The Best Traits That Set Candidates Apart From The Rest, Says Ex-Google Recruiter

By Moon Harper

Mar 29, 2024 12:00 AM EDT

Nolan Church has accumulated over a decade of experience in talent acquisition at renowned brands like Google and DoorDash. As an experienced recruiter, he has witnessed various missteps unfold during the job interview process.

One of his red flags is when an interviewee appears to be putting on an act during the interview. You can clearly tell they have been rehearsing the same answers over and over again, prioritizing quantity over quality. They say a lot of words but nothing meaningful, Church notes.

When it comes to impressing Church, who currently serves as the CEO of Continuum, a talent marketplace for executives, one tactic consistently stands out. Church learns something from this person, whom he explains he wants to work with.

Learning From a Candidate Like a Masterclass

Church provides an example from his time at equity management platform Carta, where he interviewed a chief revenue officer when he was eager to learn strategies for growing the business-to-business software-as-a-service company. During the interview, the candidate offered a detailed plan on how to scale the business in that area. Church describes it as "like a masterclass," which Church highlighted as the learning he values the most as a recruiter.

Ask If You Can Tell Them a Quick Story

Church advises job seekers not to force the opportunity to teach during the interview process. Instead, if there is a natural opening, such as when the interviewer asks about your experience, take advantage of it.

You can initiate this by saying, "May I share a quick story about a lesson from my previous position? Then, follow this framework:

Setting the Context: Provide a brief background or context for the story. For example, explain the situation or project you were involved in.
Describe the Preconceived Notion: Talk about any assumptions or beliefs you held before encountering the situation you are about to describe. This could be a misconception or a common belief in your field.
Explain What You Learned: Describe the specific experience or lesson that challenged your preconceived notion. Explain how you gained new insight or knowledge from this experience.
Detail Application to Your Work Today: Connect the lesson you learned to your current work or the job you are interviewing for. Explain how this insight influences your professional approach, decision-making, or problem-solving.

According to Church, top candidates stand out in steps two and three because they demonstrate a growth mindset and humility.

Interview Tips from an HR Pro

Here are some top job interview tips from Jordan Gibbs, a tech recruiter who shared her job search journey on TikTok, which included 69 days, 173 job applications, 42 interviews, and two rejections after she was laid off from a position at Lyft.

Do not count your chickens before they hatch. Never assume you have the job until it is confirmed, as things can change unexpectedly. Keep hustling and continue interviewing.
Overprepare by thoroughly reading the job description and preparing your talking points, even if you feel confident speaking spontaneously.
Be honest about what you do not know. Authenticity is key. Do not try to be someone you are not. Overselling yourself or showing desperation will be apparent to employers.