In today's competitive job market, where polished resumes and rehearsed answers are common, what truly sets a candidate apart? According to a top CEO, it's a surprisingly simple factor: effort.
The One Question That Acts as a Filter
Scott Tannen, the founder and CEO of luxury bedding company Boll & Branch, has personally interviewed hundreds for roles from interns to C-suite executives. In a recent conversation with CNBC, he revealed his go-to opening question for every interview: "What do you know about Boll & Branch?"
This is not a casual icebreaker. For Tannen, it serves as a critical filter. He stated that when candidates have not done their basic homework, it is the biggest red flag. He does not expect candidates to know every detail, but he does expect clear signs of effort—time spent understanding the business and its operations.
"If they can’t at least give me back what’s on our Wikipedia page, we probably are not starting off on the best foot," Tannen shared. The core issue he identifies is not ignorance, but indifference. In an age of unlimited information, failing to learn the basics about a potential employer signals a casual attitude toward the opportunity.
Why Generic Interview Advice Falls Short
Most interview preparation focuses on crafting perfect answers about weaknesses, salary, and passion. However, Tannen's approach highlights a more fundamental mistake: entering the conversation without context.
Employers are not testing memory; they are testing intent. The initial question quickly reveals whether a candidate is genuinely curious or merely hopeful. Confidence and charm cannot make up for a lack of preparation.
7 Ways You Signal You're Not a Serious Candidate
1. Using Vague, Generic Language to Describe the Company: Saying a company is "into tech" or "does consulting" shows you've only skimmed the surface. It tells the interviewer this company could be swapped with any other, indicating a lack of specific intent.
2. Expressing Generic Enthusiasm: Lines like "I’m excited to learn" or "I want to grow" are not wrong, but they are empty. Passion must be anchored to the specific business, product, or role to sound sincere.
3. Failing to Explain Why the Role Exists: Many candidates can describe what they want from the job. Far fewer can articulate the problem the role is meant to solve within the company. Not understanding this suggests surface-level preparation.
4. Having No Questions or Only Safe Ones: A lack of questions signals passivity, not politeness. Similarly, only asking generic questions like "What is the culture like?" reveals a candidate who hasn't engaged deeply. Tannen emphasizes that preparation includes walking in with your own thoughtful questions.
5. Talking Only About What You Want: Framing the interview solely around what you will learn or how you will grow makes you appear casual about your contribution. Employers look for candidates who have thought about reciprocity.
6. Relying on Confidence to Compensate for Context: Speaking fluently but inaccurately, or confidently but vaguely, is a major red flag. In today's world, confidence alone is no longer proof of readiness; it must be grounded in understanding.
7. Treating the Interview as a Performance: When an interview feels scripted and candidates don't respond to the specific conversation, it shows casualness. Tannen recalled an intern who stood out by speaking conversationally about building her own brand in the context of the business—she was engaging, not just performing.
The Bottom Line for Indian Job Seekers
Scott Tannen's blunt message is a crucial reminder for professionals in India's crowded job market. Preparation is the ultimate differentiator. It transforms a generic interview into a deliberate conversation. Before your next interview, move beyond rehearsed answers. Invest time in understanding the company's mission, products, and challenges. Your effort will not go unnoticed.
