As a general rule, we can and should learn from our failures—that includes interviews. As a recruiter, I have always been impressed with candidates who ask me for honest feedback about their strengths and weaknesses. However, when it comes to giving feedback about how a candidate performed in the interview, it can become tricky, both for recruiters and hiring managers.
In one of our group coaching calls in Career Confidential's Total Access Coaching club, a member asked about what you can do if the hiring manager won't tell you what you did wrong, because of liability issues. How can you find out what the problems were so you can correct them next time?
This is what I told him:
Most people will never tell you how you failed because they've had bad things happen when they gave honest feedback. Recruiters have had candidates go back to the hiring manager to argue their case, or argue with the recruiter about it. I once told a candidate that the reason she didn't get the job was that the hiring manger thought she was too negative, and so then she got into an argument with me about why she wasn't negative. Nothing she said helped her. She HAD been negative, and it wasn't up for debate. The decision was up to that hiring manager, and it was done. The only thing she achieved from that argument was irritating me.
Still, some recruiters or hiring managers will tell you—and you never know until you ask. (BTW: HR will never tell you. Don't even bother asking.)
Here's the key: They will be more likely to tell you IF you clearly and sincerely let them off the hook. Clearly communicate that you understand that you're done—you are not going to be hired, no matter what they say or what you say. Some ways to do this are:
“I understand that you're hiring someone else, and that's OK. So that I can be better going forward in future interviews, can you please tell me one or two things I could do differently that would help me be more successful?"
“I understand that we are done with this process and you're moving forward with someone else. But, if I were your sister or your cousin, what advice would you give me for next time?"
The recruiter or hiring manager may try to soften the blow by couching their criticism in softer language: “Well, I would maybe suggest that you review [some interview topic]." (Definitely review whatever they suggested before you interview again.) Or, “It might do you some good to have someone check your references." If they say something like this to you, read between the lines and realize that at least one of your references probably caused you to lose out on the job.
Whatever they tell you, please realize that they've done you a great favor. They didn't have to say anything. Take their advice with gratitude and take active steps to improve moving forward.
If you want to make sure you don't fail your interviews in the first place, I strongly suggest learning as much as you can from Career Confidential's array of job-winning advice, tips, and tools. Click here to see what's available (and see customer reviews): Job Search and Interview Tools..
This post was originally published at an earlier date.Disclosure: This post is sponsored by a Work It Daily-approved expert.
The leaves are changing, the kids are back in school, and that familiar chill is in the air. You think it's the perfect time to look for a job, and it is! But are your job search fears preventing you from making that leap?
It's not uncommon to feel lost when embarking on your job search journey. After all, school teaches us everything except how to get a job. What should you put on your resume? What questions should you ask in an interview? How can you stand out in the hiring process when there's so much competition?
Are you feeling spooked yet?
Believe it or not, there's no need to be afraid of the job search process! You can land your dream job with the right tools and strategy. You can find a job that won't give you nightmares. Here are three spooky secrets every job seeker should know as they look for a job this fall.
1. An Effective Job Search Starts With An Interview Bucket List
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Despite your fears, you've decided to take the plunge and look for a new job. You might be asking yourself, "Where do I start?" The answer is simple: start by creating an interview bucket list.
An interview bucket list is a list of 10-20 companies you'd love to work for. Are you passionate about a company's products or services? Do you feel connected to its mission? Can you relate to its values and beliefs as an organization? If you answer "yes" to any of these questions, that company probably belongs on your interview bucket list.
Once you create an interview bucket list, you'll be able to conduct a targeted job search, one with direction and a foundation upon which everything else will be built. An interview bucket list helps you focus your job search and networking strategies on the right opportunities, making it easier to get your foot in the door at one of your dream companies.
2. Your Job Application Needs To Disrupt Hiring Managers
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In order to stand out in the hiring process, you need to disrupt recruiters and hiring managers. You accomplish this by doing two things: optimizing your resume and writing a disruptive cover letter.
A well-optimized resume includes keywords from the job description. This ensures your resume gets past the ATS and into the hands of the hiring manager. Once it's in front of the hiring manager, it needs to grab and keep their attention. Quantifying your work experience—adding numbers to your bullet points—will make you stand out from other applicants. Hiring managers will want to know more about you and your accomplishments, and that's how you land a phone interview.
Before that, though, a hiring manager will read your cover letter. To disrupt them, you need to write a disruptive cover letter (obviously!). A disruptive cover letter gives you the opportunity to tell a story about why you feel connected to the company you're applying for. It's that storytelling aspect that will stand out to hiring managers and compel them to pick up the phone and give you a call.
3. Employers Hire You Based On 3 Things
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You can't get hired unless you know what employers are assessing you on in the interview process. While your skills and expertise matter, companies actually hire for three things: personality, aptitude, and experience (in that order).
Most job seekers don't realize how important it is to demonstrate their personality, aptitude, and experience in an interview. You could have the right experience for a job, but if the hiring manager doesn't think your personality is a good fit for the company culture, you probably won't get a job offer.
Make sure you demonstrate your soft skills and learn how to answer behavioral interview questions to prove you're the best candidate for the job you're applying for, not just the most qualified.
Want To Learn More Job Search Secrets?
As you look for a job this fall, it might be helpful to know some more spooky secrets so you can get over your job search fears and finally take control of your career.
We know the job search process can be scary. However, it's important to get clear on what you want to do next and focus on conducting a strategic job search, or what we refer to at Work It DAILY as job shopping. This is the only way to effectively market yourself to employers. If they can't see exactly where and how you add value, then that's going to decrease your chances of landing the job.
The competition is fierce, and there are a lot of factors that are out of your control. But the one factor you can control is your job search strategy, the tools and tactics you use to land a job.
If you want to learn the secrets to conducting a strategic job search, sign up for our Job Search Bootcamp, a two-hour, on-demand video workshop that comes with a free workbook.
In this video workshop, you'll learn:
How to use backchanneling to get directly to hiring managers.
The secret to using a connection story to stand out against the competition.
How social media can be your secret weapon to get job interviews.
The resume format that is getting job seekers more job interviews.