Tina writes: I have been looking for another job as I left my most recent job due to gender discrimination.

1 I get a lot of interviews, but not the job offers. What could I be doing wrong?

2 I do not mention to employer why I quit. If asked, I tell them “I am looking at new long-range opportunities.”

3 I dress very business-like for all interviews.

Please help!!

The Career Doctor responds: Tina, first I have to say I’m sorry to hear about your former employer’s discrimination; it’s a shame that these things still happen.

Now to your question: there could be a whole host of reasons why you’re not getting from the interview to the job offer stage, but if in fact you are getting interviews, the obvious answer is that you probably have one or more flaws occurring during the interview.

While I don’t really like your answer to the question of why you left your last job, it’s not totally a deal-breaker. Remember, though, looking at new long-range opportunities sounds as though you are considering a career change, or at best, not really a team player; perhaps a bit selfish. It’s better to state that you had reached a plateau in the organization and there was no direction to go except, unfortunately, to look outside the organization. Perhaps just as important, though, is how you state the answer — don’t hesitate, and be positive and confident in your response.

Other questions to ask yourself: Have you dressed to the level of your potential employers (which may be more formal than “business-like”), have you answered all the other interview questions strongly, have you researched the companies and showcased your knowledge, have you asked intelligent questions of the employer, have you asked for the job - or at least asked about the next step in the process, have you written thank-you notes to all the people who interviewed you, have you followed-up your interviews with a phone call.

Also, do you know what your references are saying about you? You might want to hire one of these job references services.

A final strategy for finding a solution might be to summon up the nerve to ask one of the people who interviewed you, perhaps one you felt some rapport with, why you did not get a second interview or the job offer. Hopefully that person will be honest and you can move forward from there. I also strongly recommend that you take advantage of some of the great interviewing resources available on Quintessential Careers.

Special Note to all Female Job-Seekers: My partner, Katharine Hansen, offers a truly powerful new article, 10 Career Strategies for Women, examining strategies women can and should use to shatter the glass ceiling and lack of pay equity. It’s must-read material!