3 Big Differences and How to Master each Interview
By Bogdan Zlatkov, Founder & Instructor, GrowthHackYourCareer.com
Many smart job candidates fail their interviews for one simple reason: they don’t understand the difference between a recruiter vs a hiring manager. Even though recruiters and hiring managers work closely together, there are some key differences that are crucial to understand when you are on your job search.
According to the latest data, a job opening attract about 250 applicants on average. Of those 250 applicants, about six will get called in for interviews. If you are one of those lucky six applicants, the last thing you’ll want to do is waste the opportunity because you mess up your interview with the recruiter or hiring manager.
Knowing what a recruiter does vs what a hiring manager does, is one of the keys to acing the interview process and landing a job offer.
Recruiter vs Hiring Manager
While the recruiter and the hiring manager work closely together, the differences between the two are best explained here:
A recruiter is part of the company’s HR team dedicated to sourcing and attracting professional talent for the company and is the main contact between external candidates and the rest of the hiring team. Their main responsibility is to manage the hiring process from beginning to end. They source and interview candidates for a specific job role, meet with the hiring manager to discuss the candidates, and schedule interviews internally with team members to meet with the strongest applicants. The most important thing to remember about a recruiter is that they are on your side – they want to fill open positions quickly and with the best people. Approach any intro or full-length interview with a recruiter with enthusiasm as they can be your best partner throughout the hiring process.
The hiring manager has two main responsibilities – he/she writes and/or approves the job description and has the final say in hiring someone for the role on offer. Getting through the recruiter interview successfully and onto the hiring manager interview is crucial to the process of landing the job, but each of the interviews is different.
Here is how to best prepare for each of these:
The Recruiter interview
The recruiter is looking for two things in your interview:
- They want to make sure you are who you say you are
- They want to make sure you meet the basic qualifications for the job
Point #2 is where a lot of job seekers get in trouble. A lot of job seekers will try to show their qualifications from a defensive position. They’ll (mistakenly) believe that the recruiter is doubting their qualifications. But this isn’t the case.
Remember, a recruiter doesn’t know too much about your field of expertise. They are recruiting for multiple roles. So, it’s best to approach the recruiter interview as a friendly conversation where you’re sharing who you are as a person and as a professional. The recruiter interview is also your opportunity to learn as much as you can about the company and the people you’ll be interviewing with.
The Hiring Manager interview
The hiring manager interview is very different from the recruiter interview.
Your main goals for the recruiter interview are to pass the screening questions and gather intel about the company.
The hiring manager interview is different in 3 very significant ways. Your main goals for the hiring manager interview should be to:
1. Make a personal connection
This is an often-overlooked part of the manager interview, but it’s super important. If you get hired, the hiring manager will become your actual manager. That means you’ll be spending a lot of time together. Managers, just like all people, want to work with people who are pleasant to work with. That’s why your #1 priority should be to establish a rapport with the hiring manager. If you’d like some tips on how to build rapport, I recommend reading about the 7 best questions to ask at the end of an interview here.
2. Offer solutions
A hiring manager is looking to hire someone because they have a problem that they can’t solve themselves. One of the most important things that hiring managers look for in an interview is someone who has a solution mindset. This is why it’s vital to not only talk about your skills, but also showcase how you created solutions in past roles. A great way to showcase your solution mindset is by telling interview stories.
3. Describe a recent successful project
Your third goal for the hiring manager interview should be to differentiate yourself from other candidates. Remember those six candidates that make it to the interview process? Each of them will have similar experience and qualifications to you.
One of the best ways to stand out from the pack is by describing a project you’ve worked on. Unlike your general work experience, the projects you’ve worked on are very likely to be unique compared to other candidates. Remember, the hiring manager interview is very different from the recruiter interview, which is also different from the other interviews you’ll face in the hiring process.
Takeaways & Next Steps
As you can see, there are key differences between a recruiter vs a hiring manager.
- A recruiter is like a project manager. They are on your side. They wantto hire you.
- A hiring manager has the final say on whether you get hired. They want to know about your expertise, but they also want to make a personal connection with you.
As you prepare for your interviews, remember that you should approach each of these interviews in a different way. Happy Interviewing!
Bogdan Zlatkov is the Founder of GrowthHackYourCareer.com and has taught thousands of smart job seekers how to optimize their resumes, reach “All-Star” status with their LinkedIn profiles, and how to ace their interviews to land their next job faster. Before starting GHYC, Bogdan was a Content Manager at LinkedIn Learning and the author of, “The Ultimate Guide to Job Hunting,” ranked #1 on Google. To accelerate your next job search, visit GrowthHackYourCareer.com
