8 Things HR Wishes Candidates Knew About Interviewing

By Mark Swartz
Monster Contributing Writer

GlobalNews.ca issued a story from Calgary, on the top five interview mistakes people make. According to staffing company Express Employment Professionals, the biggest errors are lying about experience, checking a cell phone, arriving late, answering a phone call and acting arrogant.

This is but the tip of a big iceberg. HR professionals from all sectors wish that candidates knew how to be interviewed better. Rudeness, unpreparedness and lack of self-awareness are exasperatingly common.

Get ahead of the curve by knowing what interviewers want. Most of it is based on simple common sense.

1. Perfect the basics

“It takes a great deal of effort to secure an interview for most jobs, so it baffles me that anyone would throw away that opportunity by lying or arriving late,” says Bob Funk, CEO of Express Employment Professionals. “But believe it or not, these things happen.” He adds that applicants must do their best to get interviewing right the first time.

2. Stay organized

If you’re conducting an extended job search, it can get complicated keeping track of all the resumes you send out. So keep an accurate list along with a short job description for each. “Many times we will spend time to phone screen potential applicants and they will completely forget that they applied to our job, or will forget the company they applied to,” says Marc DeBoer, president of A Better Interview.

3. Know a little about your interviewers

You’ve already researched the company and industry to be up-to-date. But have you checked up on the people who will be interviewing you? Read their bios on the company website or their online professional profiles. “Show that you went the extra mile to do some research and relate to the interviewer,” says HR consultant Jennifer Brown.

4. Be Humbly Arrogant

Acting arrogant is number four on the list of no-no’s. Yet how do you reconcile that with having to boast about your accomplishments during interviews?

It comes down to being assertive in a job search without being pushy. Employers are always looking for self-assured employees. Being confident is about highlighting your achievements while giving credit to others where due.

5. Remember that they’re checking up on you

If you have an online presence, your potential employer is interested in it. “Applicants should know that either HR or the hiring manager or both will be researching them online,” says Annette Richmond, executive editor of Career-Intelligence.com. This includes social media sites as well as online resumes or profiles. Make sure the information you provide a prospective employer is consistent with what’s online, Richmond says.

6. Show some self-awareness

Hiring managers ask deep questions sometimes. Shallow answers aren’t impressive. “I continue to be amazed by the poor insight many candidates have about themselves,” says Neil Jacobs, a business psychologist with more than 20 years of experience.

“I hear the same trite, overused values trotted out time and time again, but so often, candidates struggle to articulate what’s really unique or different about them. I wish they knew themselves better,” says Jacobs.

7. Point out how you’ll solve their problems

While the interviewer is asking you questions about yourself, she’s really trying to figure out how to solve the company’s problems, says Dethra Giles of ExecuPrep. “I wish job applicants understood that the interview is about the job they are applying for and not about them. Everything they say, every question they answer should be in relation to the problem the company is hiring someone to solve.”

8. Emphasize your progress and potential

“Employers are looking for applicants who are eager to change and evolve at the same pace as the growing company,” says Patrice Rice, founder and CEO of Patrice & Associates. Show how you’ve grown by taking on more responsibilities and varied assignments. Brag about getting promoted. Adds Rice, “Every applicant should be interested in communicating the progress they have made whether it’s earning a promotion, solving a big problem or saving the company money.”