Experienced people are guilty of bad interviews too
When I’m looking to fill senior roles, we naturally look to recruit experienced people who can bring an established skill set, with a proven track record.
And so we do the same as many companies, and we advertise online, receive lots of resumes, conduct telephone screening and invite people in for interviews. With experienced people there is an expectation particularly in interviews that they will perform in a more superior manner to graduates. The good news for graduate job seekers, is that this isn’t always the case. With experience, comes confidence and sometimes laziness around preparation and performance in interviews.
The common mistakes that experienced people make are as follows:
1) A lack of preparation which they are quite often honest about. They might be “experienced professionals” but they miss the basics of preparation and research. It comes across as lazy. If this is how they approach an interview, how will they approach the role?
2) A lack of questionning ability. This is one of the saddest things to see from an experienced person as it is a fundamental part of any interview, regardless of your experience.
3) Talking too much. Perhaps this one is more prevalent with experienced people as they have so much more to say. Talking too much is a crucial error for anyone in interviews.
The bottom line is that no one is perfect in interviews…but there are some fundamental principles to be aware of when you’re meeting someone in this environment. Regardless of your experience levels, always research the company and be sure to articulate this knowledge. Such a basic thing to remember, and yet so rarely so we see it in a face to face interview.
If you’re a recent graduate who is new to job hunting and interviews, take some comfort in what is being revealed here. Experience doesn’t necessarily lead to a great interview, trust me. Even with a lack of experience, just stick to the basics and you’re likely to outperform even those with 15-20 years in the industry!
Davinia
Davinia is the Sales Director of ProGrad Pty Ltd, and is responsible for the sales division within the organisation. ProGrad is a graduate assessment, placement and training company and specialises in the placement of graduates into B2B sales careers across a number of industry sectors. For more information about our unique model, please call 02 8235 8300 or visit www.prograd.com.au
