With such a high turnover rate, our workforce is facing tremendous challenges when it comes to sourcing qualified candidates. The Great Resignation has shown that low pay, no opportunities for advancement, and feeling disrespected as the culprits. As a result, demand for qualified candidates has drastically increased within the past two years alone. What does this mean for you? As a result, the interview process has become a challenge for those actively seeking new positions. Furthermore, leaving candidates to work even harder and answer complex questions from Hiring Managers throughout the interview.
In this post, we’ll touch base on what’s really occurring backstage when it comes to interviews. Firstly, relating true, and honest, feedback from hiring managers immediately after a bombed interview due to an inability to answer the question. Secondly, I’m going to share a few interview tips that have been successfully proven to work. Lastly, diving deeper into possible ways to combat your interview question fears.
As the Managing Director for Kore Recruiters, I’m able to receive firsthand feedback from hiring managers on all levels. Likewise, candidate feedback has been most helpful in determining the perfect balance for the interview process.
Feedback Recruiters Don’t Want to (Yet Do) Hear from Hiring Manager After an Interview
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- “Resume, excellent, but s/he couldn’t explain their skills. They could have been lying on their resume. Pass.”
- “I took a chance knowing that his/her resume hadn’t impressed me, but now, I’m sure. Pass.”
- “The candidate spoke over me and that was quite annoying. S/he didn’t seem to realize it and that is someone that won’t be able to listen when necessary. Pass.”
- “I asked him/her to answer a simple question regarding implementing a new software. S/he went on and on about three other software. More importantly, s/he never even answered my question. Pass.”
- “Great on paper, but terrible in person. S/he couldn’t stop shaking. Nervous people won’t work in this environment. I need someone who will be able to clearly explain project details to their team. Pass.”
Tips to Tackle Interview Questions
A. Know your skills. Believe in yourself. Show confidence when answering questions.
Practice makes perfect. If you’re unable to explain your skills during an interview, how should you expect the hiring manager to be able to properly assess your ability to do the job? They won’t be able to, and you’ll be left out of consideration for the role. In other words, find a speech method that works for you or join a speaking organization to better assist you with your fears. Toast Masters International is an excellent organization that has assisted millions of individuals tackle their fears of public speaking.
B. Remember to outsell your resume. Don’t allow your resume to outsell you.
Perhaps you hired a writing professional to produce you a top-notch resume. Meanwhile, you begin to apply to positions that pique your interest. You’ve successfully made it through the prescreen phase. Now it’s time for the interview. Don’t allow that resume to outsell your physical self. For instance, who you are and what makes you the perfect candidate for the role. If you aren’t prepared, you will bomb the interview. Therefore, it’s up to you to master the ability to outshine your resume. I suggest spending some time with your new resume. Take it section by section and figure out how you can dive deeper into each section.
C. Never ever over speak the Interviewee.
This one’s a biggie. Time and time again I hear this exact statement from hiring managers. Likewise, there are times in which I find myself unable to push an applicant forward because they did this same exact thing to me while on a prescreen or interview. There are many ways to tackle this situation. For example, grab a close friend or confidant and ask if they’d hold a mock interview with you. Have them ask you a few key questions that could be found by a quick google search. Take note of how many times you interrupted them. Work from there. The goal is zero times. Practice makes perfect.
D. Provide the answer to the question that was asked. Do not go off in a tangent.
Yet, another biggie. If you’re asked about oranges, then your answer should refer to oranges. Not apples. Not bananas. Certainly not what you had for breakfast that morning. Stick to the question at hand. Focus and if you’re unsure of the interview questions, ask for them to be repeated. It’s highly unlikely that you’d be scorned for doing suck. It shows you are willing to ask for assistance when needed to ensure you get the task completed. There’s been plenty of times I have blanked out on a candidate during an interview. If you can’t keep the interviewee’s attention, you’ve already lost.
For example, if you are asked to provide a case scenario of a time in which you helped a company save on its’ budget, provide one example. If you’re eager to provide a second example, ask the interviewee if it would be necessary to do so. If you’re asked to explain your interest in the role, stick to the interview question at hand. Do not describe your childhood and how you’ve come to be where you are now. To sum it up, make it short, sweet and precise unless you’ve been asked to elaborate on your answer.
E. Exhibit calmness because it exudes confidence.
Perhaps you have a medical condition that prevents you from remaining calm during stressful situations. It could be that you drank a triple shot of expresso prior to your interview. Whatever the case may be, find the best method possible to remain calm and at ease throughout an interview. Interview questions could cause anxiety. This is common knowledge. However, only the best succeeds. Try to meditate 15-minutes before your interview. Refrain from sugary drinks at least three hours before your interview. Calmness exudes confidence and I have witnessed many highly qualified, if not over-qualified, candidates make it to the interview and lose their chance simply because of their inability to demonstrate a poised self. Don’t be that person.