Most people looking for work right now are well aware that we are experiencing a hot job market which favours candidates. We are currently seeing almost one unemployed person per vacant job, compared to three times that number pre-pandemic. Employers are often having to go above and beyond in order to secure talent. Companies are also sometimes having to settle for candidates who don’t quite fit the brief. It’s most certainly a good time to be a job seeker. However, from time to time we are still seeing candidates who have interviewed for more than five different positions and not been offered a job. So, what’s going wrong?
Preparation is paramount
There are lots of positive stories at the moment regarding candidates who are taking big leaps forward in their careers and oftentimes securing significant pay increases. So, it can be easy to get swept up in the momentum. While it’s always a great idea to back yourself to achieve your career ambitions, it’s important that you also do your due diligence. Be honest and ask yourself these important questions before interviewing for a new role:
Have I done all the necessary preparation?
This includes things such as researching the company and role. Also, reflecting on the types of questions you can expect to be asked and preparing for them such as writing down your strengths and career achievements. It’s also a good idea to think in advance about what questions you intend to ask in the interview.
How do I plan to show the interviewers that I am the best fit for the job?
This is particularly relevant if you are going for a position that is a stretch beyond what you currently do. You can’t simply hope that the company will be willing to give you a go, you need to find ways to demonstrate that you can rise to meet the requisites of the role.
Is this an organisation I would like to work for?
With so many opportunities out there at the moment, it really is a big waste of everyone’s time to interview for a position at a company you’re not really keen to work for. There’s a good chance the interviewers will sense your lack of interest. If you know that you’re looking for a job within a smaller firm than your current job for instance be clear about this and only pursue opportunities that meet your criteria. Going into an interview with a company that you believe in, respect and want to work for will be far more motivating.
Can I build my career at this company?
Growth within a role is a key aspect to how fulfilled an employee is likely to feel. Consider whether there are career development opportunities available to you in the position you are interviewing for.
Look for constructive feedback
Are you regularly going for interviews and never getting offered the job? If so, it’s likely not them, it’s you! It’s important to change what you’ve been doing to achieve a better result. If you continue doing the same thing you will probably continue to get the same poor result.
Other than the afore mentioned interview preparation which is vital. It’s also important to seek constructive feedback on the unsuccessful interviews. If you’re using a recruiter, are you taking on board their advice and constructive feedback? Have you been adjusting your approach according to company feedback you’ve received? If not, then do so.
Do be mindful that there are many companies and recruiters that will avoid difficult conversations and not always give honest feedback. For instance, a company might tell you they are looking for someone with more experience. However, if they were prepared to interview you, they would have been prepared to hire you if you’d given them confidence in your ability to do the job. It’s a no brainer, an employer isn’t prepared to invest in someone who doesn’t seem interested and/or capable of doing the work.