Why Didn’t I Get a Second Interview?

Are you blaming yourself because you didn’t get a second interview? Or maybe it’s the stupid company that doesn’t know real talent when they see it. Of course the latter may be true, but there’s a bit more to the job search and hiring picture.

When a company calls you in it’s because they saw something in your resume and, if there was one, your screening phone interview. So they are already interested in you and what you potentially have to offer their company.

If that makes it sound like you blew the first in-person interview by not getting a second one, that’s not my point at all. You might have left the room and had them all agree they liked you. But that doesn’t mean they felt you were right for the job — even if you did nothing especially wrong.

So who does get a second interview?

Since jobseekers who get called in for a first interview have the basic qualifications for the job, a second interview is pretty much about three basic things:

1. Were we right about their ability to handle the job responsibilities.
2. Looking for a good fit for the company culture and coworkers.
3. Do we get a strong sense that the candidate is a self-starter who will follow through and get things done.

Now if you’re thinking “but I am all that and more” again you may be right. But they have to see it and even feel it in the interview as well as any other interactions they have with you.

⇒  10 Impressions You Leave After a Job Interview

And sometimes, there really is nothing you can do to make this job your job. I know that may sound depressing, but knowing this also tells you when the fit is right you do get the offer. A wrong job fit is an awful thing for all considered.

⇒   Why Do I Always Pick the Wrong Job?

Sometimes it’s a close call

I’ve sat in post-interview discussions where there are candidates we liked but others we liked more. And we usually only call in the top candidates for the second go-round. Good candidates — who did nothing wrong — don’t get a second interview. It happens more than you know.

I once had an interview for a job with a small non-profit and was told (and felt) that it was a good interview. I even created some materials on my own (not asked for) that impressed them, Plus I had been recommended by someone they knew. And I wrote a nice thank you note.  So they remembered me.

⇒  Rejected? Sample Job Rejection Thank You Note

But I was trying for something I never actually did before, even though I had good transferable skills. And they had a candidate with solid experience. So they hired her. Two months later I got a call for a second interview. Seems the experienced person was awful at the job. You never know for sure!

And I not only got the job, but exceeded their expectations. Still, that first interview was about finding who THEY thought was best. Even if the criteria they used to judge candidates turned out not to be their path to the best fit after all.

So how do you get a second interview?

Again, sometimes you really do give a great interview but just aren’t who they have in mind. You can’t change that even if they may not be seeing possibility where there is possibility. Still, no matter what … it pays to give your best interview with full energy and faith in your ability to do the job well.

That job I got recommended for? The recommendation came from someone I interviewed with who didn’t hire me — but liked me enough to send me to the job I did eventually get.

So most important of all, interview with full intent to get the job and to be their best employee ever. Have that in your mind. I’m not talking magic … just how you feel about yourself in the interview gets seen and felt by the interviewer.

⇒   Interview Chemistry:  Do You Feel a Connection?

And another most of all (literary license), make sure you’ve prepared well and follow tips for giving a great interview that connects and helps them see you as part of the company.

Posts to help

How To Mentally Prepare for a Job Interview

Job Interview Nerves? Tips for Before, During & After

18 Practical Tips to Help You Ace Your Job Interview

15 Things I Look for When I Interview People

Interview Energy: Why Low Energy Can Lose You the Job

Job Interviews: What Does “Be Yourself” Mean?

Positive Thinking in Interviews: Does It Work?

5 Interview Skills To Help Connect the “Hire Me” Dots

They Reposted the Job. Should I Kiss It Good-Bye?

How Often Should I Call an Employer After My Interview?

So What Really Happens After a Job Interview?

10 Reasons You Didn’t Get the Job Offer