In-Depth Interviewing Skills, Part 1

What if you could read your potential boss’ mind?

Interviewing for your next job:
What do they want to hear? How to interview as if you already knew

Landing a good job is tougher than ever today. Competition is fierce. For every job posted, it seems there is an unending stream of applicants. How can you possibly stand out from the crowd?

The first mistake most people make happens before they step out their front door. While you have probably polished your resume, dressed carefully and prepared a confident handshake, you may not have prepared properly for the interview itself.

Preparing properly doesn’t mean memorizing canned responses to questions. In fact, interviewers can spot that a mile off. They can see an applicant clicking into an automatic response, and it turns them right off. No, there’s a much smarter way to prepare. A much savvier way, one that will let you ace any surprise question and impress your potential boss.

Here’s the secret:

Put yourself in your potential boss’ shoes.

Each question your interviewer asks is for a reason. Understand that reason, and you can respond in a way that is truthful, but answers the unspoken question of the question.

Here’s an example.

Tell me a little about yourself.

This is one of the most common and dreaded questions job seekers face. How should you answer? It’s so open-ended; many people struggle and give vague or unhelpful responses.

Why is the interviewer asking this question?

There are two reasons: what you say, and how you say it. And the “how” part might be even more important than the “what.”

Open-ended questions like this are an interviewer’s dream. They reveal so much. When your interviewers ask this question, they will be watching you closely to see how you respond. Here’s what they are looking for:

• Poise
• Confidence
• Focus

The most important thing to know about this question, or any open-ended question, is that your potential boss is looking to see how you present yourself. Here’s what they hope to hear: A concise story about why you’re the ideal candidate for the job. And yes, that’s often another question. But here’s a secret: “Tell me about yourself” and “Why should I hire you?” are really the same question.

“Tell me about yourself” requires what is known as an elevator pitch. (You know – if you ran into a potential boss in the elevator, could you describe yourself in a memorable way before the doors opened and you two part ways?) Here’s how to craft a winning elevator pitch.

What your interviewer wants to hear: a short story about why you are the best fit for this job. Remember – your interviewer wants to get this hiring done. They are looking for your success.

What your interviewer is looking for: confidence; poise; and clear, concise and relevant answers. Your interviewer understands that your response reveals how you react under pressure.

In order to ace this question, you must prepare and practice. “Tell me about yourself” in an interview doesn’t mean the same thing it does on a first date. “Tell me about yourself” means, “Tell me about yourself as a candidate for this job.” Don’t talk about where you grew up, your marital status, and your hobbies. Instead, focus on your career history.

Briefly, mention your work background, highlighting specific experience relevant to this potential job. Touch on your successes, and mention at least one specific example. This should lead you to showcasing your strengths and skills. Lastly, mention something about why you want to work for this specific company. It’s insulting to your potential boss to feel that this is just another interview and you don’t know anything about this company. On the other hand, it’s very flattering to demonstrate that you know about this company, and are seeking a position with it specifically, and can prove that you would add value.

Conclude with a confident “call to action” – not why you want this job, but what benefit you would bring to the company – and boss – that hires you. In other words, answer your interviewers unspoken question – why is it in my best interest to hire this person?

Here is a rough template to construct your elevator pitch.

I have been in the ___ industry for ___ years. My most recent position was ___, doing ___ in particular. I’ve most proud of my accomplishment with ___, where I was able to ___ despite the challenges of ___. I think this is a good example of my strengths of ___ and ____. I’m hoping to bring those strengths, abilities and drive to your department at ______. I believe in the mission of your company, and I am excited about what you do. I know I can be a valuable asset to your team.

Obviously, you should create a brief pitch that sounds like you, and that you are comfortable saying – no, make that presenting. Your pitch is a presentation, but it should sound like conversation. Practice and edit, practice and polish, practice and practice – and believe in what you say.

Here’s the bottom line about your elevator pitch:

Be brief, authentic and focused on business. Look your interviewer in the eye. And don’t forget to breathe.

Come back next week for part 2:

More interview questions you can answer as if you already knew what they wanted to hear:

What’s your biggest weakness?