Job Rejection: Reasons from an HR Point of View
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Why don't employers call me back?
Applicants oftentimes wonder why they haven’t received any call from their prospective employers. It seems that you are qualified for the position but still failed to be accepted after undergoing long hours of interview. You don’t hear back from companies you think you have a perfect match. You think you have done your part of preparing your answers for possible questions. You made your research. For you, it seems you have answered them well. How come you still didn’t make it to the final round?
Searching for a job is very tedious nowadays. It is like climbing a ladder to success. You have steps to follow. In spite of your effort, only one slip and you fall back again. Applicants should understand that there are a lot of people applying even for one position. Employers definitely have a choice! They will obviously choose somebody that best fits for their organization.
I have been a Human Resource Manager for more than 12 years. I have experienced interviewing candidates coming from different level. Here are some reasons why candidates were not chosen after they were interviewed.
Resume versus Interview
There are candidates who submitted a so called “perfect resume” for the position. However, they failed to give a satisfactory answer once they were asked about the details. It seems like your giving the wrong question for a right answer. It may sound so rude, but it’s true. Some applicants may have over exaggerated their skills and experience. If the interviewer cannot find the ability and qualifications they need, they will definitely not hire you.
Others who might have understated their professional proficiency will come out “overqualified” for the position during the interview. You might encounter problems in terms of the salary. There would be lesser chances of being hired for the position.
Digital Junks
The Vice President of Human Resource for CareerBuilder.com, Rosemary Haefner said that “Forty-five percent of employers reported in June 2009 CareerBuilder survey that they use social networking sites to screen potential employees, compared to only 22 percent of employers last year. Eleven percent of employers plan to start using social networking sites for the screening process. More than 2,600 hiring managers participated in the survey.”
There are a lot of social networking sites such as Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Digg, Reddit, Friendster, and a lot more. Members of these sites post pictures that might either be good, bad or seems scandalous. Your pictures and messages from your circle of friends will show your possible personality type. Candidates who fail to clean up their digital junks have the risk of not being hired for the job.
Interview Habits
I once interviewed a candidate for a Managerial position. She indeed has the knowledge and experience needed for the job. However, she showed up late for her schedule. She exhibited so much arrogance in herself. She carried a lot of stuff in her bag. She even used her cellular phone during the interview. I wanted to throw her out of my room. Awful! Isn’t it?
Such interview habits leave a bad impression. When you come late for an interview, it shows them that you can become a future problem employee for tardiness. Attendance is an important contributing factor for performance. Using your cellular phone during an interview shows disrespect to your interviewers. It also shows you have less interest about the job. Other bad interview manners are chewing a gum, making a sigh, small shifts in body language, asking personal questions such as religion, and the leg bouncing syndrome. Tapping your foot and shaking your legs are signs of nervousness.
Your interview habits can either make or break you. It can either leave a good or negative impression to your interviewers.
Showing Bad Attitude
When you show even a slight arrogance during the interview, it might be perceived as a sign that the candidate might have troubles following rules and interacting with colleagues. When you call your interviewer on a first name basis shows disrespect to superiors. You should address them formally unless he/ she tells you that you can call him/ her by his/ her first name. When you also come for an interview unprepared shows a sign that you might have problems beating deadlines with your work or you might have a habit of procrastination. The way you deal with the receptionist or security guards of the company also shows if you have a bad attitude. You should learn to differentiate self-confidence versus self-righteous . . . telling the truth versus bragging . . . modest versus proud . . . humility versus conceit. These things are oftentimes neglected by the applicants.
Poor Presentation
There are candidates who come “too much prepared” for the interview. I have lots of applicants who used too much perfume they already smell terrible. It hurts my nose that I wanted to immediately end the discussion. Too bad!
The way applicants present themselves contribute much to the result of their job interview. There were those who enter my room without combing their hair. I wanted to ask them to go to the restroom first. Oh my goodness, is it really windy outside? Applicants should always remember that their appearance is one contributing factor for any application.
Other ways of presenting yourself poorly are avoiding eye contact, talking too fast and not making sure the message is clear, no firm handshake, doesn’t say thank you especially after the interview. It is like selling yourself when you come for an interview. When you sell a product, the packaging should look good. In the same way, your appearance and behavior should also be fine and respectable in order to get hired.
Emotional Stress
There are also other applicants who dwell too much on their financial and emotional stress in life. I often felt embarrassed everytime a candidate will cry in front of me during an interview. You have heard it right. There were a lot of candidates who cried during the interview. I understand we all have our personal concerns in life. Any interviewee should separate their personal and career problems. You should focus more on the job rather than your family life. No employer would like to accept candidates who have too many personal obstacles. This implies that such things can be possible drawbacks at work.
You may also check out my articles on Finding the Right Job, How to Handle Job Interview and Tips for Success - CASH for additional information.
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- TINA V on HubPages
Tina, as she is fondly called by her family, friends and colleagues, is a Psychology and Business Management Graduate. She also studied Guidance...
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These are often the things that applicants do neglect. I hope that this article would help job seekers too.
Thank you for reading my article.
What a great hub, TINA V. It is obvious that you've had experience with many candidates for jobs. I've always been told that "the resume will get you the interview" and that "the interview will get you the job." I don't think that'll ever change.
Two of the "real" jobs that I got required that I go through three interviews. When I met for my second interview, I was asked why I was so, "laid back?" This quickly got my attention and from there and out, I was much more serious. I guessed that I came off as too confident or that the area manager interviewing me wanted to put a bit of a scare in me. In either case, it worked!
Thanks for a great hub. I look forward to reading you again!
Indeed, a well written resume can put a person on the list. But interviews have more impact in order to get hired. Anyway, we learn from our experience.
Thank you for taking time to read my hub.
As a hubber who recently started a series of hubs about job finding and getting jobs, I am drawn to this in a big way. You nailed it with the "perception versus reality" re the Resume. Lots of people tell little white lies on 'em. Hell, in difficult times, even more desperate people will. I pity anyone just losing a job nowadays! I loved reading this! Will visit often!
You are right Cheeky Girl. A lot of applicants tell white lies hoping to get hired especially during this unemployment crisis. They thought that it wouldn't do any harm but it will actually pull them down.
I wrote another article entitled: "Job Search Tips: Find a Job after being Fired from Work." I wrote it with my intent to help job seekers land in a good company.
Thank you for your comment. Let's keep on writing hubs that would help our readers in their personal and career life.
Have a great weekend!
I personally believe and what you stated that there happen to be a serious mismatch between the achievement on resume and the competency of the interviewee. Exaggeration of experience as you stated, most of the time can be faked and generally comes up after the reference check of the candidate. Moreover, the problem of over qualification is definitely creates problem for an HR, where one needs to judge the potential and aspirations of the candidate, to stop future attrition of that candidate.
Hi abhijeet4800, I really appreciate your additional insights. I'm sure this would help our readers, too. Thank you. Have a great week!
Awesome Hub! Concise and direct - that is exactly what job hunters need. I will be sure to link back to this on my communications series. An expert from the inside - invaluable! A must read for all job seekers.
The arrogance is amazing. Perhaps it is generational? I don't wish for you to typecast but hopefully it is isolated to one era? With the hope it is short lived?
Hi GmaGoldie, I really appreciate your comment. I believe that arrogance is not a generation problem, but rather a result of an individual's upbringing. Some of the reasons for arrogance may be the way a person was brought up his family, self-worth or self-esteem, social environment, or peer pressure. I also hope that it will not only be isolated in one era but as well as it will be completely diminished in the characters of people. oh well, time will just tell.
Thank you for taking time to read this hub. Have a great week!
well I have just started my personality develooment classes,but I am sure after reading this article any doubts whatever I had in understanding few points in the class will be clarified. I can only give heartious thanks to you,as you have really explained things in very comfortable way.
Hi Samir, I'm glad that this article helped you in some ways. I wish you the best in your Personality Development class. Thank you for sharing your experience. Have a great week!
Very helpful hub. I'll be passing this on to others. Thanks
Hi Die'Dre'
Thank you for checking out this hub. I really appreciate it. I am happy to know that you will pass this on to others. I hope it would help them in their job hunt. Have a great week!
This confirms what I have always believed about HR. They have no idea how to qualify people for technical jobs.
Hi anon,
It’s quite sad to know that you have a bad impression about HR people based on your comments. But I do understand how you feel especially this time of global unemployment crisis and economic recession. I guess others would also feel the same way as you do.
I wrote this article with my intent to help readers in their job hunting venture. The examples that I cited might be bluntly said to get the attention of job seekers on things that are normally neglected. Looking for a work is like joining a talent competition. Just like any talent competition, there would be hundreds or even thousands of applicants, but there could only be one grand champion. However, it doesn’t mean that those who did not win are not talented. Let’s take for instance the TV show, America’s Got Talent. The contestants were not only being judged and voted based on their talents, but rather, their audience impact and character on stage contributed to their success in the contest. As far as I know, those who won this contest have both the talent and humility in their heart.
Just come to think of it, if you were the HR or hiring manager, would you hire somebody based on the technical skills only or would you rather hire a candidate based on technical skills and people skills? Who would you hire; somebody with job knowledge, but emotionally unstable or a potential candidate with job knowledge, emotional stability and character fit for the company?
I was able to watch "The Fairy Jobmother" TV show last month. They featured a female guest who applied for an Events and Wedding Planner position. During her interview with the owner, there were two males who entered the room and acted as VIP clients. This is to test the ability of the applicant to handle pressure. Unfortunately, she cried in front of these “clients” and became emotional about her own experience. Obviously, she wasn’t accepted for the job. Why? She may have the job knowledge, but the work requires emotional stability of the candidate.
Remember, there are a lot of applicants in one position. No employers would like to hire somebody who will post any potential problems to their company. I hope that I have shared much in this article as an eye-opener to job seekers. Everyone has a role to play; you have to do yours.
Thank you for checking out this hub. Have a great week!
Very helpful.
Thank you.
Hi Shailesh,
Thank you for checking out this hub. I hope other readers would also find it helpful.
Happy New Year!
Hi! Great article. I also interviewer for entry-level jobs and see SOOO many of these mistakes in presentation. When candidates get my rejection letter, and they respond with a "why", "what wss lacking" - I am torn. I feel they need to hear what they did wrong, but of course don't want to say "well, you cried", or "the way you treated the receptionist was rude" or "you were just too raw and unprofessionally dressed" - what do you say, if anything?
Hi Cyndee,
I can empathize with your situation. It is really difficult to explain to applicants things that may be hard to accept on their part. Some may feel that they are qualified for the position and may refuse to understand that there are other important matters that need to be considered. Although Human Resources don’t have the responsibility to tell applicants any reasons for job rejection, we still have an option whether to relay it to them or not. This is the reason that I wrote this article. I hope that job seekers would be open-minded to accept and adjust to reality.
In case the applicant calls you asking for the reason, perhaps you can start off by telling some of their positive qualities and follow it with a big BUT statement – “but Management has chosen another candidate that we find would best fit for the position and culture of our company. It was indeed a tough decision.” However, you can end your conversation by wishing them the best in their job hunting and giving your suggestions such as “Job hunting takes a lot of hard work. I suggest it would be best if you dress up in a business attire to appear more professional.” Such statement would indirectly tell the applicant that she needs to improve on her type of fashion. Or you can say, “I suggest you always need to emotionally compose yourself a little more.” Such statement indirectly tells somebody to organize oneself, calm down, relax, and not to cry during the interview.
On the other hand, just expect that those who have rude attitudes might be a little more difficult to handle. They might exhibit arrogance and self-righteous towards anybody. Perhaps you can say to them, “Every job position calls for a personality fit. I suggest that in your next interview with another company, it would be best if you try to observe their office environment by smiling or even greeting their receptionist or security guards. This would present your positive side of being able to adjust to any levels of employees.” Such statement indirectly tells somebody not to be rude to any staff. I hope this helps them, too.
Should applicants probe for more, I guess it’s up to you to end your conversation. Good luck!
Thank you for checking out this hub. Enjoy your week!
I'm curious to know what goes through HR's mind when they find out that a job candidate was fired from their last position? I was recently fired from my job (a first for me, still dealing with it emotionally) and I don't hide it from potential employers. I tell them I was terminated due to lack of sales in the month of April. I also inform them that I have a great employment history outside of that. I've been getting at least 2 interviews a week since then but never any call backs. Would it be strictly because I was fired?
Hi Kelly,
Thank you for checking out this hub. From an HR point of view, it is already a reality to encounter applicants that were fired or discharged by their former employers for different reasons. I have a separate hub or article entitled, “Job Search Tips: Find a Job After Being Fired from Work.” Here’s the link:
http://hubpages.com/hub/job-search01
In your case, you need to sell yourself better or even extraordinary than other applicants to get the attention of your prospective employers.
For instance, you may say that “I was terminated from work because I wasn’t able to reach my sales quota for the month of April. I learned a lot from this experience. Perhaps, my performance wasn’t good enough that I realized I need to exert more effort to exceed company’s goal and expectations. I was able to re-evaluate my strength and weaknesses in order for me to perform at my best.”
You also need to evaluate the position that you are applying for; is it related to sales, other positions related to your other jobs with previous employers or a new career change? Was your work where you had a great employment history related to the position you are applying for? Perhaps, you can compare the relevance of your previous jobs to your prospective position and company. Ask yourself this question, "Why should your prospective employer take the risk to hire you inspite of being fired from your work?" If your interest is still in sales position, you need to convince your interviewers that you are a better candidate compared to other applicants.
Whether an applicant was terminated or not, you will get a fair chance of evaluation. The main point is you have to sell yourself to outweigh or outshine your poor performance from your previous employer.
I hope this helps you find another company that fits your qualification and interest. Good luck!
Very good article and interview tips.
Thank you The_Idea_Gal! I really appreciate your comment. Have a great week!
Amazing article. But one question that spins my brain is does someone gets a second chance for an interview in the same company after being rejected couple of years ago Or does volunteering in the same company can lead to a same position?
Hi Sue,
All applicants definitely get a second chance even if they were not accepted in the first interview. Usually, this happens if the person was included in the list of top candidates; and the position becomes vacant again in less than a year or two. But I suggest the applicant needs to update his/ her information in cases he/ she will be called back for reconsideration.
If the company is a non-profit organization, you may offer your services as a Volunteer Worker. But you may apply for an externship program if you are a professional and an internship program if you are a student for other type of business/ industries.
Volunteer workers, Extern or Interns get the chance to immediately be informed about the vacant position, and may also be given the priority to be considered as a candidate.
I hope this answers your question. Thank you for checking out this hub.
WayneAnsell 2 years ago
Very good article. Should help some people to be better prepared for interviews. Interviews often make people so nervous. Even the interviewer is often nervous. I have had many interviews where the potential employer is just awful at the process.
The best advice about job hunting, is to tackle it vigorously. Send out many queeries and resumes and when you find the right position, persist until you succeed!