Getting Interviews, But No Job Offers? Here’s What to Do

It happened again—“Thank you for your time, but we’ve decided to proceed with other candidates.”

That’s the fourth time this month. You might be wondering, “What is going on?”

There are many reasons you could be getting lots of interviews but no job offers. Usually, it’s due to some common interview mistakes. But the good news is that they’re fixable.

Here are a few reasons job seekers may be getting interviews but no job offers. 

You Didn’t Prepare for the Interview

Did you take time to review the job description before the interview? Did you practice common interview questions? If not, that is likely the reason you didn’t advance to the next round. Take this as a learning opportunity, and in the future, prepare beforehand. 

You want to be able to answer common interview questions (like “Where do you see yourself in five years?”) and be able to speak to why you think you’re the best candidate for the job.

In addition, if you’re interested in remote or hybrid jobs, you’ll also want to prepare for some common remote job interview questions to confidently answer why you want a remote job and how you’ll handle working from home.

It might sound silly, but practice your answers out loud. You don’t want your first time tackling a challenging interview question to be in front of the hiring manager (when the stakes are high).

You Didn’t Research the Employer

In addition to preparing for common interview questions, a best practice is to always research a prospective employer. Not only does this help you write a better cover letter, but having a solid understanding of the company can help you stand out from other candidates. 

There are many ways you can start researching a company. For one, FlexJobs makes it easy for its members to research companies by offering the option to “follow” companies and read up on accolades, the work the company does, and the positions they hire for. You can also follow companies on social media or browse the company website. 

Unprofessional Behavior

Professionalism is paramount during the interview process. Make sure you conduct yourself appropriately.

The following are some examples of unprofessional behavior that can be a turnoff to prospective employers:

• Arriving late to the interview (online or in person)
• Badmouthing a former employer
• Complaining
• Not dressing appropriately
• Not preparing for the interview ahead of time

You Didn’t Seem Excited About the Role

Yes, at the end of the day, a job is a way to pay your rent and support your family. But if you’re not excited about the role, your interview responses and body language will give you away. Employers want someone who will enjoy the work the job requires.

Otherwise, they know that as soon as you get offered something better, you’re going to bail. Hiring a new employee is expensive, so employers want to make sure they’re making an investment in the right candidate. 

Before accepting an interview offer, ask yourself if this is a job you could see yourself doing for two to three years. If the answer is no, politely decline the offer, and keep applying to other opportunities.

You Were Asked an Illegal Question

Although rare, being asked illegal questions is another potential reason some job candidates don’t progress beyond an initial interview.

This can happen for many reasons. Sometimes, the person doesn’t have experience with interviewing and may not be familiar with laws regarding hiring. And unfortunately, sometimes discrimination is the goal. Sadly, some employers may not value how diverse perspectives can enrich their team.

There are certain questions that a hiring manager legally can’t ask you. Below are some examples of illegal interview questions:

• Are you married?
• Do you have children? Are you planning to have children?
• What’s your religion?
• How old are you?
• Do you have any disabilities?

If you are asked any of these questions during an interview, you don’t have an obligation to answer. Instead, you can politely ask, “How is this relevant to the job?”

Candidates also have the option to report these incidents to their local Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) field office. 

Furthermore, if you’ve been asked an illegal job interview question, you can visit WorkplaceFairness.org to learn more about your legal rights and options. 

Land Your Next Job

If you’re getting interviews but no offers, make sure you’re not making these common mistakes. Not preparing for an interview or unprofessional behavior can create roadblocks to getting a job offer. Make sure to practice common interview questions and conduct yourself appropriately for future interviews so you can land that next role.