Have you ever noticed that, whenever you receive feedback from an interview for a job you didn’t get, the news is almost always overwhelmingly positive? Most of the time, the recruiter or interviewer will tell you that you performed tremendously and seem like just the type of person they would love to hire, but another candidate just had a little bit more experience. That can’t always be true, can it?

No one likes to be the bearer of bad news, so could it be that there are a few other reasons why you didn’t get the job that no one is brave enough to tell you? Having spoken to hundreds of hiring managers over the years, here are some of the most common reasons why candidates really didn’t get the job…

1. You’re too ambitious

You might argue that there’s no such thing as being too ambitious, and to be honest we’d probably agree with you. However, someone with lots of ambition who hopes to progress quickly may not always be the best fit for a particular role.

As an example, if a candidate is clearly very bright and driven but is applying for an entry-level position with no real scope for progression anytime soon, they may not be happy with their position for very long. Rather than having to hire again in the near future, it would probably be easier to hire a candidate with a little less ambition who is likely to be content in the role for the longer term.

2. Bad luck follows you around

There are plenty of good people in this world who are genuinely unlucky; however, a job interview is probably not the best time to air your grievances. If you’ve had to leave one job because of an ill parent or were laid off from another because of a personal health problem, then even if those events were completely out of your control, it’s not the best time to bring them up.

It’s important to remember that the hiring manager wants someone who will make their life easier. They will not have the time or energy to help you work through your personal issues, particularly when you’re unproven.

3. They hired someone internally

Sometimes, no matter how well you perform in the interview, you were never going to get the job. There are occasions when posts are advertised externally simply to tick the relevant boxes, when an internal candidate has already been promised the role. In this case, unfortunately, the hiring company has completely wasted your time.

4. You criticised your colleagues

When it comes to discussing previous positions you’ve held, a common mistake candidates make is to overshare. No matter how awful your past employer or colleagues might have been, you should not speak negatively about them as it will only reflect badly on you. When you need to vent, speak to your family and friends. Some candidates may try to get around the negative connotations of criticising colleagues and employers by starting a sentence with “I don’t want to talk badly about anyone but…”

This type of talk will only distract from your positive qualities, so just don’t do it at all!

Receive honest feedback from our team

At Linguistica Recruitment, we work with you to help you secure your next bilingual role. If that means giving you honest feedback and providing a few professional pointers so you don’t make the same mistake again then we will. Take a look at our current vacancies, submit your CV or call our team on 02392 987 765 today.