Plenty of interviews but still no job offer

IceCold

Altogether I've had 13 job interviews. Not one of them lead to a job offer. Some of them phoned me or e-mailed me afterwards to tell me I hadn't been successful, the rest just didn't bother contacting me afterwards.

I always prepare for the interviews. I go in dressed smartly. I always research the company and the role so I'm armed with information about it and can answer any question the person interviewing me has. I am always polite, friendly and enthusiastic. I am always on time and ask the person interviewing me questions afterwards.

After 13 interviews however I can't put it down to bad luck, I know it must be something I'm doing wrong but I can't figure out what it is. Whenever I've had feedback afterwards they always tell me the same thing - they liked me but they went for the person who had more experience.

I've never come across anyone who has had as many failed interviews as I've had however but I just can't work out what I'm doing wrong.

Is there something obvious that I'm missing? Is there anyone who is good at interviews or who interviews people for jobs who can give me some tips?

I do have a job but it's the only job I've had and I've worked there for seven years now. So I know I am capable of passing an interview and getting a job I just can't seem to manage it this time .

[Deleted User]

Is your notice period a sticking point? - I've come by so many companies who literally want someone with them as soon as, so of course you get pipped to the post by someone able to do just that.

It can't be you if you are getting good feedback, keep going, I reckon you are getting close to hearing the famous words, sometimes it just takes a while, if you know any really strong 'professional' recruitment consultant type bods get their opinion as sometimes they can be invaluable to spotting little things we can become oblivious to.

BigAunty

I really hate the 'more experienced' feedback as that's the point of filtering out at the application stage. A rival candidate may have more experience on paper but that doesn't prove they are more competent, just that they have done the job for longer. If time served in the role is such an important factor, it would save the organisation and less experienced candidates a lot of time and effort if they excluded less experienced candidates before the interview stage.

Do you think that your lack of interview success is perhaps undermining your confidence, making it harder to show enthusiasm and create a rapport with the interviewer? Do you suffer from inteview nerves, get a bit tongue tied or ramble?

Do you feel that you are not connecting with the interviewers, as its as much about showing you can build a relationship and hold your own, rather than x skills, y experience and z knowledge.

What is the style of interviews that you are having? - it is competency based (i.e. 'can you give me an example of when you gave excellent customer service') and if so, are you struggling with strong examples, and are you following the STARR formula to prevent rambling?

Are the interview questions focussed on skills, experience and knowledge? If so, are you listening to their signals so you are able to nod, pitch in and sell your achievements when you hear the 'buy' hints. How are you at what I've heard termed as 'humble bragging'.

Are they quite formal interviews - i.e. a panel, including a HR representive, where responses are recorded and marked, or informal interview - perhaps a single person, the hiring manager, who doesn't have a tight structure to it?

BK123

Try to live up to your job application- I'll explain what i mean.

I've had one particular piece of feedback now from 2 separate interviews (one successful, one unsuccessful) and I've really taken it to heart. Years ago, I had a job interview (unsuccessful) which was competency based, and they had actually asked these questions (in a different way) during the application stage. Part of the feedback i got was that I never answered the questions in the same way (same examples etc) as the online form, leading them to being unable to build on these examples which they were interested in doing.

Recently, I've been successful in another interview where I have been told i was "exactly what they were expecting" from my job application.

I guess you're application form or CV is what has attracted them in the first place, so really, they are hoping you can just confirm this view they have of you at interview.

BigAunty

BK123 wrote: »

Years ago, I had a job interview (unsuccessful) which was competency based, and they had actually asked these questions (in a different way) during the application stage. Part of the feedback i got was that I never answered the questions in the same way (same examples etc) as the online form, leading them to being unable to build on these examples which they were interested in doing.

.

Was this for a public sector role?

BK123

@bigaunty- it was. For a role within a prison

cadon

If you're getting pretty generic feedback coming out of your interviews, the interviewer probably didn't like you as much as the other candidates. I would wager you're saying the same things as the people getting the job offers, just you're not the one that the interviewer wants to actually work with.

I suspect you have the patter down to a fine art, so relax. When you walk into that room, focus your energy into being a friendly, approachable (and still professional!) person. You can say the right thing, so you just need to show through your behaviour that you're the sort of colleague everyone wants to work with. Stop worrying about reeling off your list of pre-planned examples in order and take the time to smile, to nod and to crack an inoffensive joke if the opportunity presents itself.

I've had quite a few interviews recently - I demonstrated exactly the same level of technical competence in each. The one where I got the really great offer? It's the one where the interviewer and I connected and could both see each other working together well on a daily basis. I didn't realise how important making that personal connection was until I had a bunch of really good and yet somehow unsuccessful interviews and then one fantastic one.

Rapport. It's all about rapport...

BigAunty

BK123 wrote: »

@bigaunty- it was. For a role within a prison

The reason I asked is that Civil Service recruitment will give feedback to candidates during the process whereas the vast majority of public sector (such as local government) and private employers will not give a jot of feedback, and actively forbid candidates from asking.

My experience of CS recruitment is v. frustrating - in my opinion, a candidate is marked for their ability to stick within the prescribed formula for an interview response. The competency is about how rigidly the interviewee can stick to a structure in their answer rather than the actual achievement being discussed.

However, this won't help the OP directly, though perhaps it will make her think whether this responses to competency questions are tightly focussed and well structured.

I think the 'experience' or 'candidate better suited' excuse is a neutral fob off because employers are too nervous about the consequences of being honest or can't be bothered to collate productive feedback.

It's hard for a candidate to be self-aware and identify their weaknesses which are evident to interviewers, particularly as they have the benefit of seeing a handful of people, able to compare. Many will simply go for the person that is most 'likeable' but you won't see quality listed on application forms or via interview feedback.

BigAunty

To the OP - have you consulted Job Interview books and used their advice to help prepare your answers and your attitude?

I can't remember the title of the one I used which gave me the right push.

However, it pioneered the concept of not being a 'job beggar' and being shy about achievements. It wanted candidates to go to the interview with the certain knowledge that you are selected on the strength of an application form so they already know you are capable.

However, a job interview isn't about getting a job, but winning an argument, persuading the employer that you are indispensible because you can save them money/improve their profits in some way - that's all company's care about - what you can deliver to their bottom line.

So how much research have you performed on interview techniques and how much are you applying?

To be honest, a lot of the advice is toe-curlingly cheesy and cringy but these authors are experts in recruitment, so they know what employers want and its not reserved people who think the job is about completing tasks and undertaking specific responsibilities, or having x skill.

Those will be demonstrated on the CV/application form. The interview is judging you on soft skills.

Samsonite1

The biggest thing that made interviews less stressful and more successful for me was to change the perspective of the interview. I decided after many horrible interviews that I was interviewing "them". I would think about questions I want to know about the job and the company and when you ask some questions, you realise that they get a bit flustered and almost go out of their way to sell you the job!

One good question to ask is "could you describe what a typical day might be for this role". This firstly tells you if you even want the job, but it often puts them on the back foot as they may realise the job sounds dull so they try and convince you and almost beg you to take the job! You can then follow up on their responses to find out more and keep them under pressure - they will more likely leave the interview thinking you are serious and that may swing the balance in your favour.

Kynthia

Is it possible that your cv/application is setting their expectations very high and you fail to meet them in the interview or you confuse them by giving a different impression than they had? Sorry to be negative but I knew a couple of people who did fantastic applications and sounded really experienced and senior. However one in person came across as young and timid in person and the other was less experienced and accomplished than their application sounded, so neither would be successful. It's just one possible explanation.

Another is that you aren't making a connection in the interview, aren't selling yourself well, or are failing to show them your experience in person. Do you know anyone professional tgat could give you a mock interview to get some feedback?