Interview After Interview But No Offer? Here’s Why And How To Fix

“It’s not you, it’s me.”

A classic line to slide in, while in the middle of a break-up, even if you don’t mean it.

But when you’re job hunting and you find yourself landing multiple interviews, with multiple companies, with zero job offers to show for it, odds are there’s no one else to blame but yourself.

Sure, the hiring manager may have told you that they decided to go with another candidate who was a better fit for the position, or that they decided to move in a different direction, but if those are statements you’ve repeatedly heard after several interviews, it’s time to discover what’s holding you back. And, it’s likely more than the fact that you struggle with the question, “What’s your greatest weakness?”

Here are a few unexpected reasons you haven’t been able to land a job offer after many interviews:

 

You Lack Personal Clarity

Your resume probably looks decent. It got you in the door for an interview. But, be honest with yourself, do you really know what you want to do next in your career?

It amazes me how many people brush up their resume and apply for positions before they’re 100% sure and confident about their next career move. If you’re still battling with whether you want to pursue accounting or human relations, or whether you want to stay at your current company or leave, your lack of uncertainty is probably showing in your interviews.

So, if you find yourself in this category, take a break from applying for positions and get clear on what you want to do next in your career. Reach out to people who are succeeding in the industries and positions you’re considering. Set up informational interviews to learn more about what they do. Narrow down your options to what feels right for you, and then only apply for positions that align with your newfound clarity.

No one wants to hire someone who’s not absolutely positive they want to be there, so you shouldn’t expect to convince a hiring manager to hire you, if you’re still struggling with which route is best.

 

 

You’re Not Selling Yourself

Maybe you know, without a shadow of a doubt, the exact position that would light you up and the specific company that would be a dream come true for you. But, are you aware of your strengths and how they align with the needs of the company and position? What specific qualities make you a perfect fit for the role you desire?

Even if you know what you want, you still may have trouble relaying why you deserve it and why you’re a great match for the position. I often see this when clients desire to make a career change. Knowing that you want a change isn’t enough. You must be clear on how your passions and transferable skills align with the position, and how the company fits into your plans to pivot.

On another note, you might not have all the experience the position requires, but if that makes you a bit insecure about whether you’ll do the job well, you probably sound more doubtful than you realize in your interviews.

You must be able to plainly indicate what you bring to the table, with assurance. Otherwise, you leave the interviewer guessing what you can do for them, which results in them handing the position to someone more confident than you.

 

You’re Not A Cultural Fit

So, you know exactly what you want and you thought you were excellent at relaying the results you could bring to the table in your desired role, but if you landed the job, would you mesh well with the team? Do you believe in the company’s mission? Do you even know the company’s values and culture?

As you move higher and higher in interviews, the criteria becomes less about if you can do your job well, and more about if you’ll fit in with the team, if you’ll work well with others, and if you have the soft skills that are necessary to be successful in your role.

But if you’re not aware of the company culture and values, or if you just want any job and you know deep down that you’re not truly invested in the company’s mission and principles, it’s likely written all over your face.

To fix this, stop applying for positions at companies that don’t align with your values. Do your research beforehand to ensure that the company matches the type of environment you want to be a part of in your next positon.

Then, when you discover a company that matches your values and desires, do more research. This approach will help you stand out in interviews because you’ll be able to convey to the interviewer, in a genuine and authentic way, the specific reasons you’re confident you’ll fit right into the team – with research to back it up.

So, now that you know the three possible reasons you haven’t been able to land job offers after your interviews, it’s time to take a deep look at what’s holding you back so that you can become irresistible. Because once you’re irresistible, there will be no better candidate for the position than you.

 

Originally published at Forbes