How To Lose A Job You Never Had Story #1

Interview Stories and Insights From A Regular Person

#interviewstories

First let me preface this post by saying that I am not in HR, nor in recruiting. I haven't written any books on the art of the interview or taken extensive classes in interviewing as part of my degree(s). These are my opinions and mine alone and I do not claim to be an expert on interviewing . These stories are a culmination of over 20 years of interviewing and being interviewed and are not necessarily about one particular person or event but a general "type" of person that I have been guilty of being or that I have interviewed personally.

So What Have I Done?

I have interviewed everything from Student Assistants to a C-Levels in many organizations and I have been interviewed by the same. I have made many mistakes, witnessed many mistakes, and seen the repercussions when poorly interviewed candidates are hired. I lost many jobs before I ever got them by messing up horrifically in interviews and I have made poor hiring decisions by not knowing how to interview people. I started posting my #interviewstories on social media just to be funny and hopefully in a roundabout way give job seekers insight into the process. Every time I would post a story my social media buddies would say - you must write a book or a blog or something about these. So here I go!

Story 1- You feel like you are the perfect candidate. You have all the skills needed for the position and have held a much higher level position at your last company. You have researched EVERYTHING about the person who will be interviewing you and the Company. You have even viewed their LinkedIn Page and sent an "Add Connection" to the Hiring Manager after the 1st interview. You know you will get the job because you've "been there and done that" a million times.

The Hiring Manager looks at your resume and sees that you make 30K more than this position pays in your current job. He/She questions you and you say that you are okay with a 30K paycut. He/She also asks - why would you want to work in a position that is several levels below your last - you say that you miss getting down into the weeds with the people.

Why You Might Have Lost The Job You Never Had?
(Remember I'm No Expert!)

• Taking that much of a jump in salary and title is a red flag. You can usually explain why your are giving up one or the other but both seems like you might be desperate.
• The Hiring Manager might wonder if he will have a target on his back. Are you looking for any opportunity to undermine his authority and get back to a level that you were before this position? Is his back just a stepping stone on your career path?
• You might seem presumptuous and "stalker-y" by asking them to be added as a connection based on a 30 minute formal phone interview. He may feel like you are trying to keep covert tabs on the job or process or even him. He might feel "weirded out" by your too aggressive behavior.
• Overall you might seem a little too eager and all "up in" the business before you have even made it to the final round.

Janice's Opinions In This Scenario- or
"Why I Might Move On To The Next Person"

If you are going to apply for a position with that much of a pay and title cut; be honest about the reasons why. If you really need the job or if you are at a level in your career where you don't need the money be open and honest about it. Don't make it seem like you are doing the company a favor by coming to work for them and don't stalk a person on social media and then make it obvious that you have by referring to it during the interview process. You have already made your potential boss uncomfortable before you even get hired and if he or she has a 100 other candidates to review she can easily pass you over for someone who doesn't throw up any flags.

Next Week- Freudian Slip or Are You Trying To Tell Me Something?
- Sending a Thank You Letter for the Wrong Job!