Getting Close, but No Job Offers 3 Areas to Focus On

Getting Close, but No Job Offers 3 Areas to Focus On Getting Close, but No Job Offers 3 Areas to Focus On As a job seeker, you might say that your job search is going fairly well if you’ve been contacted by hiring managers and you frequently go on job interviews. Even better if you often make it into several rounds of the job interviewing process. And yet, you’re not getting hired- no job offers. It can be completely frustrating to get so far in your job search, but still not hear those precious words: “You’re hired.” In the Fast Company article, “Why You Keep Getting Close But Still Aren’t Landing Job Offers,” you’ll find three areas to focus on that can get you hired. Heres what to focus on if youre getting close but have no job offers: 1. Focus on the company’s culture. In the past, many companies focused on their product or service without much thought for how the company’s brand was perceived by the public. But today, companies are investing big time in their company’s culture and actively recruit talent that will match their culture. Some employers are transparent about their cultures, but others aren’t. So before an interview, do some research to see what exactly the company’s culture is like. This can help you to determine if a) you even want to work for the organization, and if you do, b) you’ll know how to slant your answers to compliment the company’s culture- and make you the top choice for the job. You can even ask questions about the company’s culture during the interview. Here are some Qs to ask: “Why are you proud to work at this company?” “What would you change about the company if you could?” “How is feedback given?” “How is conflict created and how is it resolved?” “How are teams motivated and supported at this company?” 2. Focus on your soft skills. Think about it: If you’re making it to the third round of job interviews, chances are that you and the other candidates being interviewed almost all have the necessary education and experience for the position. So what separates you from the competition? Soft skills. These people skills include your ability to adapt, your communication skills, your teamwork and collaboration skills, as well as your ability to problem-solve and observe. Employers certainly want employees who can do the job, but even more than that, they want to hire people whom they’ll like. The next time you’re answering a job interview question, be sure to bring out your softer side- and showcase your soft skills, too. 3. Focus on your future. If you’ve been close but no job offers are on the table, it makes sense that you would be frustrated. But asking for direct feedback from a would-be employer isn’t likely to happen, since employers are reticent to offer feedback for various reasons (i.e. liability issues). There is a way around this, though. Instead of focusing on the failure (not getting the job), focus on the future- with the same company. An employer might be more willing to offer constructive criticism if he knows that you’re going to use it when you reapply for another position in the company in the future. In essence, you’re taking a negative (i.e. not getting the job) and turning it into a positive (i.e. planning to do what it takes to get hired by the company down the road). It can be hard to go through a lengthy job interview process to not get hired by the company. So take back control and see what areas you can focus on to get hired! Readers, have you been close but have no  job offers? What have you done (or plan to do) to turn it around? Let us know in the comments below!