Aced the interview but didn't get the job? This may be why

It’s the most frustrating thing. You’ve already started drafting your resignation letter in your head after what seemed like the third amazing interview with the company of your dreams. You’ve already planned your goodbye speech to your colleagues because you're sure you're going to land the job. But then, to your surprise, you find out that the company decided to move forward with another candidate and you’re left confused and back to square one, even though you were certain they loved you.

The truth is, they probably did love speaking to you and getting to know you, but here’s why they probably decided to hire someone else:

You were a culture fit but not a role fit.
During the interviews, you could have blown them away with the way you aligned with their mission and values. They could have made facial expressions to imply they were impressed with your responses. They could have even laughed at your jokes and loved your personality.

But ultimately, they might have decided to go with someone else because they weren’t quite sure if you could fulfill the needs of the specific role they were hiring for at the time. You might have focused too much on the company and not enough on how your experience aligns with the role. This could’ve been the case for you if they suggested you would be a better fit for another role entirely or if they shared that they genuinely would like to stay connected with you and will keep you in mind for other opportunities.

They weren’t sure if it would be a long-term fit for you.
This might not seem critical, especially at a time when layoffs have become the norm, but long-term fit is still an important aspect to some organizations when determining whether or not they should hire someone. This is because hiring costs time and money, and the wrong hire could have a negative impact on the company and team.

While you may have had several interviews that seemingly went well, they could have chosen to go with someone else because they were uncertain if you truly wanted to work at their company. Sure, you might have liked the role and knew you would do a good job in the position, but if you left them wondering if you actually care about their products and services or the goals they’re working towards, then that could have been a red flag that made them lean in different direction.

You didn’t show how you would solve their specific problems.
If you’re someone with an impeccable background who has delivered unquestionable results in your various roles, then there’s no doubt that any company would be impressed with your track record. During interviews, you might even hear comments about how pleased they are with your resume and what you’ve done thus far. But, unfortunately, compliments don’t always lead to job offers.

So, although you might have been one of their top candidates because of your background, if you didn’t point out the specific skills, results, and accomplishments that prove you could solve their challenges, then they could have moved forward with the candidate who was crystal clear on the specific ways their experience would be valuable to the company.

Now that you know where you might have misstepped, it could be tempting to beat yourself up about it. But, don’t. The fact that you've landed interviews is proof that you can land the job, and by elevating how communicate the skills you bring to the table, you’ll improve your chances of securing the job offer you desire and deserve.