AUTHOR CREDIT: T. Mangalilo

I’ve been in the hiring seat for over 15 years — from hiring general workers and drillers in the dust and noise of the field, to interviewing senior managers in glass offices.
I’ve also been on the other side of the table
After sitting through hundreds of interviews, let me tell you — there are a few things we hiring managers secretly hate. And if you’re a Gen Z job seeker reading this, you might want to sit down for this one

1. COACHED RESPONSES
When your CV is polished and well-written — that’s great. But the coaching should stop there.
Inside the interview room, we’re not hiring your coach. We’re hiring you.

We already know the top 10 “model answers” from YouTube and ChatGPT (yes, I said it).

Tell us something we don’t know.
Tell us about a time things went wrong and what you learned. Real > rehearsed. Every single time.

2. INTERNET-RESEARCHED ANSWERS
We know you’ve been on Google. We’ve been there too.
So, when your answer sounds like “According to Harvard Business Review…” we already know what’s coming next.

Try this instead: talk about your reality. What’s one thing you did differently in your last role?
We’re looking for thinkers, not copy-pasters.

3. DESPERATION DISGUISED AS ENTHUSIASM
Confidence and enthusiasm? Love it.
Desperation? That’s a NO from us!

If the interview was meant to last an hour and it runs long, it’s okay to say, “I have another appointment.”
We respect people who value their time. Being too available doesn’t make you look committed — it makes you look unsure of your boundaries.

4. LACK OF SELF-AWARENESS
When we ask, “What’s an area you’re improving on?” and you say, “I’m a perfectionist,” we just smile. Because we’ve heard that one… too many times.

We don’t want flawless. We want honest.
If you can own your mistakes and show how you grew, you’ve already impressed us.

5. NOT KNOWING THE COMPANY
One of the easiest ways to stand out? Actually, knowing who you’re talking to.

When you say, “I read about your sustainability project in Zambia and I think my background could support that,” — you’ve already won half the room.
*Do your homework. It shows maturity and intention.

6. NOT ASKING QUESTIONS
When we ask, “Do you have any questions for us?” and you say, “No, I’m good”…
That’s your chance to flip the interview and show curiosity.

Ask about leadership style, growth, or what success looks like in the role.
Remember — you’re interviewing us too.

Interviews are not exams — they’re conversations.
We’re not looking for who can memorize answers; we’re looking for who can connect.

SO, IF YOU’RE PREPARING FOR YOUR NEXT BIG INTERVIEW, HERE’S THE CHEAT CODE:
Be authentic.
Be prepared.
Be yourself (but the version that’s ready to grow).

Remember, the best candidate is the real one!