This Tech Recruiter Is Looking for Growth Mindsets and Curiosity—Here’s Why

Gabriella Benevento is the Technical Recruiter for Adyen, the financial technology platform of choice for leading businesses, whose customers include global enterprises such as Uber, Spotify, Microsoft, and Netflix. Benvento has spent her career helping companies and candidates find the right match by aligning job opportunities with their career goals. That’s why we asked her for tips on interviewing for new jobs, particularly for women who want to break into new roles or industries.

She has a wealth of advice to share, including using LinkedIn to tell your story, tailoring your resume to the role, and highlighting relevant experience at the top while removing irrelevant work. Her top piece of advice: “Emphasize your growth mindset. Skills like curiosity and being proactive are harder to teach.”

Here, she discusses the skills and traits she’s looking for in candidates, tips on preparing for and excelling in interviews, and the most memorable advice she’s ever received.

As a recruiter, what are three things about Adyen that you always highlight when talking to a candidate? 

1. You’re given ownership and autonomy over your work.

2. No one is doing exactly what we’re doing in the space. We’ve developed our financial technology platform in-house from the ground up, which means fewer dependencies, giving us a huge advantage.

3. Most companies have a set of values, but they don’t show up in day-to-day work across all teams. The Adyen Formula is at the core of what we do and how we work together, and you can see that immediately after joining. 

What advice do you have for women looking to elevate their careers?

Take the interview! Even if you’re not sure it’s the one. I once took a call with a recruiter for a role I wasn’t fully sold on, but the conversation was great, and I built a relationship. That same recruiter reached out later with the perfect opportunity, which led to my role at Adyen. One conversation can open a door you didn’t know existed.

How do you suggest women get through automated systems? Do you recommend that candidates contact current recruiters or employees for informational interviews before applying? 

Even with an applicant tracking system (ATS) in place, real people are reviewing applications. To stand out, treat your resume like a marketing brochure by leading with the most relevant information, tailoring your bullet points to the job description, and including keywords within bullet points to show how and when you used that specific skill rather than a big list of keywords.

If you don’t have personal connections, build them! Reach out to current employees for an informational chat; it’s a great way to gain context, show initiative, and get on someone’s radar.

Let’s talk about the interview. How do you suggest candidates prepare for an interview at Adyen?

Understand what the company does, its industry, and its values. Be ready to speak about how it aligns with your goals and needs. The recruiter is there to be honest about what the company is looking for, so if it’s not the right fit, that’s OK. Alignment on both sides is key. 

For Adyen specifically, I recommend that candidates look at leaders’ LinkedIn posts to see what they’re saying and to get a sense of what they value and are most excited about. Our company website and social channels like LinkedIn are also great resources for exploring what we do and who we are as a company.

What’s your top advice for acing an interview?

1. Come prepared with thoughtful questions; this shows genuine interest and helps you stand out.

2. Treat the interview as a two-way conversation. Ask clarifying questions if something isn’t clear.

3. Be concise and direct. Give enough detail, but be sure to stay on topic. 

4. If you feel yourself talking for a long time, pause and ask, “Did I answer your question, or would you like more detail?”

5. Showcase your communication style; how you engage in the interview reflects how you’ll engage on the job.

What are your go-to interview questions for all candidates? 

• What are you looking for in your next role, and what’s most important in your next career move?

• Can you share a mistake you’ve learned from in your career?

• What’s your biggest strength?

What are your biggest tips for what NOT to do when applying or interviewing at a company?

• Don’t apply to every job on a company’s career page. A good rule of thumb is to target no more than two roles at a time to show focused interest.

• Don’t forget to follow up and maintain consistent communication with the recruiter. Being transparent about your expectations and timeline shows strong communication skills and reinforces your genuine interest in the role.

• Don’t use AI to respond to an interview question with a “perfect” response. We care more about authenticity than having a canned response that doesn’t showcase who you are and what your real skill set is.

What’s the most memorable piece of career advice you’ve received?

The work will always be there, so set boundaries and close your laptop when the day is done. 

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