According to Kim Shepherd, CEO of the recruitment firm Decision Toolbox, it's mostly soft skills, if several rounds of interviews lead nowhere. At later stages of the hiring process interpersonal qualities and behaviours are more important than technical expertise. "It's kind of like dating," Shepherd adds. Hiring managers are thinking, "Do I like talking to you? Are you approachable?"

According to Shepherd, one risk is in getting too approachable and slipping up as a result. It is dangerous to let the professional guard down and become negative for example, criticizing a former employer. Anything negative belongs out of the process.

Before interviewing, it is necessary to understand the company's culture. One company's culture is more collaborative and extroverted than another's, therefore even two candidates who get equally high marks for their soft skills might not be the same fit, depending on what a given employer values.

Rejected job candidates are often counselled to ask for constructive feedback at the end of a hiring process that hasn't landed them a job offer. Most recruiters simply don't have time for that. As a result, many hiring managers either offer vague feedback or simply decline to do so. Shepherd suggests depersonalizing that request in order to learn something really useful. "I'm very interested in working with you," she recommends saying. "If I were to apply for this position again in three to five years, what would make me a viable candidate, in your opinion?"

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Why You Keep Getting Close But Still Aren't Landing Job Offers