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Interview processes are a failure

After thinking through our interviewing process, previous company process and interviews I have gone on in the last few years, I see interviewing as a complete failure at most companies.

Obviously the interview process depends on the role but there is really no way you can spend 30 minutes on the phone, an hour team interview and a 30 minute executive interview with someone and decide if they are a good or bad candidate.   Honestly the more senior the role, the more time you should spend with them.



I want to give a few tips to interviewees and interviewers.

Interviewees - You are interviewing them

  • Dress up no matter the role.  Don't ware jeans unless the company has specifically told you to do that.  If it is a manager or higher role, wear a suit.  
  • Make sure you interview the people you talk to.  Find out if you want to work with them and their role compared to yours.  
  • Understand the day to day responsibilities and long term expectations of the role.  You need to make sure you want the job.
  • Evaluate their questions to see if they even know you can do the job.  Be careful if you leave the job and feel like they don't know you.

Interviewer - Do they fit your team?
  • Don't just ask questions but interact with them.  Make jokes or talk about an issue at work or something cool going on to see their reaction and so they get to know you.  Try to spend enough time with them so that they relax and act as if they are at work.
  • Usually a technical role can be evaluated by asking very specific technical questions or short test.  Then, you just need to make sure their personality is a good fit for the team.  
  • Spend lots of time deciding your questions and try to ask the same ones to each candidate.
  • Don't bring a candidate in for a team interview unless they are a real candidate.   The phone screen should find out if they are capable and a potentially good fit.  It is better to turn a candidate away than waste their time.

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