Week 5 [16.05-22.05.2016] Job interview

Probably most of us have taken part at least in a couple of recruitment processes. A job interview itself might be one of the most stressful meetings in a life. However, like any skill this can be trained as well. Of course, practice makes perfect but maybe it’s better to learn from other’s mistakes or blunders.

Please, watch the short video below:

Can you point out mistakes the interviewee made?

Surely Philip did not prepare for an interview. However, the study from the Resurgo Trust revealed that recruiters judge interviewees on their ability to make small talk. Candidates who cannot chit-chat before the interview are less likely to be successful in their applications. Probably Philip was intimidated by the other party of the interview, who appeared to be a well-known football player Zlatan Ibrahimović. Nevertheless, Philip was interviewed for a sale role so he should have better communication skill.

Some people may say that Philip is not good at a causal talk, but he also awkwardly described his strengths. A recent survey from PurpleCV revealed the eight most overused buzzwords candidates use. “Team player” was the third most common cliché recruiters are tired of hearing. You should also avoid terms like “hard working”, “reliable” or “passionate”. Such information are just empty words, especially when a person doesn’t elaborate on them. Something similar applies to the interests section in a resume. People mention activities that might be great points to start with and maintain casual talk but appear to be only fillers. People write that they are book lovers, but when asked what book they have read recently it turns out it is “fifty shades of grey” half a year ago. It also happens that an interviewer shares your “hobby” and can easily detect insincerity. I know a situation when an interviewee claimed he liked climbing and to his misfortune he was interviewed by a climber who was willing to ask some specific questions. In the end the interviewee admitted he had climbed three times indoors and only because he had to get a passing grade from PE classes.

Philip failed to answer a question strictly related to the company he applied to. But sometimes interviewees are asked questions that may seem abstract. I personally was asked once to estimate how many diapers are sold in Poland during a year. That was a peculiar moment in my life indeed… You can’t prepare for such type of questions, especially that the only good response for those does not exists. However, I found and interesting list of killer questions asked by some CEOs and I encourage you to read through:
We got 10 CEOs to tell us their one killer interview question for new hires

These questions are not so bizarre and seem very ordinary to me. But what’s interesting answers to such questions reveal information about a person. It is interesting that these questions don’t evaluate any technical or substantive skills. It seems that soft skills of employees are more important to C-level management. It’s another reason to practice such skills if you your career really matters to you.   

1. What are your experiences with job interviews and recruitment in general?
2. How do you or would you prepare for a job interview?
3. Have you ever been interviewed by a CEO or someone at a very high level of management? What do you think about such interviews?
4. Do you know any curious interview questions or techniques?

sources:

1. ‘The Importance of Small Talk’ – Spear receives widespread news coverage
2. 8 over-used CV clichés recruiters are tired of reading
3. We got 10 CEOs to tell us their one killer interview question for new hires