By Jeff Altman, Big Game Hunter
EP 3100 One of the most frustrating things about finding a job today is the number of interviews.
Executive Job Search Gold Mine
Well, if you’ve ever been job hunting, you definitely know this feeling. You spend hours polishing your resume, you nail the first interview, and then you get through the second interview, and just when you think, okay, this is it, you get that email, you know that email, asking for another round of interviews. Ah, this has to be one of the most frustrating parts of searching for a job today.
That’s the idea, right? It pops into your head and you stare at the screen and think, are you kidding me? Really? Really? We’ve been talking for hours? It feels like you’re being tethered, and honestly, that’s a completely understandable feeling. Just like that, you find yourself stuck in an endless cycle of interviews. In this exhausting cycle, you keep investing more time, more energy, and frankly, more hope into every new conversation.
This brings us to a big problem. Why do companies do this? You know, it’s just total chaos? Are they trying to drive the candidate crazy? What exactly goes on behind the scenes that leads to these marathon interviews? Well, to really get to the bottom of this issue, we have to look at it from a completely different angle. This angle comes from a rather challenging question one of our recruiters once asked.
That’s it. Would you propose on the first date? Let’s understand this. This question completely flips the script, doesn’t it? Suddenly, it’s not just a frustrating process.
You realize, oh, this is a very high-risk decision for them. See, this question unravels the whole thing. It reveals the core beliefs that recruiters live by.
Recruiting is a lot like dating. Because from a company’s perspective, a job opportunity is more than a simple transaction. This is a huge commitment.
Don’t act desperate!
Let’s really take this comparison because it’s pretty powerful. The first phone interview or initial interview is the first date. It’s all about making a good first impression and checking for a basic spark of compatibility.
And then you have all these subsequent rounds. Well, that’s when things got serious. It’s like going on more dates, maybe meeting each other’s friends, or in this case, team leaders and your potential colleagues.
The job offer itself is the proposal. This is a big commitment. This is the most critical.
One thing you have to remember is that companies almost never date just one person. They are usually in a situation where they have several good options. They’re probably talking to you and two other absolutely fantastic candidates.
The honest truth is, they’re just not sure who’s going to be the best fit long-term. Okay, so why hesitate? Why drag out all these appointments? It all comes down to a strong emotion. Worry about making the wrong hire.
When you really think about it, it’s those three little words. Mistakes are expensive. From a business perspective, hiring the wrong person is more than a minor problem.
It has real tangible costs that can impact the entire company. So a bad hire is more than just a bad fit. We’re talking about a costly mistake that can seriously drain a company’s bank account, completely destroy team morale, and bring productivity to a standstill.
When you start thinking about it in these terms, their caution starts to make more sense, right? It’s this fear that creates their entire logic of taking their time. This is why they take a cautious approach before they are willing to commit to anyone. Let’s take a closer look at their thinking.
Find the skills that suit you: Skills Matching Tool
This is their logic. Step 1: They are not 100% sure which candidate is the absolute best choice. Step 2: They’re afraid of making costly mistakes.
This brings us to the third step. They continued dating. They add another round of interviews to gather more information and feel more confident in their decision. Only at step four are they ready to commit.
They only make recommendations when they feel absolutely certain. So what does this all mean to you? Well, understanding this perspective changes the entire game. If you start to think of the interview process as a series of dates and the job offer as a proposal, it will completely redefine your goals.
This leaves us with one last big question to think about. If all of this is true, how do you use each of these dates to prove to the company that you are the one without a doubt?
24 hour rule
About Big Game Hunter Jeff Altman
People hire “Big Game Hunter” Jeff Altman to provide no-nonsense career advice around the world because he makes so many things in people’s careers easier. Those ones Matters may involve job search, recruiting more effectively, managing and leading better, career transition, and advice on solving workplace problems.
He is the producer and former host of “No BS Job Search Advice Radio,” the #1 job search podcast on iTunes with over 3,000 episodes.
How to thrive in your career if you have a disability
You’ll find important information to help you with your job search on my new website, Job Hunting.Community In addition to video courses, books, and guides, I answer members’ questions about their job search every day. Leave your job search questions and I will respond every day. Becoming an Insider+ member gives you everything you get as an Insider+ member, plus you can connect with me via Zoom call to get your questions answered. Become an Insider Premium member and we offer individual and group coaching.
How to find missing information
Schedule a discovery call to discuss coaching you during your job search at www.TheBigGameHunter.us Talk to me about one-on-one or group coaching
LinkedIn:
Resume and LinkedIn Profile Comments www.TheBigGameHunter.us/critiques
Who caught your attention?
We allow this and other articles to be used on your site as long as they include a backlink www.TheBigGameHunter.us and states that it is provided by Jeff Altman of The Big Game Hunter as the author or creator. Does not acknowledge his work or provide backlinks www.TheBigGameHunter.us Subjects you to a $1,000 fine, which you voluntarily agree to pay.
