I’ve interviewed a lot of candidates during my career as a recruiter with Hubspot.
In that time I’ve come across some recurring interview issues that are actually pretty easy to fix.
So here are my top 5 things NOT to do an interview
1. Fail to research the company
Again, over the course of my career I’ve found this quite often. There is no need to become an expert on your prospective company, but it is crucial to know the basics about the main product or service they provide to clients and how they earn revenue. 3 – 4 solid sentences should suffice, but without this much you risk appearing uninterested in the role!
2. Fail to consider why you want the position from which you are interviewing
I have conducted countless interviews during which I have asked the candidate the very simple question “Why do you want this job?” and often they are stumped. This is not good practice in an interview. You should have solid reasons why you want the job, and be able to explain these, tying your answer into to your background and long term career aspirations. Do not be tempted to use this as an opportunity to complain about your present job. Which brings me along nicely to point number 3;
3. Speak negatively about your current employer
It’s hard to believe how often people make this mistake when it seems so simple! Complaining about or berating your current manager or company is a big mistake. Not only will it create the impression that you are prone to excessive negativity, but you also run the risk of appearing to be making excuses for your own short comings
4. Exaggerate your success in a previous role
In the event that you are “massaging the truth” in relation to your previous successes, a seasoned interviewer will often figure it out. There are certain tell-tale signs such as a salesperson reporting a series of very rounded figures – it’s very rare for someone to hit precisely 150% of their target quarter after quarter. In my opinion, it’s best to tell the truth but focus on positive details rather than areas in which you may have fell short.
5. Overshare on details from your personal life
An interviewer will be interested in hearing about your career success only. A job interview is not the time or place to talk about your divorce, your love of partying, any family problems you may be experiencing, etc. You get the idea – stick to the professional details only and save the personal stuff for when you are out of the interview and speaking with friends!
If you have considered all of this advice and do feel ready to approach your next interview with poise and professional decorum, then you can check out the current vacancies at HubSpot Dublin here
Louise Walsh is a recruiter with HubSpot Dublin and has played an integral part in growing their Dublin office from 3 people in January 2013 to nearly 100 people today. Prior to her time at HubSpot she worked at Google on their tech sourcing team and in the recruitment agency sector. Louise’s key areas of interest are recognising potential in candidates, career consulting, HR, Employment Law, Employee Relations and tech starts ups.