Why Aren’t They Hiring Me?!!

I read that more people are quitting their jobs than ever…(apparently there is a measure for this!). I’ve recently advised folks who are looking to change jobs, and while some were able to, some have hit a snag. It’s easy to take it personally and think it’s about you. Don’t. They liked you enough for an interview, for a few more interviews, to get to offer stage. That means you are qualified, you pass the litmus tests. However, if they don’t proceed it’s usually for the following reasons: 

  1. Something happened on their side. Could be anything from a headcount freeze, bad earnings, the hiring manager is leaving, there’s uncertainty in the organization. Sometimes they’ll be honest with you, most times not (if you’re not an employee, it will be non-public information).
  2. The timing is off: Last quarter of the year is usually lock down. Companies usually put the brakes on anything that will increase expenses. Furthermore, they’re working on next year’s budget…which might be lower than the past year’s.  Given those two forces, most firms will not hire in the 4th quarter.
  3. The compensation discussion becomes complex: while this is the time to negotiate what you want, it also requires you to be sensitive to which things you need agreement on now and which things you need to trust. I have taken jobs which have required me to take a demotion in title, or be relatively flat in comp. Sometimes it was rectified, other times not. In those cases where it wasn’t, I usually moved into another role to a different manager. I still liked the company, I just didn’t trust the manager.
  4. They’re looking for a specific set of experiences you don’t have. I once interviewed for a “transformation” role at a bank. They liked me, but they wanted someone who had actually worked in technology, reengineering their processes. Sometimes the requirements are specific…you either have it or you don’t.
  5. You start giving off “uh-oh” vibes. This is usually tied to number 3. No manager wants to hire someone who seems “tone-deaf” on their demands: start dates, vacations, office type……  While certain commitments seem natural to you (guaranteed bonus, promotion), these things are outside most managers’ control. The manager won’t want to be stuck with someone who’s more trouble than they’re worth.