This isn’t an uncommon problem. Let’s do a little diagnostic work here.
Are you being overly apologetic in your interviews?
“I know a little about X, but not much, really” or “No, I’ve never supervised anyone” without mentioning you’ve led teams from across the organization, or “I’ve never done that” without mentioning similar things you’ve done or know about.
Tip:
Put your very best foot forward without “buts”. Some people are accustomed to undermining themselves. They do it in interviews too, almost compulsively.
I never advise clients to lie. Just emphasize what you know, rather than offering up exactly what you don’t know well. Women are more inclined to qualify and hedge, and leave an impression of lack of competence or confidence.
Are you “just winging it”?
I’ve never known anyone who hasn’t benefitted from preparation. (That doesn’t mean memorizing.) For example, there’s a good chance you may be asked that annoying question: “Tell me about yourself”. When they have your resume right there. My clients say it’s the hardest question, and even in a practice session they can look like a deer in headlights.
Tips:
Figure out the three main things the employer wants you to do on the job. Then plan a response that broadly describes your training and prior experience (not in great detail), emphasizing those three key items. This is your chance to brand yourself. You need to have this down—don’t trust winging it “because it’s so easy”. It’s not.
Also go over the job description, and roughly plan what you’ll say in response to questions about each task the employer mentions. A couple of bullets will serve to remind you. (Save these so you can review them before this interview and other interviews, if relevant.)
Check out GlassDoor or other sites for questions that are often asked by your prospective employer. Then jot down a few points re what you’d say, and practice.
Do you have a few bad habits that annoy people — including your interviewers?
Do you tend to look at just one of a group while you are talking? If so, make it a point to give all your interviewers equal respect by periodically looking at each one, even the quiet one.
Do you often say “Sure, sure”, which suggests someone else’s point is completely obvious.
Do you cross your arms across your chest, or lean back in your chair?
Do you start sentences with “Look, ….” or “obviously,…”.
Tip:
Do your own private 360: ask your friends to tell you 2-3 things you might possibly be doing that could put off your interviewers, along with a few strengths you have.
How’s your LinkedIn photo?
Your interviewers have seen you in person, but how about their boss? That boss may want to check what you look like before approving your hire. My three criteria:
- You look energetic. Not slumped, tired or bored.
- You look like you’d be easy to work with. No grim faces or arrogant chin tilts.
- You look appropriate for the workplace: looking wary, or sideways and not at the camera, can make you look unreliable. Also avoid, for LinkedIn, looking too sexy. A head tilted coyly or a really low neckline can make an employer worry.
Employers often look at your Facebook photos too. Standards here are different, because the emphasis is social, but get rid of photos that might scare them.
Have you filled in needed skill gaps?
While you’re looking for a job is a good time to pick up one or two skills. Do a number of job ads mention, for example, Final Cut Pro, or Excel, and you don’t have that skill? Squeeze in the time to get at least a basic understanding.
Have you checked to see if there are one or two people who can put in a good word for you?
Try to find them on LinkedIn: perhaps a colleague of a colleague who works where you are interviewing. A personal recommendation can make a huge difference.
Often you won’t really know why you didn’t get the job. The best you can do is check on what I’ve mentioned above. And then remember that the boss may have a niece she wants hired instead of you. Or the organization decided to postpone hiring anyone, without bothering to tell you. Really, it happens.
Note: You can call and ask nicely “Can you give me any pointers for how I might strengthen my candidacy for the future?” and they might do so, though don’t ask straight-out why you didn’t get the job.
Remember:
The good news is that you are getting interviews. Make improvements at the margins. Once you’re getting interviews, you know you are competitive. It’s likely that you’ll soon get an offer.