Interview Myths Debunked: Why Even Good Candidates Fail

Why interview failures happen:

Most of the time, interviewees fail because they lack a clear understanding of what really happens during an interview. They may not prepare adequately or might take the process for granted, often holding misconceptions or myths about it.

Here we’ll look at a few myths/fears that an interviewee generally holds:

• What if I don’t know something: Should you plainly say ‘I don’t know” or try to take the interviewer for a ride and start blabbering something instead. If you don’t know the answer to a question, it’s ok to admit, since most interviewers can pick your rambling fast enough, and it’ll go against you. You can be honest in admitting and be polite in saying that even if you don’t know the right/full answer, you may want to try, and learn about it.

• The best candidate gets the job: It’s not always the case. Many times, interviewers do not know what to ask or how to validate your answer. What if the interviewer doesn’t like the best candidate? Since the final hire/no-hire decision is made by a human only, some amount of bias or preference would most-likely be present in the decision, which may not be in favor of best candidate.
  What to do then: don’t be shy about applying for a job, even if you know you’re not the best candidate, just prepare well. If you are the best candidate, still prepare well.

• A great attire is all it requires: Please know that interview is about assessing your suitability for the job functions, and thus your skills are more important than your suit. It doesn’t mean you can attempt interviews in a vest or bermuda 😊, dress appropriately. A charming and friendly personality is good to have, but don’t count on that alone.

• The more details you give, the better: Not always. In fact, refrain from giving excess information unless asked for. Extra-long blabbering may irritate the interviewer. It’s a fine balance between how much info to give and when to stop, to satisfy the interviewer and not irks him/her.

• Interviewers know their stuff: Again, not always. There are bad (no experience of interviewing anybody) as well as good interviewers who know how to assess. Bad interviewers don’t ask questions to see your fitment to the job, and in such cases, find an opportunity to talk about your skills and abilities. Interviews are mostly about rapport-building, thus be at ease, assess the kind of interviewer you are facing, and change your course accordingly.

• I want to give the absolutely perfect answer: Try it if you already know one, without beating around the bush. But never keep talking, repeating yourself and gradually polishing your answer. It’ll be just too much talking and as an earlier point says, it’s a no-no. Keep your answer short and to-the-point that conveys your knowledge. Take some time to think, and delivering a ‘good enough’ answer is good enough.

• I’ve given all the answers correctly, I’ll get the job: Not necessarily. As told earlier, success in an interview is about building a rapport and having an interviewer like you by winning his/her trust (yes, unfortunately we are humans).

• I must ask questions at the end: A yes, and a No. No: don’t ask a question at the end of an interview, just because you should ask something, and not about the company or the job functions. You may come across dumb. Know about the company, job etc ahead of going to the interview. Yes: you should ask questions if you really want to know/understand something, now it may be about the company or the job itself (i.e specific things that you didn’t understand from publicly available information). Some good questions may be like company policy about specific things, working environment etc. Just don’t ask too many 😊.

• I need to be casual: Being relaxed is good, but please know that an interview is a formal setting, and displaying too relaxing attitude goes against you. Be formal and at ease.

In conclusion, interviews can be daunting, but understanding the common myths and misconceptions can help candidates better prepare and perform. It's important to approach interviews with honesty, clarity, and confidence, while also being adaptable to different interview styles and situations. Remember, interviews are not just about answering questions correctly but also about building rapport and demonstrating your suitability for the role. By debunking these myths, candidates can focus on showcasing their true potential and increase their chances of success.