Best Interview Advice
Kent R.
Go to your refrigerator and pour yourself a glass of champagne.
Raise a glass with me.
Why?
The job market currently favors candidates. Unemployment is low, so employers are having to work extra hard to compel the best candidates to work for them.
What does this mean? Well, getting interviews will, in most cases, be easier.
Just don’t mess up the interview.
I always cringe when I ask someone how an interview went and they reply with some version of “I think they liked me.”
Although you definitely want to come across as likable, likability should not be your first priority.
In my work on the other side of the table (HR / Business consulting), I often consult with companies on senior level hires. While hiring panels are never upset about a candidate’s likability, the hiring panel is most interested in how well you meet the requirements for the job.
In most cases, your interviews will be Behavioral in nature. Wow your interviewers with robust examples of how you nailed the skill in question. If they aren’t asking about areas where you align well with the job, tell them (ideally at the end of the interview when they ask if there is anything else you’d like them to know).
Don’t let good chemistry with interviewers fool you. When it comes down to it, a quality organization will first stack candidates up in terms of how they each meet the qualifications for the job. Your success hinges on your ability to outline how qualified you are. If your killer personality comes through while you do that, even better.
Oh, and keep your responses succinct. As I said in this post on how to handle video interviews, no one likes a candidate who blabs on and on and on.
Let’s review:
Ensure they know how well you align with the job requirements.
Be likable.
Keep your responses swift, upbeat, and to the point.