There are dozens of places to find tips on interviewing, including this one. Much of the advice you’ll find is foundational — the basics that are required to get your rear end into the interview chair and to be considered on the same plane as your fellow candidates.
The basics are important. Trust me, plenty of people get them wrong. But my wish-list when I’m looking for new staff includes more than shined shoes and plenty of fresh resumes.
Nothing pleases a recruiter more than a candidate that just rocks the interview. When the conversation pops. When you want to trade them their fresh resume for the employee handbook and keys to their new office. But these people are few and far between.
These five things are so rare to see, but so powerful. If I have anything to say about it, they’re guaranteed to get you hired:
- Clarity — Show me that you’ve thought about this opportunity and exactly how it will fit your master career plan. Tell me exactly what you want out of a new employer, and exactly why you think my company might be able to offer it. But first, tell me what you do best and how you think it fits with what we’re asking. If you hem or haw you’ve lost me. Don’t be a know-it-all — I know better than you do what I’m looking for — but use what you do know to connect to what you have to offer. I’ll help you fill in the gaps.
- Blue-sky attitude — The last thing I want is a that’s-not-my-jobber, the person who performs within their job description and checks out at 5 pm. Think of where your value is in the organization, and how you can grow your contribution. Be open to change. Bonus points for proof you’ve initiated it.
- Curiosity — I always leave about a third of the interview time, sometimes more, to answer a candidate’s questions. Please don’t be the shortest interview of the day by not having any. My ideal candidate wants to understand the organization even if they don’t get the job — they can always file info away under “industry knowledge.” Specific questions about the company, industry, market trends, challenges, opportunities, growth plan… all of these show an interest in what makes the organization tick, and make for a much more interesting conversation.
- Energy — Don’t get too comfortable — you’ll look like you’re on auto-pilot. Stay engaged in the conversation. Lean towards me; smile. Gesture precisely. Walk confidently. Then tell me about the time that you put in eighty hour weeks to crank out a client deliverable or the fact that you spend weekends working with Habitat for Humanity. I want to see someone who thrives off of challenge, enrichment, personal development. If I as the employer can offer you that, I can expect an engaged, successful performer.
- Action — This one is the most important. The first four show ability and state of mind. Action is what gets results. Behavioral-based interviewing is very common, with questions like “Tell me about the time you managed a project against a difficult deadline.” These questions give you a chance to show me not just what you know, but how you use it. Tell me in detail what you did and what came of it. Action, result, action, result, wash, rinse, repeat. Prove that you’ve delivered value in your previous roles, so that I can expect the same.
Demonstrating these qualities in an interview will put you far ahead of your competition.
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