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Your Job Interview: 4 Steps to Staying in Control
Then you start thinking about the upcoming job interview, and - puff! - the euphoria is gone. Fear sets in. Past interviews have proven dismal failures. You start getting a sinking, lamb-to-the-slaughter feeling. After all, you've been in control up to this point. You chose the company you'd send a resume to; you controlled what went into it; you decided how your cover letter would read. But now the game changes. They start calling the shots. The job interviewer has control. You, the interviewee, will be at his or her mercy, following along blithely wherever the interviewer directs the conversation, and heaven only knows where that might be. That is the mindset of too many people facing an impending interview, and it is the wrong one. You don't have to relinquish control, and you increase your chances of success if you don't. Thankfully, the average interviewer hands you control without even realizing it, so that you can direct the conversation to those areas that highlight your fitness for the job. As you know, your prep for the interview should include making a list of the questions you're likely to be asked (any book on finding a job worth its price will tell you to do as much). One of the questions you list has to be: "So tell me about yourself." (Okay, so it's not exactly a question.) Even though most people know they're going to hear this, they don't prepare for it. Why? "Hey, it's me they're asking about. I know me. I can talk for hours about me." And therein lies the problem. Generally people ramble when they talk about themselves; and when they ramble they introduce issues or facts that are off target or raise additional questions for which they haven't prepared and can get them in trouble. This is how. 1.) Ask permission to redirect. Or. . . . Almost without exception, your initiative will be admired and you'll receive permission to the focus you've recommended. 2.) Cover three features that make you valuable Here you need to think like the company: what would its people point to as your greatest assets to the job they're offering? Then focus on detailing those assets, explaining the benefits to the company (or the department or its manager). 3.) Ask how you're doing But think about it. By asking, you can gain valuable feedback that keeps you in control and on top of the impression you're making. Let's say the interviewer responds to your question with, "Well, I like your background in marketing, but we were hoping for someone with a little more retail selling experience." You then know the obstacle you need to overcome to improve your chances. You can't answer an objection if you don't know what it is. 4. Actively listen and probe Active listening means tuning into the interviewer's answer with your ears, eyes, and brain. If you ask, "How am I doing?" and the response is a half-hearted smile and "Not bad," you're probably right to think that the interviewer has some reservations. You then need to probe to find out what they might be. "Can you tell me what if any reservations you have about my qualifications?" is a perfectly legitimate question. It keeps you involved in the give-and-take of a good interview and allows you some control of the all-important impression you make. Again, most interviewees don't probe for fear of the answer. Just remember, ignorance is not bliss when it comes to job interviews. Employ these techniques, and you'll have greater control over the interview - and the outcome! Email Kevin
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Congratulations. The company you applied to likes your qualifications and has asked you to come in for an interview. You're elated and you start imagining the corner office you'll end up in, the money you'll make, the company car they'll probably provide . . . .