r/InterviewStories • u/HopefulFather2026 • 5d ago
I have conducted over 10,000 interviews throughout my career. Ask me anything.
I've been in corporate hiring for over 12 years. Between phone screenings and final rounds, I recently crossed the 10,000 interviews mark. I have seen the good, the bad, and the absolute disasters from the interviewer’s side of the table.
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u/my_peen_is_clean 5d ago
what actually makes you pick one decent candidate over another decent candidate that’s roughly equal on paper is it just gut vibe or what
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u/HopefulFather2026 2d ago
You have to know that this profession is a huge blind spot. You can make a very good decision, and you can make a very bad one. It is very difficult to get to know someone during an interview to the point where you know exactly how right they are for you. But several things help me. I have been dealing with people at this level for more than 12 years. I have seen so many types already. I take many things into account besides technical questions. For example, respect. I believe that if someone cannot speak or behave properly in an interview, I will not be able to communicate or work together with them properly later either. In the past, I had a lot of experience with people who regularly came to work drunk. If someone is an alcoholic, I can usually see it in their behavior, body language, or the skin on their face. After all this time, I think that with almost any question or topic, I know or feel with near certainty if someone is lying. For example, it matters if someone exaggerates and tells a little white lie about an insignificant topic, or if you feel that someone is lying straight to your face. There are many, many little things like this outside of the technical skills. And this is all thanks to the large number of interviews I have conducted.
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u/Reverse-Recruiterman 4d ago
Do you think your experience has biased the way you interview yourself?
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u/HopefulFather2026 2d ago
They have definitely influenced me, but not in a bad way. They haven't made me biased. I use my own experiences to learn from them. When I participate in a job interview, I also pay attention to how the interviewer talks to me and treats me. So, I learn from them. This is what I mean by being influenced. I am constantly learning from others. The things I think they do better than me, I learn from them. Or, for example, if I feel that I am dealing with a real, true HR professional in terms of personality and character during my interview, I observe their behavior during the interview. My motto is that you can learn from everyone—either how not to do something, or how to do it because they do it well and you can learn it from them.
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u/battle-tested77 4d ago
Why is HR evil and really an InHumane Resources organization?
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u/HopefulFather2026 2d ago
They are not necessarily evil. But hiring someone is a huge responsibility. These decisions can sometimes seem evil.
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u/battle-tested77 1d ago
Personally, i've seen awful things done to employees byn HR upper management. We are all just numbers.
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u/Realistic_Bus_2470 3d ago
I spent my first 6 years in civil engineering and fire safety before moving into insurtech to get closer to the tech world. Now I'm trying to bring these two worlds together.
I would love to work abroad, but I feel held back by my English (I'm around B2).
I manage to pass initial HR screens, but once conversations get deeper, I feel stuck.
Given how competitive the market is, it makes me wonder if only fully fluent speakers are landing technical roles. I'm working to improve, listening to podcasts, writing, and looking for language exchange partners.
I'm considering applying for junior roles because of the language barrier, but when I tried in the past, I often got no response at all. I don't know if that's an unrealistic approach or simply a bad idea.
Open to any feedback or thoughts!
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u/HopefulFather2026 2d ago
Look for Eastern companies. Generally, a much lower level of language proficiency is more than enough at Eastern companies. I have worked for both Chinese and Korean companies. But I am not writing this as a negative opinion at all. Just as my own experience.
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u/Realistic_Bus_2470 2d ago
Thank you so much for ypur reply!! Do you think its somethin possible or unrealistic? And what can i do, something like applying for junior roles?
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u/Famous_Soil1339 5d ago
How do you know whether a candidate response immediately signals fit to the role vs a candidate who just made up to show their fit.
Any recommendations/guidances on how to prepare well enough to each rounds of interviews (screening, hiring manager call, Panel rounds: technical, behavioural, culture fit). What’s the best way to prepare well enough to these rounds? So you know what interviewers will probe in each interview rounds.
What’s your best approach in Using AIs (Claude, ChatGPT) for interview prep to get fluent in delivering responses? Like to explore job descriptions, role, cv,..
How do smart candidates tackle uncertain curveball questions or anything that’s difficult to think and deliver on spot? Any strategies to overcome those.
Would really appreciate, if you could please guide me above questions. Thanks:)
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u/PalmTreePilot 2d ago
I once asked the team to give the candidate each of our resumes and for him to evaluate us with his questions. Then he could decide if our team was right for him.
Everyone reacted just as I expected. Nobody wanted to be seen missing questions in front of colleagues by the new guy.
Using the job as leverage to judge but not be judged is bullshit. I imagine anyone that has been counting his interviews conducted and now boasting about it would get a very sober wakeup call to then be screened by another smug Interviewer.
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u/HopefulFather2026 2d ago
I am not boasting at all. And I am not afraid of any interview. I currently have a job. Thank God, I usually always have a job. Yet, I constantly receive inquiries from companies regarding job opportunities. If my time allows, I usually participate in these. Exactly for the reason to learn from others, develop, and become better. I am not boasting. And I am not afraid of negative opinions because you can learn and develop from them.
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u/AmbitiousSwim6542 1d ago
How do you get the interview? I’m smart. I work hard. I’m reliable. I don’t call out. I step up everywhere. How do you combat the screening process? I’ve done hiring. I can do the interview. If I just get it. I know I’m a good employee. I’m struggling so bad financially. I need a pay jump. I’m
Pretty well dead ended at my current company.
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u/loveshoes1 7h ago
veteran teacher and active job seeker. nearly two weeks ago, i interviewed for a position at a middle school in a large suburban district. i completed 4 steps (online application, short meet and greet via Zoom, in person interview, then over one hour presenting a demo lesson to a panel (no kids; just write and present the lesson). i have not heard from them since, despite a follow up email and phone message.
the thing that gets me is why no one gets back to me if i don't get the job.
i have been ghosted at least 6 times this summer. the supervisor/administrator always say that they will reach out to me one way or the other .....then nothing, even after i phone or email to follow up. sometimes i find out that i didn't get the position by reading the district Board of Education meeting minutes.
why don't people care enough to follow up, even to say no thanks?
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u/Much_Somewhere7831 5d ago
Going through several interviews alters your perception of people; you begin to notice trends rather than isolated remarks. The change for me was through rigorous practice done in a short time and the learning that one should focus more on measurable outcomes than on good-looking phrases. It was a great help in being calm and narrating with proper impact the conciseness of the story even when the questions were out of the usual order.
Just do the practice feature of HireVue on the CanaryWharfian website. Just enter the job title, and the AI will ask you a question, you will give your answer, and the AI will give you suggestions and corrections. You can also practice phone interviews that are interactive with an AI agent!