You're Great At Your Job, Why Aren't You Getting Hired?

Forbes

5 hours ago

You've never been shy about working hard, and it shows. You're the go-to person at work. The one your clients trust to get things done. The leader your team looks to for next steps. You don't mind putting in the time, effort, and energy to succeed in your career.
But now that you're ready for a new job elsewhere, you can hardly land an interview. And, the few interviews you have landed always seem to go nowhere. You can't help but wonder if it's the economy, the job market, or maybe even you.
But, here's something you may not have considered: the skills that help you succeed on the job are not the same skills that will help you get hired. Landing a new job requires you to operate differently than you're used to in your current role. Here are four signs you're relying on the wrong skills to land your next job.
You're Good at Everything & Can't Decide What's Next
As a top performer at work, you're likely used to tackling whatever gets thrown your way. That random fire before product launch day? You're on it. Need to secure a new partnership before the end of Q3? Handled. You're the person others trust to get anything and everything done. Still, while you're great at many things, you haven't stopped to ask yourself, 'What do I really want to do next?' Being good at your job can increase your visibility at work. But without clear direction, you'll end up with a scattered job search that doesn't help you land job offers.
You're Hoping Your Track Record Will Speak for You
Being a high-achiever comes with its perks. Eventually, your team and colleagues start to notice the projects you've worked on and the results you've delivered without you having to say much. Your success may even lead to a promotion or an unexpected raise. But when searching for your next career move, it hardly works the same way. Unlike in the office, where you're surrounded by familiar faces, landing your next role requires you to position your skills, experience, and results in front of strangers. You can't afford to wait for your track record to speak for you. You have to speak about it. It's a skill you may not have much practice with, but it's one you'll need if you want to land a role where you're truly valued.
You Struggle to Own Your Impact
Because you're naturally good at your job, it's easy to overlook the importance of the work you do. Maybe you brush it off when your manager celebrates you in a team meeting. Or, perhaps you give credit to the entire team without acknowledging your own contributions, even silently. You might be able to get by downplaying your impact when you're coasting at work, but not when you're ready for a new job. When you overlook your value, others tend to do the same. That doesn't mean you have to be the loudest in the room. But you do need to own what makes you credible, capable, and trusted to solve real problems.
You Have a Plan for Everything, Except This
Would your friends describe you as ambitious, driven, and organized? Do you like to have a plan for everything, even if it's just a rough draft in your head? If so, one of the main reasons you might be struggling to get hired, despite your qualifications, is because you don't have a clear strategy for landing your next role. At work, it's easy to rely on your manager or senior leadership to set the direction for the next quarter or fiscal year. But, in your job search, you have to get in the driver's seat and decide on the best route to get where you want to go. You can't wait for recruiters or referrals to fall in your lap. Like everything else you do, you need a strategy that gets you noticed and puts you in control of your next move.
You already know how to succeed on the job. But, getting the next one? That requires a different set of skills. It starts with clarity on what you want, confidence in what you bring, positioning that helps you stand out, and a strategy that actually works in today's market. Adunola Adeshola coaches high-achievers on how to land new jobs they love without endlessly applying, starting over or settling for less. She shares more career insights on The Level Up Podcast.