Avoid Common Interview Mistakes Most Hiring Managers Make

To err is human. Volumes have been written about mistakes candidates make during interviews, but what about hiring managers? We make mistakes too – many of them. Let’s take a critical look at some of the most prevalent of our interviewing missteps.

Arriving Late

If a candidate arrives late to an interview it can be the kiss of death. After all they are being disrespectful of you and your time. But what if you’re late? You’re the boss and you’re busy so certainly this isn’t a big deal. Actually, it is a big deal. It isn’t so much that you are disrespecting the applicant’s time, though that is a real consideration. Beyond that you are setting a tone that yells that you are more important than they are.

Not Reading Resume Beforehand

You require your staff to be prepared and knowledgeable. Expect the same from yourself. If you arrive to an interview, take out the candidate’s resume and begin to read it for the first time it sends a couple of instant messages to the applicant. First you are telling them that you are not prepared for the interview. Secondly this is showing the candidate that they are not important. Take the time beforehand to review all resumes. It will demonstrate your leadership skills and allow you to ask better questions.

Asking Irrelevant Questions

We’ve all heard about silly questions recruiters will ask candidates. I admit it would be fun to find out if someone would choose invisibility or the ability to fly as their superpower, it isn’t pertinent. Irrelevant questions aren’t limited to these silly inquiries. They can be as simple as asking a mailroom applicant to describe their team building experience. Whatever form these questions take, they always result in wasting your valuable time.

Being Disengaged

You have a lot on your plate and having a vacancy to fill is adding another helping to the already full dish. It’s tempting to check your email, text, and/or voicemail, but it’s never appropriate to do that during an interview. Obviously, it disrespects the candidate’s time, however it is also disrespectful of your time. You owe it to yourself and the company to be fully engaged during every interview so that you can make the best hire possible.

Being Biased

The first step to overcoming bias is to realize that everyone is biased. The second step is to look internally and come to terms with your biases. If you are aware of them, you can recognize when you are leaning into them.

Danielle Foppe is a Recruitment Manager at Business Centric Technology. If you are interested in learning more about how to get the best IT talent in the Dallas metroplex, contact Danielle specializes in recruiting IT talent in Dallas, Ft. Worth and North Texas. If you are looking for a rewarding career contact us today.