In fact, you may have said a kind of "red flag" to the recruiter, to which he immediately reacted and then thought only about how to get you out of the way. Of course, not all recruiters or employers for online vacancies in Ukraine profess this approach, but many do, and it's better to know what things are better not to say and what not to mention. Today we will open the cards for you a little, so to speak.
What does your company do?
This phrase suggests that a person is not interested in the company and has not prepared for the interview. You especially don't want to hear it if the job posting contains a link to the website and a brief description of what the company does. When an applicant says this phrase, the recruiter begins to be wary of even a very targeted candidate, and such a remote full-time job is unlikely to be offered.
Asking such questions gives the impression of a person who is not even able to use Google search. Before going to the interview, find out more about the organisation and the person who will be asking the questions. This way, you will be able to prove yourself to the best of your ability.
I have everything in my CV
Most often, people ask to tell about themselves so that the candidate can show self-presentation skills. The answer "I have everything in my resume" gives the recruiter a feeling of non-involvement in the dialogue, and questions arise for the soft skills.
But when a candidate can easily talk about his or her career path in 5 minutes, it gives them a big advantage. You can see that the person is structured and result-oriented. In addition, when you clearly and specifically talk about your previous job, it shows that you have written your CV (if it is good) yourself, and did not ask someone else to do it, and at the same time did not lie about anything.
Previous job was terrible
No matter how you left your previous job, you shouldn't make the company or your former boss look bad. You could leave the impression of an unprofessional and angry person.
Try to be more positive about your previous employer. Do not complain about difficulties, it is better to talk about the skills you managed to acquire in your previous position. If you are asked why you decided to leave, tell them that you no longer see opportunities for development there or want to earn more, etc.
Why did you fail? - This is the situation.
This includes phrases such as "Circumstances were different", "External factors had an impact". Examples of such phrases indicate that the person does not see themselves as the centre of influence.
External forces are responsible for everything in such people, and they are not predictable. And accordingly, it is difficult to deal with such people, because in any situation they will come up with excuses and take the focus away from themselves. Such people are not liked at any job, and it is even more difficult to entrust them with something responsible.
My main motivation is salary
Of course, who doesn't like and think about money and income, right? But it's better not to talk about it at the interview, because people might think of you like this: "Yeah, tomorrow or in a month, another company will offer him more, so will he leave right away? No, we don't need such an employee."
We can talk a lot about the fact that people come not only to work but also to earn money, and therefore it is quite normal and adequate to talk about money. But now there are such trends in the hiring market, it's better to talk about money later, not immediately, and definitely not talk about it as a motivational subject.
Any sexist jokes, as well as jokes about races, nationalities, etc.
In general, you don't need to show that you are a caveman in your understanding of society. Your team or company will have different people with different worldviews, and each of them has the right to do so.
But at work, you should think about work, not promote feminism or patriarchy, fight for LGBT rights or, on the contrary, advocate traditional values. Therefore, it is better not to joke about these topics, because you do not know what values your interlocutor, i.e. the recruiter, professes. If you demonstrate excessive radicalism in your views, this may be a reason for rejection.
I need a clear work schedule
This is also a very difficult question. On the one hand, we all don't want to work overtime and stay up late at night on projects or tasks.
On the other hand, managers and recruiters want to see a person in the company who is ready to work as long as necessary "and then some", to give their all to the work, and not constantly look at the clock.
I don't know how to do it
If you are asked a question that you can't answer right away, don't say no. Employers like ambitious people, not those who back down at the first problem. For example, you are interested in remote employment for programmers, and you are asked some unusual question that you have never encountered. In this case, don't say "I don't know".
The right answer here is improvisation. For example, "I've never encountered this before, but I would implement it in this way." Even if the answer is not entirely successful, you will show that you are not aloof and not afraid of difficult tasks, but are ready to take them on and successfully solve them if necessary.
I hope I'm a good fit for you
It's simple - when you say this, you demonstrate a lack of confidence in your own abilities and competencies. And if you don't believe in them, why should a recruiter believe in them? So, be confident and tell them what you are good at and why this job is the best fit for you.
What do I have to do at this job?
Again, we think everything is clear here. How can you go to an interview and not bother to see what the job description is? Perhaps it's not a matter of interest, but rather a matter of the candidate's banal disinterest. That is, you will immediately turn the recruiter against you.
In addition, having read about the responsibilities in advance, you will be able to ask clarifying questions at the interview, thus receiving more useful information. For example, the general functions of a field specialist may be clear, but some nuances may differ depending on the company."
General tips for communicating with a recruiter
Recruiters pay attention not only to words, but also to how the candidate says something, with what intonation and facial expressions. Therefore, consider the following factors:
- Don't cross the line of business communication. Even if you believe that the company's corporate culture has an informal style of communication, remember that at the first meeting you may be misunderstood and considered a badly-mannered person. Refrain from the phrases "Hey, mate..." or "You know, brother..."
- Don't flatter the recruiter or future manager: flattery is usually repulsive. If you want to leave a good impression, make an appropriate, sincere compliment that does not oblige you to anything. For example, you can praise the layout or design in the office or thank them for how well the route was explained to you so that you quickly got to the meeting place.
- Don't reveal all the cards at the interview, that is, don't talk about your hopes for a promotion, plans to open your own business. Don't mention in passing that you are going to work for two months and then go on a trip around the world. Even if you do, give yourself a chance to look at the company: maybe your plans will change.
- If you are applying for the role of a manager, do not say at the interview that you do everything yourself. This will only show that you do not know how to organise the process, delegate and trust your subordinates.
- Do not avoid answering questions. The recruiter will suspect that you are lying or hiding something. Answer the question in a streamlined way: say, you have never thought about this issue, but perhaps it will be interesting to you (or vice versa, you have never been uninterested).
- To say something important at the interview, but not to say too much, respect the interviewer's time and maintain a dialogue. Answer only the questions asked. At the same time, check whether the examples and details of your experience are sufficient. If you answer in too much detail, you run the risk of revealing something you didn't intend to say in the first place.
- Don't talk about family problems or chronic illnesses, for example. If a candidate dives into his or her problems from the very first steps, it distracts the recruiter, prevents him or her from assessing professional skills and future economic benefits, and, accordingly, pushes them away. And in general, few people like those who immediately complain."
In general, when going for an interview, prepare for it. In fact, this is your "day zero" at work, and in many ways, the interview is similar to diplomatic negotiations.
Think about the answers to standard questions. Get ready for "tricky" and difficult questions - because they will definitely be asked. List everything that is important for you to tell in order to present yourself in a favourable light. And be sure to rehearse the interview with your family or friends, record it on video - this will help you better assess yourself from the outside and make some adjustments at home. This is especially important if you've never had to speak in public before, for example.
You need to please the recruiter or employer, so be tactful and follow the rules we've discussed today. Then everything should work out, so we wish you success.
