3 Questions Managers Don't See Coming
Ask The Headhunter, Wednesday, November 4th, 2026
Nick Corcodilos explains three questions a candidate can ask a hiring manager to show how they would actually do the job.
A reader who got through a phone screen asks how to stand out in an in-person interview with the hiring manager.
Nick Corcodilos says this approach works only with a hiring manager immersed in the work, not with HR or recruiters, and that candidates should guide the conversation rather than divert it.
The first question to ask is whether the manager would like an idea of how the candidate would tackle the job, and then follow their lead.
Asking permission matters, because a manager who embraces the offer will often help turn the interview into a working demonstration of the candidate's value.