Unless you have impressed someone so much, it is possible that you get interviewed more than once. Unfortunately, there are also times when you don’t even get past the first interview at all. Now before you whine about how companies can sometimes be unfair to potential candidates, you may want to assess yourself first. The chance to get to first base rest in your hands.

Here are the five possible reasons why you’re not given a chance to go through the initial interview:

1. It‘s all in your resume.
Your resume is and will always be a very powerful tool, especially when you are still trying to land a job. Any mistake can work against you. That includes misspellings and grammatical errors. You will less likely receive attention if your qualifications do not match those expected by the employer. Also, a resume without a list of references is considered inferior.

Before you submit your resume, make sure you have checked all the details. Be complete and truthful to all information. Some employers are good in scrutinizing resumes, they can tell which ones are fabricated.

2. You failed the written examination.
Some employers will conduct a written examination before the interview. There are a number of reasons for this, but the primary basis is that a written exam can eliminate those who don’t have enough idea about the job. This way, only the best among the batch of applicants can be prepped for an interview. Surely, you cannot proceed to the next level if you fail the tests.

3. There is someone much better than you.
You might believe that you have what it takes to land the position, but unfortunately, someone could be more qualified than you. This is something you don’t have a control of. You can greatly reduce the chances of being sidestepped by improving your skills.

4. You don’t have the personality.
Just because it is an accounting job, it does not mean you have to be Mr. Grinch. Friendliness, open-mindedness, and a high sense of comfort and trust to people around you still count. A lot of employers do judge people by their gut feel. If they think you are not friendly enough, they may be apprehensive of hiring you. After all, this might mean you are a hard person to talk to.

Certainly, there are some traits you cannot change about yourself, but you can try to be more approachable and confident in dealing with people.

5. You were not just nice.
This is one good reason why you should treat the receptionist or even the security guard properly. You may not be aware of it, but a number of them can actually put a good (or bad) word for you to the employer.

You don’t have to give them special treats when you submit your resume, but make sure you leave a good impression by giving them your sweetest smile or just a simple “Hi!”. This is also an excellent way to get to know more about the company’s culture. Moreover, if you land the job, you already have a potential friend to count on.