A New Twist to the Interview Process

We all know how important the interview process is. Not just for the hiring manager but also for you! But do you ever feel it's a one way street instead of a partnership? Do you get nervous and forget answers to simple questions? Trust me, you're not alone.

I myself have missed out many opportunities due to not knowing how to interview effectively. For some it can be an awkward situation where you feel you're being put in the hot seat for a high stakes poker game.

But what if I told you, it didn't have to be that way? What if you could learn to flip the script and become the interviewer? Taking control of the process isn't easy, but with these tips and practice, you can learn to master the art of interviewing and land the job you've been dreaming about.

Prepare:

Preparing for the interview is crucial. Once the interview is scheduled you should collect 6 key pieces of information before you ever step on-site.

1. Job Description: This is obvious for many reasons. But you'd be surprised to hear how many people step into an interview without it. Know what the hiring manger is looking for and how it relates to your skill sets and experience is vital.
2. Names of who will be attending the interview: Research their LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram if possible. Know them beyond the company. Your future employer is doing this to you. You'll get a sense of their personality and interests, therefore helping you build rapport.
3. Company Mission Statement: Understand the history of the company and what they believe in. A common question candidates get asked is "Why do you want to work for us?". You can tailor their mission statement to match your personal beliefs and future direction to tackle that question effectively.
4. Possible Interview Questions: Ask your point of contact for possible questions the interviewer might ask. If you're working with a recruiter, ask! It's possible others have gone before you and failed, giving you the leg up. If no one has this, research the company on Glassdoor. It's possible someone has posted questions they were asked. Last resort, search for generic questions that are asked within that field.
5. Journal: Write steps 1 - 4 down in a journal and take it to the interview! You are allowed to do this! I'm not suggesting you read it word for word when being asked questions. No one wants to listen to a script, but a glance to help jog your memory is certainly acceptable.
6. Write an Executive Summary: Before you interview, write out a separate summary of experience that only discusses the responsibilities and requirements of the job description. This helps prepare talking points that aren't on your original resume. You should know what your strengths and weaknesses are, along with where you want to see growth in your career. When doing this ask yourself the 5 W's: Who did I do this for, What did I do, When and Where did I do it, and Why/Outcome.

Strike a Pose:

So you've finally arrived to your interview destination, but you're feeling pretty nervous. This is going to sound silly, but strike a power pose before you go in!

In 2012, Harvard Business School professor Amy Cuddy gave a now famous TED Talk on the benefits of "power-posing," or changing your body language in ways that can make you feel more confident. What's more, Cuddy says, adopting the body language of a powerful person changes the way other people see and act toward you, which in turn reinforces your confident behavior.

"When our body language is confident and open," she writes, "other people respond in kind, unconsciously reinforcing not only their perception of us but also our perception of ourselves."

Cuddy suggests, before an interview, throw your hands in the air and widen your stance, as if you're soaking in the applause after an encore performance. Do it in the elevator or stairwell on your way up to the office, or in the bathroom before checking in with reception. Hold the pose for two minutes to set those hormonal changes in motion and give you the confidence you need to ace the interview.

Setting the table:

The big moment has arrived. After shaking hands and exchanging the typical opening questions, the interviewer will start to ask something along the lines of, "So tell me about yourself". This is the moment for you to set the table to become the interviewer and flip the script.

Navigate this question by diving into your professional work history and what's led you to this point. You should have already been well prepared if you followed the 6 steps at the beginning of this article. Talk about your passions and your strengths, along with what you hope to gain by obtaining this position. Most importantly, end your explanation with a question. Here is an example of what this could look like:

"Thanks for the question Steven. For the past 15 years, I've been honing my professional experience in Business Management and Waste Management. I love being able to work in collaborative environments where I can use my expertise to develop efficient processes that provide a clear path for success in an organization. It's why this position has caught my eye and why I'm here. Being a leader in this field is very important to me as is working for a company that values and embraces change.

[The Turn] I noticed when reviewing the history of the company and job description, you need an individual who has a deep working knowledge of Lean Six Sigma. Could you tell me what kinds of challenges you all are facing within this department and why this is important?

Becoming the Boss:

For this brief moment, you're in control as the hiring manager responds. Listen in carefully for clues that relate to the challenges they are facing. Always remember that there is a pain the company faces - what you provide is the cure. First believe that YOU are valuable and can do this, but more importantly make THEM believe it.

Do this by following up with a question after they've asked you something. The goal here is to create a dialogue where they are talking more and you are talking less. If the interview is an hour long - plan to talk for about 20 - 25 minutes.

With each question you get asked - tell them just enough to get them to think about how you could be useful but not so much that you come off as cocky and arrogant. Being humble yet confident is more attractive to future employers as they'll see your honest sincerity and passion. Another trait you will show is your insight to how you can solve the problems their facing. Steps 1 - 6 of the prepare work you did earlier all play a part during this discussion.

Following up with questions after each response is a technique that requires a lot of practice to master. You need to be constantly analyzing and employ active listening techniques to learn to steer the conversation to your strengths.

The Close:

When the interview is getting close to wrapping up, they'll almost always ask "Do you have any questions?” Now you've just been asking questions for 40 minutes, what else more could you possibly ask? If you say "Nope!" Then you've just lost everything you've been working towards. This is the time to ask some soft questions about the company culture, next steps in the hiring process, or traits they consider would make a candidate successful in this position.

Whatever direction you decide to take always remember the interview should be a partnership. The manager should also be trying to convince you that this is the place for you just as much as you convincing them that you're perfect match for the position.

I hope that this information can be used to help you in your next interview. Remember this takes practice, patience and humility. You might fail…. a lot. Take those failures and write down what you could have done better. Slowly you'll craft an interview style that works best for you in turn landing you the job of your dreams.

If you enjoyed reading this please hit like and share! Comments and suggestions are always welcomed.