I often hear how nerve wracking and uncomfortable it is to go to an interview, but, I promise, it doesn’t have to be that way. We’re going to look at three strategies to re-frame and prepare for an interview that will seal the deal and get you that job offer.
More often than not, job seekers go into interviews with the totally wrong objectives. They seem to think that the goal is to sell themselves and to make themselves look great. They are afraid to show any weaknesses and are so uptight that they don’t showcase their personality.
Many find the questions that are asked in interviews unnerving and the idea of asking questions even more intimidating.
So we are going to break it down and cover the keys to successful interviewing one at a time.
In fact, we’re going to cover three main ideas:
- How to re-frame an interview in a way that makes you feel empowered and confident
- The how (and why) of introducing candor & authenticity into your interview
- The whole gamut of questions – why they are so important, what you should ask when and why they frame your entire conversation
Reframing Your Interview
You can toss everything that you think you know about interviewing
out the window. This is your new framework.
Your Number One Goal in An Interview
Have you forgotten everything you previously thought you knew? Good.
Your number one goal in an interview is simple. It’s to make the OTHER person (the interviewer) comfortable. You want to put that person at ease and make them feel like they are having coffee with an old friend.
Tall order? Here are three strategies that will help immediately:
- Smile & start with small talk, just like “real life”, ease into the meeting
- Mirror them (sit in the same posture, if they look at something, look too!)
- Laugh! Share a joke or a funny story – just make sure it makes you look good
What An Interview REALLY Is
This can come as a shocker, but it will totally change the way you approach interviews, giving you MUCH more power and confidence, making you far more desirable to the company, so listen up!
An interview is a conversation between two people trying to figure out if the opportunity is a good fit. Its like a first date – neither group should have all the power.
Its easy to feel powerless in an interview, but, remember, this is as much your decision as it is theirs. Treat the interview like that! Here are two ways to assert your power in an interview:
- Ask to meet the team you will primarily be working with
- Ask questions throughout the interview – don’t make them all softballs
Questions, Questions, Questions
Asking the right questions at an interview can be the difference between a dream job and a dread job.
10 Great Questions for Just About Any Interview
Early in the Interview:
- What would your dream candidate skills and characteristics be?
- What are your financial goals for the coming year? How does my department / position impact them?
- What are the two biggest challenges you hope that the person in this position will alleviate?
The Middle of the Interview:
- What would a person in this position likely be doing on a Tuesday morning?
- What is the meeting culture of this organization? (frequency, length, etc.)
- Is there any travel? If so – how frequent, for what durations and locations?
Late in the Interview:
- Who is on the primary team that I will work with? May I meet them?
- What kind of exposure will I have with the leadership team?
- If there is a challenge, what is the chain of command? What kind of support can I expect?
- What is your greatest reservation about having me fill the position?
Well, its official, armed with your new mindset and questions that will make you stand-out, you are officially ready to interview like a pro!
