Monster’s career expert Vicki Salemi—a former recruiter who utilizes 15-plus years of experience in recruiting and human resources to empower job seekers—answers user questions on Quora. We’ll be republishing her answers here on a regular basis.
If you have questions for Vicki, please send them to: socialmedia@monster.com.
Q. What are the most common reasons why people don’t get the job after the interview?
A. As a corporate recruiter, I often brought candidates into the office to interview with a group because their résumé was a match for a role, but ultimately did not extend a job offer because the person was not a good cultural fit for the organization. Sure, hiring managers seek candidates who fit the job description but at the end of the day, they evaluate your soft skills during the interview. They want to see how well you get along with the group, with the values of the company.
Another reason people don’t get the job is because someone had a stronger résumé or skill set. Maybe that person worked for a direct competitor in the exact same role, whereas you are leaping from one industry to another.
Additionally, it’s who you know. Another candidate could have had a stronger connection internally. Perhaps you were a spot on fit but another candidate was a fit as well, and on top of that, one of their former bosses currently works in the group and that person put in a good word for them.
You’ll rarely hear specific reasons from employers. Stay positive and apply what you’ve learned to your next interview experience. Good luck!
