How to handle rejection after an interview?

Please ensure to prepare well and research details about the company or its products/services. These demonstrate interest and commitment.

• Short answers 

One of the frequently made mistakes during interviews is “close answers”. If the question requires confirmation or denial, it does not mean you should say just “yes/no”. 

As a sign of interest, your following explanation and confirmation. 

At the same time never use unfocused board sentences for clear questions. Give examples for clarification wherever appropriate.

• Unconfident behavior

You may have your key achievements, know your strengths and know what you bring. Yet you may become reserved during interviews and feel hesitant to enthusiastically discuss achievements and successes in your career so far.

Self-presentation is a must, as no one will do it on your behalf. As a result, you miss valuable opportunities to showcase your skills, experience, and potential contributions to the role. Overcoming this shyness and learning to communicate clearly is essential for making an effective and strong impression during the interview process. Please remember: it is not so much about confidence as it is about clarity. Be precise with the facts, give good examples. An experienced interviewer will always understand you are nervous and that won’t be an issue as long as you are well-prepared.

• Negative talk about previous experience

Speaking negatively about past employers or experiences can raise red flags for the interviewer and reflect poorly on your professionalism. It may suggest that you have difficulty working collaboratively or resolving conflicts constructively. 

Focus on what you’ve learned from those experiences and how they’ve contributed to your professional growth.

• Non-realistic answers

Be honest instead of following the “Fake it until you make it” saying. Honesty is the best policy when it comes to navigating interviews and building meaningful connections with potential employers. When you are asked about something, just give realistic answers. Be honest and be real about your qualifications, experiences, and skills, that is essential for trust with the interviewer. Experienced interviewers can easily detect your bragging answers or exaggeration which may lead to distrust or disqualification from the hiring process. Everyone wants to work with honest people.

• Not Knowing Your Interviewer

There are countries where women are not perceived or accepted in leadership roles, and candidates from such cultural backgrounds may not consider women in positions of decision-maker. But in the German case that is not relevant. Avoid making assumptions or displaying discriminatory behavior based on stereotypes. 

Research who is the interviewer beforehand, who should lead the interview, and who holds leadership positions. There is a case we have seen, when the HR director entered the interview and started the conversation but a candidate responded “Shouldn’t we keep waiting for the boss to come?” Understand who you are going to communicate with and who is the important receiver of your answers. Another candidate addressed the male assistant with all respect while asking the female director to get the coffee. These situations are real and no need to mention that they end the hiring process there and then.

Address the attendants in your interview directly by name and be informed about their background through their work on their LinkedIn profile and mention it during your speech. It will not only be appreciated that you are familiar with their current occupation but also beneficial for you to feel comfortable knowing who is in front of you.

•  Big slip-up: Over-negotiation 

Many countries have a common cultural practice of negotiating, but it is a less usual cultural trait in Germany.  

German companies have the tendency to announce the real salary first and there is no sense to negotiate. The employer might even get an impression of you being unsophisticated or uneducated, they typically do not feel comfortable engaging in such negotiations during the initial stages of the interview process. 

You can find insights about that topic and understand what is negotiable during an interview in Germany in the following article: Guide to Successful Salary Negotiation For International Candidates in Germany

• Making Unevidenced Statements

Unsupported claims can come across as insincere. Naturally, you want to highlight your strengths and achievements, but without evidence, your statements are not effective. 

A better way is to back up your statements with concrete examples, quantifiable results, or relevant stories. This is a hugely important reminder for you: provide only evidence-backed statements, it is a powerful tool for making a memorable and convincing case. 

Example for an unevidenced statement: “I am very well organized!”

Example for an evidenced statement: “I am strong in self-organization. I plan the day the night before. Have a visual project overview in a professional tool at all times. Even others on my team ask me to help with organizing and structuring their projects.”