Interviewing
Like a Pro in Five Easy Step
It's an inescapable
fact that interviews are the "make or break" factor on whether
one lands the job. So it is surprising to find that most job seekers approach
interviews with a cavalier attitude, without any preparation - they simply
wake up the morning of the interview, cross their fingers, and hope for
the best.
Unfortunately, walking into an interview cold rarely works. Human capital
is the biggest expense an organization has. When all is said and done, a
wrong hiring decision costs a company time and resources. Through a series
of well thought out questions, a skillful interviewer will use the interview
process to distinguish between those candidates who have experience and
those who are experts in the given field.
An interview can be won or lost within seconds, and by implementing simple
strategies, you can vastly improve your interview performance. Interviews
can be challenging but they are manageable when approached as a five-step
process.
- A successful
interview depends in part, on whether you understand your role and that
of the interviewer. As an interviewee, you have two obligations - (1)
to sell your qualifications and (2) to evaluate the position and leave
the interview with a solid understanding of the job's requirements.
Interviewing is more than just answering questions; it is about preparing,
understanding and responding to the hiring organization's needs.
The role of the interviewer is to sell the company, assess your commitment
to working for their organization and determine if you are the same
person that is represented on paper.
In reality, your role and that of the interviewer overlap. Both of you
are gathering information, selling a product and evaluating whether
or not there is a match between you.
- Before
each interview select 3-5 accomplishments or skills that you consider
to be your major selling points. Every time the interview shifts in
a direction that doesn't support your agenda, figure out a way to steer
the conversation back to your major selling points. When determining
your selling points, consider situations where you demonstrated initiative,
overcame challenges, and/or streamlined a process.
While it may be difficult to define the specific needs of every company
that is hiring, all organizations are looking for an employer that has
the following characteristics: advanced communication skills, teamwork
skills, honesty and self-confidence. Whenever possible, integrate these
qualities in your responses.
- Build
personal credibility by adapting your communication style to that of
the interviewer. The way you communicate goes beyond the words that
you choose. Your appearance, demeanor, posture and attitude all play
a part in the way your message will be received.
Trust begins to form during the interview and by flexing your communication
style you leave the listener with a subconscious message that says,
"I can sit next to this person on a daily basis." Once you
have accomplished that, you are one step closer to a job offer.
- Turn the
interview into a conversation by asking questions throughout the interview.
Ask questions that reflect your interest in the organization. If you
leave an interview without asking relevant questions, the interviewer
will question your sincerity. By asking questions you show the interviewer
your commitment to your profession and the industry.
- Don't
get blind-sided with questions that you should have been prepared to
answer. There are several questions that are interviewers canned favorites
and they include: Tell me about yourself, Where do you see yourself
in five years? Tell me about a time when you successfully handled a
situation?, and What do you consider your major achievement?
Rehearse interview answers, but don't sound rehearsed. Practice your
responses until you feel that they clearly reflect your skills and personality.
Don't just make statements that you think the interviewer wants to hear.
Going in
unprepared is a sure-fire way to sabotage an interview. When it comes
down to the wire and it is between you and another candidate with a similar
background, interview performance will probably be the deciding factor
on who gets hired.
Job offers are not won by accident; time spent preparing for an interview
produces significant results. The more you practice your interviewing
skills the more confidence you will gain and the more polished your presentation.
| Recognized as
a career expert, Linda Matias brings a wealth of experience
to the career services field. She has been sought out for her knowledge
of the employment market, outplacement, job search strategies, interview
preparation, and resume writing, quoted a number of times in The Wall
Street Journal, New York Newsday, Newsweek, and HR-esource.com. She
is President of CareerStrides and the National Resume Writers' Association.
Visit her website at www.CareerStrides.com or email her at linda@careerstrides.com.
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