The Things Hiring Managers Wish You Knew

While hunting for a job can be daunting, it’s important to understand that the person on the other side of the interview, the hiring manager, isn’t out to intimidate candidates. In fact, quite the opposite is true. Their goal is to find someone who fits the position perfectly, and who will make a welcome addition to their company. With that said, here are a few things that hiring managers wish job seekers knew:

It’s not all about your resume

Yes, your past experience and successes are important. But they aren’t everything. If you have a great work ethic and a willingness to learn, that makes up for inexperience or awards won. Hiring managers would much rather bring on someone who hasn’t done certain tasks yet but is willing to learn, rather than someone who thinks they know everything and struggles to get along in a group setting.

An interview should be a two-way street

While a hiring manager will be interviewing the candidate during the dialogue, it’s also important that the candidate asks their own fair share of questions. If a person is offered a job and then finds out that the work environment is not at all one in which they can succeed, it’s a waste of everyone’s time. To prevent this from happening, job seekers should come with their own questions, and should know what it is that they’re searching for in a job.

Don’t be afraid to make your needs clear

Some candidates are afraid to come across as demanding or “diva-like” should they express needs or desires as they interview. In reality, doing so is helpful for the hiring manager. If it’s absolutely essential that you are able to work from home sometimes due to childcare issues, you need to make this known before you get the job. If you prefer to work solo or in groups, talk about this too. It’s better to be honest about what you’re looking for rather than to say what you think the hiring manager wants to hear and get a job offer that’s actually not right for you.

As a hiring manager, what do you wish job seekers knew? Tell us in the comments.

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