Top-notch resume? Check. Awesome references? Check. Totally vibing interview? Check. Then why didn’t you get the job offer after checking all the right boxes? You know you have what it takes to succeed—that’s how you landed the interview in the first place. And you felt great when you left the interview, like you really nailed it. But no offer. So is it them? Is it you? What exactly happened, here?

Why you’re not getting the job offer

Your resume is doing all the heavy lifting

A stellar resume (you do have a professional resume writer, right?) is only a ticket to an interview, it is not a free pass to Jobtown. You have to bring your A-game to the interview to connect all the dots in your resume and to elaborate on real-life examples that show your skills. You’ll seem one-dimensional if you keep referring back to your resume. What else have you got? You need to be able to communicate your value beyond a couple pages of bond paper.

You’re a cultural flop

For many companies, cultural fit is growing even more important than technical fit. Will you thrive in the company’s work environment, uphold the company’s values, and be able to form productive professional relationships? Research the company first to get a feel for their culture. When you interview, remember to branch out beyond the technical. Show your personality, ask questions, and make the interview a real conversation, but also stay true to what you need from a company culture. There are few professional faux pas worse than being stuck in a culture clash!

Your confidence was underwhelming

First things first: most folks are nervous during an interview. The interviewers expect and account for this. But separately, interviewers will notice when you don’t feel confident with the content of your presentation. Are you concerned that your mid-life career change is a big leap, and you’re worried your interviewers won’t be able to look past it? You’re probably sabotaging yourself. If you don’t feel your own value, or you question your fit for a position, it will show. And if you can’t trust yourself with the position, why should your interviewers trust you?

In conclusion

Every interview is an opportunity to communicate your cultural and technical value in a way that lands you the job. And if you’re uncertain of your interviewing skills or haven’t met with success, take heart. Interviews, like any skill, take practice, and every interview makes you better at communicating your best value every time.