Why Your Interviews May Not Be Converting Into Job Offers

When you’re searching for a new job, you are likely to have to go through the application and interview process more than once. But what if you are being interviewed for several positions and not seeing job offers as a result? You may be wondering what’s going wrong and how you can change your interview technique to make a difference.

Here at CareerWise, we know how to optimise your interview skills and can help you prepare for interview success. If you’re wondering what’s going wrong for you at interview, read on and find out what the problem could be. We’re here to help and our experienced team can support you in many ways as you look for the job of your dreams.

Interviews: Potential Challenges

Excelling at interview can be challenging, especially if you are worried about the interview process itself. Having the experience and the confidence to impress your interviewer isn’t always straightforward and it’s important to consider a few key questions if you aren’t finding that your interviews translate into job offers. Ask yourself:

1. Are you giving enough information?

When you answer interview questions, are you giving the bare minimum in response or are you expanding on your answers and giving enough information for the interviewer to really get an insight into your personality and work ethic? If you are giving brief, informative answers, this may tick the box but will not give the extra detail that really makes you stand out at interview.

To make your chances of securing the job more likely, it’s a good idea to show your interviewer the best of you whenever you have the opportunity. For instance, if you are asked to discuss a successful project you have worked on, you could highlight the skills, including time management and people skills, that were necessary to make the project a success, as well as explaining where you went above and beyond the basics to deliver excellent results.

2. Do you have the required skills?

If you are applying for a new role, it is important to be honest about whether you have the skills required to do the job. If you do not have all the skills that are likely to be needed for the job, you can still apply and may still be offered the role as long as you are open about your skill gaps and have a plan to fill these.

If you are not seeing success at interviews, it’s worth considering that you may be applying for the wrong jobs. If you want to do a certain job but do not have the required skillset, take a look at options for upskilling, and find out what you will need to do in order to be considered for your dream job. There may be free or low-cost courses available to develop the skills you need, or you may be able to do some CPD in your current job that will help you to move forward in the direction you want.

3. Do you believe you can do the job?

Your confidence will have a huge effect on the impression you make at interview, and if you come across as someone who does not really believe they can do the job, you will not be convincing to an interviewer. If your confidence is low and you are uncertain about aspects of the job, you can try preparing more thoroughly for interviews to help you feel better about it.

For instance, if you take the time to consider your skills and achievements before your interview, you are likely to feel better about yourself and your ability to perform well in the role you are interviewing for. Write down examples of your recent successes and be prepared to discuss these and ask an honest friend or relative to practise with you so that you feel more comfortable with the interview process.

4. Are you doing your Research?

Acing an interview means impressing your interviewer with your competency and part of this is doing your research thoroughly beforehand. If you can, it is a good idea to discover as much as possible about your potential new employer and the values and ethos of the company you are applying to. You should explore the mission statement of the company and ensure that your values align, so that you can present yourself as a potential asset to the business.

Take the time to inform yourself about current news regarding the company you are applying to and ensure that you know about any important current research in your field. You want to demonstrate that you are a candidate who will go the extra mile, so it’s a good opportunity to show your commitment by preparing properly and fully understanding the role you are applying for.

5. Are you Building Rapport?

Building a rapport with your interviewer is crucial in making the right impact at interview and this is something that can be learned and developed. If you think this may be a problem for you, you may want to learn more about body language and physical cues, such as making eye contact and choosing the pitch of your voice carefully.

Rapport is all about feeling comfortable with one another, and if you can establish this, you are much more likely to feel more relaxed throughout the interview. This will mean that you and your interviewer will both enjoy the process more and you are much more likely to get positive feedback. Developing rapport quickly also gives you the opportunity to showcase your social skills, which can be very helpful when you want to show that you can work as part of a team.

6. Are you Following Up?

Following up after an interview is an important part of the process to demonstrate your interest in and commitment to the new company and role. This is another opportunity for you to show your potential new employer that you are really interested in the role and that you are a committed and competent candidate for the job.

An email to follow up after the interview is a good way to thank your interviewer for their time and to show your genuine interest in the job. You should reaffirm your positive attitude to the position and try to personalise this with a reference to something you discussed during the interview to remind your interviewer of the rapport you developed and the asset you would be to the company. If you are unsuccessful, you should ask for feedback and take careful note of this for future interview opportunities.

Are You Looking For A Job In Ireland?

CareerWise is Ireland’s leading specialist recruitment firm, based in Cork, Limerick, Galway, Dublin and Mayo. Our mission is to help you to find the job you want, and our team of professionals will support you in preparing your CV and your interview skills for success.

We specialise in the Engineering, Supply Chain, Science/Pharma, IT and Accounting industries in Ireland, and we look forward to working with you. Contact us online now or call us on +353 (0) 21 206 1900 to arrange a consultation.

Conor Twomey

Contract Recruitment Manager – Cork/Shannon Offices

Conor is a sales professional with approx. 14 years experience in the Recruitment, Property and Advertising industries.
Conor has a background in engineering recruitment for clients based in the pharmaceutical and medical device sectors throughout Ireland.
He holds a Diploma in Human Resources Management and he is also a qualified auctioneer.
Conor joined CareerWise in June 2016 as a Senior Recruitment Consultant.

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