Great athletes will tell you that the key to mastering a sport is
prioritization. After all, way too many things are going on for even the best players to follow. Smart players therefore keep most of their attention riveted on the ball, and not on the other players, the refs, the screaming crowd, or any internal issues.
The same can be said for the art of interviewing: You'll be much better off and have an easier time if you focus primarily on your one goal, namely,
to convince your interviewer that you are the right person for the job. That's what the interview is all about, period. In this sense, an interview is identical to a sales call, where a successful close means they hire you, and not someone else.
By reducing all the complexities of interviewing down to this simple goal, you can concentrate on doing no more and no less than whatever it takes to get hired. That strategy will also help you get a better feel for what works, and what doesn't. Although this might seem obvious, keep it in mind while you interview, and as you prepare yourself mentally, physically, and emotionally.
Expert salesmen will tell you that success comes with shifting your attention away from yourself, and instead focusing on fulfilling the needs of the customer. In this case your customer is your interviewer, and what they are looking for is a fully qualified candidate brimming with excitement, enthusiasm, and self-confidence.
So before your interview, find out as much as you can about the company and the position they're trying to fill. Ask your Ultimate Service Manager to tell you all that they know, and refer to external resources like the Internet whenever possible. The simple fact is that the more you know about the company and its needs, the better prepared you'll be to provide your interviewer with the answers they're expecting, namely:
How are you going to be able to help them?
Once you know what they're looking for, you'll also be able to pick and choose from those portions of your own education, skills, and experience that make for the best match. Imagine questions you'll be asked based on their needs, and think up answers selected from your background that portray you as the right candidate for the right job.
So if you discover they're looking for a candidate with strong word processing skills, emphasize your experience and abilities as a typist and focus on your attention to detail; if they're instead looking for a receptionist or secretary, then emphasize how terrific your people-skills are, and how you enjoy helping others be at their best.
Researchers have revealed that an interviewer usually makes up his or her mind during the first two minutes of an interview! That may seem surprising, but we all admit that first impressions count. After all, what kind of candidate would
you seriously think about hiring? Think about that image, and then prepare yourself to become that special kind of person to maximize your chances for getting the job.
Since all your characteristics are under the microscope during an interview situation, make sure you're dressed on the conservative side, with extras like make-up, jewelry, perfume, or after-shave all understated. Your grooming should be equally low-key, as neat and proper as possible. As a general rule, men should wear coordinated dress pants, shirt, and perhaps a suit and tie for more formal interviews. Women should wear professional business apparel, such as a conservative dress or pant suit.
Your strengths run more than skin deep, of course: Your posture, body language, and facial expressions convey who you are as a person, and are your interviewer's first impressions of your character. The importance of maintaining good eye contact and delivering a firm handshake are as cliché as they are true. Entering the interview with a sincere smile and a positive attitude are usually contagious, creating a more natural, easy-going environment for both of you.
The first few minutes are also the time when you should make your own judgments about the interviewer. If they seem particularly mannered and formal, then match your own behavior to suit their comfort zone; if they instead seem more light-hearted and cordial, then extend a similarly easy-going attitude. Keep in mind, however, that good interviewers appear neutral, non-judgmental, and passive: They are paying close attention to you, and expect
you to set the mood.
Many candidates make the mistake of focusing entirely on what they're saying and how they're saying it, missing subtle cues and even obvious signals from their interviewer. Since success depends on satisfying your
interviewer's needs and not your own, knowing how
they feel about your progress is vital, and can help you guide the interview in a more positive direction.
The trick is to continue monitoring their body language, facial expressions, and questioning style to determine your progress throughout the interview. If they seem engaged and interested in your responses (plenty of eye contact, attention, and focus), then keep up the good work; if they instead seem bored and distracted (they yawn, look at their watch, or smirk) then increase your own energy and enthusiasm to bring them back. Their level of interest will vary, so pay attention and look for clues that will recommend the best way to continue.
In addition to these non-verbal signs, the
kinds of questions asked also say a great deal about where you stand. As a general rule, the more detailed the questions, the greater the level of interest. If the interest isn't there, create it. For example, if you are asked about your previous job, don't just say "Yes, I did that" - instead, describe the situation in detail, and the positive results you produced. Talk about your responsibilities, and make the results as numerical as possible: "I saved the company thousands," or "I saved my boss ten hours of work a week."
But what if they want to know about any mistakes you might have made? How can you avoid the pitfall of getting trapped into talking about your
weaknesses?
Nobody is perfect, only liars. And liars are unethical creatures who, if found out, don't get job offers. While tooting your own horn might come easy to most, admitting to imperfection without blowing the whole shot often proves far more challenging. On the one hand you have to be honest; on the other, you want to say things that won't get in the way of you getting the job.
Three proven ways to do just that include casting a weakness in a positive light, dismissing the weakness as ancient history, and "sandwiching" the weakness between two much more positive points. Since handling weaknesses is perhaps the most common minefield brave interviewees have to cross, let's take a detailed look at each technique:
In this case, you talk about a weakness as originating from a strength. For example: "I'm such a great customer service representative [strength] that I've been known to spend a bit too much time with individual clients [good weakness]" or "I'm so detail-orientated and error-free [strength] that I've sometimes been known to take extra time to complete projects [good weakness]".
And here you describe a weakness as ancient history, having turned it into a strength. For example: "When I first became a supervisor, I was very impatient with people [old weakness], but now I've learned the effectiveness of team building [strength]" or "When I first started as a word processor, I was a bit slow [weakness], but I've since learned to be both methodical and fast [strength]".
You can also downplay a weakness by "sandwiching" it between two strengths. For example: "I've proven myself an amazingly efficient supervisor [strength]. We experienced some turnover during the process [weakness]. But I did what was necessary to get the best results for the company [strength]" Or: "I'm the best customer service rep you'll find [strength]. I sometimes take extra time to get things just right [weakness]. But you'll have some very happy customers [strength]".
Since admitting to and talking about weaknesses (everyone has them) may come up during your interview, get ready for them ahead of time. Practice various responses that turn these weaknesses into strengths, and accentuate the positive to consistently impress your interviewer.
The bottom line is sell yourself by vividly and in great detail illustrating your specific, noteworthy, and relevant accomplishments. Your interviewer wants to fill the position, and their basic question is: "With whom?" Your answer is: "With ME!" Why? Because you keep your eye on the ball, give them what they want, make a great first impression, smoothly guide the interview in your favor, and turn your weaknesses into strengths!
