On a scale of 1 to 10, how much do you love job interviews? If you’re like most people, a job interview is right up there with a root canal. Necessary, yet anxiety producing and often painful. When you’re job hunting, just getting to the interview stage is definitely cause for celebration. But then…panic sets in because it’s a high stakes moment! What will they ask? Will you have a good answer? Read on for some advice to help you prepare for the optimal interview and outcome -> a job offer! If you’re not on the hunt for a new job today, take the time to prepare while you’re not interviewing and you will be way ahead of the game when you are.
But first, the inside scoop from a former recruiter
I’ve been a recruiter, a hiring manager, and on countless interview teams for decades and this means I’ve been the interviewer a lot! The most common mistake candidates make is failing to adequately prepare. Truly, that’s it. I can tell the difference between a nervous candidate (yes, being nervous is normal and ok) and an unprepared one. You may have the best background and education on paper, but if you can’t clearly communicate to me how you’ve been successful in the past, I will most likely pass on you. NEXT! Not to fret my friend, you are better than the common candidate. And how do I know? Because you’re here. 🙂
Here’s what to do
1. Be ready to answer some variation of the question, “Tell me about yourself”, the most common interview opener
- Be concise and compelling, no more than 2-3 minutes.
- Spend time getting this one to where it feels really good and flows easily so that you can begin calm and confident
2. Go back through your list of accomplishments/successes/wins, pick the best 5-7, and prep your “stories”
For each chosen accomplishment, get super clear on how to convey your *STAR*:
- What was the Situation: Set the scene and give only the necessary background details. Set up the problem that needed solving and how it landed with you
- What were your Tasks: Describe what your responsibility was and any key players and stakeholders
- What Actions did you take: Explain exactly what steps you took to address the situation
- What was the Result of your actions: Share what outcomes your actions achieved and the impact of those outcomes
- BONUS POINTS: What did you Learn during this scenario: Share what you learned, how you’ve applied that learning, or how you plan to apply it in the future
3. Consider what’s important to you in a company, role, team, manager, etc. then prepare a list of 4-5 questions to be ready for the inevitable, “What questions do you have for me?”
- Be authentic and ask questions you want to know the answers to
- Hiring managers can tell when you grab a list of “good questions to ask interviewers” from the internet
4. Practice, practice, practice (P.S. this one is really important)
- Find a friend and do a couple of mock interviews to get the bugs out and further increase your confidence
- Don’t completely memorize your answers so they come out rehearsed, but do have a clear idea of what you’re going to say
- Responses should sound thoughtful, natural, and conversational
Does preparation really matter?
Here’s what I think, if you want something bad enough you’re willing to work for it. Landing a great job (better than the one you have today) can vastly improve your quality of life in so many ways. Personal improvements like your happiness and well-being and the financial ones like your paycheck and benefit package. It’s absolutely worth it to do your best and if you can increase your chances of success, why wouldn’t you? I can help you boost your interviewing confidence with preparation strategies, role play and feedback. Contact me today for your free consultation.