Heartbreaker: Why That Job You lot Interviewed For Has Been Reposted

Joanne Meehl, MS, IJCDC 🎯

Joanne Meehl, MS, IJCDC 🎯

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Published Mar 1, 2015

It's a heartbreaker when a job candidate tells me they've had an interview, take heard "no thanks" (or nothing), and and so come across the very aforementioned job reposted. What happened, peculiarly when they believed they were "perfect for the task"?

A quondam client of mine I'll call Susan, who landed her Senior Business Analyst job well-nigh two years agone, tin answer that question. She recently wrote to tell me why it's been so difficult to hire two business analysts in her department. It pained her to meet expert resumes from applicants who then could not make a example for themselves in person. Her visitor has reposted the job in the hopes they observe new candidates who can make their case. These are her words most what she observed in interviews, slightly edited at her request so every bit to not identify her or her company.

…We are looking for two more Business Analysts…. We had 49 applicants and chose 12 to interview for the first circular then narrowed those down to five for the second round of interviews. Of those, we could find only one who we felt comfortable hiring. Even though all 5 were very qualified for the position, we didn't feel comfy hiring whatever of the others because of the post-obit reasons (this was our stance of the Round 2 interviews):

  • They did not reply the interview questions thoroughly or [they] took so much time answering the question that all three of usa on the interview panel quit listening to the answer.
  • They were not well prepared - in fact only 1 made a comment or asked a question that was relevant to the chore posting or the department or the projection, even though they had all been well informed virtually this projection during Round 1. The project even has its own public website to admission, merely only ane of the 5 actually checked information technology out and did boosted research on this type of project.
  • Nearly had prepared either no questions or very poor questions to ask before, during, or after the interview.
  • Almost could not provide a articulate answer to the questions "Tell me about yourself" or "What makes yous uniquely qualified for this position?"
  • Lastly, well-nigh demonstrated very little energy about their want for the position or well-nigh how they could make a difference for the visitor (and instead focused on why they wanted to work for the company and what the company could do for them)

One of my friends from [a previous company] was one of the second circular interviews who I personally know is very well qualified for the position (maybe even overqualified) but we did not brand her the offering because of the above mentioned items. It was very middle-opening to come across such well-qualified people fail in the interviews.

We take re-posted the position.

So how could those candidates -- or you -- increase your chances of getting to Round 3 and to the offer?

Taking each of Susan'due south points, hither are some interviewing tips that volition testify interviewers who you are as a whole person, and why they should hire you:

  • Answer the question that's asked. And pay attention to when they have enough of an answer: if eye contact is broken and remains cleaved, if they are checking their watch or cell telephone or looking off, end talking. It'south all right if occasionally y'all check with them by request, "Does that reply your question?" or similar, merely don't practice it after each answer you requite.
  • Be prepared. Examine the spider web site beyond the home page, find people on LinkedIn with the same or similar office at that company and see what they say about their work. Inquiry like projects by searching on its name and seeing who else is working on a similar project, and see what they say about it. Your curiosity virtually the organization and the role will clearly come beyond if you do your homework.
  • There are so many guides online nigh "questions to inquire in an interview" that it'south featherbrained this effect even had to be dealt with by Susan and her team. You are not a supplicant: An interview is a concern chat between and amongst equals about a problem they are having that YOU can solve. They are eager to hear what you want to know nigh them and the issue at hand: it tells them what kind of teammate y'all would be.
  • The questions "Tell me about yourself" or "What makes you uniquely qualified for this position?" are two ways of asking the same thing: "How do you friction match this job?" You should know how y'all friction match and what you'd bring; after all, you lot applied for the job with these matches in mind. At the interview, it's vital you lot communicate them.
  • It'south essential you show energy around what your contributions would be. This is shown by non merely by bringing up relevant examples of success, and even bringing a brief portfolio, only also by middle contact, manus gestures, leaning forward, and a articulate voice. There's fourth dimension to talk later about benefits and other things the company "tin can practice for yous".

If you are reading this, I'm guessing y'all are talented and have solutions that an employer needs, but somehow oasis't "clicked". Every bit a recruiter in one case said to me, "Tell candidates that all nosotros ever know of them is what they tell usa, specially in the interview. So they must make sure they match what they'd bring, to what nosotros need." He added, "It's not bragging -- instead, information technology's helping ME do my task in bringing in the right people."

What'southward the terrible culling?

To modify nothing and proceed to have your heart cleaved.