I was a corporate HR leader for ten million years, so I got used to hearing the standard set of lies and misstatements that hiring managers and their HR co-workers make. They tell job-seekers “We’ll get back to you in two days” when it’s likely to be two weeks or more. They say “We’ve got just a few more interviews to schedule” when they’ve already made their mind up. These lies are seldom if ever malicious, from what I can tell. People are busy. They’re trying to do the right thing. They may be conflicted (Mariah seems like a wonderful marketing candidate, but the boss really wants someone with international experience). So they lie, the same ways sales prospects lie when they say “The boss is out of the office, so I haven’t been able to talk to him.” They fib. Unwary job-seekers can be caught in the crossfire, unsure of how to proceed. Here’s our quick guide to the five most common lies you’ll hear on a job interview (with translations to decode what the boss is really trying to say).
Job-Interview Lie Number One: We’re not quite sure what we’re looking for.
Does this make any sense at all? We don’t think so. If they don’t know what they’re looking for, why are they interviewing at all? “We’re not quite sure what we’re looking for” typically means “There’s something about you that doesn’t feel like a fit, but it’s unpleasant to share that sort of news, so we’ll just say that we’re still fleshing out the job spec. That way, it’s not personal.” Don’t believe it. Whether they knew exactly what they were looking for or not, if you’d made their heart beat faster they’d be scheduling you for a second interview right now.
Job-Interview Lie Number Two: I’m not the one making the hiring decision.
This could be true, or it could be a lie. It’s a lie if the interviewer had been very engaged in the conversation up to a certain point and then suddenly cooled. That means something went off the rails. Maybe it was the way you answered a certain question, or something you said that indicated you’re not the person (doormat?) this firm is looking for. That’s okay – not every job is a great fit for every job-seeker – but the manager’s transparent lie doesn’t ease the blow. When they claim that it’s not their responsibility to make the decision, they’re essentially asking for your forgiveness for what they’re about to do — namely, reject you as a contender.
Job-Interview Lie Number Three: We have other positions that are higher priority.
This is a dodge, to signal “Don’t expect to hear from us right away.” It means one of two things. Either the position doesn’t exist at all, and the employer ran a phony job ad strictly to test the talent-pool waters. That’s despicable (and should be illegal) but it happens all the time. The other scenario is that the position is a high priority and a job offer will be made quickly, but it won’t be coming to you. Interviewers say “It’s not a high priority” when they want you to go away and forget they ever existed. That way, you won’t be waiting by the phone, and devastated when the selection process doesn’t go your way.
Job-Interview Lie Number Four: We’re not all that focused on the job spec.
Really? If they’re not all that focused on the job spec, then what are they focused on? If they love you, they should hire you. Employers say “We’re not all that focused on the job spec” when they have several other candidates who appear better suited to the job than you are. If you get into a mind-meld situation at an interview, they don’t tell you what they’re not focused on. They say “Oh my gosh, finally! Someone who understands what we’re up against. Let’s get you back to meet our VP, next week.”
“We’re not all that focused on the job spec” says that you’re not a fit, and is often a hedge in case you later say to the headhunter “But I had everything listed on the job spec!” If that happens, the headhunter can say “Well, as they said, they’re not all that focused on that.”
Job-Interview Lie Number Five: We’re really taking our time making this decision.
Any time an employer talks about slowing down a selection process, something is off kilter. Either there’s political turmoil inside the organization, or the budget is on hold for this spot or there’s internal wrangling over the job description (or where the new hire should report in). No one posts a job opening in order to not fill it. Job requisitions are like gold, in any organization. When a manager gets permission to add a new hire, it’s usually his or her highest priority. So when someone says “We’re taking our time,” you’re being told that something is out of whack, or that you’re just not their cup of tea. It’s much nicer to leave you with the impression that the company is still working through its process than with the impression that you’ve underwhelmed them. If they say “We’re taking our time,” they’re hoping you’ll lose interest and stop calling. I agree with them. You’ve got a lot to offer, and there are too many employers out there with business pain for you to pin your hopes on mealy-mouthed managers who can’t give you a straight Yes or No.