10 Reasons Why You Didn’t Get The Job (That Has Nothing to Do With You)
As recruiters who have seen thousands of job offers and rejections — including our own — we know that getting rejected from a job sucks. As candidates, you just want to know why, but the reality is you’ll never entirely get the closure you want. Getting rejected is either about you or not. If it’s about you, a company might offer feedback, but it won’t take away the sting of rejection. Sometimes, if it’s really not about you, the company probably won’t disclose anything since that could put someone else, or the whole organization, in jeopardy.
While getting rejected sucks, there are a lot of instances where it’s simply not about you. In this article, we’re sharing a few of the major reasons we’ve seen candidates get rejected from job applications that have absolutely nothing to do with them. And while this list is non-exhaustive, we hope it sheds light on some of the most common, yet unspoken, reasons behind job rejections.
Sometimes it really, honestly, truly is not about you.
1 — Role Restructuring
If you’ve been rejected but seemed to fit every single thing on the job description, it’s possible the role was simply restructured. The 2023 Jobvite report found that 20% of job openings are withdrawn or restructured during the hiring process due to market volatility or changes in business priorities.
The hiring process can take upwards of a month (in some cases over 40 days, according to a 2023 SHRM report). While that doesn’t seem like a long time, the reality is that business priorities can switch overnight, especially if your hiring process takes place over a quarter or year-end.
2 — The company realized they didn’t need the role
Depending on how a role came to be, it’s possible the business realized they didn’t need the role anymore. Here are some instances when we’ve seen a role become obsolete in an organization:
An anticipated market shift that never happened.
The personal desire of a leader who left the organization.
General company restructuring.
The hiring manager didn’t think through the role before interviewing candidates.
In fact, a 2024 study by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics revealed that companies facing significant revenue loss or unexpected external events like lawsuits or market disruptions saw a 15% decrease in active job openings, resulting in role cancellations.
3 — Preferential Treatment (Bias)
Most companies have a policy of giving first dibs to existing employees or referrals when it comes to new roles. While this can be super effective and less risky for companies, it means that talented candidates, like you, who don’t come through a 1st or 2nd degree connection may be rated lower in the interview process. It’s a form of bias that prioritizes "familiarity" over talent, which doesn’t always result in the best hire.
LinkedIn estimates that 85% of jobs in 2023 were filled through referrals, meaning internal candidates or those referred by employees often have a significant advantage over external applicants. While we understand why companies use this approach, we recommend they don’t structure their entire hiring strategy around it. It can lead to missing out on skilled individuals who just happen to be outside of their network.
4 — The role’s core tasks were broken down and distributed
Sometimes a company will look for a new hire on a role that’s maybe 80% complete, in anticipation of more work coming to that new hire quickly. But if that new work doesn’t materialize, most companies will break down the core tasks of the role and distribute them to other team members. This is done as a cost-saving measure or an opportunity for internal promotion, giving someone a raise but still spending less money than hiring a new person.
5 — Significant client or revenue loss
Unfortunately, headcount is one of the biggest, if not the biggest, expenses a company has. So when the company faces significant revenue or client losses, they are likely to stop all hiring first. This directly impacts the team associated more (for example, if you were applying to be a customer success manager), but can reach teams further down, including any admin roles.
As mentioned earlier, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics noted that revenue or client losses caused a 15% reduction in job openings in 2024, underscoring how quickly hiring plans can change due to financial challenges.
6 — Favours and backchannels between CEOs
In many small startup ecosystems, CEOs might have a pact to not hire or poach from each other’s companies. These CEOs were usually all friends at a previous company or knew each other from college, and each promises to ignore candidates that come from the other’s company.
If you’re thinking “isn’t that illegal?” the short answer is yes. However, some CEOs get around this by leaning on ‘culture fit’ arguments to deny a candidate once they see their friend’s company on a resume. This is something a strong recruiter or hiring manager who has gone through our Building For Inclusion training will know how to call out. But, if folks in the interview process haven’t been trained on bias, they will likely let this (not okay) thing slide.
7 — Your name got lost
This might cause you to eye-roll or shake your head, but it’s true. Not all companies use high-quality applicant tracking system (ATS) software, and your name could genuinely have just gotten lost. This is especially possible for scaling startups or large organizations that are getting hundreds of applications for one or two spots.
A report by Greenhouse, a leading ATS provider, found in 2023 that 40% of applicants are never reviewed due to ATS software misclassifications or tech failures, which highlights just how easy it is for a candidate’s name to get lost in the system.
8 — The company got hit with something unexpected
Any major news — good or bad — can put a temporary freeze on hiring. On the good side, something like closing a major client, releasing a new product evolution, or even closing a fundraising round could mean leadership needs to reevaluate all hiring and potentially stop it for a short period of time. On the bad side, something like a lawsuit, a leader doing something illegal, or a major layoff could put a damper on hiring.
9 — The hiring manager isn’t that great at hiring
This might sound weird, but it’s true. Sometimes, the person in charge of filling the role just isn’t that good at the job. You know what they say, right? The number one job hiring managers aren’t trained on is hiring! That’s not to say they are incompetent, but a lot of people get thrust into hiring manager-style roles without proper training or experience. When that happens, it’s easy to overlook a candidate who probably would crush it in the role (and you may end up being that person).
A 2023 report by SHRM found that 30% of hiring managers received no formal training in recruitment and interviewing practices, leading to mistakes that may result in otherwise strong candidates being overlooked.
10 — The company went with a referral
LinkedIn estimates that upwards of 85% of jobs in 2023 were filled via referral. So you might be the perfect candidate, interview well, and be liked by everyone, but a referral could easily get put in at the last minute. It’s a case of “positive bias” — assuming that someone must be a better candidate because they were referred in versus a candidate they don’t know (you). It’s not always fair, but it can happen, especially if the person who referred the candidate is well-regarded at the company.
Now, we know that referrals can contribute to homogenous workplaces. At Bloom, we love a great referral, but we know that they don’t help to build truly inclusive companies that reflect the communities we are all looking to serve (and sell to). So, let’s try to cut down on the referrals, shall we? I know your pals from Queens are really awesome, but we can’t hire all of them.
Our advice? Dust off and move on!
Getting rejected can feel like a punch in the gut, and sometimes you won’t get any feedback. However, the job search — like any endeavour — is bound to come with some rejection along the way. We know that hearing a list of reasons, even a non-exhaustive one, may not be comforting when you need a job or really wanted an opportunity, but there’s a lot going on in the job world and a lot of people hiring, so don’t give up.
5 Ways to Move On After Job Rejection:
Give yourself time: It’s okay to feel disappointed, but make sure to process your emotions and give yourself some time to regroup before jumping into the next application.
Ask for feedback: While not all companies will offer it, requesting feedback can give you valuable insights for future interviews and help you grow.
Keep improving your skills: Take the opportunity to learn or strengthen skills related to the jobs you’re applying for. It can boost your confidence and make you more competitive.
Network: Connect with others in your industry. Sometimes, the best opportunities come through networking and personal connections.
Stay positive: Rejection is tough, but keep moving forward. Every “no” gets you closer to a “yes.”
PS. Send this article to a friend who’s job searching and feeling the weight of rejection right now. It might help remind them that sometimes, it’s really not about them—and offer a little comfort during a tough time.