Council Post: How To Stun Your Interviewer
Dana Manciagli is President of Job Search Master Class®, the world's leading online course for job seekers and the veteran community, too.
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Today’s hyper-competitive job market makes it immensely hard to secure an interview of any kind (phone, video, face-to-face). See my previous Forbes.com article for an example.
Therefore, when you do secure an interview, your goal is not to do well — because doing “well” is not good enough. You need to stun every person with whom you talk. Granted, you will not immediately know if you stunned them, since many hiring managers have poker faces and refuse to disclose their glee. That’s okay.
My client, Rick, had an interview with two executives at the same time. Both were on the other end of a video call. Rick reported that he thought the interview went exceptionally well with the one who was very engaged and asked most of the questions. With the other interviewer, Rick was not sure. He was concerned that they did not connect. We just joked and called him “Mr. Poker Face” and moved on.
Surprisingly, when Rick received the offer over the phone, the recruiter shared that the hiring manager, “Mr. Poker Face,” was most impressed with Rick.
Two lessons learned: One, don’t go into an interview with any expectations, and don’t judge yourself based on what you heard and saw. Two, view every interview* as a performance, so be prepared and compete to win.
*Interviews come in many flavors: recruiter phone or video calls, networking meetings, e-mail exchanges, LinkedIn communications, your online applications.
As a career coach and job search skills trainer, I love preparing my clients for interviews, including doing multiple roleplays. Without a coach, you can (and should) do much more interview preparation early on, such as videotaping yourself answering questions. It takes practice and repetition to refine your content and non-verbal delivery.
Stun Method #1: Know their job description better than they do.
One question I used to ask when I was a hiring manager was, “Tell me about the position you are interviewing for.” Over 60% stumbled. Most tried to toss the question back to me, saying, “I was hoping you could do that for me.” Hmmmmm.
Stun them by preparing well in advance by dissecting their job description, understanding the skills and results they are looking for and preparing to address each line item. Prepare your summary of the position, too.
Homework: Prepare a table in Word or Excel with two columns. On the left, fill in the items in the job description. On the right, write bullet points with your skills and examples. If there is a row that you do not have skills for, write “Eager to learn on the job.” That will be your interview answer if asked!
Stun Method #2: Be concise, using the 'Law of Threes.'
Interviewers may have as diverse a background as your fellow candidates. They may be young recruiters, unfamiliar with your industry, speak English as a second language or be sitting on stacks of positions to fill. Interviewers may take notes while you speak, and they will try to assess your fit for the position. Hiring managers and interviewers see numerous candidates and must determine who is the most qualified and who will be the best fit with the rest of the team.
Stun them by saying no more than three short bullet points for each answer. Additionally, say “one, two and three” before each point you are making. Without mentioning the number or showing your fingers counting, your answer most likely sounds like one big run-on. Try to pause in between points, too. Your answer may feel too short; however, realize that the interviewer will ask for more if they want you to elaborate.
Homework: Start practicing your ability to answer questions with the “Law of Threes” with your family and friends. They don’t have to know! My client, Kevin, practiced with his wife, and he corrected something his wife and friends have always accused him of, babbling on and on! He also just landed a job in his field, and he is over 55 years old!
Stun Method #3: Have amazing questions, and take notes.
Throw out your dull and uninspiring questions like, “What does a day-in-the-life look like?” “What is the company culture?” “What are the top three challenges?” Your question quality can make or break your interview. If you want to be “good,” then ask the same questions everybody else does. If you want to stun, then prepare your questions carefully.
Stun them by sharing a strength you have before asking the question. For example, “I am motivated by chasing goals and metrics. How will I be measured in six months?” Another example is, “I am super analytical and have great attention to detail. Will my assignments leverage this strength?”
Stun them by being positive with your questions versus negative. For example, ask, “What are the top two outcomes if we crush our goals?” See the difference from, “What are the top challenges or barriers?” Another example is, “I am very energized by the job description. What are the top three skills or experiences you are looking for in a top candidate?”
A few more stunning tips, since we are running out of space:
• Err on the formal side of attire, even if just above the waist for video interviews.
• Sit up tall, look straight into the camera lens (not the person on your screen!) and smile. They are assessing how you will fit with the team culture.
• Assure your last question is a statement. “I am very excited about this position, and I hope I have your support to move to the next level of the hiring process.” Smile!
Forbes Coaches Council is an invitation-only community for leading business and career coaches. Do I qualify?
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