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Emmett Shear@eshear• over 1 year ago

There are two reasons that someone would fail an interview question that should be easy given their CV. (1) they’re actually incompetent (2) the interview was scary and they froze

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Emmett Shear@eshear• over 1 year ago
Replying to @eshear

Interviews are high-stakes situations with time pressure, which is a recipe for fear. Unless that describes the day-to-day of the job, you don’t want to select for lack-of-test-anxiety. You just want to select for competence.

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Emmett Shear@eshear• over 1 year ago
Replying to @eshear

So let’s say you have someone who bombed the interview. You can’t really know why. Super incompetent, or high test anxiety?

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Emmett Shear@eshear• over 1 year ago
Replying to @eshear

This implies, at least for jobs without common high stakes time pressure, there is good alpha in being an interviewer who can create a sense of safety for candidates. You get access to the competent people who are being overlooked by the market!

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Emmett Shear@eshear• over 1 year ago
Replying to @eshear

It’s easy to forget how an interview feels from the other side. You’re doing dozens a month, you’re not emotionally invested in the outcome. But this is a big deal for them! Which is why they won’t be as chill and comfortable as you.

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Emmett Shear@eshear• over 1 year ago
Replying to @eshear

Just for clarity, I will add I am not suggesting you ask easier questions. The idea is to help them feel safe before you even ask the first question. Which is about whether you generate the feeling you’re on their side, whether they feel judged, whether they feel seen.

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