Why you may not get that job despite qualifications

Tips. Career experts say confidence is very important in an interview but warn that being too confident can come off as annoying to the panel making the candidate the least favourite.
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What you need to know:

Career experts say confidence is very important in an interview but warn that being too confident can come off as annoying to the panel making the candidate the least favourite.

The excitement that comes when a job seeker gets called for an interview makes one hope they will not leave any room for error. But sadly, some interviewees, in the quest for success end up making major goofs and despite being qualified for the job, they end up missing out on the opportunity.
For Sharon Kakyo, she was confident her First Class degree would get her the job but was disappointed after discovering she was not the panel’s most preferred candidate. Her case is not isolated. You, too, may have been in a similar situation before and here is why.

Confidence
Dorothy Nabatanzi, the director Rota Tech, notes that all an employer needs is a confident employee one who can express themselves with ease while not passing off as annoying or over confident.
She says some candidates act shy while others cannot explain a simple matter. “There is no way you can hire such a person even with their First Class degree and leave one with a second upper who can express themselves well. Every employer looks for someone who will take their business to another level by addressing certain issues and challenges with confidence and have ability to make bold decisions,” Nabatanzi asserts.

Attitude
The way you answer your questions speaks volumes about your character, some people get rejected for acting rude, harsh, bossy, proud or boastful. You should be calm though not to the extent of being mistaken to be dull. Also always show you are hungry to learn.
“Very sharp people are difficult to manage and very dull people may not be eligible for the job. Any person seeking for a job should not be on either extremes,” says Karen Echelai, an administrator at QG group.

Being desperate
Echelai adds that when you show the panel that you are so desperate for the job, you will automatically lose out because you will answer every question out of pressure. Some people concentrate on getting the job that they fail to even ask more about what it entails. She cautions that despite your urgent need for the job, show your employer that you also have principles and desires. “Take time to ask a question or two to know more about what is required of you,” Echelai states.

Being too ambitious
Showing your employer that you have too much ambition could cost you as Nabatanzi says this shows them that you could do go to any length to reach your goals even after getting the job. Being over ambitious starts from the salary estimate you give, the working conditions you demand and questions about promotions, among other things.

Your history
We all have a history but some could be a dent on your career. Some people have had damaged careers despite the required experience, qualifications and confidence. For example being involved in cases of fraud, sexual harassment and other criminal offences.
Therefore, Nabatanzi urges people to be careful not to leave a bad impression at workplaces as this could cost them in future.

How to make a follow up

Dorothy Nabatanzi, the director Rota Tech, gives tips:
Sometimes people lose out on jobs because they do not follow up after the interview which shows your would have been employer that you are not very interested in the job.
Send an email to the contact person and inquire about the progress. This should be done in the simplest way possible so as not to appear too desperate. Send greetings, drive your point (inquire) and sign off with a thank you. You do not need to explain how you badly need the job.
Alternatively you can call and ask how far the process has gone but make the phone call as formal as possible. This will show your employer that you are responsible as well as interested in the job.