Interview Winners Do This!

Do you have an important job interview coming up, or maybe your very first interview coming up?

As a recruiter who has spoken with hundreds of candidates over the years, while there are a number of things I would tell you "Don't Do", if I had to give a top 10 list of "Ways to improve your interview immediately" this would probably be at the top of the list!

For every possible question you are asked, answer with a specific example that paints a picture for your audience and gives them a true glimpse at your worth.

What does this mean?

When you know you are going to be interviewing for a specific job, sit down with the job description and write out a specific example of what you may have done that describes something you've done that is similar.

Hiring Managers want specifics.  The more specific but concise, the more credibility you gain not only in terms of your actual job experience, but also in terms of your ability to communicate intelligently!

How do you do this?

Make sure you can answer the Who, What, Where and When and What Result was Achieved of what you did for each specific example you've decided upon.  

Write it out like you would a script and look at it.  What words are you using?  Is it detailed without being wordy?  While you don't have to memorize what you've written, being able to discuss it clearly is important.  If you have a friend who can listen to you describe that situation and they understand what you are saying, that is a great sign!  Showing you are able to talk about yourself is huge!

What if you've never done what is in the job description - or anything like it?

If this is a first job for you, or just a totally different job for you, there are always ways to discuss how you WOULD do something, or find a way to relate something you have done that you feel might be applicable to the job in question.  

NEVER lie about your experience: you're worth more than that and so is your potential employer!  It is easier to say "While I have never done that specifically, here is how I might approach that situation" or "While I have never done that specifically, when I was in college I studied this..." - whatever you do, just make sure you are honest and up-front, but positive and confident in your skills and your ability to learn!

What about the questions that WON'T be on the job description?

There are always going to be questions that aren't explicit on a job description that a hiring manager is going to want to know.  Go into an interview expecting to be asked about:

• Job History - what you did, when you did it, how you did it
• Time management
• Attention to detail
• Punctuality
• Compensation
• Ability to work on a team/ability to work independently
• Areas of personal strengths and weakness

Go through the same process as before, and think about how you would talk about yourself in regard to any of those things.  Write it out.  You might be asked "when was the last time you were late?" Do you remember?  Think about when it happened, what caused it and what actions you took during it.  Has it happened since?  Use the interview questions to demonstrate not only what you've always done right, but also areas in which you've been able to turn yourself around and improve.

At the end of the day, you want to demonstrate you care enough about a potential job to go in there not only knowing about the company, but also knowing how to speak conversationally about yourself and show yourself as someone who is candid and well-spoken.  While it is also incredibly important to be truly likeable in an interview, the more you prepare, the more confident you will be when it is most critical!

Good luck - and Go Get 'EM!

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Julie (Semrow) Sullivan is a Corporate Recruiter with 15+ years recruiting across multiple industries, but mostly in technology because she has strong geeky leanings and a weird sense of humor. She loves to write, loves helping others in their careers where she can, and sharing what she's learned (usually the hard way). She's trying out this speaking in third person thing for kicks. Feel free to write to her at jesullivan3@gmail.com and check out her blog at www.workthinkmoveforward.com.