Mastering Your Next Interview

You’ve applied for a job that you really want. Human Resources let you know you are eligible and referred you to the Hiring Manager. You have an interview scheduled.

And now you panic.

Interviewing for a job might be one of the most stressful parts of the entire process. You must think on your feet and answer questions on the fly. You have to think about your presence and about your professional image. It is a lot to handle.

The opportunity for failure is great. But so is the opportunity for success.

Going into an interview prepared for success helps ease some of the stress. Here are some tips for Mastering Your Next Interview:

1. Dress for the position you want – First impressions matter and showing up in professional attire shows you are confident. Even if you are doing a telephone interview, dress the part to boost your confidence.
2. Smile – Putting a smile on your face will lighten your tone of voice and project greater confidence. Even if no one can see you, they will hear the smile.
3. Research the Job in Advance – Know some details about the job and the company so you can tie your experiences to their mission.
4. Prepare Examples – Have a list of examples of your proudest accomplishments. Identify for each one the skills they represent. Does the example show how you can solve troublesome problems or deal with an underperforming employee? Write that down in advance and use them when answering the questions. Don’t TELL the interviewer you are capable. Use the examples SHOW you are capable.
5. Talk about Results – Set yourself apart by sharing the outcomes of your actions. Did you counsel an employee to succeed? Share how the employee is currently working. Did you achieve a scientific breakthrough? Share how that breakthrough is being used in practical application.
6. Monitor the Time – If you have 45 minutes for an interview, you must answer concisely enough to leave time for all the questions and any discussion. Don’t spend all your time on the first answer.
7. Ask Thoughtful Questions – Prepare some thoughtful questions in advance to ask the interviewer. What does success look like in the first six months? What are the top three challenges I will face if I am selected? Showing them you how you will operate if selected allows to see you in action.

The next first step is to practice these tips with a mentor. Receiving real-time feedback will highlight areas that need more work. When you practice these techniques, it will be easier to employ them. And if you employ these techniques, you will walk away from the interview confident that you showed them your best self. An interviewer is going to be looking for a specific candidate with a specific skill set. By showing them your capabilities, they will assess if you are truly the right person for the job. And you will have a better idea if the job is right for you.