How Not to Derail Your Job Interview

Donna Anselmo • April 5, 2024

Insight and Advice from Senior Technical Recruiter Branden Lodato

Wondering which single mistake will derail your job interview fastest?  That mistake, according to Elite Technical Senior Technical Recruiter Branden Lodato, is hyping up a resume without substantiating your claims.

Hiring managers will want to know more than simply what you did. They’ll want evidence of how you did it. Be prepared to provide detailed examples of your work and contributions as well as your successes on individual and team projects. Let the examples you provide during your interview tell your career story for you. And, be ready to explain the results of your work.


To Demonstrate Your Potential

Often candidates wish to not only relate what they’ve done in the past, but also to play up their potential for success in a new job. If you want to highlight your potential to succeed in new situations, discuss examples of stretch goals you set and how you reached them. You can also discuss lessons you personally learned when dealing with past challenges and how those challenges helped you grow professionally.


To Succeed on Interviews

“My advice is simple. If you don’t have experience with something, don’t try to be something you’re not. Just lay it out the way it is,” said Branden.


On your résumé, include only those experiences you can back up and discuss in detail. Skilled interviewers who are knowledgeable about specific position requirements will see right through an embellished résumé, Branden explained..


For example, a recent candidate was unable to elaborate on claims he made during screening; he could not provide details or specific examples of projects he completed. Another candidate’s résumé had boasted proficiency with electrical engineering; on interview, it became clear he did not have the senior-level experience touted when he could not discuss the project in-depth. He was missing details the interviewer needed to hear. Both interviews tanked.

Lesson learned:  Prepare solid examples of your work – and only apply to positions for whichyou are well suited.

How Recruiters Choose the Right Candidates

“A recruiter has got to be a bit of a detective to determine if what a candidate shows on paper is really who they are and what they know and do. To accomplish that, we ask many questions during interviews to ensure that each candidates we present will meet the mark for our clients.

“When recruiters don’t ask for enough detail, they are not serving either the candidate or the company well. We want our candidates to win not only the interview, but we want them to land the job. To achieve that, we need the nitty gritty up front," Branden said. "Digging deep during screening and pre-submittal interviews benefits everyone in the long run. Our goal is to submit only candidates who are a solid match for our clients’ needs."


Thus, Branden holds in-depth conversations to assess a candidate’s relevant knowledge and experience. “To evaluate skills, I ask candidates to explain what they did and how they used specific technologies. I am looking for case-study evidence. And it has to make sense,” he added.

Senior Technical Recruiter Branden Lodato in business attire
About Branden Lodato

After graduating a program in computer networking in 1999 from Computer Career Center, Branden started his career providing desktop, MS Windows, and server support including tier III technical support for Optimum (now Altice), a cable company. He joined Elite Technical in August 2005, and after a hiatus to do missionary work, he returned to the recruiting fold. He now sources a wide range of technical professionals and has placed hundreds of technical professionals in great positions over the years.

Branden focuses on ensuring that candidates meet client requirements – which means drilling deep drilling into resumes and asking candidates questions that help all concerned: clients, candidates, and recruiters alike. He typically recruits for cyber security, network engineering, systems administration, engineering, and server administration positions.


Branden’s Perspective on Recruiting

“Beyond screening and interviewing, successful recruiting comes down to hustling – staying focused, following up, and trying to be available to the hard-to-reach candidates, even during off hours. It’s important to be available to connect with candidates when they can connect with you,” said Branden, who works diligently to locate, get to know, and evaluate prospective candidates.

“When it comes to clients, it’s not just ‘Get me a network engineer’ and be done with it,” said Branden. “Expectations run very high, and sometimes requirements are not fully clear. It can be difficult for hiring managers to know exactly the candidate they want until they see or don’t see the right person – which necessitates multiple candidates and interviews.

“Hiring managers are specific about the positions they’re looking to fill. But, it often takes interviewing the clients themselves to identify those details that will make a difference in locating the exact candidates they need. We sometimes have to dig for more information to ensure we get it right.”
 
“As recruiters, it’s up to us to ask the right questions to elicit the information we need to home in on just the right candidates,” said Brandon. "And that means really understanding the nitty gritty of technical jobs.”

Elite Technical also utilizes a technical quality engineer with hands-on, in-the-trenches technical experience to review requisitions and “optimize them” by providing recruiters with an insider’s view to specific on-the-job requirements. This extra step gives Elite Technical recruiters a deeper understanding of exactly what to look for.

Today's Biggest Recruiting Challenge

"Since the Covid lockdown, it’s harder to find fully qualified technical candidates willing to work on site. If you go back in time, job seekers were only able to look for positions in their own general neighborhoods, based on how far they could commute. Since remote options became more common, technical candidates have more choice and many can tie into jobs anywhere in the country; many candidates just hold out for a remote offer.

"The job openings our account managers bring in now include more remote opportunities than in the past,” he noted. At the same time, many companies are demanding that employees work on site – particularly in the engineering world.


Branden's Favorite Placement Story

“There are many! I’ve made hundreds of placements over the years, so it's hard to choose. What I’ve been most proud of was receiving Elite Technical’s Recruiter of the Month award six times last year.“

Branden's Favorite Part of Working at Elite Technical

“One thing that’s cool is that Elite Technical is a family-type environment. You’re appreciated and not just a number. Everybody, including management, is pretty balanced in expectations. They value work/life balance and recognize that life isn’t only about work and career, but life should be family friendly, as well," Branden noted.


“Co-founder Joseph Monaco said in a recent team meeting, ‘We don’t just want you to be the best you can be at work; we want you to be the best you can be in your personal life and for your family.’ That means a lot,” said Branden.


Community Support - Every Elite Technical Placement Results in Charitable Giving!

In addition to placing candidates in desirable jobs, Branden, and all Elite Technical recruiters, support their communities through Elite Technical’s charitable giving program, Recruit for Your Cause. Each recruiter chooses a charity that will receive a donation from Elite Technical each time he or she makes a placement. Branden chose to support the Jehovah’s Witnesses organization with his placement contributions. Elite Technical supports numerous other charities, as well.

Recruit for Your Cause is a win/win/win: Recruiters stay motivated by knowing their work makes a difference in their communities; the charities benefit financially; and Elite Technical stays engaged with community organizations.


“Every month, Management reports to our team on total contributions made to each organization. And everyone feels good about that,” Branden added.

A Personal Glimpse

Branden is a sports enthusiast who was raised on Long Island, NY. His favorite sports teams include the New York Mets, Knicks, and Giants. He and Amelda, his wife of 12 years, now live in Winston, Salem, NC, with their young son, Nate,

Contact Us

For more information about Elite Technical recruiting services, please call 1.800.ELITE-50 or email info@elitetechnical.com.


If you are a candidate seeking a position, please check out our open jobs at EliteTechnicalJobs.com.

Or feel free to connect with Branden via LinkedIn.

May 23, 2025
Welcome to the future of recruiting—where precision, inclusivity, and speed work together to deliver exceptional results for employers and candidates alike. Whether you’re an organization searching for the perfect technical hire or a job seeker striving for your next big opportunity, understanding the shifting landscape of talent acquisition has never been more crucial. At Elite Technical, we believe that embracing recruiting automation is key to creating a smarter, more dynamic, and rewarding hiring journey for everyone involved. What is Recruiting Automation? Recruiting automation refers to leveraging technology—especially artificial intelligence (AI) and smart software platforms—to streamline the hiring process from start to finish. It’s about replacing repetitive manual tasks with seamless, data-driven workflows that empower recruiters, hiring managers, and candidates. In practical terms, recruiting automation might mean: AI-powered resume screening that highlights top matches Automated scheduling tools that eliminate back-and-forth emails Predictive analytics that assess candidate fit and retention likelihood Intelligent recommendations that connect job seekers with the best opportunities Rather than replacing people, recruiting automation amplifies human expertise. Your team spends less time on administrative tasks and more time nurturing relationships and understanding candidate aspirations. How Elite Technical Powers Smarter Recruiting At Elite Technical, we’re passionate about harnessing technology not just for efficiency, but to deliver a more personalized and thoughtful experience for our clients and candidates. Our approach goes beyond traditional methods by integrating AI-enabled platforms throughout the talent journey. Advanced Talent Sourcing Through automated talent sourcing, we swiftly identify qualified professionals across technical specialties. Powerful search tools scan thousands of profiles, flagging those who match your unique needs in skills, experience, and culture fit. This approach increases both the quality and diversity of your talent pool, driving more meaningful connections in less time. Precision in Candidate Selection Leveraging ai recruitment, we evaluate candidates using objective, data-backed criteria. Machine learning algorithms can highlight subtle skills and patterns, helping our recruiters make fairer decisions—and reducing unconscious bias. The result? Every candidate has an equal opportunity to showcase their potential, and employers receive a shortlist of truly outstanding talent. Seamless Communication Our automated platforms keep everyone informed and aligned throughout the process. Candidates receive regular updates, interview reminders, and feedback. Clients gain instant visibility into search progress and insights on the candidate market. This transparency makes the entire experience less stressful and more engaging for all. How Recruiting Automation Improves Technical Staffing In technical and engineering fields, speed and accuracy are everything. The best talent is in high demand, and organizations can’t afford long vacancy periods. That’s why recruiting automation is a game-changer for technical staffing. Faster Placement: Automated resume screening and interview scheduling dramatically reduce time-to-hire, allowing you to secure top professionals before your competitors do. Reduced Bias: Standardized evaluation processes and AI-supported workflows help remove subjective factors, ensuring selections focus on merit and alignment. Improved Quality of Hire: Data-driven assessments and predictive analytics identify candidates not just suited for today’s role, but who will thrive in your organization for the long haul. Stronger Talent Pipelining: Proactive sourcing ensures a steady flow of well-matched prospects, so your projects won’t be slowed by talent gaps. By optimizing the entire talent sourcing process, automation frees up your recruiters to focus on what truly matters—building relationships, understanding client needs, and ensuring each match is a success. The Power of AI-Enabled Technology in Hiring AI isn’t just a buzzword at Elite Technical—it’s a driving force behind our commitment to innovation. Here’s how our AI-enabled technology elevates your hiring outcomes: Unparalleled Insights: AI tools analyze vast datasets to reveal hidden talent, predict future performance, and identify transferable skills that might otherwise go unnoticed. Continuous Learning: Advanced algorithms get smarter with each hire, fine-tuning their recommendations and improving over time. Candidate Experience: Automated engagement keeps job seekers informed and empowered, reinforcing your brand’s reputation for professionalism and care. When you combine the expertise of seasoned recruiters with the precision of AI, you create an environment where every placement is informed, timely, and impactful. Why Choose Elite Technical As Your Recruiting Partner What sets Elite Technical apart isn’t just our technology—it’s our unwavering dedication to your success. As a certified Woman-Owned Small Business recognized for excellence in healthcare staffing, we’re proud to champion diversity, inclusion, and social responsibility at every step. By integrating recruiting automation with our core values, we help organizations and individuals achieve their goals, contribute to vibrant communities, and shape a brighter future for the industry. Join the Future of Talent Acquisition Ready to experience a smarter, faster, and more intentional approach to hiring? 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