The Talgo Blog

In your journey from good to great as an interviewer, there's an unlikely obstacle in the path: your own politeness. Being polite is fine, but it needs to take a backseat to something much more important: curiosity.

Here's the common pattern I see with new interviewers I coach. They are too passive...

“Ok Jordan, where do you go with this story?” It’s a question we are often asked in our coaching work. This post is the first in a series that will discuss common “story archetypes” that candidates share, and what kinds of information you are seeking in each. More to come!

When you ask a candidate ...

Business conversations are full of playback. A colleague tells you something (insights from an analysis, a requested action, etc.) and you “play it back” to ensure you got it right. In most business interactions, playback is a great thing—it helps us eliminate confusion.

Many interviewers use playb...

Have you ever been in an interview that was a struggle from the very beginning? You start late, and find yourself in “apology mode?” The candidate asks an unexpected question, and you find yourself hogging airtime for the first 5 minutes? You share too much information about yourself, and you find o...

We’ve all sat across the table from candidates who aren't forthcoming with their mistakes and weaknesses. It’s never a good sign, and it’s usually a deal-killer, especially when the issue is consistent and pronounced.

But sometimes we see only slight signs of this concern. Let’s say you just finish...

I am often asked some version of the following question, based on my experiences as an executive assessor and interviewing coach:“What factor correlates most strongly with success in a role? What’s the most important trait to assess?”

Unfortunately there is no single factor whose presence (or absen...

Mistakes. We all make 'em. Many of the most common mistakes we see come down to the underlying mindset of the exec/hiring manager. Below is our Top 10 list—reversing these can drive significant improvements in your hiring outcomes.

1. "I'm sure we all know what we're hiring for"

The vast majority ...

No candidate selection process can deliver a 100% success rate—as long as we are dealing with human beings, we will make mistakes from time to time. The critical point is knowing when to take greater risk, and equipping your organization to address hiring mistakes efficiently and appropriately.

Som...

The ability to interrupt confidently and gracefully is a must-have skill for interviewing candidates. It's also one of the most counterintuitive things I have to teach almost everyone that I coach.

Here's your 7-point cheat sheet for interrupting better:

1. Your Job

Unlike a podcast with an exper...