Why You Did Not Get That Job This Year

By Selipha Kihagi

2019 may have worked out well for your career or was the complete opposite. You made several applications but even then you did not land that interview you hoped for and if you did, you did not get that job. Somebody else was picked instead of you and you are now wondering why. Not getting jobs after a series of applications can be frustrating and daunting, but it doesn’t always have to be.

As the year ends, knowing the reasons you were not considered for that job you hoped to get will help you plan a better outcome for 2020. To help you out, here is a couple of reasons you did not get the job.

4 Reasons You Were Not Lucky Enough To Get That Job

1. You were applying to the wrong jobs
You may not want to hear this but the reason you did not get that job this year could be because you were making applications to all the wrong jobs. This is to mean that you either applied to jobs you did not fully qualify or you applied to ones you were overqualified for. The trick to getting called to interviews once you make an application is to make sure that your CV matches what the recruiters and employers are looking for.

2. You applied past the deadline
 Most employers and recruiters fill positions as the applications start coming in, so if you are not among the first applicants, chances are you will not get that job. Even with a deadline indicated for when candidates can apply, some employers will have already filled the position because they start interviewing early.

To stay ahead of the job application game in 2020, make sure you subscribe to job alerts from major career websites or even company websites you’d like to work for. This way you will be notified of a job as soon as it’s posted and you can send in your application on time.

3. Your CV failed you
Most job seekers forget how important the CV is when it comes to job applications. While you may be suitably qualified for a position, if your CV is missing the key things that employers are looking for then you will not be considered for that job.

For this reason, it is crucial that you take a harder look at your CV and identify any mistakes you may have missed when applying to jobs. You might find that you forgot to include your contact information, or that you forgot to include the position you held in your previous jobs.

4. Your interview skills need some work
If you made it to the job interview this year but did not get the job, then your interviewing skills need some work. Making it to the interview means you are well qualified and all that remains is supporting these qualifications in person. If you did not get called to the job after the interview, then it means you did not represent yourself very well.

Employers are looking for someone that can do the job as good as their CVs says they can. In 2020, it might help to consult an interview coach for assistance on your skills so you can get that job you really want.

You may not have been very lucky to get that job this year, but you need not despair in the coming year. Things do not have to be the same. If you can identify what you did wrong this year, then you can know where to change in the coming one. Maybe it was not the right time for you in 2019, just take a while and regroup your strategies for a more effective job search.