Candidates may not get the job if they’re a poor cultural fit

Monster’s career expert Vicki Salemi answers user questions on Quora.com. We’re republishing her answers here on a regular basis. If you have a question, email socialmedia@monster.com.

Q. What are the most common reasons why people don’t get the job after the interview?

A. As a corporate recruiter, I often brought candidates into the office to interview with a group because their resume was a match for a role, but ultimately did not extend a job offer because the person was not a good cultural fit for the organization. Sure, hiring managers seek candidates who fit the job description but at the end of the day, they evaluate your soft skills during the interview. They want to see how well you get along with the group as well as the values of the company.

Another reason why people don’t get the job is because someone had a stronger experience and/or skill set. Maybe the person who will be hired over you worked for a direct competitor right now in the exact same role whereas you are making a leap from one industry to another.

Additionally, it’s who you know. Another candidate could have had a stronger connection internally. Perhaps you were a spot on fit but another candidate was a fit as well and on top of that, one of their former bosses currently works in the group and that person put in a good word for them to attest to their work ethic.

Unfortunately, you’ll rarely hear the specific reasons from an employer. The best thing to do is to keep positive and apply what you’ve learned to your next interview experience. Good luck!