You thought this interview went all right. It could have gone better, but obviously, you haven’t bombed it absolutely, right? So why didn’t anybody call to set up the next interview or extend an offer? What had gone wrong? Why isn’t this making headway? Have you been there? Admittedly it’s a tough spot, even more so if you’ve just learned you ‘re not going to move on in the process, yet after the interview, nobody has bothered to spell out how or why you’ve been ruled out.

You may have thought after a first-round interview that everything went perfectly fine. You ‘re waiting and waiting, still just hearing crickets, and then you get the email saying they ‘re starting with second interviews.

1. You were late

Were you running around the corridors, waiting for the bus, waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting? Anything does happen, of course. You may have mapped three different potential routes with google and were still running behind. Unfortunately, that shines upon you an unflattering and unprofessional light. At least, you have to take enough attention to arrive on time, or better yet, slightly early. There are plenty of cafes and parks in which you can hang out if you have an abundance of time, and that will relax your nerves and prevent you from getting too frazzled.

2. You ‘re a bad cultural fit

When you’re right at home in your smart suit and closed-toed shoes, then in an interview you’ll probably emit this aura. If you are interviewing for a conservative, corporate role, that’s great. Unless, on the other hand, you ‘re coming into a free-wheeling, relaxed business in Ms. Wall Street style, the hiring manager is likely to immediately assume you ‘re not going to fit into the joint.

3. Have you proven your personality? 

It’s always good to be professional, but your employers want to know who you are as a person as well.  They’ll be working with you day in and day out.  You’re allowed to smile and be charismatic, it might make them like you more as a human being, and thus, as a possible employee.

4. You ‘re a disrupter

Sometimes it can happen to the best of us, particularly when we’re nervous. In our quest to blind the interviewer with our readiness and brilliance, we may have a tendency to jump over an entire question before the interviewer even gets it out of his mouth. Unfortunately, if you disrupt the discussion repeatedly, this might be the last one with that organization.

5. Have you asked any questions? 

Have questions prepared ahead of time for the end of the interview, and think about some of what the interviewer told you. Ask them personalized questions, this is flattering as well as showing you’ve been paying attention.

6. You Reek of Want.

We know that when you have a lot of riding on a working landing, it’s very, really hard not to look too vulnerable. I’m not saying in any way that it’s easy to repair. Yet if a hiring manager gets a hint of desperation, she may see you as a less attractive candidate than someone who comes across the decision as though they were not going to live or die. Of course, you don’t want to be cocky or aloof, but you can’t turn up because your future depends on you landing that role.

Conclusion

Note that the hiring manager today is always super busy with her everyday workload and hoping the new recruit can make her job simpler, healthier, or more profitable and quickly. When you come off as someone who is going to take forever to become professional.