Dear Candidates, Welcome to the Job Interview Process

Dear Candidates,

Welcome to the job interview process. Advancing to the next interview round speaks volumes about you.  Something about you has peaked the hiring teams interest. As a hiring manager in the corporate world you may believe that I make the decision as to whether you will move on in the interview process.  The reality is that YOU, the candidate are the one who determines whether you move forward or not.  Your ability to ensure that you stand out above the rest of the competition by demonstrating your talent and skills as well as relaying your employment stories in an interesting manner is the determining factor.

If you want to stay consistently relevant in the interview process, keep these five things in mind as you interview.  No matter the interview platform, be it Skype, phone interview or a face-to-face interaction, these key items are what hiring managers want to observe.     

• Show them your talent!  

  • It is the responsibility of the candidate to highlight their talents.  The interviewer should not have to drag it out of you nor do they want to.  Most good interviewers will ask questions designed to elicit the candidate’s talent.  I use the word talent but it encompasses your aptitude, expertise, capabilities, gifts, brilliance, power and strengths as they apply to the job description!!!  It’s your time to “brag” on yourself. No one else is going to do it! The candidate must promote themself! 

• The interview is a conversation

  • The interview is a back and forth conversation.  Both participants are allowed to ask and answer questions.  Try to relax and speak in your normal voice. Interviewers conduct scores of interviews and it’s very painful when a candidate clicks into “robot interview mode”.  Practicing aloud at home is encouraged to allow ease of recall and assembly of pertinent points, not to produce a TV-worthy recitation of facts. Consider hiring an interview coach to receive feedback on your voice inflection, hand gestures, energy level etc. So many people use verbal pauses (“like”, “um”, “so”,  “actually” among others) and are unaware of this very annoying habit.  

• Be interesting

  • If you want to see a hiring manager perk up, be interesting!  This applies to virtual or live settings. Most candidates are boring with their answers. Candidates sound the same as if using the same script.  It’s your job to be engaging, unique and interesting. Bring out your personality and charm! Smile! The good news is that a significant number of candidates are indeed boring (yawn) so if you are even a little interesting and unique you will stand out in a positive manner.

• Tell coherent, impactful and complete work stories

  • Candidates who do not plan out and practice their work stories fall into the trap of being incoherent thus delivering incomplete answers.  That is why organizing and practicing your examples is vital to delivery success. A convoluted, confusing work story is a real pencil-in-the-eye moment for the interviewer.  It’s important to remember that you own and know your story, they don’t, so convey it coherently.

• Ask for the job

  • You must ask for the job.  The interviewer is expecting you to do so. To exclude this important point is viewed negatively.  The “ask” is the “period” on the interview sentence!   I talk to hiring managers on a regular basis and it is startling to hear how many candidates neglect to ask for the job!

Hiring managers do not take hiring decisions lightly.  There is nothing worse for a manager’s reputation than making a “bad hire”.  According to a study conducted by the Society for Human Resource Management, the average cost to hire and train a new team member across ALL industries is $4000.00. For some industries the cost can climb into the TENS of THOUSANDS of dollars.   It is vital the best talent is hired.   As a candidate, it’s up to you to clearly, persuasively articulate your strengths and talent ensuring you are the very best available option!  

Please follow these 5 simple points so I will not have to sit through another bad, boring, stick-a-pencil-in-my-eye interview!  You’ve worked too hard to get this interview, so make it worth your time and mine!

Best success in your job search.

Sincerely, 

The Hiring Manager Who Will Interview You Next

P.S. I offer a completely free 30 minute introductory job interview coaching session. Contact me today to prepare for your tomorrow!