Demystifying the Language of Hiring

Demystifying the Language of Hiring

What Employers Say, What They Mean, and What You Should Do Next

“We’ll be in touch.” “We’re still interviewing other candidates.” “You were a strong candidate.”

You’ve probably heard these phrases during a job search. But what do they actually tell you about where you stand - and what should you do next?

Most job seekers spend a tremendous amount of time preparing for their side of the interview. They polish their resume, research the company, rehearse answers and carefully craft a follow-up. What they rarely get to see is what happens on the other side of the table after the interview ends.

Natalie Lemons has spent more than two decades in recruiting and executive search, working directly with organizations as they evaluate candidates and make hiring decisions. At this Hudson Job Search meeting, she’ll take us inside the hiring process to explain what employers are evaluating, why candidates sometimes receive frustratingly vague responses, and how to recognize what may really be happening when a hiring process slows down, stalls or suddenly goes quiet.

Natalie will break down familiar phrases such as:

• “We’ll be in touch.”
• “We’re still interviewing other candidates.”
• “You were a strong candidate.”
• “We have a few more people to talk to.”

And other responses that can leave candidates wondering where they really stand.

More importantly, she’ll explain what you can do next. You’ll learn how to recognize signals without overanalyzing every word, respond appropriately at different stages of the process, and protect your position as a strong candidate - even when you don't know what decision is being made behind the scenes.

You’ll also gain insight into the evaluation taking place beneath common interview questions: What is the hiring team actually trying to learn about you? What moves a candidate forward? What creates hesitation? And what happens when several qualified candidates are competing for one position?

About Natalie Lemons

Natalie Lemons is the founder and owner of Resilience Group, an executive search and HR consulting firm, and a partner in Your Partner in HR. She has worked in recruiting since 1999, giving her a front-row seat to dramatic changes in how organizations find, evaluate and hire talent.

Throughout her career, Natalie has worked on both sides of employment transitions - helping organizations make better hiring decisions while helping professionals understand how to compete more effectively in a changing job market. Her work also includes executive search, outplacement advisory and modern job-search education through The Resilient Recruiter and Need a New Gig.

Natalie brings something job seekers don't often get: the perspective of someone who has actually been in the room when hiring decisions are made.

Come prepared with your questions. This is your opportunity to find out what happens after the interview ends - and before the hiring decision is made.