Getting Interviews But No Offers? Here’s Why
Q. I’m getting job interviews but not receiving offers. Is there anything I can do to change that?
A. I assume from your question that the interviews are with companies, as opposed to recruiters, and that they are in-person rather than phone interviews. In addition, the company has seen your résumé prior to interviewing you. This means that your résumé is working. Companies, maybe even recruiters, like your background, experience and skills enough to want to meet you so I wouldn’t change a résumé that is working. The problem then is most likely your interviewing skills.
My guess is that you have not done enough preparation in this area. When I coach executives with this issue, the first place we start is by filming the person while I interview them. I suggest you try this. People are amazed at how different they look on video from how they perceive themselves. For example, some studies indicate as much as 70% of communication is nonverbal, i.e. body language. When you review the video, what is your body language saying? How are you sitting in the chair? I know candidates always think they are looking the interviewer in the eyes when answering, however, often the video reveals something different. You will hear exactly how you communicate in your own words. How often do you use the word “like” or “uh” to connect sentences? Do you actually answer the question asked or the one you want to answer? Seeing yourself in an interview may solve your issues.
Q. Should I use a cover letter with my résumé and is there a preferred format?
A. I recommend having a cover letter. As a recruiter, I’m interested in your résumé way more than a cover letter. I have spoken with many executives and HR professionals that expect a cover letter. The important thing to remember about a cover letter is that it is not an extension of your résumé, an addendum to your résumé or held to the same standards as a résumé. Candidates often think because they included something in the cover letter, they don’t have to include it in the resume. Wrong. A cover letter is just that, a letter. It highlights points of interest relevant to the position you are applying for. If something is mentioned in the cover letter, it is imperative that it is also presented in the résumé.
I prefer a one-page, two-column cover letter. One column is titled, “What you seek” and the second column is, “My experience.” This format makes it easy for the reader to quickly align your experience with their needs so they will want to read your résumé. After all, there is only one purpose for a cover letter, which is getting the reader excited enough to read your résumé.
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I welcome your comments.
Brad Remillard
Tags: Cover Letter Example, cover letter required, Cover Letter Sample, Cover Letter Tips, functional resume, Interview 1st Impressions, Interview Mistakes, Interview Questions, Interview Techniques, Interview Tips, Interviewing, Interviewing Mistakes
Cover Letters, Face-to-Face Inteviewing, Interviewing, Resume | bradremillard February 17, 2011
About the Author
Brad Remillard is a founding Partner of IMPACT Hiring Solutions, co-author of "You're NOT the Person I Hired", and "This is NOT the Position I Accepted". Brad is an award-winning international speaker, retained executive recruiter, and expert on hiring and retaining top talent, and executive job search.
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By Rowena Simpson, February 17, 2011 @ 3:45 pm
Great advice here Brad, and it’s a question I am asked many times by frustrated candidates who can get to interview, but still don’t get the offer.
One of the pieces of advice I offer candidates is to make sure they are prepared with some questions of their own to ask the interviewer, when asked “Is there anything you want to ask us?” This provides an opportunity for the interviewee to demonstrate their knowledge of the company and show that they really have prepared for this specific interview. It really can go a long way to helping seal the deal.
You can read a blog that I wrote on the subject of what questions you should ask at interview here: http://bit.ly/gW4tNN
By Barry Deutsch, February 19, 2011 @ 12:01 am
Rowena,
Brad and I frequently hear back from clients that they were underwhelmed by candidates who didn’t come to interviews well prepared in terms of questions to ask, research done about the company and competitors. It’s so simple to develop a set of questions focusing on the role, the company, and the industry/competition/customers. Not investing time and energy to prepare is essentially throwing away the opportunity. Rarely will a candidate make it past a recruiter screen, let alone the hiring manager interview without deep preparation. The higher the role, the more prep required.
By RB, July 4, 2011 @ 8:42 am
I am curious to know why you think a cover letter is important when, from what I have read, you scan the resume in 8-10 seconds.
By bradremillard, July 5, 2011 @ 6:48 am
RB
Read the cover letter article closer. I specifically state as a recruiter I don’t need them, however, many clients (i.e. companies) have told me they like them and in fact don’t like it when they there isn’t a cover letter. Given that companies you are sending your resume to prefer them why wouldn’t you include one.
Don’t to it for me. Do it because some hiring managers prefer them.