Job Interview Mechanics PSA

[Gypsy]

Okay so. We have a lot of people doing job interviews.

Here are some thoughts on how to succeed at a job interview from a recruiter I spoke to (who was excellent). I thought it might help you guys.

First, there is an emotional connection: Does this person click with me, and with my expectations of what I see in this role, can I talk to them. Can I LAUGH with them (laughter is a great connection to make).

Second there is the practical consideration of 'can they do this job': and that means asking detailed questions and getting the right response back or EVEN BETTER getting a response back that HELPS YOU understand the job better, which demonstrates that the person not ONLY can do the job, but has the ability to succeed at it. Also a GREAT a candidate will always ask: Why is this job available? Is it a replacement, is it new? What is the need and then take it ONE STEP FURTHER TO ASK: If I get this job, in the first 30-90 days what could I do for you, what can I take off your plate that is currently causing you stress now.

Third: Does this person who I have a connection with, and who has demonstrated that they can do it, WANT the job. A LOT interviewees assume that just by being present they are testifying to wanting the job. That's not enough. VALIDATE for the interviewer that, having talked to them, you ALSO feel a connection (cite things they have said as having made a positive impression to you, so they know you heard them and that you are looking for what they are offering), that not only can you do the job you LOOK FORWARD to doing the job FOR THEM.

Fourth, Even if they don't ask, the interviewer is thinking "Why should I hire you"-- this is your chance to toot your own horn. BUT if you aren't comfortable making "I" statements outright you can always say, "I've been praised for"-- so for example for me, I say things like; " I’ve been told that I am good at building trust relationships with Legal teams and business teams. I’ve been told that I am a tenacious negotiator and a strong advocate for my company. I’ve been told that I have a broad knowledge base and considerable drafting talent." And that answers the question of "why should you hire me" without me sounding arrogant.

OKAY? Hope that helps! It helped me.

 

[minousbijoux]

Excellent tips, Gypsy. Does that mean you got the job?

 

[Haven]

So, Gypsy--did you get the job?!?!

 

[Enerchi]

You can add to your resume "I've been told that I am very supportive in a community environment and assist and encourage others to succeed at a multitude of tasks"! You helped me - i couldn't have been as lucky if I didn't have you "in my head" !!!

(and yah - did you get the job??)

 

[amc80]

Great post! I've done a few interviews and for me, the connection is always the most important. People can be trained to do lots of things, but personality can't really be changed.

Oh, I have a tip to add to your list- don't tell the person interviewing you that you've googled them. It's seriously creepy.

 

[Haven]

Great post! I've done a few interviews and for me, the connection is always the most important. People can be trained to do lots of things, but personality can't really be changed.

Oh, I have a tip to add to your list- don't tell the person interviewing you that you've googled them. It's seriously creepy.

Oh, that's funny!

On a related note, we were not impressed when candidates didn't check out the faculty home pages of our department members. They could at least look up the six members of the search committee! One candidate actually asked our search committee if we had a reading specialist on FT faculty, and I was sitting right there. All she had to do was look at our department home page and she would see that I am the reading department! That showed a serious lack of real interest in our college. So, don't admit to Google, but definitely get to know the search committee/company professionally.

 

[iheartscience]

Great post! I've done a few interviews and for me, the connection is always the most important. People can be trained to do lots of things, but personality can't really be changed.

Oh, I have a tip to add to your list- don't tell the person interviewing you that you've googled them. It's seriously creepy.

Oh, that's funny!

On a related note, we were not impressed when candidates didn't check out the faculty home pages of our department members. They could at least look up the six members of the search committee! One candidate actually asked our search committee if we had a reading specialist on FT faculty, and I was sitting right there. All she had to do was look at our department home page and she would see that I am the reading department! That showed a serious lack of real interest in our college. So, don't admit to Google, but definitely get to know the search committee/company professionally.

Great tips Gypsy-thanks for posting!

Haven-that just does not compute that someone wouldn't research as much as possible about the place they were interviewing. I obsessively research anywhere I'm interviewing...it honestly didn't cross my mind that people wouldn't!

 

[Haven]

I know! The really crazy thing is that we flew in most of these candidates from other states. (And one from Poland!) You'd think that if you were traveling a long distance to interview, you'd want to make sure that it was a place that was a good fit for you. It was kind of a "Seriously?" moment.

 

[miraclesrule]

I don't think it's creepy to Google the person...but maybe some people wouldn't want to know it! I Google everything. I expect others to do the same. I think there is a difference between researching and stalking. Researching=okay...Stalking, not so much!

Because I am constantly interviewing people and am constantly disappointed in the candidates performance, I applaud you Gypsy for bringing up this topic. Our recruiter is always making excuses for poor interview performance i.e. the candidate is nervous. Nervousness shouldn't result in a horrible interview.

I think it is important to be authentic and natural. Most interviewers do their best to create a cordial atmosphere. I am constantly puzzled by the number of candidates that just don't listen to the questions and go off on tangents. It's like listening to a painful political debate when the candidate just spins a sound bite. That is why I have a rule that I personally need to put everyone through my 30-minute phone screening before I will ever participate in an in-person interview.

So be you, be true, and you'll have a much better chance at impressing the interviewer. That connection Gypsy speaks about is as important in an interview as it is in dating. That is spot on.

 

[amc80]

I don't think it's creepy to Google the person...but maybe some people wouldn't want to know it! I Google everything. I expect others to do the same. I think there is a difference between researching and stalking. Researching=okay...Stalking, not so much!

I google people all the time! But I would never tell someone that I did so...that's the difference.

 

[sillyberry]

I don't think it's creepy to Google the person...but maybe some people wouldn't want to know it! I Google everything. I expect others to do the same. I think there is a difference between researching and stalking. Researching=okay...Stalking, not so much!

I google people all the time! But I would never tell someone that I did so...that's the difference.

If someone has a company bio online, I think without fear you can say "I saw you were working on X; could you tell me about that?" If they had a really interesting experience that I found by (basic non-stalkerish) googling, but couldn't come up naturally without it being clear that I had googled, I would probably ask about that, too. I think anything found on page one or two of google is okay.

I wouldn't mention that I saw from the real estate listing that they live in a great neighborhood.

But overall, I agree on connection. Interviewing for big law firms generally starts with a 20-minute on-campus interview. I always tell law students that lots of people have the grades and resume, what the interviewer wants is a person you wouldn't mind being stuck with in a small town in the middle of nowhere where you spend 15 hours a day together in a conference room reviewing documents and eating together three times a day.

 

[Gypsy]

I was interviewing for three of them. One was too much of a pay cut, so I had to say no. One didn't know the meaning of 'work life balance' so I said no. The third I had two additional interviews with today (after three others) and I'm awaiting word. So no resolution. Fingers crossed though.

Authentic is a good addition.

So is-- answer the question you are asked.

I babbled at one of my interviews yesterday a bit. So I'm not really happy about my performance at that one. But I've been (IMO) good at all the others so we'll see.

 

[Gypsy]

You can add to your resume "I've been told that I am very supportive in a community environment and assist and encourage others to succeed at a multitude of tasks"! You helped me - i couldn't have been as lucky if I didn't have you "in my head" !!!

(and yah - did you get the job??)

Thank you sweetie.

To be completely honest though, that really all comes down to: "I like telling people what to do."

 

[Enerchi]

You can add to your resume "I've been told that I am very supportive in a community environment and assist and encourage others to succeed at a multitude of tasks"! You helped me - i couldn't have been as lucky if I didn't have you "in my head" !!!

(and yah - did you get the job??)

Thank you sweetie.

To be completely honest though, that really all comes down to: "I like telling people what to do."

well you are good at it! I'm sure glad you told ME what todo!