CANDIDATES

WHY DIDN'T I GET THE JOB?

JOB APPLICATION REJECTED? INTERVIEW UNSUCCESSFUL?

Are you wondering what did I do wrong? If so, don't be downhearted...
The journey to securing a job does not always go predictably or smoothly. Just about every candidate for a job experiences rejection at one time or another; sometimes you don’t make it past the application stage, or are not shortlisted for an interview whilst on other occasions your hopes are raised by selection for an interview followed by a disappointing rejection in the end.

Regardless of the outcome, do not be downhearted and give up. Each adverse outcome is an opportunity for learning and improvement.  You can’t expect to hear back from every job application you submit Even if you made it to the interview stage and still didn’t get the job, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you made a huge faux-pas or that the interviewers weren’t impressed. There are any number of reasons why the employer might have chosen someone else for the role.

Here are some constructive tips from the employment experts at Odyssey Recruitment – with our help, you’re bound to have better luck next time!


  1: Ask the Employer

When you learn that your job application was unsuccessful, it’s always worth asking the employer why. Most employers won’t mind answering this question if you ask them politely and with any luck, the employer will give you some useful advice that helps you to understand why you missed this particular opportunity, and what you can do in the future to improve your chances. Despite your disappointment, be sure to remain professional, be modest, and keep to the point.

Here are some reasons the employer may cite:

  1. You weren’t interested in the company, just the job
  2. You don’t have enough relevant experience
  3. You had unrealistic expectations
  4. You didn’t display the knowledge needed for this role
  5. You need to give more examples of past achievements
  6. You lacked self-confidence

2: Was your CV up to scratch?

Your CV must be productive, concise and relevant to the job for which you are applying. If in doubt, review our CV Presentation page for advice and tips on professional resume drafting.

Remember that CV reviewers and employers read many CVs rapidly, often spending a few seconds scanning the document for the relevant information.

  1. Does your CV pass the 10 seconds test? Is it too long with excessive and irrelevant information?
  2. Does your CV address the selection criteria for the job?
  3. Is your CV too short with insufficient details of experience?
  4. Does your CV have spelling mistakes, grammatical errors inconsistencies? These are hugely distracting and demonstrate a lack of care and attention to detail. 

3: How is your interview technique?

Job interviews can be daunting, and even if you feel that you are well-prepared, you may still be doing something in interviews to make your prospective employers think you are not the right person for the job. Our Interview preparation page may give your some clues and some common errors are listed below.

  1. Arriving late at the interview, either in person or virtual interviews, shows poor organisational ability.
  2. Inappropriate dress and poor body language show disrespect for the interviewers.
  3. Failure to adequately address key selection criteria for the job
  4. An obvious lack of motivation 
  5. No questions of your own which indicates a lack of interest

           STILL LOOKING FOR A JOB?

Share by: