Hiring Manager Probs

What are some of the best questions you've been asked during an interview? Has a question ever impressed you so much that it convinced you to hire them? I get tired of generic questions like "… more

What do you think is the biggest mistake to make in an interview? I had a candidate tell me once they didn't care about the current role that they were interviewing for, and it was just a stepping… more

Do you look for the STAR method when candidates are responding to behavioral questions during interviews? I personally find it a bit too structure. Not to say it's great when a response is all ove… more

How hard do you try to be "likeable" during your hiring interviews? Do you put in extra effort or do you stay authentically yourself?

Ugh, more and more candidates are using AI for their resumes and it’s getting out of hand. I interviewed someone this morning who clearly had AI write their cover letter; the grammar was perfect and a… more

Have you ever felt unsure about rejecting a candidate because they were missing just one thing, but strong overall? How do you decide whether to take a chance or pass, especially when hiring for a rol… more

How does everyone push against your company’s policies you don’t agree with? I was forced to reject a highly qualified candidate because he didn’t have a degree. He had way more experience than the ot… more

Have you ever fired someone who filed a lawsuit? What was your reason for firing them and what happened with the lawsuit? I was surprised to find that employment lawsuits are quite common and even mor… more

In your opinion, what's the best way for a candidate to respond if they don't know the answer to a question you ask? I respect when a candidate asks for a min to think or to come back to the q… more

Have you ever hired a candidate that the rest of the hiring panel didn't like? What was your reason and how did the candidate do in their role? Story time :)

Do you hesitate to hire candidates older than you? Have you ever experienced an issue with their respect for your authority due to their longer experience? I personally have not had this issue yet but… more

Do candidates think the listed salary range is just a suggestion? An invitation to negotiate? We clearly explain the salary range with every job posting. But almost every candidate feels the need to p… more

I hired someone who I thought was an amazing candidate; their resume was fantastic, and they nailed every interview. I felt confident in my choice, but that confidence came back to bite me. This perfe… more

I have 10 Epic Analysts that my client can’t place now due to budget cuts. All are between 85-95k and done open to contract work. Anyone know of any companies I can preview them in the US?

Can you share your experience with your most memorable interview/candidate? What did the candidate do/say to stand out? Can be both positive and negative

Had to submit a ppt case study for a job. Wife works at the company and personally emailed the hiring manager. No news on next steps and it’s been over two weeks. Her insight is that the team is slow … more

Had a candidate I wasn’t initially sold on, but they asked great questions and followed up with such a thoughtful email that I gave them a second look. They ended up being one of our best hires. Anyon… more

I’ve had a string of referrals come through where the candidate clearly isn’t a fit, but saying no feels trickier when it’s coming from someone on the team. I want to be respectful, but also fair to t… more

What’s the weirdest, funniest, or most surprising thing you’ve ever seen on a resume?
I still think about the one that listed "vibing with coworkers" under core competencies.

What’s a red flag you spotted during the interview process but decided to overlook?
How long did it take for you to regret it?

I know the job market is tough right now, and people are desperate for work. Which is probably why I get hundreds of resumes every time we post a new position. The problem is that I don’t want to hire… more

My team is stretched thin and begging for more hands. After countless negotiations, I finally got budget approval to hire, but only to realize finding qualified candidates is harder than I expected. Where is ever… more

I’ve been thinking a lot about the balance between hiring for experience vs. hiring for attitude. Sometimes the most technically skilled candidates struggle with teamwork, while someone with less expe… more

We recently interviewed a candidate who had all the right experience, but the team felt like something was “off” in terms of culture fit. I want to be fair in the hiring process and not base decisions… more

I know it’s common for candidates to interview elsewhere to get leverage for a counteroffer, and I don’t take it personally, but I do wonder—does this happen more in certain industries or roles? And f… more

I don’t want to come off as dramatic, but the interview panel I’m forced to work with is ruining my life. I have a deadline to backfill this role, and the interview panel can’t get on the same page. O… more

I’ve had a few situations lately where we go through multiple interviews, only to find out the candidate’s salary expectations are way above our range. I don’t want to make the first conversation all … more

I recently interviewed someone who didn’t have all the technical skills we were looking for but showed a lot of potential. They were eager to learn and had a great attitude, but I worry that the team … more

I am beyond frustrated. My company has ambitious plans to grow our Sales team, so I had to shift priorities, which is disruptive, but fine, I get it. There’s urgency to hire fast, yet leadership keeps… more

What makes you dislike a candidate or not want to select them as your final choice? Typically after the HR screening, most candidates should be on the same playing field but I am curious if anything i… more

What is the reasoning for having front line managers who have never performed the job functions that they are managing?

Are the majority of your interviews virtual or in person? I enjoy the convenient of virtual interviews, but I think in-person interviews give you a much better sense of the person.

When interviewing a candidate, how much value do you place on how the rest of your team would get along with this person? For example, what if you're interviewing a person that you like very much,… more

I had two great candidates. One aced the technical side, the other nailed the cultural fit.
I went with the culture fit… now the technical gaps are starting to show. How do you balance skills vs. fit w… more

How do you stay current on hiring best practices? In what ways do you think hiring has changed from, say, 10 years ago?

Have you been interviewing many over qualified candidates lately because of the tough job economy? Wondering if you have any hesitations with hiring someone who is clearly overqualified for the role a… more

If you’re a hiring manager who’s been interviewing candidates, do you tend to show if you favor the candidate? Or do you try to keep it all neutral? I just got off an interview and got a lukewarm reac… more

Do you always extend your best possible offer right away? Do you expect your candidate to negotiate? I try to give the best number upfront as a sign of good faith but sometimes it can backfire when th… more

I extended an offer, and the candidate tried to renegotiate—twice—after signing. I want to be flexible, but at what point is it crossing the line? Any tips on protecting boundaries in this case...this… more

I'm trying to get back into training and development in an organizational development role. My previous experience is more technical training and project management. This makes me think I need more education… more