There I was, sweaty palms clutching my portfolio for dear life while trying to maintain the calm but focused “professional you want to work with” vibe. I told myself that once you’ve been on the other side of the desk, you give up the idea of being relaxed in an interview. Most people have received some interviewing advice over the years, but I’m willing to bet that not all of that advice is helpful or even accurate. Today I’m going to let you in on some of the most common myths in interviewing and teach you how to use the truth to your advantage.
The myth: The interview begins when you sit in front of the hiring manager.
The verdict: Nope. The interview is more a cycle of processes than a singular event. Every interaction with an employee is a potential touch point – your resume and cover letter being the first impression (so make sure to check for grammar and spelling mistakes!) The way you treat the receptionist or any custodial staff is a way to evaluate how you treat others when you’re not being watched, so make sure to be kind and friendly to everyone you meet, no matter the position. Once I was on the hiring committee for a vice president. The rest of the committee was buzzing about a favored candidate but I couldn’t shake the feeling something was off. I invited the receptionist in to give her feedback and she told us that he had been short with her and treated her like a servant. Then more insights came from the rest of the committee for things they noticed but ignored. We ended up passing on that candidate in favor of someone who was regarded as “a true team player”.
The myth: The interview is an opportunity for you and the company to get to know each other better so you can decide whether the job is a good fit.
The verdict: Kind of, but that’s not the full story. The primary purpose of an interview for an employer is to limit risk. Every step of the process is to narrow the candidate pool to determine the person with the least amount of risk. The interviewer’s main job is to find any red flag to weed you out of the candidate pool and make that decision easier. Don’t make it easy for them – be yourself, but also do your homework. Anything that won’t align with their values will get you an immediate trip to the "no" pile.
The myth: The best way to get an interview is to apply to postings on all the internet job boards you can find.
The verdict: Although you shouldn’t leave job boards out of your search, they are the least reliable method for a successful job hunt. Ideally, you would use the posting as a notification for you to reach out to your network and get a personal referral. Sometimes the sheer volume of applicants for a position is so large that the only guaranteed way to make your resume visible is for someone on the inside to refer you directly. Remember, your ultimate goal is to get your foot in the door so that you can get in front of the hiring manager.
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