Job Interview Transparency: What is it and Why Does it Matter?
By: Carly Richter, Sr. Recruiter
Oh my goodness, I was on a podcast!
Can I be honest? I’ve never really been much of a podcast listener. But when Mac Prichard asked me to be on his “Find Your Dream Job” Podcast, I felt a mix of nerves and excitement. I definitely had that “Wait, what could I possibly contribute?” moment. I’m just me!
But then I realized that’s exactly what’s so great about Mac’s podcast. It’s just real people sharing what they’re passionate about. And I got to talk about something I care deeply about: why job interview transparency matters so much.
In the episode, I share what I mean by interview transparency, why candidates often worry it might backfire, and why employers actually welcome it. I also cover a few dos and don’ts when it comes to sharing certain info during an interview.
This is truly one of my favorite topics. I care about it from both sides, as someone who works with hiring managers and as someone who supports candidates.
I wish every hiring manager felt comfortable navigating interview transparency and had formal training on how to interview well. But that’s just not always the case. Many are trying to juggle their actual job and hire at the same time. And companies don’t always invest in training managers to be great interviewers. That’s why it’s so helpful when candidates are informed and empowered to show up as themselves.
We also need to give grace to both sides. Hiring managers aren’t always expert interviewers, and candidates aren’t expert interviewees either. And that’s okay.
Here are a few of my favorite points about interview transparency:
Be open about your other interviews.
I always talk candidates through the hiring process, how many interviews there are, what the timeline looks like, and I ask about their timeline, too. If you’re interviewing elsewhere, let me know! That doesn’t scare me, of course, you are. You’re job hunting! I’ll do my best to align timelines so no one is left with what-ifs. No more, “What if I had just wrapped up the other process first?”
It reduces your stress.
Wondering if you should’ve mentioned an upcoming vacation? Another offer on the table? Just be open about it. Getting it out there removes the mental load.
Don’t be afraid to ask about pay and benefits.
If it doesn’t come up, it’s okay to ask. You deserve to know. And if the person interviewing you can’t speak to those things, take note of how they respond, are they willing to find the answer for you?
Interview Transparency is a Two-Way Street
Transparency is a two-way street, and it helps you evaluate the company. Would you want to work for someone who gets weird about you interviewing elsewhere? Even if a hiring manager doesn’t know all the answers, do they show curiosity and follow through?
During my interviews with candidates, pay and benefits are one of the first things I bring up, because I want openness to be the norm. If I don’t know something, I’ll go find the answer.
Oversharing isn’t transparency
One more thing: Oversharing. Interview transparency doesn’t mean sharing every personal detail.
And hiring managers? Ask questions compliantly and respectfully. For example: If the role requires an onsite schedule of 8 to 5, I’ll say, “This role requires you to be onsite from 8 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday. Does that schedule work for you?” That’s it. Sometimes candidates share more personal context here, but really, a simple yes or no is enough. We’ll talk through it if we need to.
This podcast episode is all about empowering you as a candidate. I want you to make the best decisions for you and your next role. I mean, come on, it’s your livelihood we’re talking about!
I practice interview transparency throughout the hiring process. I work with my clients and hiring managers to create transparent hiring experiences. I train teams on hiring right the first time and how to create an onboarding experience that sticks. I live this work every day.
Am I perfect at it? Nope. Am I committed to being really good at it? 100%.
And now, I guess I have to listen to a podcast episode with my own voice on it. (Who likes hearing their own voice? Not me!) But I’m going to power through it, because next time I’m on a podcast (it’s called manifesting, okay?), I’ll be that much more ready.
