Getting interviews but can't land job

Hi all,

I've been getting two interviews per week on average but I'm unable to land a job. I'm a System Engineer with about 5 years experience and I'm in a living in a major IT hub. Any tips on how to land a job? Every interview I went to so far, I feel I did great but I never receive a call back! During the initial phone call the recruiter/HR usually ask for my desired salary, I tell them what I'm looking for, I get phone screened and then a face to face interview. I feel the reason I'm not getting a call back is because maybe I'm asking for to much? I'm going off glassdoor since I don't want to lowball myself. Any input would be appreciated thanks.

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yoba222

Could be salary. I personally feel that glassdoor salary estimates are largely random and useless. I don't know how they get their metrics but the numbers always seem all over the map and don't match the region I live in.

Also could be a mismatch somewhere between what the company expects based on your resume and how you come across in person. Maybe you're promising too much on paper?

Welly_59

Don't mention a figure when asked about salary. Something like "the monetary remuneration alone is only part of the package. It will depend on other benefits and how I see myself progressing while under your employ"

CyberCop123

The salary thing really bugs me. So many companies put "competitive", which is just rediculous.

Let's say a Network Engineer salary could vary between £30'000 - £100'000 depending on the level and it's just impossible to accurately gauge what they are paying for it.

Last month I applied to a big 4 company, after about 10 days I had a phone screening call with HR and told him my salary expectation. He said "yep, ok" and when I asked whether that was in line with their expectation he said he wasn't sure but would submit the details to the senior recruiter.

About 3 weeks later the senior guy rang me and said they weren't looking to pay as much as I had asked for and were about £10k less than what I'm on now.

There's just no way of really guessing with this. Just bugged me that it took about 5 weeks to actually find this out.

Madmd5

That's why it's always a plus when I'm applying for jobs, sometimes the range is provided with the position. Otherwise, most of us really have no idea, only a rough estimate. I guess this just further drives home the fact you should know what YOU are worth in the market, based on your experience, skill set, certs, etc.

Phalanx

If I apply for a job, and they ask what I want for a salary, I literally just reply back with whatever was written on the advert.

Them: "What kind of salary range are you after?"
Me: "Competitive, really..."
Them: "No I mean do you have a value?"
Me: "As long as it's competitive, like the advert stated."

Shuts them up fast. Or:

Them: "What salary are you after?"
Me: "£30k to £80k, depending on experience."
Them: "So are you at the top end or the bottom?"
Me: "That depends on what the employer feels I'm worth."

Works every time.

Hard to argue a point when they're the ones who start vague.

beads

Hold on talking salary till you enter full negotiations. I just say its too early to discuss salary but will look at the entire comp or compensation package before making a decision. Nothing like giving yourself a bit of a mysterious aura. Once you do receive an offer you will see how the market values your worth instead of looking at things from your personal perspective.

Mysterious can be useful in these situations. Use it.

- b/eads

NetworkNewb

I have a hard time believing that the salary is the issue if the recruiter/HR knows how much you want before they send you on to interviews... You almost have to be in their range to get the interview and something in the interview is not working.

Bokeh

If recruiters call you, or HR calls you, ask THEM what someone with your experience, education, etc can expect to make at their office. Make them bring up and quote salary first. If it isn't in your range, then politely decline and move on to someone/somewhere else.

networker050184

NetworkNewb wrote: »

I have a hard time believing that the salary is the issue if the recruiter/HR knows how much you want before they send you on to interviews... You almost have to be in their range to get the interview and something in the interview is not working.

Agreed. That's the point of the initial screening. You wouldn't be sent on to a face to face if your ask was outside of their range. I don't get into the silly salary hiding games most here seem to be fond of.

It sounds like you need to just work on your interviewing skills. Practice, be confident, if you don't know something say so. Nothing worse than trying to interview someone that is BSing their way through.

SteveLavoie

If you are not working then sometime it is better to get a job even if it is not as paying as you want... Being unemployed for a long time is worse than having a job that is not as paying as you want.

If you already have a job, you either want to switch for more money, then say upfront, or you want to switch to a different challenge then you had to take a paycut possibly...

sza

This is what I was thinking as well. Thanks for everyone input. It looks like I need to brush up on my interview skills.

ITSec14

Doesn't make sense why a company would ask salary req, then not hire you because of salary req after the next interview. Typically, they would at least try and negotiate first.

Might just be lots of competition. I've had interviews that didn't go as well, but ended up getting the job anyway. These situations may boil down to who the hiring manager gets along with more as well.

sza

Great news guys, all the interviews I’ve been going to is finally paying off. Most of the places I interviewed at are asking me the same or similar questions and I’m anticipating what they are going to ask before they ask me lol. The lesson I learned is the more interviews you go to the more comfortable you will be. I received a job offer this past week. I also received notice that I’ve made it to two second round interviews at two different companies as well. Does anyone know how long a job offer is typically good for? I’m holding off on signing as I’m confident I will receive another job offer this week.

DoubleNNs

Depends on the company. If you need a few days to think over the offer, ask for it. But don't wait too long.

Could potentially burn some bridges, but if you say ask for 5 days, they give it to you, and you're still waiting to hear from another company at the end of the duration, sign the first offer letter and give a start date. If you get a better offer before your start date, let the original company know and that you won't be able to be employed with them. I've never done this (altho I almost did once, and sort of wish I had in hindsight), but I've seen plenty of other people do it.

joelsfood

So in four days you've gone to no offers to thinking you'll get multiple offers? Seems a little strange there. Listen to DoubleNNs, don't sit on an offer too long if you get one.

Legacy User

joelsfood wrote: »

So in four days you've gone to no offers to thinking you'll get multiple offers? Seems a little strange there.

Its possible that he initially jumped the gun in saying no call back when it seemed that they called him a couple of days after his initial post.