"The Interview That Felt Wrong"

You can’t explain it. Something was off. Trust that feeling.

I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. Not because it’s new – I’ve seen this pattern for fifteen years – but because I keep having the same conversations with candidates and clients who are making the same mistakes.

Here’s what I’ve learned.

The Pattern

Every week, someone contacts me frustrated by this exact situation. They can’t understand why things aren’t working. They’ve done everything they think they should do. Yet here they are, stuck.

The problem is usually not what they think it is. They’re focused on the obvious – the CV, the interview answers, the skills match. What they’re missing is the human element. The unwritten rules. The things nobody tells you because everyone assumes you already know.

In recruitment, what you don’t know can absolutely hurt you. And most people don’t know nearly as much as they think they do.

What Actually Matters

After fifteen years of watching people succeed and fail in the job market, I can tell you that the difference rarely comes down to qualifications. The candidates who get hired aren’t always the most experienced. They’re the ones who understand how the game is actually played.

They know that timing matters more than perfection. They understand that relationships drive decisions more than credentials. They recognise that every interaction is an evaluation, not just the formal interview.

This isn’t cynicism. It’s awareness. And awareness is the foundation of strategy.

My Advice

Stop waiting for the process to be fair. It’s not, and complaining about it won’t change your situation. Instead, focus on what you can control: your preparation, your communication, your follow-through.

Ask better questions. Not just in interviews – throughout your career. What do I need to understand that I don’t? Who can help me see my blind spots? What assumptions am I making that might be wrong?

The job market rewards people who see clearly and act decisively. Confusion and hesitation cost opportunities. Every time.

Be honest with yourself about where you are and where you want to go. Then do the work to close the gap. That’s it. That’s the whole strategy.