10,000 Interviews, 20 Years: A Recruiter's Ultimate Hacks for Spectacular Job Search Success

With over 20 years of experience as an executive recruiter for Fortune 500 companies, I specialize in finding rare talent—those "purple squirrels" and "unicorns" for high-profile global companies.

Throughout my career, I've conducted thousands of interviews over the phone, in person, and via platforms like Zoom and Teams. I thought I was familiar with the challenges, but this year, they seem more prevalent, prompting me to write this post.

One common mistake is made by nine out of ten people interviewing.

While I am hired by the client company, not the candidate, I help people prepare for interviews by providing guidance and best practices. Most of these individuals are mid-level managers to high-ranking executives who often believe they "know" what to do in an interview. However, even experienced professionals can falter at a crucial point, fail the interview, and not advance to the next round. They often contact me afterward, puzzled about what went wrong.

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My key advice is straightforward but often overlooked: Answer the question asked.

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If you've watched presidential debates on TV, you know how frustrating it is when a question is asked, and the person completely dodges it. We all think, "For the love of God, please just answer the question."

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That's exactly how I feel daily during interviews between clients and candidates. It's disheartening to see someone with great potential fail because they didn't answer the question directly.

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So, my best advice may sound simple, but nine out of ten people get it wrong: Answer the question directly.

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- Listen carefully to the question and respond clearly without going off tangents or pushing your agenda.

- Start your response with, "To answer your question..." and then provide a detailed reply.

- Include specific examples. For instance, you might say, "For example, when I was the Operations Director at XYZ, I..."

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This approach ensures clarity and relevance.

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I shared two critical pieces of advice:

1. Answer the question asked.

2. Provide specific examples.

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My 3rd tip is: Do not talk excessively, leaving insufficient time for the hiring team to ask their questions. This is a common deal-breaker. While it's true that you are evaluating them as much as they are evaluating you, remember that at this stage, they hold more leverage and can decide whether to move you forward in the process or not.