The Job Interview is a show that premiered just weeks ago on CNBC featuring the process of how real life employers determine their new hire through a series of interviews with qualified candidates. The premise of the show is heavily focused on the ‘make or break’ moments within job interviews that impact a candidate’s ability to land a job. This is a helpful show, but there are plenty of things to keep in mind and think critically about when watching!
SEVERAL KEY ASPECTS OF THIS SHOW THAT STOOD OUT:
1. It shows real-world interviews:
The show depicts real employers from various industries asking various types of traditional, behavioral, and case interview questions. This is great to watch if you are trying to get an idea of what types of questions different industries are asking.
Keep in mind: These are real life employers, however the show does not emphasize that the recruiter’s opinions do not always reflect the industry’s outlook as a whole. Additionally, the companies depicted in the show thus far have been smaller companies, where the interview processes vary a little from larger corporations.
2. Feedback and insight:
The recruiters give insight into why they make choices in the hiring process. Taking note of the different ways candidates were able to distinguish themselves throughout the interviewing process can help you determine what strategies you will apply within your interviews.
Keep in mind: The employers mainly talk about why they didn’t think the applicant was a good fit, but rarely do they give insight on how the applicant could have improved their answer. Many of the candidates that are chosen for the job still had a lot of room for improvement within their answer content.
3. Verbal and nonverbal communication:
Answer content and nonverbal communication were equal in the decision making process when employers were determining a new hire. This information aligns with what the Center for Career Development highlights in the Center for Career Development Professional Interviewing Guide. Feel free to reference this guide for advice and tips on verbal communication, nonverbal communication, and answer content.
Keep in mind: The length of answers in the show do not reflect what the Center for Career Development suggests. There is a lot of editing done in order to fit all of the interviews into one episode, making it seem as if each candidate’s answer is only around 10-15 seconds long. We recommend that each interview answer should be around 1-1.5 minutes long.
Final Thoughts…
This show is a great watch if you’re trying to understand what a standard job interview looks like and what some major red flags that come up for employers in interviews are. It is important that while watching, you are considering the fact that one person’s opinion may not be the same as another, and that the same goes for employers.
If you would like to get feedback on your overall interviewing skills, call or stop by the Center for Career Development to sign up for a Practice Interview. Weekly availability varies by semester and may include some same-day scheduling options.
