The interview process can be a bit of a game for both job seekers and for hiring managers. Those who are being interviewed are no doubt putting their best foot forward, highlighting strengths, downplaying personal weaknesses and giving interviewers the answers that they anticipate that the would-be employer wants to hear from a prospective candidate.
On the other side of the desk, hiring managers and HR recruiters want to find the best possible candidate to fill their open position. According to an article by Anthony Wong appearing on the Human Resources Online website, there are a number of things that hiring managers do when interviewing a potential new-hire can give candidates the impression that the job is theirs.
Wong recommends a number of things that interviewers can do when interviewing potential candidates without giving away too much, or may very likely do if they’ve made up their mind on who they want to hire.
Choose words carefully – Words matter, especially at the interview stage. According to career coach April Klimkiewicz, subtle word choices can give the impression that a candidate has won the job. A sentence such as, “These will be your responsibilities,” should be more appropriately phrased “If hired you would be asked to…” for example.
Keep it professional and Concise – Some pleasantries may be nice, however, casual conversation could infer to a candidate that a potential employer is interested in knowing them better. Conversations that run longer than the allotted interview time can also give a similar impression.
Introducing candidates to potential teammates – If the interviewer for a potential employer is potentially serious about a candidate, they are more likely to introduce the candidate to the other people that they will be working with. For many organizations, getting feedback and impressions from others on a work team is important in making a final decision on choosing which candidate may be the best overall fit for the job.