While the person in front of you is using the opportunity to "profile" you, make sure you only reveal "the norm, middle-of-the road" information as answers. There is no way you can read minds, but you can certainly play the "game of innocence", pretending you are the angel needed to the team. I would not place weight on the advertised job duties, as today's HR managers copy/paste (they learned this in college) those from other jobs already posted online. Ask the direct question of what is expected from you, every day. Review the employer like you work for FBI: who owns the business, former and present employee reviews (Indeed, Glassdoor, Yelp and Google, as starters, provide valuable information on the true colors of your employer, not only the pink color they portrait themselves in). Meet with other employees, in person, before your interview day: ask about the company's culture, employees turnover, management care for employees and opportunities for advancement. ALWAYS be mindful of the "employment-at-will" type of employment and have an alternate plan when you get fired for no reason. During the interview, showcase your talents, skills and knowledge, but do not over-sell yourself. If the employer is aware that employees are the best asset they could ever have, they will appreciate you. If your researches about the employer turns out with bad reviews, do not bother to show up at the scheduled interview; good ridden! Ask the employer to provide, in writing, an all-inclusive list of duties they expect you to perform and be responsible for; if they don't have one ready or they avoid providing one, this is a big red flag never to ignore. The Letter of Offer (or Employment Offer Letter) is the most trickiest document the employer will first test you on; always take that to an employment lawyer for advice (yes, that $150 for just one hour will save you from taking depression pills, later). Be aware of employment discrimination practices HR is a mastermind of. If you are being asked to fill out any forms for "background" check with SS# and Date of Birth, BEFORE the employer hands you a Letter of Employment, put that form in your pocket and leave immediately; see any employment lawyer for a lawsuit for violation of Title VII civil rights- age discrimination in hiring. Any lawyer would take this powerful case against any employer asking you your SS# and DOB before a final hiring decision. The culture of our country is that who you know counts against what you know. In plain English, the ones having connections are the only ones who have a chance to get hired; the higher the corporate position of your inside connection, the most likely you will get the job. In that case, the interview is just a formality (just to stage a legal hiring event). If you are overqualified, you better understand you just placed yourself out for being discriminated (there is no practical way to prove this in any state). Getting connections who can get you a job is called "networking"; a general term for "anything works", to get hired. You are good enough for the job for as long as your connection protects you from being fired by the ones who are targeting your position. Unfortunate or not, it is a cultural thing in the American society of 2019, it is the reality. Exceptions do not make the rule. Good luck with "networking", this is your best bet of getting hired these days!!
