So a while back, I shared things that people are doing on job interviews that are actually blocking their blessings. Some of y'all thought the tips were common sense, but if it was common sense, why are people still doing them?
People then responded with MORE tips you should keep in mind while on the job hunt. So, here are some things you need to remember at your next interview:
1. Show managers why you care about the job (hint: not just for the money).
"If you apply, we are looking for someone who will care about their job no matter what it is. We want someone who is willing to learn, not someone who just wants a paycheck. As managers we have to coach and train you. If you're unwilling, then why would we want that on our team? We deal with a lot every day — the last thing we need is an employee who doesn't care."
2. Think before you speak.
"I was hiring someone to join a creative team for marketing and events. I asked him what type of personalities he struggles working with, and how he overcomes those challenges. He answered, 'I don't like graphic designers.' He then proceeded to explain why they're awful instead of how he overcame challenges. Well, I'm hiring for a creative team, so why on earth would I hire someone who doesn't like an entire category of creatives?"
3. Be persistent, not annoying.
"There is a very fine line between persistence and annoyance. Calling once in a while to see if your application went through? Good. Check every so often. Calling once a day or more often? Likely you're not getting hired because it's likely the boss is going, 'THEM AGAIN?'"
4. Don't make enemies or burn bridges.
"I am the director of marketing in a company and constantly interview people. I've seen a LOT of things, but the worst was this guy who actually started an argument with me during the interview. He raised his voice and kept arguing. I ended the interview because he was being rude and he went on to ask me about an employee of ours. He said, 'Does so and so work here? Because, man, I've heard shit about him. He sucks.' Anyways, fast-forward about six months, one of my managers is interviewing people and I get called for a quick second interview with someone who had potential. Yep, SAME FREAKING GUY! I couldn't believe it. I was just like, NOPE. When I left the room, he told the manager that I was a rude bitch. He applied for a third job in the company recently, but obviously no one even called him back."
5. Obviously, don't be a jerk.
"No matter how good someone may be at the role, no matter how much experience they have, no matter what they present as their metrics in past roles, if they're cocky or an ass it's an immediate pass. We hire for company culture — I can teach skills, but I can't teach attitude. We hire as a complete management team (there are six of us) and if anyone is on the fence, we pass."
6. Express what you bring to the company, and not just what the company brings to you.
"When the employer says, 'Tell me why you’re the person I should hire,' explain why you are good for the company, not why the job would be good for you. I had so many people answer that with, 'I really need this job.' Okay, so do 20 other people. I’m not making hiring decisions based on your needs, but on my company's needs."
7. Take the initiative to research the company and bring something to the table.
"I was interviewing for an inside sales job. I had relevant experience, and I did research on the company. During my first interview, I presented potential sales leads. They immediately offered me the job. The hiring manager told me it was the first time anyone had ever done that in an interview and they needed someone with initiative. The leads were wholly wrong for the company but he knew with a little guidance I would be able to come up with the right leads. From that experience and subsequent interviews and jobs, I've learned that results matter more than experience, and having initiative and the ability to work independently can go a long way."
8. Don't speak down to the person interviewing you (or anyone, really)...
"We were interviewing for my position before I went on maternity leave. This woman apparently thought because she was older than me (by like 20-plus years) she could speak down to me. I was one of four people asking her standard interview questions. When I asked her about multitasking, she said with a scoff, 'Sweetie, I've raised five children; you can't do that without multitasking.' Don't call the person who will be your direct boss 'sweetie' in an interview."
9. ...and don't be rude to people you think can't do anything for you.
"Many moons ago when I was fresh out of school doing entry-level receptionist jobs, I can't tell you how many people were assholes to me when they came in for their interview and then turned on the charm for the interviewers. The hiring manager and others would always ask me what I thought. Some people definitely did not get the job because they were jerks to me and vice versa."
10. Don't ghost your interview or lie to the hiring manager.
"I do a lot of interviews for a business professional call center and can't tell you how many times we've been ghosted by interviewees. Also, people lie on their résumés ALL the time and they lie in their interviews. They'll say they left their last job on good terms but we find out they were fired, or they omit the 20 other jobs they've had in the last three years on their résumé. My job forgoes drug tests in favor of a more rigorous background check, and I can tell you that weeds out a lot more folks than a drug test would."
11. Don't say you want someone's job.
"I was doing peer interviews for a position on the level with mine, which is a mid-level professional position. We had an adult intern who had been with us that summer come in for an interview. One of us asked her where she saw herself in five years and, I kid you not, she said, 'I'd really like _____'s job.' Never tell someone in an interview you are gunning for their friend's job!"
12. Dress for the job and be mindful of your body language.
"Dress to impress; look and act like you want the job. Dress like you’re showing up for work, perhaps scope out beforehand to see what the other people wear, and go for a tidy version of that. Definitely avoid clothes that are damaged or dirty. If you can, do some research and pick up or refresh yourself on the jargon. Use your words and body language to show you’re a good team player who can do the job. Never underestimate body language, because it can say a lot about you."
13. Be mindful of how people are interpreting you, even BEFORE your interview.
"Advice I gave to an intern in the new cohort of my old program: Take your AirPods out before you get to the sign-in area. You’re at a job interview; look like it."
14. Understand what you're signing up for.
"I used to be a manager for a company whose business is mostly holiday-related, especially Christmas. Don't apply for a job for a seasonal position and inform me that you need the two weeks before Christmas off because you are visiting relatives or going on vacation. WTF do you think SEASONAL means?"
15. Please don't threaten people. Y'all should know that, but just making sure.
"I had someone apply for a position who simply wasn't qualified so I did not contact this person for an interview. He called and left a voice message threatening me to call him about the job or else he would contact the owner of the company and tell him that I was ignoring his application. First of all, a threat will not make me want to hire you, and second, if you knew the owner you would know that you're threatening his daughter."
16. IDEK what this is, but whatever it is, don't do it.
"My boss told me about someone he and producers had a meeting with during their search for a director to helm a romantic comedy film.
This potential director turned up with no presentation. He just rolled in and slouched in a chair. After an awkward pause, my boss was like, 'Well. Let's hear it.' The potential director said, 'Come on. Rom-com? We all know the score. What's there to say?'
One asked, 'The formula may be tired, but we think we can offer a fresh take. Can you make it fresher?' The potential director replied, 'Are you fucking kidding me? It's a rom-com. Silly girls will enjoy anything, even if it was directed by a deaf, blind monkey with his cock trapped in a vise.' One producer snapped, 'All right, I don't think you're right for us. Thank you for your time.' The potential director snorted and said, 'Thank you for wasting my time.'
17. Check your attitude (and manners) at the door.
"I used to interview people for what was basically a sandwich shop similar to Subway. A lot of applicants had a real attitude of 'it's only a minimum-wage job and doesn't matter.' Someone showed up 15 minutes late holding a fresh Starbucks. I instantly told them to leave and they proceeded to argue, as 'this wasn't a REAL interview, just a formality.'"
18. Also check any weird racist, sexist, and whatever else–ist things you've got going on.
"Many years ago, I worked in management at a large-box store. A number of managers were conducting interviews at the same time for the summer season. I had a pile of résumés, and called one man in. He immediately scrunched up his nose and commented that he was surprised one of the men would not be interviewing him. I said nothing and offered him a seat, began the interview questions. He was all over the place with his answers, and when asked to share a time he dealt with adversity, he told me a story about how he tied a mattress that was too large for his car to the hood. Needless to say, I politely ended the interview, thanked him for his time, and marked 'no' in his application.
About a week later he came in and complained to one of the managers about not being hired. He said, and I quote, 'It is because SHE interviewed me.'"
19. Be mindful of how others will perceive you.
"I was a manager at a Starbucks and once conducted an interview where the person was quite late and showed up with a full Starbucks drink FROM A DIFFERENT LOCATION."
20. Maybe don't make specific requests until AFTER you get the job.
"One of my managers did an interview for an engineer. 15–20 years in the work force with a 13-page résumé should have been a red flag but we were in dire need to fill this position. Apparently the interview went well until the end, where he demanded he be off by 4 p.m. because his wife has dinner ready by 5 and he refused to eat or heat up a cold dinner."
21. Pay attention, especially if the role is detail-oriented.
"My company has an electronic sign-in system. One of my duties as the admin is to read the steps of the process to the candidate, then have them sign in. I always advise my managers of those who are not able to follow the directions. My company performs very critical and detailed work. If a candidate cannot follow simple sign-in instructions, they might not be able to follow critical on-the-job instructions."
22. And lastly, set up a voicemail. People need to reach you.
"So often when I call a younger applicant for a screening interview, they don't have their voicemail box set up, or it is full and I can't leave a message. Guys, I am not going to text you. You have to be able to receive messages and speak on the phone with a person."
What other tips do you have? Pre- or post-interview? Let me know!
