Confessions of a Failed Interviewer: (And how not to make the same mistakes)

Disclaimer: Nope, this isn't a tale of an interview candidate gone wrong; it's yours truly, the pre-Shearwater Recruitment version of me!

I recently conducted a LinkedIn Poll to identify the most prominent red flags, and surprisingly, I found that I embodied most of them!

I was the quintessential red flag. Despite holding a degree and consistently being punctual (as one would expect), I lacked the ability to negotiate a salary. My familiarity with the company was limited, and I struggled to articulate my motivations for pursuing the specific job role. Additionally, my choice of attire further undermined my credibility, as the suit I wore was egregiously oversized for my frame—an aspect that certainly did me no favours.

So here's 2 (very) short stories that you might find funny but also can learn from!

KNOW YOUR COMPANY - SHORT STORY NUMBER ONE:

During my time in London for interviews, I managed to accumulate a total of 16 interviews. However, my frantic rush around the city to fit them all in actually ended up working against my job prospects. I found myself lacking the time needed to thoroughly understand the nature of each company.

In one particular interview, I was posed with the question, "What does our company do?"

... I guessed what they did. I was wrong. Job prospect, gone.

KEEP IT PROFESSIONAL (ALWAYS) - SHORT STORY NUMBER TWO:

Amidst the array of 16 interviews, a portion of them belonged to start-ups and were led by youthful directors. In these scenarios, I sensed a greater freedom to express my true self, and the interviews appeared considerably more relaxed. At least, that was my initial perception. However, when the time came to bid them farewell, I opted for a fist bump instead of the traditional handshake.

Some stories don't need conclusions - you can gather what happened here.

CONCLUSION

No one's perfect, but everyone can prepare. And I'll conclude this by saying we are always open for a call to teach you how you can nail any interview (and of course help you avoid red flags!)

We're a sign up or an email away!