10 Reasons You Were Not Called After The Interview

Sometimes job hunting is all about you. Sometimes job hunting is
all about them. Don’t take every rejection personally. Here’s
why.
You do not need to be a rocket scientist to realize that job hunting
in Nigeria is painful, tedious, frustrating and most at times
emotionally devastating. But not all rejection should be taken
personally. In fact, there are many reasons you don’t get the job–
and some have nothing to do with you and your skills. Here are
10.
1. Someone Had Friends In High Places
We are talking about Nigeria. Even when you are over qualified
for the job,aced the interview with flying colors, impressed the
interviewers with all you got; all it takes is a phone call and the
job goes to the least qualified person for the job. Don’t take it
personally, nepotism is the bane of every job seeker in Nigeria.
Some companies have policies that a certain number of people
have to be interviewed for each position (or that the job has to be
advertised publicly) — regardless of the fact that the firm has
already decided whom to hire.
You got dagged in to check off the proper boxes on the form, but
never had a chance of getting the job.
2. The Job Disappeared
You’d think that when a company posts a job, sources résumés,
and conducts interviews, the company would know it wants to
hire someone. But that’s not always true.
Sometimes there are disagreements over which department gets
the head count. Sometimes funding is moved to somewhere else.
Sometimes the company just decides not to fill the job.
Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), don’t sweat it, we are
obviously not talking to you.
3. You’ve Been Conned
Some people in Nigeria make a living from snipping the small
amount of money that job seekers have. How heartless!
You weren’t called because the money you were asked to pay for
in order to process the interview process was used to fund
someone’s account. Accept our deepest sympathy for your
money lost.
As a rule, no genuine interviewer will ask a dime from you if they
are really interested in giving you a job.
Once again, Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) stop looking at
us.
4. The Recruiter Is A Weird Fellow
Recruiters are funny people. Most are awesome, but some will
reject you because you have scuffs on your shoes, or because
they didnt like your face. We wish this was a joke.
Sometimes you might be asked a ridiculous question that has
serves no purpose but to see how creative you can be or how
you respond to difficult situations. You really do not want to hear
some of the weird questions that some recruiters ask during job
interviews.
Most recruiters aren’t horrible like these are, but some do have
their games.
5. You’re Not A Good Cultural Fit.
As much as we like to think it should be all about the skills, it’s
not. Different cultures are better for different people.
Nigeria is a country where we find it difficult to alienate tribe and
religion from our day to day activities. You might rejected for a
job because of your tribe, age, state of origin or religion.
A lady might be rejected because she wore trousers to a job
interview, why? The company does not allow trousers at their
place of work. You might be rejected for wearing two earring and
sometime for having two ear holes.
Skills? You conquered that. Cultural fit? No, you didnt conquer
that
6. You Can’t Agree On Salary.
Theoretically, salaries should be based on market rates and
nothing more.
In Nigeria, there’s a ton of stuff that goes into a salary. A
graduate could be made to endure the military training of the
Navy SEALs and after such rigorous process you will be offered
N20, 000 as salary for a month. May you never encounter such
people in your job seeking experience.
Even when some companies are reasonable, the prospective
worker might be flat out greedy. If you know you’re looking for
something higher than what the company can offer, then don’t
proceed with the interview process.
Why waste everyone’s time?
7. Your (bad) Reputation Preceded You.
Often people think they can burn bridges at old jobs, because
they’ve moved on to newer and better. The problem is, the world
is small, and the person you told to go f**k himself is the your
current interviewer.
You didn’t even know his name, but he surely knows yours, and
now you’re not hired.
8. You Blew The Interview.
Sometimes interviews simply go badly. It wasn’t that you did
anything wrong–you didn’t answer your cell phone, pick your
nose, or insult the interviewer–you just didn’t rock it.
Sometimes you have bad days.
9. There Was Someone Better Than You.
Often people identify themselves as perfect for the job, but you
never get to vet the other candidates.
Your fitting all the listed qualifications doesn’t mean someone
else isn’t better than you are.
10. Your Village Witches Are Dancing Sekeem On Your Head.
We are Nigerians, we are highly religious and we blame
everything on religion. So yes, your village witches made you to
fail the job interview.