The operation was a success, but the patient died. Why? 10 theses
1. Precision, not perfection, at the start
Successful candidates ask follow-up questions. They clarify, weigh things up and probe, showing they already think like an insider. Rejected candidates answer the question they were asked but lose the thread.
2. Dialogue, not monologue
People who turn the interview into a real conversation and bring in what they know convince. People who wait for their turn and then simply start talking lose.
3. Authenticity beats a glossy presentation
Candidates who get an offer talk openly about their job moves, even when not everything went smoothly. Rejected candidates present their career as a flawless success story. Honestly, that’s what bothers me most. It only makes the interviewer wonder more: were they fired? Did they fall out with someone?
4. Nobody is flawless, neither the interviewer nor the candidate, and that’s a good thing
Talking about difficult phases and what you learned from them shows maturity and self-reflection. Avoiding uncomfortable topics and presenting only the positives costs you credibility.
5. Language reveals attitude
Successful candidates talk about “creative”, “innovative”, “hands-on”. Rejected candidates say “I have”, “I am”, “I want”, and don’t notice that the constant focus on themselves sends the wrong energy.
6. Genuine interest, not a backdrop of research
Candidates who get an offer ask about competitors, strategic differentiation and the real tensions. Rejected candidates have read up a few polite questions from the company register or ChatGPT: no depth, no follow-up, no dialogue.
7. The interviewer is ignored surprisingly often
Show sincere interest in the interviewer, their work and their perspective, and you create a real connection. Try only to come across as likeable, and you stay one-dimensional.
8. Numbers and relevance, not vague anecdotes
Strong candidates compare the starting point and the result in concrete numbers and link them to the job being discussed. Weak candidates talk about what they once achieved in a different context, under different circumstances.
9. Private life, in small doses and with a purpose
A brief glimpse into your private life, linked to a real skill the hobby demands, comes across as human and convincing. Talk at length about hiking in the Dolomites or collecting Peruvian recorders, and you lose the room.
10. Last but most important
Greet the assistant warmly and thank them for the coffee, and you signal character. Ignore the front desk and focus only on the interview, and you show how you treat people when you think it doesn’t matter.
What’s your experience?
