3 Things Hiring Managers Wish Job Candidates Knew

Hiring managers have a tough job. They have a specific need at their company–which is why they have an opening. They have to sort through many candidates for a particular role to find someone who can meet that need–someone who is qualified, a good cultural fit for the organization, and who demonstrates skills that could help them grow in the company. And someone who is interested in joining their team.

That may not sound like a lot, but the process of finding the right person can be lengthy and frustrating. There are many things hiring managers wish that they could tell job candidates bluntly–from suggesting ways the candidate could have improved during their interview, to simply telling them that going through the interview process is going to be a waste of their time.

We want to help you understand hiring managers’ perspectives when they see your resume, contact you, or have you in for an interview. Here are a few tips on how you can improve your candidacy.

1. They Know a Lot about You Already–And They Do Their Research

With the prevalence of social media in today’s world, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that interviewers know a lot about you before you walk through the door. Whether they’re confirming your work history details from your LinkedIn, or seeing what your interests are on Instagram, hiring managers get to know a lot about you before they even meet you.

All of this has a big impact on what impression they’ll have of you. It’s important to remember that they have looked you up online before contacting you for a phone or in-person interview. Hiring managers know you’re more than your resume–and they’re looking to hire the whole person. Social media is a great way to show your interests, engage with communities, and show expertise in both professional projects and personal projects.

Additionally, if you haven’t been contacted, it would be wise to review your online presence–it is possible that they looked you up and ruled you out.
Hiring managers would love for job candidates to carefully consider their online presence – what kind of impression you’re giving to the outside world. If you don’t have time to curate your online persona, a practical step is to have someone look over your social media accounts for appropriateness.

Make sure that the details you put online match what you have on your resume. There’s nothing more embarrassing than getting caught in a lie.

2. They Crave Honesty

Whether it’s lying on your resume, using fake references, or being dishonest about some aspect of your work experience in the interview, dishonesty is both unethical and unprofessional. It’s also more transparent than you realize—once again, hiring managers do their research.

If a candidate’s end-goal in a job interview is to get the job no matter what, it’s going to be painfully obvious to the hiring manager. While you might see it as “trying to impress,” it definitely isn’t impressive when it means the individual lies in order to put themselves in the best light.

While a hiring manager’s job is to see if you’re a good fit for the job, your goal should be to see if the job is a good fit for you. Lying to make yourself fit the job isn’t productive–if you’re not suited to the role, you’re not going to enjoy coming to work and you won’t succeed in your career. You’re interviewing the company as much as they’re interviewing you.

3. They Like Your Enthusiasm and Want to Know You’re Interested

Everyone talks a lot about “culture fit”–but frankly, it’s more enjoyable being around someone who is interested, enthusiastic and positive. From the hiring manager’s perspective, the job candidate who demonstrates the above traits will bring the right amount of enthusiasm and interest to work–which means that they’ll perform better and stick it through when the role gets tough.
Negativity and a poor attitude will not take you far in an interview; consider that when you’re tempted to complain about former bosses.

Hiring managers want to know you’re not just looking for any job, and that you want to work for their company. Tailor your resume and cover letter for that specific role. They have a need–show how you’re the person they’ve been waiting for to help them.

For more check out these other blogs:

CIOs in Canada Reveal Their Latest Hiring Plans 

Hiring Managers’ Top Secrets Revealed

Will certifications get me a job – or do they matter?