Awkward interview feedback

I am trying my best to give useful feedback following interviews. 

But sometimes I really struggle to say anything helpful around a poor fit. I don't want to offend anyone by straight-up saying "You were so annoying you would do everyone's head in and no one will want to collaborate with you" but that is what I would say if I was being honest.

As a recent example: Incredible candidate for a marketing role on paper. It is a new role for us and we are a small team of 35. In a 30-minute phone call, they were constantly talking over me, went on strange tangents, kept talking as though we were a marketing agency and did not respect the time limit I had booked the call for. Whilst they may have had the skills, I would be too concerned about how they would work with other people.

How can I advise a candidate like this I will not be processing their application in a fair but helpful way? Rather than a generic "other better candidates" response.

In the past, I have given the benefit of doubt to candidates like this and invited them in. But the line manager for this role trusts me and would rather not see them!

Parents
  • Hi Cat
    There's always a balance here isn't there. My usual tack is to ask them first how they think it went, sometimes it can help to deliver a potentially difficult message. If for example they say, I was really nervous and felt that I was talking a lot over you... then it gives you an in to speak to them about that.
    Is there something positive that you can give them as well? I think I would diplomatically point out that you felt that the telephone interview didn't go as well as it could have, and that some of the information they were conveying wasn't that helpful (ie the tangent thing?) and keep checking back with them, asking their opinion.
Reply
  • Hi Cat
    There's always a balance here isn't there. My usual tack is to ask them first how they think it went, sometimes it can help to deliver a potentially difficult message. If for example they say, I was really nervous and felt that I was talking a lot over you... then it gives you an in to speak to them about that.
    Is there something positive that you can give them as well? I think I would diplomatically point out that you felt that the telephone interview didn't go as well as it could have, and that some of the information they were conveying wasn't that helpful (ie the tangent thing?) and keep checking back with them, asking their opinion.
Children
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