Even in a healthy job market, some people find themselves on the outside looking in. They may look good on paper, have good backgrounds, and seem very employable, but they fail over and over at getting interviews or landing a job.
Having been the person doing the hiring in a number of different industries — retail, media, manufacturing, and even high-end summer camps — I’ve noticed that many people who keep not getting hired make the same mistakes over and over. Some make errors that keep them from getting an interview, while others get that far, but botch the interview.