How to choose when you receive many interview invitations? Avoid these mistakes!

Despite worries about an economic slowdown, the job market is still quite hot, and job searchers continue to express confidence in their ability to obtain employment.

“I frequently receive this inquiry from my students: How can I choose when I have so many interview offers?” Professor at HEC Paris Olivier Sibony said

But as candidates find themselves in power, the “most likely mistake” they would make is allowing their decision-making to be influenced by one interaction, he said. That’s also known as the “halo effect,” which is the tendency for a positive overall impression of someone or a company to positively influence one’s opinion in other areas.

Example: If this is your first meeting with a company representative (often an employer) and you feel good about it, you’ll probably ask the following questions to “support that first statement”.

“You will find gratifying answers to all the questions you ask, and you will only ask questions that reinforce your favorable first impression,” he continued. Therefore, you won’t be asking any more “difficult” questions that might actually help you assess this organization.

So how to avoid this mistake?

1. Ask the same questions

Ask the same question to every company to prevent the “halo effect.” Even though you have the same question, it is occasionally also important to consider the accuracy of the answers you get.

Instead of blindly trusting the employer, who is tough to provide accurate and true information, you should ideally analyze your replies based on information from other sources such as company review websites, Facebook groups, LinkedIn, or any other intermediary source.

2. Do your research

You should finish compiling the list of prerequisites and criteria you need for the new position.

“Often people aren’t the right fit for a job because they didn’t “do it right the first time,”namely asking the right questions” Sibony said.

In addition to the list of criteria, you can make a list of signs that indicate a “red-flag” future that you need to avoid. Author of the book “You’re About to Make a Terrible Mistake!” – Olivier Sibony suggested one way to do that: Talk to five friends who recently quit their jobs and ask them what they hated about their old jobs.

Then ask ourselves how those “danger signals” (red-flag) are represented so that we can recognize and… “dodge”.

3. Are your potential colleagues happy?

Sibony suggests talking to people who “could” be your coworkers in the future. “You may believe you already have a lot of information… But they are insiders, and they undoubtedly know more than you.”

He went on to say that candidates may ignore “red-flag” because they believe they are “different” or “special.”

“However, you are less different than you think!” The happiness of your coworkers on the same team is the best indicator of how happy you will be when you have a job.”

“If they’re unhappy, there’s a very good chance that you’re going to be unhappy too,” said Sibony.

4. Know what’s important to you

Another reason you could accept an unsuitable job is that “they genuinely don’t know what’s essential to them.”

“When starting a new job, you should not only learn about the corporate culture but also take advantage of the opportunity to learn more about yourself.” Even with the finest planning, there is always the possibility of unpleasant surprises while starting a new job.

“I recall talking with a previous student who said she was feeling extremely depressed since everyone was working from home, whereas she urgently wanted everyone to come to the office. room to work together.” Sibony said “I asked her if she mentioned this (work from home) in the interview?”, she answered “No, because I didn’t think that’s important,”

This is why Sibony advises job searchers to approach each new job as a learning experience, not only to learn about the job but also to be themselves, knowing what they enjoy, need, and desire. what is crucial

You don’t truly know who you are until you meet a lot of people and go through a lot of different experiences.