The Interview
Once upon a time, you interviewed in person – you got the job or you didn’t. That fairy tale beginning is long past – it’s not that way anymore.
In today’s world you may start with a phone interview, then next would be a Skype or video interview, then a local face-to-face interview, then a team interview (if you’ve made it this far), then perhaps a phone/video interview with someone who is in an overseas office…and it seems you’ve interviewed with every single person, in every single country, in this multinational company. Is there an offer coming yet?
So, how do you get ready for the all-important interview….?
Prepare, Prepare, Prepare –
Know The Company – Prepare for The Interview by knowing the Company. This is now easy to do – back in dinosaur days before the internet, you had to look for brochures in the company lobby while you’re waiting for your interview.
Practice Makes Perfect – Take every single interview…even if it’s not a job you really want, or with a company you wouldn’t want to work for. Every interview (especially the ones you don’t want) gives you an opportunity to practice your interview skills.
That’s What Friends Are For – Practice and rehearse with friends or family.
Be A Recruiter User – If you’ve interviewed successfully with your Recruiter they may be a great “rehearsal partner” – especially if you will be interviewing with their client. Just tell them you are a little nervous and would like to rehearse to make sure you are sharp for their client. AND, if you are working with a good, professional recruiter - they will WANT you to rehearse with them and walk you through every single stage of every single interview.
The Pitch – Don’t forget about the Elevator Pitch - this has always been a great sales tool, but it's also a great interview tool, except you will probably want this to be more like you are STUCK in the elevator and make it a 5-10 Minute Elevator Pitch – this can be a great introduction if The Interviewer says, “tell me about yourself.”
It’s Okay To Brag – Brag - not cocky! There's a difference. Think of a great success story – one story. Now, think of how you can briefly relate that story to someone else – highlighting what happened and why it was a success for you. Do this without “he said…., she said…., I said…” Annoying! It’s not about the conversation – no one ever believes you remember every word of a conversation – verbatim! It’s about the success and if you drone on and relate a long conversation the success will get lost.
Here’s my story – “My first sales job – I’d been trying to get into sales for years and didn’t have any experience. No one would give me a chance. One day I ran into an old acquaintance who had just started a new company 6 months earlier. I didn’t know the business – it was technical – but he said if I could make the connections and get in front of decision makers he would take care of the technical part. He armed me with a box of business cards, a gas credit card, and 90 days to sink or swim. On the 87th day, we signed a $9 million contract with a major oil company.” Boom! Short, sweet, to the point, and says everything that needs to be said. AND, that was in 1991 - $9 million was a LOT of money back then! Hell, it's a lot of money now...
The Most Stupid Question Ever –The interviewer will probably ask you a question I hate – what is your “biggest weakness and what do you do to overcome it.” The dumbest question ever. Don’t know what to tell you, except think about this ahead of time, don’t get too wordy, don’t dwell on it…close your eyes and hope they don’t ask it. Stupid question!
Beware The Bully Interviewer – Don’t allow The Interviewer to bully you into giving personal information – then use it against you. I let this happen to me ONCE! I told her I relocated for personal reasons – she pushed. I said, “I just needed to move.” She pushed. After about the 4th push I blurted out, “The area was too small for the 3 of us, with the new girlfriend living in my old house.” The Interviewer then told my Recruiter that I shared information with her that was “too personal and inappropriate.” Why did she push? Why did I give in? Don’t give in! Politely say, “The reason is personal and don’t feel comfortable sharing in an interview or business environment.” This means – back off and I’m not going to tell you, even if you do hire me!
The Personal Time Question – Now, having talked about the personal info being bullied out of you (me), you may be asked what you like to do in your personal time…this could be interests, hobbies, volunteer work, or nothing. Think of one or two activities you enjoy, nothing too personal, and leave it at that. But, prepare in advance so that you are not caught off guard.
Ask Better Questions – You will be asked if you have any questions. Bet on this! But, don’t ask “me-centric” questions – what are the benefits, how much PTO do I get, are vacation days available immediately…. Are you kidding me? In an interview? Better Questions look like this (prepare 3 to 5 questions) –
Can you describe a typical day in this type of role?
What are some of the goals of the company in the short and longer term?
How would my performance be measured?
How long have you been with the company and what makes you stay?
How would you describe the work environment and corporate culture?
Can you describe the qualities of others who have been successful in this role?
What is the next step in your interview and hiring process and can you picture me in this role? (I love this one because it transfers the pressure to them and checks their honesty, but you have to be prepared for the truth! '
Don’t Forget What Your Mother Taught You – THANK YOU! You can send a “Thank You” email, but, even BETTTER – go to the stationer, get a plain but elegant PAPER “Thank You” note, write out your note, seal the envelope, put a stamp on it, AND MAIL IT! It will be IMPACTFUL!!! The note should look something like this –
“Dear…., I appreciate your consideration and the time you took to review my qualifications. Time is important and I thank you for giving me some of yours to meet with me to discuss your opening and to learn more about (Company Name). The knowledge I gained during our meeting has peaked my interest even further. I look forward to hearing from you to discuss next steps. Best regards, (Your Name)
It’s Your Time To Shine – No Business Casual. I mean it! No Business Casual. It may be okay AFTER you get the job, but you want to dress professionally for your interview. If you don’t know what that means, Google It – Professional Dress – you will be given example images. And….I truly believe in the adage you should Dress For the Job You Want, Not the Job You Have – so even after you get the job, continue to set a higher example in your dress. You will work at a higher level if you dress at a higher level – and it WILL get noticed.
No Phones Please – Leave your cell phone in your car. I mean this, too! Putting it on vibrate doesn’t work – The Interviewer can hear it and you will be distracted by it. Putting it on silent doesn’t work – you will know it’s there and on silent and it will bug the hell out of you that you cannot look at it. Even if The Interviewer looks at his/her phone 15 times, it is not appropriate for you to look at yours. Resist the temptation and LEAVE YOUR PHONE IN YOUR CAR.
Don’t Forget To Smile and Breathe!
If You Didn’t Get The Job – Don’t get discouraged if you didn’t get the job. You just had a GREAT DRESS REHEARSAL for the job you are really supposed to have!