Job interviews are stressful. Preparing for the interview can help to de-stress the situation considerably yet, it has been discovered that 78% of all candidates – regardless of the level for which they are interviewing – wing it and frequently such individuals cause themselves to be weeded out in the process.
Seemingly innocent questions in job interviews can trip you up. You think you are answering them in a way that puts you in the best light, but you’d be surprised at how many people completely miss the boat. Merely hoping that an interview has a positive result is not enough. That’s basically forfeiting your ability to drive up the likelihood of a positive outcome. For instance, in response to the question, “Why do you want to work here?” some people will say things such as:
“I’ve worked in this industry for 15 years and been very successful. I feel I can make a difference in your organisation. I have a proven track record of leadership. I’ve read in the paper that your company is having some problems, and with my experience, I can help straighten those out.”
That answer may sound good and appear to suffice, but on a scale of 1 – 10, it ranks about a 4! Why? The answer shows no research, no thought, and no consideration. It sounds stock and could suffice for any number of companies. Overall, unimpressive.
Let’s look closer.
Why Do You Want to Work Here?
Here’s where you get to show off your research. Tell the interviewer what you’ve learned about the company, and why it’s appealing to you. Specifics are the key here. Relate those specific examples from your experience to what you’ve learned about the company, their focus, and their market. Look to your personality; what motivates you and how does that relate to any details you learned from the job ad, your recruiter, your friend who referred you, or from where you learned of this opportunity. And you might ask, “What if it’s not a high-profile company? What if it’s independent?” Not every company is the size of GlaxoSmithKline. These days, most companies have a website where you can find out more information about the company. Share what you can do and why you feel you can make a contribution and benefit the company. This question is about how you can benefit the company, not how the company can benefit you.
Tell Me About Yourself
Some interviews are lost right at this point. This is not an invitation to go on ad nauseum about everything that has happened to you since you were five years old or since your first job out of university. Nor is it the time to shrug your shoulders and give an unplanned, one-sentence answer. Some people, especially those who haven’t prepared and have a tendency to talk when they get nervous and find themselves rambling. Put together a nice little 2 – 3 minute verbal bio about your career, your qualifications, and why you are interested. Know what you’re going to say in advance. This is key!
A Few Points to Remember
In recruiting they used to say, “‘A’ candidates for ‘A’ companies, ‘B’ candidates for ‘B’ companies and ‘C’ candidates for ‘C’ companies,” and a ‘B’ candidate is not only someone who’s talents and track record is only so-so, but it’s also an ‘A’ candidate whose poor interviewing skills make them a ‘B.’ Knowing who you are, what you want, what you have to offer and what you’ve accomplished – and having it all on the tip of your tongue – can make or break you for a job offer – not just for your perfect job, but sometimes for even finding any job. Being able to sell yourself, your skills, and how you can benefit a potential company and then being able to close the deal necessitates taking the time to research and requires that you learn what the company is about. It means knowing yourself well enough that you can apply aspects of your capabilities to the individual facts and details of that individual company – and that you can do it smoothly without groping for words or just winging it.
Lastly, I can’t stress enough the importance of interview preparation, including what strikes most people as silly – role playing.
“You only have one chance to make a really good impression,”
Peter Handal of Dale Carnegie Training
If you don’t take the interview seriously enough to study and thoroughly prepare, someone else will, and that’s the person who will get the job!
Do your homework before EVERY interview! There’s no chance to make a second good impression!
Have you had an interview lately? How did it go? How did you answer the above questions? Let us know in the comments below!
