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If you’ve been searching for a new job for quite some time you can easily feel depressed and angry about the situation. However, there are productive ways to direct your energy and to figure out what things are causing the roadblocks rather than remaining negative. If you’re landing the interview but not getting the job offer here are some professional impressions of why you might be stuck in your job search. And, more importantly, what you can do about them.

  1. You didn’t say thank you. Your job after your interview is to quickly send over a thank you note. Tell the interviewer that you appreciated their time, recap some of the discussions from the interview, and express your interest in the job. In the past most thank you notes were hand writer and this is still a good touch but it is acceptable to send an email the same day as your interview as well.
  2. You were too negative. Your attitude is probably the most important aspect of the interview. If you’ve answered questions about why you left your last position with negative feedback it will send up a red flag for the interviewer. Potential employers want to see confidence and positivity above anything else.
  3. You didn’t research the company. Interviewers want to know that you are interested in their position, not just any position. It is important that you learn as much as you can about the company before your interview so you can tailor your answers to their needs.
  4. There was no personal connection. Sometimes the reason you didn’t get a job offer is because the interviewer didn’t feel a connection to you. Unfortunately this experience isn’t one that you have much control over. It is important to know that not everyone will get along and if this job wasn’t right for you there will be something else down the road.
  5. You didn’t ask questions. The hiring manager wants to know that you are genuinely interested in talking about the job. Throughout the conversation be sure to ask questions to show that you are curious about other aspects of the positions. However, don’t get caught in a trap of asking too many questions. Be prepared but let the discussion flow naturally.
  6. You weren’t listening. There are many ways an interviewer might notice this. If they’ve asked a question but your answer seems to be going down a different path they may assume that you weren’t really listening. Also, talking too much can be an indicator that you don’t want to hear what they have to say to you.

Do you want to improve your chances of getting a job offer? The recruiters at Harvard Resource Solutions can work with you to find your next job.

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