Aviators

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Why Won't They Hire Me?

If after all is said and done, what can you do if you get an awful letter telling you "thanks, but no thanks"?

Don't think of it as the end but rather as a beginning. Consider this a time for some reflection and analysis and then go back to the drawing board to analyze what might have gone wrong. Perhaps we should rephrase the question from "Why won't they hire me?" to "Why SHOULD they hire me?" in order to come up with some good strategies to deal with the inevitable ego crushing that often results from a rejection letter.

Do You have the Right Qualifications?

If you made it to an interview, it's probably safe to assume you met the company's qualifications and that is not your limiting factor. However, you made need to your qualifications in more detail.

Combing your application, resume and portfolio may yield a few details that you overlooked in the interview process that may have swayed the hiring manager's decision. The big qualifier, of course, is the interview itself. But trying to analyze your own performance can be tough, particularly if you're not experienced and you think everything went fine. To analyze your performance objectively, ask yourself these questions:

1) What kind of rapport did I establish with the interviewer(s)and how quickly did this occur?
2) Were my answers succinct and to the point, relating my person, professional and educational background to their specific query?
3) Did I look and act like I really wanted the job, as well as showing that I am knowledgeable about the workings of the company?

Remember that your interview responses are actually a sales pitch for you and your abilities. If you don't give interviewers the information they need to make a decision (read: Why should they hire you?), you may find yourself interviewing over and over with nothing more than a pile of rejection letters to show for your trouble. Use your pre-interview study time to prepare a unique discussion of why you want to work for that particular organization, what special qualities you possess, and how you can enhance their operation. Sell them on your skills and why, in a word, they should hire you!

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