07/16/2026
JOB SEEKER TIP: Don't Be "Edward"
One of my recruiters, Abbey, recently interviewed a candidate for a Warehouse Manager position. (Name changed to protect the... well, you know. 😊)
After the interview, this was her feedback:
"I would not recommend Edward to move forward. He is a horrible listener. Almost every question he would start answering before I finished, or he would go off talking about things that weren't relevant to what I asked. If I hadn't interrupted him during the first question, I never would have been able to ask the rest. He is a nice man, but he would not be a good fit for this position."
Ouch.
Here's the thing...Edward may have had all the technical skills to do the job. We'll never know, because he never gave the interviewer the chance to find out.
One of the biggest interview mistakes I see is candidates feeling like they have to prove everything they know. They talk too much, answer the question they wish had been asked, or interrupt because they're afraid they'll forget what they want to say.
Don't do that.
Instead:
• Listen until the interviewer finishes speaking.
• Pause for a moment before you answer.
• Answer the question that was actually asked.
• Keep your response focused.
• Then stop talking.
Remember, an interview is a conversation, not a monologue.
As an HR professional, I can tell you this: Great listening skills are often more impressive than great speaking skills. They demonstrate emotional intelligence, respect, self-awareness, and the ability to work effectively with others.
Sometimes, the candidate who gets the offer isn't the one who talked the most.
It's the one who listened the best.
