In a previous article I discussed the best way to approach a job interview and was pleasantly surprised at the interest shown. That interest prompted me to go into a little more depth about the interview, assuming that the person reading this has also read the other article.
These are difficult times for the unemployed and the future doesn’t give us any encouragement. It’s easy for someone who is employed to tell you to keep a stiff upper lip since they are not facing the problems you are but the advice is still good. A good analogy is to imagine yourself as an unemployed actor that has just been invited to an audition for a very nice part. You can’t allow yourself to think about how much you need the part and, more important, you can’t allow the director to know. After all, you’re an actor, skilled at masking your real persona so you can fit into whatever role you are asked to play.
Getting ready for a job interview is no different. You can’t appear too anxious or you send the message that you will do or say anything to get the job, which casts some doubt on whatever you say. You have to pscyh yourself up and keep foremost in your mind that there really isn’t a downside to your situation. You were unemployed when you walked in the interview room and you may very well be unemployed when you walk out. Therefore, you’re not any worse off then when you started.
So, number one on your to-do list is to develop a positive attitude. You may not think its important but it will show in a number of different ways, such as your facial expressions, your body language, your eye contact or lack of it. I recognize that being unemployed can be very depressing but you can’t allow that to show. The actor might be very uptight about the situation but can’t allow this to come through to the director. The way he or she does this is to practice, practice and then practice some more. Have a good friend role play the part of the interviewer and judge your demeanor, how you look, your body language as he or she puts you through the interviewing process.
As the former CEO of a very successful career consulting firm I made sure our clients role-played interviews until they were blue in the face and when they finally did start interviewing they were very grateful for the confidence it gave them. Just remember, not even an experienced actor can walk on the stage and get the role down pat the first try. You owe it to yourself to make sure you leave the interviewer with exactly the impression that does you the most good and practicing will help enormously.
The next item on your agenda is research. Once you have an interview scheduled, go to the library or boot up your computer, access Standard and Poors or Dun and Bradstreet and learn as much as you can about the company. Learn who their top executives are, what affiliates they have and whether you are interviewing with the parent company or an affiliate. Then look up each of the affiliates. You should know as much, or even more about the company than the person interviewing you. Search for information that ties your experience and skills into whatever job is being offered. Believe me, a day spent doing this will pay off when you get to the interview.
Next, develop a proper resume, one that is no more than a page and a half in length. The most important information on the resume should be a very detailed listing of the skills you have developed. I mean all of your skills, even if you don’t think they apply to the particular position for which you are interviewing. Prior to your list of Transferrable Skills, the proper heading for them, list your last 3-4 employers, what they did, your job title and the length of time you were there. Do not go into any detail about your previous duties. If the interviewer asks describe them but keep in mind that the interviewer is much more interested in what you can do for their company, not what you did for someone elses. The second most important part of your resume, and whatever trouble it takes to get this information, it is more than worth it. You need a small section, call it What Others Say, and it should contain actual quotes from two or three of your previous supervisors. Imagine, if you are applying for a sale position, if the interviewer is reading that your former boss said “John increased sales in his division by over 50% during his first year with us.” This is the kind of quote you are looking for, not personal information. The interviewer doesn’t care if you are “a very nice person” at that point, only information that can back up the decision to hire you.
If you do as suggested, you will be bringing into the interview a powerful weapon rather than a litany of your past employment record. The same applies if you are asked to send in your resume prior to the meeting. Keep in mind that even in good times, the interviewer might get several hundred, even thousands of resumes for a particular position and yours had better be business like and to the point.
Okay, the day has come and you have an appointment for an interview. You have already practiced and feel as confident as you can about your attitude and preparation. You have a no-nonsense resume. Now, stand in front of a full length mirror and see what you look like. The operative word here is conservative. No body metal, no super-stylish clothing, a conservative haircut, women need minimal makeup, wear nothing that would make you stand out in a crowd. If you have tattoos, hide them if possible because you won’t believe how many people find them offensive in the marketplace. You are not going to a fashion show you are going to a job interview. Keep in mind that if the person interviewing you can’t describe what you were wearing 3 minutes after you leave the room you have
succeeded.
It may seem foreign to you, particularly being unemployed and wanting to change that, but you must take control of the interview or you might not get the job offer. What do I mean by control? You should be able to do at least 50% of the talking. You have already done some preparation for this by virtue of the research I suggested. First, you walk into the interview room with a smile on your face and initiating eye contact with the interviewer. Once you do this, and this is very important, do not fail to maintain eye contact the entire time you are in the room. Looking around the room, or worse yet, down at your shoes, is the worst thing you can do. Shake hands with a firm grip, not one that feels like a dead fish and not one that borders on pain infliction.
Most interviewers engage in a little ice-breaking conversation about the weather or something like that. Go along for a minute or two and then start the interview by asking how the opening occurred. Did the previous occupant get fired, leave for another job, retire,and how long did he or she hold that position. That’s what I mean by taking control and it’s also a great way to learn a little more about the job. Just the answer to that one question can tell you a lot.
The interviewer will no doubt describe the position they are trying to fill. Answer back by asking what advancement opportunities might be connected to the position. Ask the interviewer how long he or she has been with the company. In other words, engage the interviewer in meaningful conversation about the job and about the company and thereby prevent the interview from becoming an inquisition. Try to find out what the next step is. Is he or she the decision maker or is there another person that will make the final decision? The more information you have when you finish the interview the better the interview has been and, believe me, the interviewer will be impressed.
The last question you ask is about the next step, if any. “When can I expect to hear about whether or not I have been hired? will do it. Stand up, shake hands, thank them for the interview and leave. The very next day, either e-mail or snail mail the interviewer, thanking them again and bring up any important points about yourself you neglected in the interview. Relax, everyone forgets one or two. If you do what I suggest, you can be very sure that you have done everything possible to get the job offer and, as they say, all you can do is all you can do.
Ed Dugan – A career vagabond if there ever was one. Former college president, full time live-aboard sailor, CEO of a major career consulting firm, CEO of a …
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