HR Manager Confessional: An Interviewee’s 7 Deadly Sins
Congratulations, your stand-out resume earned you an interview! Next up is your meeting with me: the Hiring Manager. Interviewing is a skill and takes years of practice. Rather than learning from your mistakes, learn from the mistakes of others. I’ve conducted hundreds of interviews over the years, and there are some persistent pitfalls I see over and over again. Avoid these seven sins to help you stand out in your next interview.
1. Reading me your resume
I start every interview with “tell me about yourself”. It’s always interesting what candidates want me to know about them. However, an overwhelming number of people just rehash their resume. Your resume already got you in the door! Instead, use this opportunity to tell me your “why”: why did you apply for this position? Why are you passionate about your chosen career or industry? Tell me your purpose, your mission, what drives you. I also want to get a better understanding of your personality. I’m trying to assess compatibility and who you are. Don’t shy away from mentioning what is important to you both at and outside of work. What do you value in the workplace? Are you a member of any relevant organizations? How do you like to spend your free time? It’s great if you also want to emphasize a few key accomplishments from your work experience but stick to the highlight reel.
2. Drawing a blank
Ever forgotten every detail of your career when asked for examples of your experience? Situational questions often fluster candidates, so do some prep work to help you keep calm when these inevitable questions arise. Prepare about 4 scenarios in advance. Think of your accomplishments, conflicts you navigated, problems you resolved, and times you took on a leadership role. Summarize these instances in bullet point form rather than full sentences, and practice saying them out loud. This will help you to easily recall the facts and speak freely on the topic without sounding like you’re reading a script. An interviewer may ask a question you haven’t prepared for, and it’s perfectly okay to ask for a moment to think. Use the CARL framework – Context, Action, Result, Learnings – to help you reflect on your experience and show its value.
3. Telling me a bogus weakness
What is your biggest weakness? This question is not a trap! It feels counterintuitive to tell an interviewer your deep dark secret, and I can tell when a candidate approaches the question this way – the answer is never genuine. I would estimate that about half of the people I’ve interviewed have responded with some version of “I work TOO hard” or “I’m a perfectionist”. Avoid cliches and reframe the question. What I’m really looking for is how self-aware you are. Avoid using a personality feature that is hard to change (perfectionism, overthinking, neuroticism, etc.), anything too cheesy (“I care too much”, or a joke answer), or something that is a dealbreaker (like a front desk agent who doesn’t like dealing with people). Instead, choose a skills-based example – explain why it’s a problem, why it’s important to change, and what you’ve been doing about it. Outlining a tangible problem and actionable steps shows you recognize your weakness, you’re willing to put in the work, and you can take constructive criticism.
4. Lack of research
Countless times I have asked an interviewee what they know about the company and it’s clear they barely did a google search. It leaves me wondering how much you care about where you work. Do your research! Check out recent press – find interviews or news stories to learn more about the culture, current challenges, or future plans. Scope out social media – follow the company on multiple platforms. There are often important updates, profiles on leaders, and other interesting tidbits. Request an informational interview – reach out to existing or previous employees in your network to find out about their experiences with the company. Visit the establishment – If able, go check out the company in person. Try their product, use their service, or just observe.
5. Not interviewing me back
It is common knowledge that asking questions is a best practice when it comes to interviews. Remember that you as the candidate are also interviewing me: we are assessing whether we are a mutual fit. But did you know you don’t have to wait until the end? The best interviews are conversations and asking questions throughout creates more of a two-way exchange as well as balancing out the power dynamic. For example, if asked “what is your preferred leadership style?”, you can follow up your answer by inquiring “does that align with the kind of leadership style that is rewarded at this company?”.
6. Forgetting to follow up
There must be mutual interest to move to the next step in the interview process, so make your intentions known. A follow up email underlines your professionalism and how much you want the job. It doesn’t need to be long, but should include reiterating why you are interested in the role and circling back to something you discussed or learned during the interview. Don’t wait too long, you never know how quickly the company is making their decisions. The sweet spot is within 48 hours. It’s okay to follow up again if you haven’t heard back in about a week.
7. Losing your confidence
Interviews are intimidating, but remember that even getting the interview is HUGE! Congratulations! Wear something that makes you feel powerful and take note of your body language. For example, if you are prone to fidgeting with your hair then tie it back. The company already sees your potential, now they want to get to know you. You are a top candidate, and this is your opportunity to share (and brag a little) about your accomplishments. So give me gumption! Show me savvy! Project positivity! You have so much value to add, so carry yourself with confidence. You are a woman of worth, after all.
About Paige Atyeo
Paige Atyeo has been working in Tourism and Hospitality in Vancouver for over ten years. She started as a tour guide & bus driver and has since worked in hotels in Front Office, Sales, Events, and most recently Human Resources. Since the pandemic, she is also part owner of a small business in the Interior Design industry called Just Ask Eh. Paige is currently on maternity leave with her son and enjoys workout classes, bingeing Netflix, and walking her dog Pretzel in her Mount Pleasant neighbourhood.