"One Interview. Two Completely Different Stories"

Why candidates and employers often leave the same interview with very different opinions.

One thing I have noticed after 15 years in recruitment is that candidates and employers often leave the same interview with completely different opinions of how it went.

A candidate might call me and say, “That went really well. Probably a 9 out of 10.” Then I speak to the employer and hear, “Probably a 5 out of 10.”

Neither side is necessarily wrong. They are simply assessing the interview through different lenses.

Different Lenses

The candidate is often focused on rapport, whether they answered the questions properly and whether the conversation flowed.

The employer is usually focused on something different. Can this person do the job? How do they compare to other candidates? Will they fit into the team? Are they stronger than the people we are meeting next?

Most hiring decisions are not made in isolation. An employer may interview three, four or five candidates. Only one gets the job.

Why Interview Preparation Matters

This is one of the reasons I place so much importance on interview preparation. And I am not just talking about rehearsing answers.

Good preparation starts before the interview. Understand the company, the role, why the position exists and who will be conducting the interview.

But preparation also continues during the interview itself.

One of the most underrated questions a candidate can ask after answering a question is: “Does that answer your question, or is there another area you would like me to expand on?”

It sounds simple, but it helps ensure the message received is the same as the message intended.

The Bottom Line

Interviews are two-way conversations. Ask questions, show genuine curiosity and close the interview properly.

A successful interview is not about saying all the right things. It is about making sure both sides leave the meeting with the same understanding of what was discussed.

Need personalised help with this?

I have spent 15 years on the hiring side of the table. I have interviewed thousands of candidates and seen exactly what works and what does not. Book a session and I will give you direct, honest advice based on your specific situation.