Some people hate job interviews. They make some people nervous and anxious. For some, interviewing is incredibly painful. To ease the pain, you need to prepare for an interview and bring your A-game. The more prepared you are, the higher your chances of success.
Throughout my career as a leader, I have worked in a variety of different industries. I have done a ton of hiring. Between hiring new team members and promoting others, I’ve learned a lot. While I was in university, I was also a career advisor, helping students and alumni with interview prep. It’s remarkable and exciting to help someone achieve their career goals. That’s why I have decided to package up all my questions and advice into an e-book – to help others be successful in passing their interviews. I’ve seen far too many people excited about the prospect of landing their dream job, only to blow the conversation, and be crushed. Over the coming months, I am sharing parts of my e-book as blog posts. Pick up your copy of Your Definitive Guide to Prepping for an Interview today at chrishanna.ca today.
Leave No Doubt During Your Job Interview
The goal of every person being interviewed should be the same – leave no doubt that you are the strongest candidate for the position. People might be interviewing after you, so you need to find a way to wow your interviewer so that you stand out as the only candidate worth considering. Articulate what makes you different from everyone else.
Your goal should be to share with your interviewer how you are more uniquely qualified than everyone else. The reality is that everyone who receives a job interview most likely meets the minimum qualifications for the role. Why else would they shortlist who gets interviewed or not? Hiring managers then want to know what separates each of the candidates, which is why they are choosing to talk to you. If you are already working for an organization and seeking a promotion, why should they hire you instead of sourcing an external candidate for the position, who might have more experience? How can you ensure that you stand out and are memorable?
What Makes You Different?
We’re judged not by our similarities, but by our differences. What makes you different? To leave no doubt, you must differentiate yourself and be distinctive. With thorough prep, combined with projecting the right level of confidence and look, and by answering questions clearly and concisely, you have as good a shot as any. No matter how many questions are thrown your way, there is ultimately one question that a hiring manager or recruiter is looking to answer, and it is the most critical question.
Why should they hire you over all other candidates, internally & externally?
I promise you that this is the #1 question in every interviewer’s mind. Recruiters, interviewers, and hiring managers are looking for applicants to help them make the selection process easier. To give yourself the best chance of success, you need to remember that a job interview is your opportunity to sell yourself. Unfortunately, too many people forget this, downplaying their contributions and results. Now there is a fine line between selling yourself and bragging. Confidence is essential, but bordering on cocky and arrogant is a quick way to turn some people off as well.
Be Genuine
With your mission to sell yourself and explain why you, and only you, are the right person for the role, you need to be genuine too. Here is a recruiting fact – some people are good at interviewing, but nothing else. Some candidates are great talkers, sharing their “accomplishments” lying their way to getting a role. Once in the position, a hiring manager sees the real person. They might be lazy, challenging to work with, full of drama, creating conflict – basically doing everything the opposite of what they claimed during the job interview process.
Be yourself in an interview. Don’t try to fake being someone you’re not because the truth will always come out if you’re hired. When someone is genuine, it allows hiring managers to decide if someone is a fit for the team or organization. Plus, there’s nothing worse than pretending to be someone in a role not suited for you too.
Why Do You Want this Opportunity?
Critical to you successfully nailing your job interview, is your ability to articulate why you want this role? The biggest mistake most candidates make is making the interview solely about them, and how this position, should they be successful, benefit them. Far too often, candidates will share all the ways that the position or promotion personally helps them. Yes, this new role might bring added money in your pocket, a fancy title, new opportunities to grow, but you shouldn’t focus exclusively on those aspects. What hiring managers want to hear is how you will help them and the organization improve. It’s not just about you. When you can align your interest in the role with not just the why, but the how you will make a difference to an employer, you are more likely to have success.
Remember Your Mission During the Job Interview
Remember, your mission is clear. Use your interview to clearly demonstrate why someone should hire you instead of your competition. What makes you different and stand out will not only be about what you say, though. In the next chapter, we are going to talk about the importance of prepping for the interview by having a plan, looking and sounding like you have the part. You have some work to do before the interview even begins.
For a regular dose of advice, tips, and tricks, follow me or my podcast, The Chris Hanna Show, on Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn, or visit Evolving Management for more solutions. Let’s connect.
