You Can't Judge an Applicant by His Resume

More than seven out of ten (72%) of the 150 senior executives interviewed by Robert Half International said it is common for candidates with promising resumes to not live up to expectations during the interview. One in ten (11%) said it was “very common,” while six in ten (61%) said it was “somewhat common.”

Only 1% said it was “not at all common” for candidates with promising resumes to not live up to expectations in an interview; however, nearly a quarter (23%) said it was “not very common.”

“A resume tells a hiring manager only a limited story about the job applicant,” said Max Messmer, chairman and CEO of Robert Half International, in the press release. “In making crucial hiring decisions, nothing replaces in-person interaction to ensure the candidate has the requisite technical qualifications and the soft skills that will likely make him or her a good fit with the organization.”

Among tips Robert Half offers for making the best hires, it says following up on a promising resume with a 10-minute phone call could save time as hiring managers can narrow the field and only set up interviews with candidates who display good interpersonal skills and a potential fit with the company.