Dead Eyes Across the Table: Why Your Candidates Are Running Away

I spent my early years on stage, performing in churches across America. From age four, I learned something crucial about audiences that I have noticed, plays out time and time again during an interview. 

Most audience members have absolutely no idea how they come across to the performer.

And here's the uncomfortable truth about hiring today - we've turned interviews into performances, but we're failing miserably as an audience.

Think about it. We expect candidates to:

• Be as quick-witted as a stand-up comedian
• Have perfectly polished responses at their fingertips
• Entertain and impress multiple interviewers simultaneously
• Read the room while being judged by stone-faced observers
• Perform without a safety net

But here's what keeps me up at night: I watch brilliant engineering and technical sales leaders - people who would move mountains for their teams - completely check out during interviews. Be on their laptops taking notes, responding to messages on their cell phones, and BARELY giving the candidate a glance.

If I invited you to dinner and treated you this way, wouldn't be considered rude?

Let me break down the three types of interviewers I see (and trust me, this will feel uncomfortably familiar):

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿

• Has thoroughly reviewed the resume
• Researched the candidate's background
• Prepared thoughtful, relevant questions
• Ready to engage in meaningful dialogue
• Can spot and appreciate nuanced expertise
• They take the time to look a candidate in the eye, and smile, even. 

𝗧𝗵𝗲 "𝗜 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗶𝘁𝘀" 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄𝗲𝗿

• Skimmed the resume
• Asks standard questions
• Forms opinions based on others' reactions
• Participates but doesn't lead
• Misses deeper value and expertise
• They aren't always sure exactly why they were asked to be there.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 "𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗜 𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗕𝗲" 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄𝗲𝗿

• Hasn't looked at the resume
• Asks irrelevant or basic questions
• Shows visible disinterest
• Might be on their phone
• Creates a toxic interview environment

Here's the brutal reality: Your interview panel's engagement level isn't just about screening candidates - it's actively determining whether top talent wants to join your organization. 

And in a world where we disqualify a candidate for lack of eye contact, or a weak handshake; the reality is, a lot of interviewers are unaware that they are not holding themself to basic standards to which they would certainly judge a candidate. 

Every unengaged interviewer, every stone-faced panel member, every distracted hiring manager is sending a clear message to candidates:
"We don't value your time."
"We don't respect your expertise."
"We don't care enough to be prepared."
"Working with me will the not be a GREAT experience."

Is this really the message you want to send to the technical talent you desperately need?

At KE Talent, we're changing this narrative. We're helping organizations transform their interview processes from interrogations into engaging conversations. We're teaching hiring teams how to show up as their best selves and create an environment where top talent wants to perform.

Because here's the truth: The best candidates aren't just being interviewed by you - they're interviewing you right back.

What kind of audience are you?

Ready to transform your interview process and attract the technical talent your team needs? Let's talk. Book a Talent Call today.

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