Why Your Interviews Might Be Fooling You—and What to Do Instead

Have you ever hired someone who seemed perfect on paper—and even better in person—only to discover they weren’t the communicator, team player, or critical thinker you hoped for?

They said all the right things.
They made eye contact (kind of).
They even smiled during every question.

So what happened?

If that sounds familiar, you might be missing what we call “The Interview Gap.”
It’s not about what’s said—it’s about what’s hiding in between.

🧠 The Interview Gap Explained

Interviews aren’t just conversations. They’re controlled performances.

Candidates often rehearse answers, mirror your energy, and say what they think you want to hear.
That doesn’t make them dishonest—it makes them human.

But for you, the interviewer, this creates a serious challenge:
Are you evaluating the person—or just their performance?

🗣️ Listening Between the Lines

Here’s where psychology comes in.
We don’t just listen to words—we interpret tone, timing, posture, and micro-responses.

Want to know what a candidate really brings to your team?
Start asking:

• How are they answering—directly or circling?

• Are they giving examples—or staying surface-level?

• Do they deflect with humor, long-windedness, or vagueness?

People reveal themselves most when they’re asked to explain how they act under pressure or within your core values. That’s where truth starts to surface.

🧩 The Power of Core Value Questions

Generic interviews = generic results.
But when you shape your questions around your core values, you start seeing alignment—or red flags.

Example:
"One of our values is open, honest communication. What does that mean to you?"

That’s step one. Then follow up with:
"When have you experienced that in the workplace—either in yourself or someone else?"

You’re not just asking for definitions.
You’re listening for self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and practical recall. That’s where fit lives.

🔥 Situational Confidence Questions

One of the most overlooked tools in hiring is the situational scenario—and how a candidate thinks out loud.

Try questions like:
🩺 "A patient owes $360. Their last two payments bounced. What do you do?"
📞 "Phones are ringing. You’re checking in a patient, one is checking out, and someone needs help. How do you prioritize?"
💬 "A case closes, but the client resists final payment. How would you handle their objection?"

Here, you’re not looking for the “right” policy answer.
You’re looking for instinct:

• How do they think under pressure?

• What comes naturally to them?

• Do they maintain clarity, calm, and respect?

👀 Read the Room—And Their Body Language

Words are only part of the picture.

Does the candidate:

• Avoid eye contact when answering deeper questions?

• Ramble without direction?

• Show emotional cues like nervous laughter, fidgeting, or constant deflection?
  

Body language is behavior in real time.
If someone can’t stay grounded in the interview, how will they handle a stressful client, a busy front desk, or a sensitive teammate?

📉 Poor Interview = Poor Fit (Eventually)

It’s a hard truth, but one worth repeating:
How someone interviews often reflects how they work.

A candidate who dodges questions or talks too much in an interview will likely do the same in your office—with your patients or staff. And over time, those habits hurt morale, productivity, and performance.

✅ Upgrade Your Interview Strategy

Here’s a simple checklist to elevate your hiring process:

1. Define your core values—and build questions around them.

2. Use situational confidence questions for each position.

3. Record and review interviews to catch what you missed live.

4. Look for communication clarity—not perfection.

5. Watch what’s not being said.

💡 Final Thought

Hiring isn’t about finding the most polished speaker.
It’s about discovering the communicator, the thinker, and the teammate behind the interview face.

When you learn to listen between the lines, you stop hiring performers—and start hiring leaders.

🎥 Prefer to watch this breakdown?
Click here to watch Natasha’s full training video on How to Spot Red Flags & Read Between the Lines

💼 WHO WE ARE

At Med Pro Dojo, we help healthcare teams like yours train better communicators, identify top talent, and build confident leaders.

Whether you’re scaling your clinic, filling a front desk, or coaching your leadership team—we’re here to help you hire right and grow strong.

📩 Email: [email protected]
📞 Call or Text: (833) 678-0800
📕 Book a Discovery Call Today