Senior Job Search

Employment for people over 50

When the interview goes wrong

Why didn't you get the job?  What went wrong in the interview?  The answers to these questions plague anyone who thinks that they have pulled off a good one, only to see that the tenure of the interview plummet like a rocket out of control.  Even worse perhaps is the waiting by the phone for that phone call that never comes.  

A few weeks later, that dreaded letter comes from the employer and you open it hopefully thinking that they were just too busy to call and these are your next instructions.  But as always, it's just one more letter telling you how wonderful you are but that the job has been filled.  Most want to leave you with that tiny ray of hope by telling you that they will keep your resume on file... but you know that by now, it's already at the landfill.

Here are just a few things for you to take a look at and see if any might apply.  These are some of the primary reasons that the interview bottomed out.  Even if you don't think that these apply, consider whether the interviewer may have had a different opinion. 

	Poor personal appearance; sloppy, untidy grooming -  how long since you've had a haircut, were the clothes in good shape, and were you dressed at least as well as the interviewer and the other people in the office.  While it is certainly not appropriate to interview for a job as a janitor wearing a business suit, neither is it acceptable to look sloppy
	Inability to ask good questions about the job -  did you want to know about the job and what was expected of you or were you just waiting to be told?
	No sense of purpose or goals, lack of sound career planning - if you don't know what you want to do, neither does the employer.  If you are looking for a no-stress job to keep yourself busy and because you enjoy working, let the interviewer know.  If they cannot tell what you want, you will not be hired because they don't want to bring you on only to find that you are quitting a week later.
	Poor attitudes: overbearing, conceited, "know-it-all overly aggressive, passive, indifferent, lazy, no interest or enthusiasm. - You are probably not applying for the position of running the company or worse yet, straightening them out on a few things.  Nobody likes a jerk.
	Inability to express oneself clearly - Know what you want and say so.  Being apologetic and mumbling incoherent statements about yourself won't cut it.  Use English and use it well.  Avoid slang, run-on sentences, and don't repeat yourself.  Even if you must take a few seconds more to answer, don't rush.
	Lack of confidence in self or abilities; nervousness - If you are not confident in what you can do, why should the interviewer?  Interviewers aren't into giving people chances.  Their job is on the line too.  They want to hire someone who stands a good probability of working out well.
	Lateness for appointment/interview without valid reason - Bottom line, there is no valid reason short of a medical emergency.  Even then, a phone call at the earliest convenience is proper etiquette.
	Exaggeration of abilities or experience; unwillingness to start at the bottom; expecting too much too soon. - Interviewers run into this all the time and it spoils the whole interview.  If you don't know something or have only seen it done before, say so.  Your refreshing honesty will probably get you a lot further than stretching the truth.
	Too much concern over money and fringe benefits - Me me me me me me me!  Get the picture?
	Name dropper; emphasizes importance of who one knows -  who cares if you know the mayor or got your picture standing next to the President?  It doesn't mean that you will do one bit better on the job.  Even thinking that dropping a name will get you the job is insulting to the interviewer.  If you knew the CEO all that well anyway, the interviewer would have had the phone call before you every got there.
	Inadequate experience or knowledge of the field -  Again very annoying to the interviewer because you are wasting their time.  If the limits of your managerial experience is yelling at the kids, don't try to sell yourself as a department manager.
	Bad mannerism; discourteous - Bottom line... be nice!  To everyone.  If you are going in for a managerial position, be nice to the doorman, the receptionist, the guy with the mop and everyone else.  Don't just start being nice when you meet the interviewer.  (Good advice for life in general anyway.)  A business lunch is a great way to tell how nice a person is.  If they aren't nice to the waitress, they are just not a nice person.
	Defensive, evasive about unfavorable aspects of career - Don't blame getting fired on anyone else.  Lack of performance may be explained but don't bother with an excuse.
	Condemnation of previous employers - An automatic "go away".  This even applies to the company's competitors.  The interviewer may complete the interview because (s)he doesn't want you badmouthing them later, but don't do it... just don't!
	Poor handshake; weak, limp hand, dead-fish hands, or sweaty palms
	Inability to look interviewer in eye; lack of directness - Interpretation:  "you are not honest or you are hiding something".  At best, you will be considered anti-social.  Look at the person (not stare), make eye contact and smile.  It's the first indication that you are employee material
	Messy application blank, incomplete application without reason -  sloppy on the form, sloppy on the job
	Lacking in sense of humor - It can be hard to know when to laugh and this certainly isn't the time to tell your best bar jokes.  But watch the interviewer and behave naturally.  Be personable.
	Little interest evidenced in industry or organization - If you don't care in the interview, why would you care about your job once you get it.  Employers have to deal with employee malaise all the time.  They will do everything that they can to avoid starting out with it.
	Lack of initiative and/or judgment - There are so many ways that this can be evidenced but it often rears its ugly head when you get off the subject and start talking about all the mistakes that you have made in life.  Keep your personal life to yourself.  Despite how intriguing you think they may be, the interviewer not only does not care about your spouse, ex-spouse, or kids.  Even if they ask, they are not interested in what your long-term personal goals are other than to find out if you have any.  Lack of judgment in your personal life is only added to by the fact that you have so little tact as to bring them up in an interview.
	Strong prejudices or radical ideas - Employers are by nature quite conservative with their business.  They want to be the ones to make a change, they carry all the financial risk, and they are rarely interested in how those who have yet to be hired with revolutionize their business.  Neither do they want anyone who is going to come in and make waves or cause them legal problems.  Whatever negativities you have, leave them at home
	No interest in community activities-  This may sound a bit odd, but employers love people who donate their time.  First, it shows a great deal of sensitivity, care and compassion.  It's these rather than selfishness and large egos that they want to bring into their business.  Second, it shows a willingness to go beyond that which you will be paid for and a willingness to cooperate without saving it up to use against them.  Nobody likes the "it's not my job" employee or the one that always expects the employer to give without ever giving back.
	Inability to take criticism -  If you are going to be trained or grow in your job, you are going to be criticized.  If you cannot live with it, you cannot learn from it.  Therefore, it is a cinch that you will never work into the company picture and you will probably continue to make the same mistakes over and again.  If the employer interviewer criticizes something about your resume, graciously accept it and thank them for their input.