Google Exec Reveals Top Mistakes Candidates Make When Applying For A Job

Alphabet Inc GOOG GOOGL director of engineering Daniel Rizea has conducted more than 1,000 interviews throughout his career. One thing he's come to realize is that most candidates make the same mistakes that end up getting them tossed from consideration.

What To Know: It doesn't matter how experienced you are or what job you're applying for, candidates across the spectrum end up making the same critical error when applying for jobs, according to a Business Insider report.

One of the most common mistakes Rizea has seen job candidates make over the course of his career is showing up unprepared. He calls it the "halo of knowledge" trap.

Such occurs when someone is good at their current job and assumes that means they will perform well in an interview for a similar position. The things that interviewers are looking for are often much different than the skills practiced on the job, Rizea said. 

"You may have to code the solution to a given problem on a piece of paper or design systems on the fly while debating pros and cons. Coding the solution on a whiteboard or in an online shared doc is very different from what most engineers are used to doing in their day-to-day work," the Google exec said.

Interviewing is a skill that needs to be practiced. A candidate is probably not very good at it if they haven't been routinely going through job interviews, he said.

He recommends solving interview questions on your own and practicing speaking aloud. You can get someone to help you perform a mock interview, which is one of the best ways to get prepared, Rizea said. 

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Another thing that often hurts candidates is a lack of sleep. If you don't make sure you are well-rested before an interview, your IQ will fall off. 

"I have seen many candidates scheduling interviews after a long day of work or at the end of the work week. During the interview, they weren't lacking knowledge, but it was clear to me that they were tired," Rizea said. 

Hiring managers can tell when someone is tired, but they have to judge you based on what you show in the interview, so making sure you are well-rested and focused is key to actually landing a job. 

Another mistake candidates make is failing to pick up on hints. Interviewers often give additional pieces of information if a candidate is stuck on a question. If you don't pick up on these little clues, you risk going down the wrong rabbit hole, he said. 

A good way to avoid this is to pause and ask the interviewer if you are on the right track before continuing with a response. You can always ask questions, but don't abuse hints, he said. 

Lastly, job candidates often fall into the trap of overlooking behavioral questions. You want to make sure you are prepared to demonstrate soft skills, Rizea said. 

Behavioral questions help an interviewer assess whether or not you will be a good culture fit at the company. One way to prepare is to look up core values on the company's website before the interview. Interviewers will likely want to see that you have exhibited these values in previous roles. 

"The best thing that you can do is prepare for it. Don't forget that interviewing is a skill. It's worth investing some hours in practicing and preparing for the job you desire and where you will spend the next years of your career. It will certainly be a very good return on your investment," Rizea said.

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Photo: aymane jdidi from Pixabay.