This Interview Blunder Is a Big Red Flag, Says Tech Exec—Here’s How to Sidestep It

Gillian Munson suggests that excelling in a job interview involves providing robust responses; however, this cannot be achieved without carefully paying attention to what is being said during the conversation.

The biggest "definite" red flag that Munson, Vimeo's CFO, notices in interviewees is when they ignore the question at hand and provide an unrelated answer.

"She says people often rush through conversations so much that they fail to pay close attention to the questions and respond appropriately," she explains to GudangMovies21Make It.

Even when a candidate attempts to dodge a question they prefer not to address directly, it’s crucial to recognize that the query exists and connect your response back to it, suggests Munson, aged 54, with over three decades of expertise in the financial sector.

Ways to Improve Your Listening Skills

Top performers set themselves apart from their colleagues at work through their strong active listening skills According to Sarah Sarkis, who serves as the senior director of performance psychology at Exos and is also a psychologist.

Not many individuals possess the skill to genuinely engage in a dialogue and attentively react to what someone else is expressing," she said to Make It earlier this year. According to Sarkis, people frequently "come into the discussion ready with where you hope it will conclude, or preoccupied with something else.

Sarkis advised improving your listening skills by seeking input from your friends about how you come across during discussions. Additionally, she suggested engaging in reflective listening—wherein you recapitulate what the other individual has shared—and posing open-ended queries when talking with others.

According to Sarkis, active listening is akin to possessing a superpower. When individuals at work feel noticed, understood, and backed, there’s significantly more you can achieve together.

Illuminating interview questions

In addition to ensuring that a candidate is actively engaged during an interview, Munson has a standard question she uses which she believes uncovers valuable insights: "If we were to hypothetically talk with your previous supervisor and inquire about their opinion of you, how do you imagine their response would be?"

This query encourages individuals to reflect on both their capabilities and shortcomings, potentially allowing them to showcase their genuine nature, as stated by Munson.

For a successful application, Munson seeks candidates who are "quite open" regarding their areas of improvement. This transparency enables you to "establish a connection with the interviewer so they can truly assess if you would be a good match," according to her.

Munson often inquires during interviews about why an individual selected their alma mater or a prior place of employment. She believes that responses to this query provide insight into "how you approach decision-making," noting further that "the way you decide things will eventually be evident in your daily work performance."

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