It can be frustrating when you apply for a job, attend an interview, and later find out that you haven’t been offered the position.
In some cases, it might simply be because you have been unlucky. You may have been a good candidate, but somebody else may have beaten you to the job for fairly insignificant reasons. On the other hand, there may be some very good reasons why you didn’t get the job offer, and we will explore two of these below.
1 – A Bad Interview
Not many people enjoy the interview process. It can be nerve-wracking, especially when you’re faced with more than one person at the interview table. Thankfully, most employers understand how nervous their candidates might be, and they will excuse the occasional slipup.
However, there are some job interview mistakes you will want to avoid. For one, you don’t want to turn up late, as that will create a very bad first impression. You don’t want to lie, come across as being arrogant, or appear unprepared for the interview either. Bad-mouthing other candidates is another no-no, so even if you know some of the other people applying for the job, don’t start to put them down in an effort to make yourself look better.
To improve your chances of success, follow our tips on acing your job interview. By adhering to the advice given, you may turn the tide in your favor.
2 – A Criminal Record
Sorry to say it, but having a criminal record can reduce your chances of getting a job. If you are better than the other candidates, you might still be in for a chance. But if the choice is between yourself and somebody with the same skills and qualifications as you, it might be that you get overlooked. It sucks, we know, especially if your offending days are behind you.
Still, all isn’t lost, so don’t lose hope.
If criminal charges were later dismissed or acquitted in court, but you still have a criminal record, you can consider expunction, the legal process wherein the records of your criminal offense will be destroyed.
If your criminal record is valid, you need to remember that you don’t always need to disclose it, unless you are asked. This is true on both your application form and at the interview stage. If you are asked, don’t lie about it. Be honest, but demonstrate to the employer how you have redeemed yourself in the meantime, perhaps with a reference from somebody who knows you well.
You should also choose the jobs you apply for carefully. There are some jobs that you will struggle to get if your offense was related to the work involved. Applying for retail work after gaining a conviction for stealing money, for example, will obviously put you under suspicion. So, apply for those jobs where you might stand a better chance.
There is more advice here that might prove useful to you.
3 – Something Else Entirely
We have covered two reasons why you might not get a job offer, but there could be others. To improve your chances, check out the other articles on our website. We have lots of advice available, and we can offer career coaching too. So, don’t lose hope! You will find work eventually, even though it might sometimes seem impossible.
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