The Manager's Pocket Guide to Leadership Skills

Avoid Common Errors

In preparing for the interview, it is helpful to be aware of some of the most common errors that interviewers frequently make.

1.  Talking too much. Studies indicate that most interviewers talk 50% or more of the time during an interview. An interview that is dominated by the interviewer fails to accomplish the most crucial purpose of the interview—to get information from the applicant. An effective interviewer will conduct the interview so that he or she spends only about 20% of the time talking and the applicant spends 80% of the time talking.

2.  Telegraphing the desired response. Interviewers often lead or help the candidate get the “right answer” by telegraphing the answer that they want to hear. For example, the interviewer ...