I am unemployed at the moment and have had three interviews over the last 6 months or so. .............

3 interviews out of how many applications, out of curiosity? Because if it's a lot of applications and only 3 interviews, then maybe the CV needs improvement. Have you had a professional look at it?

PTH2009

work part time for the last 5 years so im not fully unemployed

have 2 fetacs in Media studies and Business Studies and a third level higher cert in tourism.

It was only in 2013 that i started looking elsewhere because life simply cant work working a min wage job and i had finished college.

I have had 3 interviews so far this year all have been unsuccessful. The first one was for a supermarket got a letter saying the usual bull crap saying 'oh there was someone better than you'. The 2nd one was for a well known call centre and i had it in my head that yes im suited to this job and that they will hire me because it has been known to be an easy place to get into, got an email from the recruitment agency 'sorry your not what we are looking for. My 3rd interview was for a internship (Jobsbridge) and i didnt get that either.

I have applyed for many jobsbridge jobs and simple waiting/retail service jobs and the companys didnt even get back to me. I must be ugly too because one of the places looked for a photo too lol.

Life is tough but being unlucky at interviews are so morale damaging.

On the interview front, i have a feeling i didnt get the supermarket job because i failed the apitute test. I feel i failed in the call centre job because i was asked 'In three words say what your current employer says about you? and i could only think of 2 (I have dyslexia so big hard words are difficult to think off) and i found the question 'name a time you exceeded customer expectations? hard to understand and the internship interview was just too hard and i failed it simply because i had no database experience but are internships not there to teach somebody ?.

I feel like giving up jobs today are all about who you know and not what you know.

Thats my story on interviews

peaceandlove

Got a job!

Delighted, to everyone else out there still looking just wanted to say you have to keep at it, don't give up!

I had lots of tears along the way, just remember not to take the rejection personally something will turn up for you.

Nelly1234

peaceandlove wrote: »

Got a job!

Delighted, to everyone else out there still looking just wanted to say you have to keep at it, don't give up!

I had lots of tears along the way, just remember not to take the rejection personally something will turn up for you.

Well done!! Delighted for you:) when do you start?:)

peaceandlove

[QUOTEWell done!! Delighted for you:) when do you start?:)[/QUOTE]


Thank you! starting the end of the month! Can't wait to get back to a routine and have some money in my pocket!!