Sharing too much in interview shows lack of judgment
Q: As a hiring manager, I have noticed some interesting responses from job applicants that puzzle me.
I have interviewed candidates for years, and lately, most of them reveal information unrelated to the job description. They often talk about their personal situations and reasons for leaving employers. The candidates I interview have all the necessary skills and are qualified for the position. However, their lack of judgment in giving too much information takes them out of the next steps. I am curious, is sharing personal information a new trend with job candidates in wanting to be more transparent versus discussing their interest with a job?
A: It is essential to let job candidates know from a hiring standpoint what keeps them moving forward in the interview process as potential employees. Taking the time to meet with a pool of qualified candidates only to have them sabotage a job opportunity because of a lack of judgment is disappointing.
As a hiring manager, you just described a couple of key areas critical for job candidates preparing for interviews — communication, and self-awareness. While they might know how to perform the needed skills you are looking for in the job description, it seems they are missing essential communication skills. If job candidates are not aware of their emotions when job searching, they can send an unwanted perception.
Often candidates view the interview as an opportunity to be themselves and informally discuss their situation regarding the job description. It is a misconception that, as you confirmed, will take them out of the hiring process.
When candidates answer interview questions without much thought to the consequences, it can jeopardize the image they want to convey. Being honest and forthright is respected and a good trait that employers desire in an interview setting. When candidates come across as making “true confessions,” their background can suddenly become more of a liability than an asset.
Transparency is important on both sides of the table, where rapport is built among the employee and employer. However, when you form a relationship during an interview, it can quickly come across as a lack of planning when too much information is shared.
As you describe with your recent interview experiences, talking about personal situations is a recipe for losing an opportunity. When interview questions are asked, such as, “Describe the most difficult problem you have had to deal with,” candidates need to approach it as solving a business problem.
Candidates who are successful in interviewing always have the employer’s needs in mind and answer questions supported by results, further strengthening their answers. Talking about personal situations rather than the job sends a poor judgment signal that employers want to avoid — good intentions perhaps from the candidate, but bad results for an offer.