"It’s the moment you’ve been waiting for: Your resume caught the attention of recruiters and hiring managers, and your job search finally appears on the up-and-up. You start receiving emails to schedule initial interviews and phone screenings, so securing your next big gig feels like it’s right around the corner. Yet, despite passing the resume screening and moving through the interview process, you still aren’t landing job offers and wondering what gives.
It can be disappointing to feel like your job hunt is progressing, only to not move forward after an interview (or a couple of them). We talked to Talent Acquisition Manager Kara Casamento and CEO & Principal HR Consultant Lauren Winans to understand what prevents candidates from moving from one round to the next. If you’re in the middle of rounds of interviews or brushing up on your interview skills before making a career change, take note to improve your chances of landing a job offer.
1. Obvious signs of distraction
Every interview is an opportunity to make a good impression. If the interviewer thinks you’re not taking it seriously or senses you’re being a little too lax, you’ll have a hard time doing that. “If the recruiter can hear you walking through crowded city streets or loading the dishwasher, they will immediately sense a lack of interest in the role. Staying focused during an interview is crucial,” notes Casamento. So take your interviews in a space without distractions when it’s virtual, and refrain from looking around the room or down at your watch when you’re face-to-face. You could answer their questions perfectly, but if you’re not present, it’s a bad look.
Kara Casamento, Talent Acquisition Manager
With a decade of expertise in recruiting, both in-house and within agency settings, Kara brings a wealth of experience to talent acquisition. Her passion lies in creating positive and impactful candidate experiences, ensuring every interaction reflects professionalism and care. Dedicated to aligning top talent with exceptional opportunities, Kara leverages her background to drive successful hiring outcomes and foster a collaborative recruitment environment.
2. Not preparing enough (or at all)
Whether it’s a 30-minute screening or a 90-minute panel interview, you must be ready to answer various questions about yourself, your interest in the role, and the company. Since you may be talking to different people than you did in your initial interview, you want to come prepared to answer these questions again. “This is really a chance to showcase your level of preparedness,” Casamento said. Before any interview, browse the company’s website, refresh yourself on the job posting, and consider digging into the company’s thought pieces or stories published about them. You may come across new things about the company or the role that you didn’t mention in your initial interview! We love the sticky note hack for preparing responses to company-related and personal questions.
3. Misaligned salary expectations
Interviews allow candidates and hiring managers to align on compensation parameters. Generally, if your salary expectations aren’t within the company’s range for the role, you might get passed up for another applicant. “Discrepancies usually result in an inability to proceed if no flexibility is given from either party,” Casamento told us. It’s best to come prepared with a desired target in mind. Money and career expert Tori Dunlap suggests your target should always be more than the salary range you find when conducting your research. This gives you some wiggle room to negotiate near the top of the salary range, assuming you will meet in the middle and still feel happy with your offer.
Additionally, Casamento recommends knowing your minimum salary requirements (the absolute lowest number you can accept) and “considering the entire total rewards package covered by the company before completely discounting the opportunity” if the pay falls short. For example, a stellar insurance package or PTO policy could absolutely make up for a less-than-ideal salary.
4. Speaking poorly about a former employer
Sure, we all know what it’s like to have a manager you don’t vibe with or a workplace with a toxic company culture that leads to burnout. Yet, a big red flag for hiring managers is when candidates bad-mouth a former employer or company, so it’s best to avoid this at all costs. “An interview is never the time to air your grievances. If your departure was due to personal conflicts or workplace issues, keep details general and avoid sounding resentful,” Casamento said. Keep it professional! You can share that you left to pursue growth opportunities in a new environment, that it was time for a career change, or your preferences have changed (like you’re looking for a better work-life balance, for example).
5. Poor time management
Recruiters and hiring managers conduct many interviews and have a limited time for each candidate, so using this time wisely benefits everyone. Whether you’re nervous or unsure how best to phrase your response to a question, a lack of time awareness can hurt your odds of moving on to the next round. “Very often, candidates lack time awareness during an interview and spend too much time elaborating on one question or talking over the time limit,” explained Casamento. So, your goal is to be clear and concise. You should “provide enough detail to showcase your skills and knowledge without overloading the interviewer with information,” Casamento added.
Lauren Winans, Chief Executive Officer and Principal HR Consultant
Lauren Winans is the Chief Executive Officer and Principal HR Consultant for Next Level Benefits, an HR consulting practice offering clients access to HR professionals for short-term and long-term projects. With nearly 25 years of human resources and employee benefits experience, Winans possesses a deep expertise in HR best practices and what resonates with employees. She founded Next Level Benefits in 2019, offering HR teams access to former corporate HR professionals on-demand when they need them most. Winans’ experiences at various global, multi-generational, geographically dispersed organizations have prepared her to assist clients of all sizes and from any industry.
6. Availability conflicts
Many companies want to fill roles quickly. Of course, many understand candidates have busy schedules, but “if a candidate’s availability doesn’t align with the company’s timeline or needs, this could be a reason not to move forward,” Winans said. Do your best to be flexible and available when discussing start dates for the role. If you foresee needing to start later than the company intends to fill the role, explain why you need the extra time upfront so there are no surprises. Always try to meet in the middle to ensure you and the employer are comfortable and happy with the timeline. You’d hate to not land a job that’s a perfect fit just because of this!
7. Company culture mismatch concerns
If you’ve ever had a job interview that felt like a personality check, the recruiter or hiring manager was probably getting a feel for whether or not you’d be a good company culture fit. “Employers often assess whether a candidate would fit well within the existing team and company culture. The candidate might be ruled out if there is a perceived lack of cultural alignment,” Winans said. While this isn’t always in your control, preparing for your interviews can help you better understand the company’s culture so you can articulate why you’re a solid match.
8. Competition with other candidates
Simply put, other candidates may be more qualified than you, and that’s a tough reality outside of your control. Especially if you’re applying for a position in a competitive field or company, you may be up against some steep competition, and “other candidates are a better fit, either in terms of experience, skill set, or personality,” Winans told us. This can feel super disheartening. To improve your odds for future interviews, consider asking the recruiter or hiring manager if there is a particular skill set or experience you can work on to become more competitive. If there’s a personality mismatch, the company might not be the best fit for you, and that’s OK, too.
Alyssa Towns, Contributing Career & Finance Writer
Alyssa Towns is a Denver-based writer and communications professional whose writing and expertise have appeared in Business Insider, Clockwise, G2, The Knot, Passion Planner, Thrive Global, and more. In addition to being a freelance writer, Alyssa has a background in internal communications and change management and is passionate about helping humans thrive in the workplace.