Interviewing is a Two-Way Street

Interviewing is not one-sided interaction, shock we know… although at times it might not feel that way. For job seekers, truly understanding who you connect with and leaning into those opportunities more can help not just with who you spend time but who also gets your mental capacity during these hard times. To dive into this topic further, we spoke to Dora Pasztor, Talent Acquisition Partner at Celonis, who shared her own opinions around where the market is today, who and how this is impacting people. Dora expanded with specific actions you could implement today that will help you lower stress levels and move the conversation closer to a discussion.

Observations Today

Dora highlighted significant shifts in the hiring landscape, emphasising changes not just in how companies recruit, but also in how candidates present themselves proactively.

It begins with the circumstances of your entry into the job market, Dora explained. Are you currently employed or unemployed? Is there a looming visa deadline? Are bills starting to mount? Such factors and more can influence how you perform in an interview, even after thorough preparation.

Stress is often the uninvited guest. As pressure builds, confidence drops, and unmanaged stress can sabotage performance. Dora noted that these pressures aren’t evenly distributed across the market either. Those particularly impacted, based on her observations during interviews, are individuals who are currently unemployed. This group includes people laid off, parents returning from extended leaves like maternity breaks, and students entering the workforce for the first time.

The psychological burden of job hunting is immense. Dora described, “When you’re unemployed, you’re not just a job seeker; you’re also your own recruiter.” The longer someone remains in this position, the heavier this burden grows. Motivation dwindles, self-doubt creeps in, and maintaining momentum becomes increasingly challenging, especially when feedback is scarce.

If this feels familiar, let this page serve as a reminder, wherever you are in your career journey, you are not alone. Support is always out there, below we’ve outlined clear, actionable strategies shared by Dora and us to guide throughout your journey.

Shift Your Mindset: Remember that the company, recruiter and hiring team ‘wants’ you to succeed. They are investing time and resources into the hiring process, if they didn’t believe that you could do the job from the base line experience shared, they wouldn’t be interviewing you. This should give you confidence before you even take the first interview with them. 

Preparation: Prepare thoroughly a day or two before your interview. Research the company, rehearse your elevator pitch, and internalise key points you want to make. Use all resources available to you from the recruiter to AI (for researching) and all publicly available information to build a strong base line of who the company is and what they might be looking for.

Power Posing: While it may seem cliché, techniques like Amy Cuddy’s ‘power pose’ can boost your confidence and mental state before an interview. Taking 5-10 minutes before you hop onto a call or enter the room is all you need.

Structured Responses: Use frameworks like STAR-I (Situation, Task, Action, Result, and Impact) to articulate your experience clearly and effectively.  Impact is driving decisions in the modern hiring process, connect what your results are with the impact it had on the organisation so your prospective hiring team can envision how they might help them.

Ask Meaningful Questions: Dora advises candidates to ask questions like, “What would make someone successful in this role?” and “What is expected in the first 3-6 months?” These questions demonstrate curiosity and help uncover valuable insights about the company’s expectations and culture. 

Practice Proactive Listening: Carefully listen to the interviewer’s responses throughout the meeting to not ask repeating questions and to better assess the role post-interview. It also helps you lower stress levels as you are focusing on a naturally flowing discussion rather than predicting what they might ask next.

Be Authentic: Showing your true self not only reduces stress but also makes you more memorable to the hiring team.

Acceptance: Some factors are out of your control. Focus on what you can influence, such as your preparation and attitude. You cannot control what the other person is thinking and who else is in the process, run your own race.

The path to securing a job can be both mentally and emotionally taxing, but it's important to remember that you are not alone in this journey. By shifting your mindset, preparing effectively, and embracing tools such as structured responses and proactive listening, you can not only alleviate stress but also create meaningful conversations during your interviews. Authenticity and acceptance play a pivotal role in showcasing your unique strengths while navigating factors outside your control. Run your own race, focus on the actions within your reach, and trust that your efforts will guide you to the right opportunity.

A big thank you to Dora for supporting us with this article and don’t forget to check out all our other blogs (Blog | Peritus Partners) to help bring simplicity to the chaos of recruitment! If you feel 1-1 coaching might be something better for your current circumstance, book a session in today (1 - 1 Coaching | Peritus Academy)!

Peritus Partners is a next generation recruitment team that focuses on blending education, business and community together. Interested to see how we can help find the best talent for your team or interested in finding a new job? Reach out today 😎