Interview Mistakes

As a recruiter, nothing feels better than finding what looks like the perfect candidate for a role. After screening people all week, you finally speak to someone who has the right experience and is genuinely interested in the opportunity. You start to see the placement coming together. The interview is set, the candidate is prepped, and the client is ready to hire. Then the feedback comes in: “we’re passing.” It all comes down to the interview and how the candidate shows up. So let’s talk interview mistakes…

🚩Not getting detailed enough. 

I’ll ask how you approach something and hear, “I just get it done.” That doesn’t tell the hiring manager anything. How do you actually do your job? Walk through your process. How do you prioritize, who do you work with, what steps do you take? Specifics are what make someone feel hireable.

🚩Oversharing. 

On the flip side, too much information can work against you. Going off on tangents or over-explaining can dilute your message. Strong candidates know how to edit themselves. Clear and focused always lands better.

🚩Being too casual, or not reading the room. 

You want to be conversational, but still professional. It’s a balance. I once had a candidate tell a client she goes to yoga in the middle of the workday because she’s so efficient at getting everything done. It didn’t land the way she thought it would.

🚩Dressing in a way that doesn’t align with the company. 

You don’t need to be overly formal, but you should look intentional and appropriate for the brand and role.

🚩Badmouthing a current or past employer. 

Even if the situation wasn’t great, speaking negatively can raise red flags. It often comes across as lack of professionalism more than honesty. You can be critical but keep it clean and professional. 

We only send qualified candidates to our clients. The ones who move forward are the ones who communicate it clearly. Have you ever gotten a “no” you didn’t see coming?