A Few Practical Interviewing Tips

We have recently been engaged in the tedious activity of vetting prospective teammates for our small but growing company. In the course of this process, I have been surprised at the almost lackadaisical approach some applicants take. I feel compelled to offer a few suggestions for the interviewee, given from the perspective of the interviewer. None of these suggestions are new, proprietary, or particularly insightful, which makes me wonder why they are the exception and not the norm.

Act like you want the job.

If you are indifferent or really don’t care about the position, please don’t waste our time. Assuming you do want the position, act like it. Give me some sign, some glimmer of excitement, that you would really like to work for us. Research our company before the interview. Then, be prepared to explain to me how our corporate culture matches your personality and how the things we do excite and stimulate you. A short email or thank you note after the interview is a great idea, often touted, seldom done.

Dress like you want the job.

What you wear to an interview depends on the position you are applying for and I know it can be a little tricky these days. But if you dress like you don’t give a rip, I am going to assume that you don’t give a rip.

Pre-prepare some questions.

Sometime during the interview, you are going to be asked if you have any questions. Instead of fumbling with filler words while your brain seizes up, have a few good questions ready to go. 

Scenario A:

Me:  “So, do you have any questions for us?

You:  “Ummm, well, uh, no, uh… I really can’t think of anything.”

Me:  <unimpressed>

Scenario B:

Me:  “So, do you have any questions for us?”

You:  “Well, yes, I saw on your website that you recently began offering the XYZ product. If that is successful, what does that mean to the future direction of the company?”

Me:  <give thorough and insightful answer>

You:  “That’s very cool. I’m extremely interested in that technology.”

Me:  <hmm.  did some research. likes our technology. asks good questions. impressed!>

Pre-prepare some answers.

Since you want to work here, you have done some research. And since you have done research, you can probably guess at the nature of some of the questions you will be asked. For instance, if customer service skills are necessary for the position, you can assume you will be asked questions about your customer service ability. Before the interview, review your life’s experiences and pick some highs and lows that would make good examples and rehearse them in your mind.

Scenario A:

Me:  “Have you ever dealt with a client that was unhappy and if so, how did you handle them?”

You:  “Ummm, well, uh, no, uh… I really can’t think of anything.”

Me:  <unimpressed>

Scenario B:

Me:  “Have you ever dealt with a client that was unhappy and if so, how did you handle them?”

You:  “Oh, sure I have. I once had a customer on the phone that was so upset, I thought their cursing was going to melt my handset. But I just let them vent and when they finally stopped, I said that I understood their frustration and was pretty sure that I could help. I explained what I was going to do and asked if that was acceptable to them. I then talked them through the process as I fixed the issue. When I was done, they apologized for the cursing, and thanked me profusely for the help.”

Me:  <hire this person now!!>

Summary

I tend to be a little tongue-in-cheek but I hope you see the points I am trying to make. Looking for a job is serious business. Put some effort into it. Good luck!