6 Common Interview Mistakes, Even for Pros!

As an executive recruiter, I interview a lot of seasoned professionals. They are experienced, skilled, and more than qualified for the job. But when they go into an interview with an organization they love, they fail miserably at conveying their qualifications. In this article, I’ll review some common pitfalls that even the most experienced candidates fall into. Being aware of these mistakes can help you avoid them and present yourself as the confident, capable leader you are.??

1. Not Answering Succinctly with Your Stories and Past Experience?

“Tell me about yourself. Tell me about your professional, relevant experience.” You know some version of this question is coming. While it’s important to share your experiences, it’s equally important to do so succinctly. Rambling or providing too much detail can cause your main points to get lost in translation. Instead, practice delivering your stories and examples in a concise manner, and focus on being able to quantify the results that you created. Know the metrics to quickly describe the impact you have had in prior roles.??

2. Forgetting to Offer Scale and Context?

It’s easy to get lost in the details of your various responsibilities, projects you have worked on, and different experiences you have had throughout your career. But remember that the interviewers don’t have any context about the organizations you were at. When you describe your experience, take the time to tell them the size of the organization, including the overall revenue/budget, number of employees, number of people on your team, etc. These will help them understand the big picture of your leadership capabilities.?

3. Giving Your Philosophy Instead of Specific Examples?

When asked about how you would handle certain situations, it’s tempting to share your general philosophy or approach to those situations. However, interviewers are often more interested in hearing specific examples from your past. Confident candidates say, “This is what the situation was, this is what I did, and this is what worked and what didn’t.” Providing concrete examples not only backs up your claims but also gives the interviewer a clear sense of your decision-making process and problem-solving abilities.??

4. Filling the Silence?

In the age of remote interviews, it’s harder to read the room. The natural pauses and visual cues that guide in-person conversations are often missing in Zoom or Teams meetings. This can lead to the temptation to fill every silence, but doing so can work against you. Once you’ve answered a question, pause and wait for the interviewer to guide you to the next question. Over-explaining or continuing to talk beyond your main points can dilute your message and make the conversation feel disjointed. Trust that your succinct answers will speak for themselves and let the interviewer steer the conversation.?

5. Rambling in Response to Open-Ended Questions?

Vague or open-ended questions can be tricky. They often leave candidates unsure of how much detail is needed or what the interviewer is really looking for. Instead of rambling, provide a concise answer and then calibrate. After giving your response, ask the interviewer if that addressed the question they had in mind. This shows that you’re mindful of their needs and willing to adjust your approach to better align with their expectations. ?

If you are afraid you may go off on a tangent, I have seen candidates jot down the questions as they are asked so that they can glance down while answering to make sure they fully addressed the query.?

6. Changing Sectors Without Doing Research?

Don’t wing your first interview thinking it’s just the preliminary screening. If you’re making a move into a new sector—whether it’s from the corporate world to the nonprofit sector, from foundations to associations, or from one social impact area to another (like education to climate change) —it’s crucial to do your homework. Each sector has its own unique trends, challenges, and priorities. Failing to research these can make you appear unprepared or out of touch during the interview. Demonstrating your knowledge of current trends and how your experience translates to the new sector shows that you’re serious about the transition and ready to hit the ground running.?

Conclusion?

Even seasoned professionals can fall into these common interview traps, but with a bit of awareness and preparation, you can avoid them. Remember to present the full breadth of your experience, be concise with your stories, do your research when changing sectors, provide specific examples instead of general philosophies, and avoid over-talking in moments of silence or in response to open-ended questions. By steering clear of these pitfalls, you’ll be able to showcase your skills and experience effectively, leaving a strong impression on your interviewer.?

About Us?

If you want to discuss how to hire top-tier leaders for your organization, reach out to me at? [email protected] . ?We will schedule a no-cost, no obligation 30-minute consultation to discuss how to meet your goals. If you are looking for a new career, visit our website to see positions that we are hiring or to add your resume to our Talent Network.?

Maneva Group is a?woman and minority owned?national?Executive Search firm focusing on the social sector,?with expertise in completely managing the recruiting process, curating diverse and exceptionally qualified candidate pools,?and advising C-suite executives and board members through crucial hiring decisions.???

?

?