Amanda Whicher, Technology Director at Hays UK&I, has over 17 years of experience in the recruitment sector and a wealth of insights when it comes to the challenges employers face accessing and retaining talent, as well as the obstacles professionals encounter when navigating a career within tech.
Amanda is dedicated to matching the top technology experts to organisations, through life-long partnerships and workplace solutions, to support both clients and candidates to meet their ambitions and thrive in the ever-evolving world of tech.
Although job interviews are thought of as an opportunity for employers to weigh up the suitability of applicants, the interview process is a two-way street, allowing jobseekers the chance to assess the appeal of a role and organisation too.
According to our research, six in ten (61%) tech professionals have had a negative experience during an interview process and over half (53%) have been deterred from a prospective employer as a result. Ultimately, employers risk falling at the first hurdle if they give a poor first impression of their organisation.
The question is: what red flags should you be aware of when interviewing for a new role and how can you navigate them? Here are the top five reasons tech professionals cited as creating a negative experience during the interview process:
Poor communication
Getting communication right during the interview process, by being transparent and personable, should be a priority for employers. However, inadequate communication is the most cited reason for a negative experience, with four in ten (41%) tech professionals saying communication and a lack of clarity over the steps involved were at fault.
You should have someone you can contact to ask questions during the process; if this person isn’t clearly signposted, you can try and find the HR contact details for the organisation on their website and send your query in that way, or if you secured the interview through a recruitment agency, get in touch with your recruiter for more information on the process. Once you’ve opened these lines of communication, ask about what steps are involved, and approximate timings, so you know what to expect and can plan your time accordingly.
Unprepared interviewers
Feeling as though your interviewers are unprepared can be disheartening and is the second most cited reason tech professionals (39%) have had a bad experience during an interview process. Whilst the pressure is typically placed on interviewees to be thoroughly prepared, it should work both ways.
In this scenario, you can volunteer relevant information about yourself such as your key skills, experience, achievements, interests and passion for the sector. In other words, take it as an opportunity to paint a picture of your suitability for the role, considering an unprepared interviewer may be starting out with a blank slate as to who you are. If your interviewer doesn’t reveal enough information about the organisation and the role, make sure you ask targeted questions.
Unorganised interviewers can make you feel like they don’t value your time but try not to let it throw you off track. Instead, keep focused, enthusiastic and positive and utilise your own preparation, by highlighting the key requirements for the role and why you’d be successful in the position.
An unstructured process
Over a third (37%) of tech professionals reported a negative interview experience due to an unstructured process; a lack of structure can be unsettling so employers should set aside the time to ensure the process follows a logical order and that each stage runs smoothly.
Whilst you may need to be more flexible and adaptable to cope well when confronted with an unstructured application process, it’s also within your rights to ask for a reasonable amount of notice when it comes to each stage of the process. Carry out your preparation as far in advance as possible, so you’re ready to progress into the next stage.
Poor cultural fit
The importance of finding a good cultural fit when job hunting should not be underestimated, but 35% of tech jobseekers have had a poor interview experience due to an unappealing culture. The challenge is being able to gauge a company’s culture and if your values align as early as the application stage.
Firstly, establish what matters most to you, whether that’s sustainability, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, or employee wellbeing, and carry out some initial research into these factors on the company website. Let your research inform the questions you ask during the interview to suss out if your own values are also important to the organisation. Take the opportunity to get a feel for how transparent the interviewers are about their company culture and whether they appear happy to work there, as this can help you to form an authentic picture of the organisation.
A one-way process
A third (33%) of tech professionals have had a disappointing experience during an interview process as they were not given the space to speak out and ask questions. Interviewers should give you the chance to ask questions so the interview takes a conversational direction, but this isn’t always the case.
To be assertive about your own needs and requirements, you may need to create the space during the interview to ask questions, to help you make an accurate assessment around whether the opportunity is right for you. You can interject with statements like: “I’m interested in finding out…” or “I’m keen to address…” or “Could you tell me more about…”.
Final thoughts
Effective communication, prepared interviewers, a logical structure, a positive portrayal of a company’s culture and a two-way dialogue all ensure the job application process runs smoothly and is a positive experience for everyone involved. It’s certainly worth reflecting on whether a prospective employer ticks these boxes but, if they don’t, you can still keep your cool and get the best out of the interview experience.