Don’t Tell Me About Yourself
Don’t Tell Me About Yourself is a podcast about modern hiring and job interviews, hosted by Expert Interviewers co-founders Lorna Erickson and Victoria Gates. Drawing on their combined 40 years of experience, they discuss hiring news, chaotic interview moments, ghost jobs, and outdated interview questions. The show mixes real stories and data with unfiltered commentary for anyone who hires, applies, or has sat on either side of the interview table. It aims to help listeners understand how to make interviews work better for everyone.
Episodes
How Many Interviews Is Too Many?
Episode Description:
Five rounds. Nine interviewers. Six weeks. And the final hiring decision still comes down to a “good feeling.” Sound familiar?
How many interview rounds does it actually take to make a good hire? In this episode of Don't Tell Me About Yourself, Expert Interviewers co-founders Victoria Gates and Lorna Erickson break down why hiring processes become unnecessarily long, whether
Did Anyone Actually Teach You How to Interview? with Danielle Farage
Episode Description: We train managers on leadership, performance, and compliance, but when it comes to interviewing, many are handed a resume and expected to figure it out. In this episode, we’re joined by future of work expert Danielle Farage to talk about why interviewing is still treated like an assumed skill, what happens when new managers are not given the tools to hire well, and how poor in
Is Your Interview Panel Just a Group Vibe Check?
Episode Description:Interview panels are supposed to bring more perspectives, reduce bias, and lead to better hiring decisions. But adding more interviewers does not automatically create more structure. In this episode, we break down why panel interviews often turn into repeated questions, conflicting standards, loud opinions, and groupthink. You’ll learn how to prepare interviewers before a panel
Did You Really Ever Have A Shot At That Promotion?
Internal interviews can be harder to evaluate fairly than external interviews because managers already know the candidate, their reputation, their past mistakes, and their current performance. In this episode, we explain how to interview internal candidates fairly, how to avoid predetermined promotion decisions, why strong performance in a current role does not automatically predict success in the
Can You Believe These Interview Questions Still Exist?
Some interview questions refuse to die. We break down why hiring managers still ask questions like “Tell me about yourself,” “What’s your greatest weakness?” and “Where do you see yourself in five years?” even when they often provide very little useful evidence about whether someone can do the job. You’ll learn what these questions are actually measuring, what to ask instead, why structured interv
Do Recruiters & Hiring Managers Need Couples Therapy?
Season 2 is back, and we’re starting with one of the relationships that can make or break the entire hiring process: recruiters and hiring managers. We break down why the two sides so often end up frustrated with each other, where the partnership starts to fall apart, and how that disconnect impacts candidates. You’ll learn how to define success together, set clearer expectations, improve communic
You’re Losing Candidates and Customers with Daniel Birkholm
In this live episode, you’ll learn why most companies are overlooking the biggest risk in their hiring process: candidate experience. Daniel Birkholm shares how focusing only on hired candidates ignores the majority of people interacting with your brand and why that can hurt both hiring outcomes and business performance. This is a practical look at how to measure candidate experience, improve hiri
AI Won’t Fix What You Can’t See with Tom McCarty
In this live episode, you’ll learn why AI won’t fix your organization if you don’t understand it first. Tom McCarty shares how most companies struggle with fragmented, outdated data and why visibility into your organization is the foundation for better decisions. This is a practical look at how to prepare for AI, avoid costly mistakes, and refocus HR on higher-impact work.
Key Takeaways:
You
It’s Not Losing People, It’s Enhancing Them with Rosie Parra
In this live episode, you’ll learn how AI is already reshaping HR and why companies need to act now to keep up. Rosie Parra shares how her team is approaching AI with a focus on education, guardrails, and protecting the human side of work. This is a practical look at what leaders should be thinking about as AI adoption accelerates and expectations shift.
Key Takeaways:
AI is already here, no
AI Isn’t Terminator, It’s Avatar with Peter Lynch
In this live episode, you’ll learn how to use AI in your organization without losing your culture or replacing your people. Peter Lynch shares why AI should be viewed as a tool to enhance employees, not eliminate them, and how a human-first approach is driving real adoption across his organization. This is a practical look at how to scale AI responsibly while protecting what makes your company wor
Video Isn’t Optional Anymore with Omar Khateeb
In this live episode, you’ll learn why video is one of the most overlooked tools in recruiting and how it directly impacts hiring results. Omar Khatib shares how companies are using employee-generated video content to increase applications, improve conversion, and reduce reliance on expensive recruiting channels. This is a practical look at why video works, what most teams misunderstand, and how t
It’s Not Adoption, It’s Reinvention with Zachary Parris
In this live episode, you’ll learn why AI isn’t just another tool for HR, it’s forcing a complete shift in how teams think and operate. Zach Parris shares why HR needs to move from program-based work to product-based thinking, how non-technical teams can build with AI, and why usage is now the most important metric. This is a practical look at how AI is changing HR from the inside out and what lea
AI Won't Fix a Broken Process with Stef Nikitas
In this live episode, you’ll learn how to use AI in recruiting without making your process worse. Stef Nikitas shares how her team improved hiring speed, reduced interview no-shows, and kept human decision-making at the center while using AI tools. This is a practical look at what actually works, what to avoid, and how to think about AI in hiring the right way.
Key Takeaways:
Fix your hiring
How Many Interviews is Too Many?
In our last episode of Season 1, we break down one of the most common assumptions in hiring: that more interviews lead to better decisions. We explore how interview processes slowly expand over time, often without intention, and why that actually creates confusion, delays, and weaker hiring outcomes.
We dig into what’s really driving long interview processes, from lack of clarity and alignment to
What Does ‘Not a Culture Fit’ Even Mean?
In this episode, we break down one of the most overused and least defined phrases in hiring: “not a culture fit.” We explore why it sounds thoughtful and professional, but often masks vague, subjective decision-making that isn’t tied to job performance.
We dig into what hiring teams actually mean when they say “culture fit” (hint: it’s usually just a feeling), and how this creates space for bias,
Are Reference Checks the Security Blanket of Interviewing?
In this episode, we break down one of the most common — and least questioned — steps in the hiring process: reference checks. We explore why so many companies still rely on them, despite the lack of evidence that they actually predict job performance.
We talk about how reference checks often act as a “security blanket” for hiring teams, why they rarely change hiring decisions, and what they’re ac
The Green Flag Interviewer Playbook
In this episode, we break down what actually makes someone a great interviewer and why it matters more than most companies realize. We talk about the difference between “gut feeling” interviewing and structured interviewing, why preparation is the foundation of good hiring decisions, and how green flag interviewers create better candidate experiences and stronger hiring outcomes. This episode walk
What is Breaking Candidate Experience?
In this episode, we break down why candidates today apply to dozens of jobs at once and why their behavior often looks chaotic to employers. We examine the reality of modern job searching, including long interview timelines, ghosting, unpredictable hiring processes, and the massive amount of unpaid work candidates do just to apply. When you look at the environment candidates are operating in, thei
Digital Behavior Is Workplace Behavior with Ben Mones
In this episode, we dig into one of the most debated questions in hiring right now: should employers consider a candidate’s public online behavior when making hiring decisions? We sit down with Ben Mones, founder and CEO of Fama, to talk about what digital behavior screening actually looks like, where the legal and ethical boundaries are, and why transparency matters for both employers and candida
Do Personality Tests Predict Job Performance?
Personality assessments are used by nearly 80 percent of Fortune 500 companies and taken by over 100 million people each year. They are marketed as predictive, objective, and data driven. But do they actually predict job performance, or are they replacing interviewer judgment? In this episode, we break down what personality tests measure, what research says about their accuracy, and how hiring tea
The Two Brands Every Company Has...
Most companies believe their employer brand is what they publish on their website, careers page, or mission statement. Candidates believe it is what they see, hear, and experience. In this episode, we break down the difference between the brand you think you are communicating and the brand candidates are actually experiencing. You will learn how job seekers research companies today, why interviews
“You Need to Find a Human” in an AI Job Market with Megan Dias
How do you compete in today’s job market, especially after a tech layoff? In this episode live from TalentSphere, Megan Dias a career coach shares practical strategies for navigating a competitive hiring landscape shaped by AI, resume overload, and changing recruiter behavior. You’ll learn how to customize your resume effectively, why networking is more important than ever, how to find the “human”
"Humanizing AI” in Recruiting with Mabel Liang
How do recruiters keep up with 400+ AI tools without feeling overwhelmed or replaced? In this episode live at TalentSphere, Mabel Liang, a recruiting community founder shares how HR and talent acquisition professionals can learn AI together, compare ATS platforms effectively, and navigate the growing issue of identity fraud in hiring. You’ll learn how to create a safe space for experimentation, ch
Stop Saying “Be Strategic” - Start Teaching It with Preston Sharpston
How do recruiters actually become strategic instead of just being told to “be more strategic”? In this episode live from TalentSphere, we talk with Preston Sharpston to break down what recruiter enablement really looks like, how talent acquisition leaders can level up their teams in 60 to 90 days, and how to use data before recruiting even starts. You’ll learn practical ways to run better intake m
Fractional Recruiting: We Need Help, Not Forever with Brooke Wheeler
Live from TalentSphere were talking about what fractional recruiting is, and when should a company use it? In this episode we talk with Brooke Wheeler, Founder of Restoration Talent Solutions and explore how fractional hiring gives companies executive-level recruiting expertise without the long-term commitment. You’ll learn how fractional talent acquisition leaders step into growing companies, bui
It’s Not a Gotcha, It’s an I-Gotcha with Amanda Perry
What does technical hiring look like in the age of AI? In this episode, we talk with Amanda Perry VP of Customer Success at CoderPad and break down how AI is reshaping engineering interviews, why banning AI is a losing strategy, how to prevent candidate fraud (including deepfakes), and how transparency builds trust in the hiring process. You’ll learn practical ways to design interviews that reflec
Stop Shrinking Yourself at Work with Bridgette Corridan
We're live from TalenSphere! How do you show up authentically at work without hurting your credibility? In this episode, Bridgette Corridan, a talent leader AND sound healer shares how vulnerability and authenticity can become superpowers in recruiting and leadership. You will learn how to stop shrinking yourself to fit professional expectations, how to integrate personal purpose with business str
AI Interviewers Are Here… and It’s Getting Weird with Kyle Lagunas
In this episode live from TalentSphere, we talk with our guest Kyle Lagunas Founder of Kyle & Co about what AI interviewers are, how they are being used in real hiring processes, and what risks companies face if they deploy them without structure or governance. We break down independent research evaluating 12 AI interviewer platforms, explain why inconsistent implementation creates legal and ethic
Building a Retreat Style Conference with Natalie Stones
In this episode, we chat with our guest Natalie Stones Co-Founder of Talent Collective and creator of the Talent Sphere event about how to design a conference that people actually want to attend. We break down what makes a retreat-style conference different from traditional large industry events, how to build practitioner-led sessions that deliver real takeaways, and how to create an environment w
Is This Even a "Real" Candidate?
Fake candidates are no longer rare headlines. They are a growing risk in remote hiring. In this episode, you will learn why hiring fraud is increasing, how AI is making it easier to fake qualifications, what whisper coaching and proxy interviews look like in real time, and how to protect your company without turning interviews into interrogations. You will walk away with practical guardrails, clea
AI Isn’t the Answer. It’s the Amplifier.
AI is everywhere in hiring, but it’s not fixing broken processes — it’s accelerating them. In this episode, we break down how AI actually shows up in the hiring process, what it amplifies on both the candidate and company side, and why blaming the tool misses the real issue. You’ll learn where candidates unintentionally hurt themselves using AI, where companies break trust with automation, and how
"We're Like a Family Here" and Other Interviewing Icks
In this episode, you’ll learn how common interview “icks” subtle phrases, behaviors, and broken processes quietly push great candidates away. We break down the most frequent red flags candidates notice instantly, why they happen, and how hiring teams can fix them using one simple principle: if it would feel weird for a candidate to do it, don’t do it as an interviewer. You’ll walk away with prac
Four Types of "That" Interviewer Ruining Hiring
Many hiring teams think interviews are just conversations, but poor interviewer behavior can actively push away top candidates and damage employer brand. In this episode, you’ll learn how common interviewer mistakes hurt hiring outcomes, how candidates actually interpret interview behavior, and what separates red flag interviewers from high-quality hiring managers who create strong candidate exper
Introduction
Welcome to to the pod - we're glad you're here!
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