Confessions of an Interviewer

by Mary White

I hate interviewing job candidates. I hate having openings that need to be filled. I want my company to be fully staffed at all times. When turnover results in an open position, productivity slows down. When I have to spend time looking for someone to fill an open position, productivity slows down. When I have to spend time training a new person to do a new job, productivity slows down. Do you see a pattern here?

My primary concern when interviewing job candidates is to find the best person for the job. I don’t want to interview hundreds of people to get to the one I should hire. When you are in front of me during an interview, I’m looking for a sign that you are a good candidate for the job. I want to hire you. If I can hire you, I don’t have to keep looking for the right person for the job. Instead, I can start training you and get back on the path to productivity.

All you have to do is convince me that you will be the best choice to fill the position. You have to let me know that you have both the ability and the desire to do the job, and that you are likely to be a successful long-term employee. You also have to let me know that you aren’t likely to cause me a lot of headaches as your manager.

When you show up for your interview on time, you are telling me that you understand the importance of punctuality. I like punctual employees. Punctuality leads to productivity. On the other hand, when you are late for your interview with me, you are telling me that I won’t be able to count on you to be where you are supposed to be when you are supposed to be there. When I have to deal with tardiness and absenteeism, I get a headache and productivity slows down.

When you dress properly for your interview, you tell me that you understand the importance of a professional appearance. You tell me that you respect the workplace and its policies. However, when you wear clothes to the interview that don’t even meet the minimum standards for the company’s dress policy, you are telling me that you just don’t comprehend one of the most basic components of professionalism. I don’t have time to teach new employees how to exercise good judgment when it comes to their attire. When I have to deal with dress code violation issues, I get a headache and productivity slows down.

When you tell me that you left your last job because your boss was a jerk and all of your co-workers hated you, you are telling me that you lack professional communication ability and are likely to be a disruptive influence in my workplace. You are telling me that there is a good chance that you have a problem with authority. Even if your former boss really was a jerk, don’t tell me that. If I hire you, then I’m going to be your next boss. What will you tell people about me? I don’t know if the problem at your last job was with you or with your boss. All I know is that if you are saying bad things about your last boss to me on the day we meet, that you are likely to make negative statements about me as well. When I have to deal with employees who can’t play nicely with their co-workers or supervisors, I get a headache and productivity slows down.

When you tell me that you really want to work for my company because you will learn a lot of new things, you are telling me that you aren’t likely to be a long-term employee. I’m not hiring you so that I can teach you what I know. I need to hire someone who is interested in making a contribution to my organization. I need to hear how you can contribute to my company when I am interviewing you for a job. When an employee views a job as a learning opportunity, he or she will likely choose to leave the job within a relatively short period of time. When I have to deal with turnover, I get a headache and productivity slows down.

Simply said, I need to know that you are going to make my work life easier instead of making it more difficult. Companies hire employees for the positive contributions they can make to the organization in terms of productivity. If I invite you to interview with me, I am looking for a reason to hire you. Don’t talk yourself out of the job. If you can convince me that you have the ability and desire to do the job, a good attitude, are trainable, and are likely to fit in well with the other members of my team, you’re hired!

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