Public Finance Blog

This blog is going to explore the question: How well did your interview really go?  It sounds like this is an extremely easy personal assessment of how you did during that 45 minutes to 1 hour discussion; however, most people don’t know how to truly assess themselves.  Let’s explore the interview clues together.

My First Question About The Interview

The first question I ask of a candidate is, “How long did the interview last?”  By knowing my hiring managers, if the time I expect is shorter than the time I planned for then I know the call did not go as well as my candidate hoped and planned for.  Some of my managers have a minimum time they set aside, but they also have a maximum time.  If the time of the interview concluded past the maximum time, I know it went very well.

Clues, Clues, Clues!

The next clue is one that I set up for my candidates by having them hold back two questions and then have them close the interview with a question similar to, “What is the next step in the interview process?”  If they respond with words like, “We’d like you to talk to [name], an internal reference to another member of the team,” then that’s wonderful.  On the converse, if they say something like, “We’ll talk to the recruiter and they’ll help plan the next steps,” then it’s not as good.  With one caveat!  This is the normal process of this hiring manager, but your recruiter must know this detail and modus operandi of your interviewer.

The Danger In Assuming During The Interview…

“This is where your desk is going to be.” Never allow yourself to base your analysis on any words similar to this.  It’s not an indication of how well you did, but a manager fumbling – especially if this is an in-person meeting.  I’ve had this type of language throw off a candidate, which permitted them to lower their interview guard as they think they have the position (when in essence they don’t yet).  Assessing how you’ve done is not easily accomplished without the aid of a recruiter.  Look for the signs of approval, yet be cautious in overassuming you’ve nailed the interview.  One little slip when answering a question can change everything.  

Conclusion

You don’t need a resume to chat with us! If you would like to discuss your options, please reach out for a confidential conversation at 760-477-1284 or email at harlan@hfriedmansearch.com. He can also be reached on LinkedIn. Harlan publishes a blog every Thursday here. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter here, which is a compilation of our weekly blogs, so you never miss one. We have also been mentioned in Forbes this year, click HERE to read more.  

About Harlan Friedman, JD & Founding Member, H. Friedman Search LLC. Harlan is a thirty-year veteran Public Finance Banker turned recruiter who specializes in the placement of all levels Public Finance Bankers, Healthcare Bankers, Municipal Advisors, Compliance Officers, Issuers, and Bond Counsels.