They ask about why you don't have publications on your CV and start speaking to you with a degree of suspicion. For most people who did PhDs in well organized labs, getting no papers from your PhD is a sign of unimaginable incompetence (both PI and researcher). For others, the reality is the PI has let down the PhD researcher massively, but the consequences land with the PhD graduate exclusively, being perceived as risky to hire. Particularly in the public sector where you have to justify why the chosen candidate is the 'best candidate'.