On The Job: Common Sense Tips for Uncommon Interviews

After writing the perfect resume, tuning up your cover letter and targeting your job search, you'll have to show up to get the job. Don't sweat it. Interviewing skills are not brain surgery.

In fact, you probably already know about as much as you need. Your job is to leave the interviewer with the feeling that the time you spent together was helpful and informative. To me, it boils down to three things: be interested, be interesting and let the hiring authority make the obvious choice. In my experience, the applicants that meet these measures are few and far between.

Be Interested

Do your homework on the firm and job. Be curious. Be analytical. You won't find out all the issues or develop solutions ahead of time, but you will be prepared to give helpful detail in your answers. You'll also be able to make your comments congruent with the firm's public personality and market position.

Formulate a list of questions before you arrive. Some specific ones will be obvious after your research. You can also get good information from general questions such as: “Tell me about a usual day,” “Why do you think people like to work here?” and “What are the criteria on which you will base your hiring decision?” In fact, if you can ask that last one early in the interview, the answer will inform much of your responses thereafter.

Arrive a little ahead of time. This is a point of courtesy, shows your interest and will give you a chance to observe at least the lobby interactions and receptionist to pick up visual cues about the firm. Ask for firm materials, if they are not offered.

Be Interesting

People vary in their skills for conducting the interview. You have the opportunity to make their job easier by being relaxed, giving answers that are specific and infused with examples. If a question isn't clear, ask: “I didn't quite understand your question. Can you clarify that?” or restate the question: “If I understood you, you'd like to know about my experience in quantifying the results of newspaper advertising. Is that right?”

Offer information about yourself that reveals not only what skills you have for the job, but who you are. Hobbies, history, aspirations, leisure time interests, family details; these all help form a more complete picture of you. If there is information you want considered in the decision-making process, point it out: “I'm hoping that you and the firm think that my interest in bird watching is an important pursuit for someone in this position.”

Let the Interview Speak for Itself

The person who is doing the hiring (or the gatekeeping for them) wants to be in control, naturally. They feel that the decision is important. You can honor that by tempering your inclination to oversell, also a natural tendency. If you want to convey a lot of information about your skills in a short time, review and practice examples that speak of them and, then, relay the information in a calm manner.

Sit up straight, make eye contact, but don't “pounce” on answers. A thoughtful response takes a minute and the pause will inspire confidence in your replies. Your questions should be posed with some reserve, too. Don't threaten the interviewer. “Why has been so much turnover in this job?” can also be, “What is the firm doing to increase the chance for job satisfaction and successful performance for the person you hire?”

A well-conducted series of interviews leads to an obvious hiring choice. Don't try to bend the process to your will, no matter how much you may want the job. Be polite, be respectful of the firm's time and be thankful. Handwritten thank you notes after an interview are a good way to rekindle a positive memory.

Just common sense, isn't it? But it can produce an uncommon interview experience and that will be to your benefit.

After writing the perfect resume, tuning up your cover letter and targeting your job search, you'll have to show up to get the job. Don't sweat it. Interviewing skills are not brain surgery.

In fact, you probably already know about as much as you need. Your job is to leave the interviewer with the feeling that the time you spent together was helpful and informative. To me, it boils down to three things: be interested, be interesting and let the hiring authority make the obvious choice. In my experience, the applicants that meet these measures are few and far between.

Be Interested

Do your homework on the firm and job. Be curious. Be analytical. You won't find out all the issues or develop solutions ahead of time, but you will be prepared to give helpful detail in your answers. You'll also be able to make your comments congruent with the firm's public personality and market position.

Formulate a list of questions before you arrive. Some specific ones will be obvious after your research. You can also get good information from general questions such as: “Tell me about a usual day,” “Why do you think people like to work here?” and “What are the criteria on which you will base your hiring decision?” In fact, if you can ask that last one early in the interview, the answer will inform much of your responses thereafter.

Arrive a little ahead of time. This is a point of courtesy, shows your interest and will give you a chance to observe at least the lobby interactions and receptionist to pick up visual cues about the firm. Ask for firm materials, if they are not offered.

Be Interesting

People vary in their skills for conducting the interview. You have the opportunity to make their job easier by being relaxed, giving answers that are specific and infused with examples. If a question isn't clear, ask: “I didn't quite understand your question. Can you clarify that?” or restate the question: “If I understood you, you'd like to know about my experience in quantifying the results of newspaper advertising. Is that right?”

Offer information about yourself that reveals not only what skills you have for the job, but who you are. Hobbies, history, aspirations, leisure time interests, family details; these all help form a more complete picture of you. If there is information you want considered in the decision-making process, point it out: “I'm hoping that you and the firm think that my interest in bird watching is an important pursuit for someone in this position.”

Let the Interview Speak for Itself

The person who is doing the hiring (or the gatekeeping for them) wants to be in control, naturally. They feel that the decision is important. You can honor that by tempering your inclination to oversell, also a natural tendency. If you want to convey a lot of information about your skills in a short time, review and practice examples that speak of them and, then, relay the information in a calm manner.

Sit up straight, make eye contact, but don't “pounce” on answers. A thoughtful response takes a minute and the pause will inspire confidence in your replies. Your questions should be posed with some reserve, too. Don't threaten the interviewer. “Why has been so much turnover in this job?” can also be, “What is the firm doing to increase the chance for job satisfaction and successful performance for the person you hire?”

A well-conducted series of interviews leads to an obvious hiring choice. Don't try to bend the process to your will, no matter how much you may want the job. Be polite, be respectful of the firm's time and be thankful. Handwritten thank you notes after an interview are a good way to rekindle a positive memory.

Just common sense, isn't it? But it can produce an uncommon interview experience and that will be to your benefit.