I was more than qualified. Why didn’t I get the job?

It’s one of the most frustrating job search scenarios that my coaching clients talk about. You secure a job interview. Everything seems to go well in the interviews. And then, it turns out you didn’t get the job. When this happens once, it can take the wind out of your sails. If it happens several times, it can really make you lose job search momentum and lead to a deep sense of disillusionment.?

There are typically a few reasons why this happens to well-qualified candidates. The important thing is identifying which is the right one and dealing with it accordingly. Below, I’ll split the possible reasons into two categories:?

Factors outside of your control?

There was an internal candidate?

If it’s only happened once, it may be that there was an internal candidate who was all but certain to get the job. You may be able to illustrate that you will bring fresh ideas and perspectives to the firm but it may not be enough to outweigh someone who is a known quantity. It’s frustrating, but take it on the chin and move on to the next role and interview.?

They already had an external candidate in mind?

Similar to the first reason, it may be that you weren’t the first to be interviewed and there was another candidate who really impressed them before you had your chance to impress. By the time you had your interview, they were going through the motions to be polite or due to protocol, but they’d already made their mind up. So, if you’re confident you did all that you could in the interview, it was always out of your hands - time to move on.?

You were too qualified and/or too expensive?

The problem may just be that you were?too?qualified for the role. If you met all of their essential and desirable qualifications - and then some - they may have recognised that you were far too skilled for the job being interviewed for. Sometimes if a firm realises this and still wants to hire you, they’ll try and find or ‘make’ a job for you. However, various internal factors can mean that this isn’t always?possible, such as if there is no gap to be filled at this time. Related, could be the fact that you were overqualified and thus too expensive for the firm. Again, unless you’re willing to take a pay cut, there’s not much you can do about this.?

Factors within your control

However, it may be that there were specific mistakes that you made along the way that meant that, despite being more than qualified for the job, you weren’t chosen by the company in question. If any of these resonate, the key thing to do is to think about what you’ll do differently next time.?

You interviewed poorly?

This can be broken down into lots of different sub-reasons:?

• You weren’t prepared enough | It could be that it came across like you hadn’t done adequate research into the business or role. It’s key that you research the company inside and out before your interviews and that you highlight this through your well-informed responses at the interview.?
• You weren’t enthusiastic enough | If you’ve done your research, you should be clear on why you’re interested in the job. In turn, you should be able to convey this persuasively and honestly in an interview. If you can’t, it’s either because you’re not prepared enough or you aren't genuine in your interest in the role, which was clear to the interviewers.?
• You didn’t clearly express how you can add value or make a difference to their business | Going into an interview, you should know your 5 Value Add Messages. What are the key ways in which you can add value to a company? These should consistently shine through your CV, cover letter and the interview process itself, so that the firm is crystal clear about how you can positively help their business.?
• You didn’t stand out at interview | It might be that it was a crowded field and you were swamped by other great candidates. Perhaps you were genuinely a strong contender and weren’t able to showcase this against equally strong, maybe better prepared candidates. Or there was someone else who was marginally stronger or more suitable for the role in question.?

There wasn’t a cultural fit?

A common reason why good candidates don’t get the job is that they aren’t a good cultural fit for the firm. Even if your skills, experiences and attributes are impressive, this means relatively little if you don’t align with the company’s values and culture. Hiring managers want candidates that can not only perform well in the role, but who will also complement the team and wider company culture. Indeed, if you aren’t a good cultural fit for the company, it’s probably in your best interests too that you didn’t get the job.?

Your references didn’t match up?

The final reason for why you didn’t get the job is that your references didn’t match up. One or more of your former employers may have flagged something that concerned the hiring firm. Hopefully, this is the least likely cause of you not securing a job you were qualified for, for obvious reasons.?

Crossing the finish line isn’t always about being the most qualified candidate. You can tick all the boxes on paper and sometimes it isn’t enough. If this happens once or twice, take it on the chin and move onto the next role, learning what you can from each interview process. However, if it’s a repeated pattern, perhaps it’s time to reflect on why you keep falling at the final hurdle. Is there something you could be doing differently in the interviews themselves??

If you’re in a stagnant job search and would benefit from some advice,?let’s talk.