You’re landing interviews left and right, but you never actually get the job. For the umpteenth time, your inbox is filled with a string of rejection emails. Now what? First, take a deep breath. Next, dive into what’s keeping you from landing those jobs by asking the right questions.

“Why am I not getting hired?”

You got your foot in the door with a solid cover letter and resume. However, you still need to spotlight your qualifications and experience in the interview. Sometimes we have experiences that may not be relevant to put on every resume, but they are important to the specific company or role. Accent your unique skills and capabilities while telling a memorable story.

What does “better fit” even mean?

You’ve gone through every rejection letter, and most of them use the dreaded “better fit” line. But what does “better fit” or “different direction” actually mean? Sometimes you did everything right, but another candidate just had more experience. In this case, continue to portray yourself in the best light and maintain a positive relationship with the company and hiring manager.

Bullets to a better fit.

If you’re still struggling with figuring out why you always receive rejection letters, go through the list below. These are common reasons as to why you may not get an offer. Check the bullets that you can relate to the most and keep a copy if you have to.

• I have unrealistic salary expectations.
• I don’t dress appropriately for the job.
• I don’t have the right amount of confidence.
• My work experience shows I hop from one job to the next within a couple months.
• I am applying for jobs where I barely meet the requirements.
• I am applying for jobs where I greatly exceed the requirements.
• I have a negative attitude during the interview.
• I have no character references (or bad ones).
• I forget to smile.
• I don’t come off as a team player.
• I show a lack of passion.

How many bullet points did you check? Don’t worry if multiple aspects applied to you, everything can be worked on and remedied. The key is not to under qualify, or over qualify. You just need to be who you are, as a candidate with a specific skillset that speaks for itself on paper and in real life.