In my last post I suggested some areas to look at if you’re not getting results from your resumes and applications.  This time I’d like to offer some suggestions to those of you who are getting initial interviews but no call backs or job offers.

If you find yourself in this position, I’d like to offer a few of the top reasons that, as a hiring manager, I’ve crossed applicants off of the list after the first interview.  While there can be many reasons you don’t get a call back after the first interview, these are three of the most common ones in my experience.

Displaying a Bad and/or Superior Attitude

I’ve seen many applicants over the years come into an interview with a slightly amused smile on their face and then proceed to answer each question in a patronizing manner, giving the impression that I should simply offer them the job since it is self-evident that they are the best candidate.  This is what I mean by displaying a superior attitude.

Worse yet, I’ve had applicants get testy or impatient when I ask a question they have difficulty answering or feel is not relevant.  I’ve even had applicants tell me my question is answered by their resume and I should just read it.  This is, of course, what I mean by displaying a bad attitude.

In both cases, most hiring managers will presume that poor attitudes in interviews will lead even poorer attitudes on the job and that will end any further consideration.

Bad Mouthing Previous Employers

The old saying that “if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all” is never more true than in an interview.   If you say negative or critical things about your current  or previous employers and bosses, the hiring manager will naturally assume you’ll also speak poorly of your future employers.  Moreover, it simply indicates a lack of class.

You need to be particularly diligent here, as it’s common for an interviewer to specifically ask for an example of something you didn’t like about your current job or supervisor.  Don’t fall in this trap.  My advice is to say something such as this:  “Well, I would have liked to have had more training, but I also understand that budgets are tight in the current economy.”  Yes, this is a criticism, but it also indicates you understand the realities of business.

Poor Preparation

By poor preparation, I specifically mean not researching the company and the position for which you are interviewing.  One of the first questions I like to ask applicants is to tell me what they know about my company.  Those who are knowledgeable about my organization and can state their experience and accomplishments in terms of what I’m specifically looking for have a high chance of being called back for further interviews.  Those who can’t will usually struggle through the rest of the interview and seldom are called back.

In all of the above examples, you’ll notice that experience and qualifications are not the determining factors.  If you get the initial interview it’s because your resume showed you were sufficiently qualified.  It’s how you present those qualifications – and yourself – that determine whether or not you advance to the further rounds.