An HR Manager Shares 5 Reasons Why You May Not Be Getting Shortlisted For Your Dream Job!

“Rejection is nothing more than a necessary step in the pursuit of success.” – Bo Bennett

So, you purchased a brand-new outfit and had a good word with the interviewer. They said they will have you informed by the weekend, but the call never came! We have all been there and we are here to tell you that rejection is not the end of the world. Yes, it is bad, but such is life. If you find yourself reading this before that dream job’s interview, brace yourselves because today we are revealing the 5 most well-kept secrets straight from an HR manager about why you may not be getting shortlisted for that dream job of yours.

1.??????Lack of preparedness: The reason why we have listed this as the first reason is because it can do more benefit or damage than you can think of. The word preparedness includes so many aspects that it really does call out for special attention. Of course, you must have prepared for the big questions that are related to the job but there are so many other things that need to be done beforehand. For instance, locating the address of the organization, figuring out the route you want to take to get there, estimating the traffic at the time of your commute, will you drive yourself, or taking a cab.?

ProTip: As much as not being late is important, it is also essential that you don’t reach way before the time of the interview. Ideally, try to be 15 or 20 minutes before your scheduled time.

A day before your interview, ensure that you have all your documents in one place with all the photocopies that they might have mentioned in the call letter. Whatever it is, it is being asked for a reason and your failure to follow it can be a big turn-off. In a way, this was the first thing they asked you to do, and you didn’t come through. Inability to follow simple instructions would simply suggest your response towards the duties in your job and we surely don’t want that. Also, do your research about the organization well. Employers don’t expect you to know it all, but it would be good to know what you are talking about. Be “slightly” (you don’t want to sound robotic when you answer) prepared for the generic questions so you don’t sound haphazard, and keep your list of questions ready that you want to ask the interviewer in the end.?Let’s just say, if you want to ensure that you crack that interview, this is the first and the most important step to it.?Oh also, bring your own pen!

2.??????Bad attitude / Body Language: Now you know what we mean by body language in general but when we say bad attitude, we mean bad manners, a bad way of communicating, and even a bad approach to answering the questions. Let’s take this one by one. An ideal body language would be alert, not crossed over legs, hands gestures in control, a pleasant smile, and overall not coming on too strong or underconfident. You do not put your hands on the table while answering or you don’t keep your hands flying up in the air all the time. Seasoned managers are used to hearing quite a lot of repetitive answers but what can really make a difference is controlled body language. Just talking the talk won’t do much. You need to ensure that your body is in the agreement with what you are conveying. Now coming to a bad attitude, is where you can really make or break your way. You are being judged right from your first step. Say for example misbehaving with the reception, being impatient while waiting for your turn, being too friendly with the interview committee, checking your phone in between, dissing your former job and bosses, and going on and on about one question are a few examples of what you shouldn’t be doing at any interview. You need to ensure that you have established a positive impact while you leave the room.?

3.?You did not dress for the job: This is one very underrated tip to be always kept in mind! Yes, an interview is not a fashion parade but you need to ensure that you look well-groomed. Putting in a little effort like polishing your shoes, manicured tips or neat hair can crack that deal for you. It might sound petty but dressing up more than you usually do only shows that you cared enough. My mentor always said, “You may not get a job because of the clothes you are wearing but you might lose one because of them”. Let’s understand with an example, say the company wants to decide between you and one more candidate. Both are equally qualified and very well suited for the job, but your winning point could be your well-ironed shirt. This shows your eye for detail and how particular you are in person. We are not implying something brand new or over the top but anything that suggests that you put extra effort. Wear what is comfortable and match that belt with your shoes!

?4.?Your resume does not reflect your best: Your resume is practically your entire life on paper. You must abide by the formatting rules, word limit, and proper representation of all that you have to offer to the job. Speaking of technicality, keep in mind that the resume is neat-looking and gives an overview of you in the best way possible. But is it enough? It never is. Most of us make the rookie mistake of copying and pasting the objective, summary, or even hobbies for that matter. You need to get this clear in your head that your career objective cannot be exactly like someone else. You need to sit down and really give it a thought. Of course, you can take an idea or two on how to frame it aptly, but the basic thought has to be yours and yours only. Secondly, when you are asked in the interview to tell something about yourself, please think about it in advance. Your resume is one piece of paper, it cannot possibly say everything about you. Your personality has to offer something more than that in person. Work on that. Let that come through when you speak.

?5. Explain your breaks/job switches effectively: When we say “explain your breaks/job switches "effectively” we mean with utmost honesty and sincerity and also with good reasoning. Many times, there are long unclear (slightly questionable) gaps in one’s employment that are difficult to understand on paper but if you are being asked these questions face to face, be prepared to answer them with honesty. There are background checks after the interviews, and you don’t want them to hear a different story then. We all have made some mistakes here and there and owning to it will only work in your favour. So, whatever it is, be upfront and tell them why there is such frequent job switching or a long gap in your resume. The probability is, that they will most likely lend an understanding ear if you sound genuine. Again, if you are explaining some things like this, don’t try to play a victim or place the blame on others. It will make you look like a bitter, sulking person. Whatever it is, give them a fair idea and then just hope for the best.

?Hope these tips will help you in some way. One more tip that can come in handy even if you don’t make the cut, is a prompt follow-up. Be sure to at least get feedback on what went wrong or what could have been improved.?It will help you build up a better profile for the future and you will also be remembered as someone they can get in touch with, in the future if a more suitable profile comes up. Good luck!