Ask HR: Help! My boss is ruining my chances of getting a new job…
What you need to know:
- Be aware that meeting the qualifications is only one part of the test.
- When invited for an interview, keep in mind that there are others who may be as skilled as you, so you need to show how your skills match the requirements of the job.
- That requires you to prepare well and give precise examples to back your responses.
I recently attended a job interview but although I met the qualifications required, I was surprised to receive a regret letter. When I followed up, I was informed that one of my references was doubtful of my capabilities. Is it fair for them to make such a crucial decision based on biased feedback from a supervisor who has always been jealous of my career?
Meeting the requirements of a role is just one method that recruiters use to pick suitable candidates. But for the process to have progressed to reference checking, you must have made an impression. To be deemed unsuitable based on biased opinion is, as you say, unfair, and recruiters have to be more discerning to avoid blocking great candidates from a good career moves.
Be aware that meeting the qualifications is only one part of the test. When invited for an interview, keep in mind that there are others who may be as skilled as you, so you need to show how your skills match the requirements of the job. That requires you to prepare well and give precise examples to back your responses. Remember that in an interview, it is not just your answers that are important. Your whole self is under scrutiny – how you communicate, your listening skills and your grooming will be of interest to the recruiters.
Be your natural self and the rest will flow. Secondly, do not assume that the recruiter will only approach the contacts you have provided. If your list leaves out senior colleagues you have worked with, the recruiter is likely to seek feedback from them informally. Speaking to a supervisor helps employers verify any red flags observed during the interview. It is in your best interest to make the list as rich as possible.
The third mistake is to assume that all your references will always have something good to say about you, not knowing that it depends on how the questions are asked.
A question like, “During the interview, this person came across as somewhat indecisive, is this a trait you may have noticed?” can invite an array of responses, and a recruiter may choose to hear just the negative response. On the other hand, an enthusiastic supervisor may give unsolicited information that conflicts with the candidate’s account.
Millennialhr millennialhr.com
