Sometimes people lie on their resume. It happens and it’s why due diligence matters.
But even more tricky are the lies someone tells to themselves about who they are and what they want.
Sometimes someone tells you that they’re great at project management because they *want* to be great at project management. Or they tell you they want to join a faster paced startup because they like the *idea* of a startup.
This is where it’s SO important to stay curious rather than judgmental or defensive.
Because we all do this. You do this. I do this. These kinds of wishful thinkings are part of the package of being human.
Sometimes we’re guilty of painting a picture of the job that’s a lil too rosy too!
How do you listen for the lie?
Get curious and ask a lot of questions when they describe a previous project.
See their work with a paid project on a (reasonably, don’t make it way harder to get the job than be in the job!) tight timeline.
Dig in on those reference calls.
How do you make sure you’re not lying to them?
Give a real project play by play.
Show your backlog (if safe to do so for NDA).
Have a peer give a painfully detailed overview of their week.
Tell them exactly what people have hated about your company.